ChubbyChesgire

Lol - not quite, as the party is for the fans really not the riders, and if they paid the riders at the end of the last meeting, it must be tempting to be conveniently away for party time ! Having said that, they should have the party in the diary by now, or pay up - not fair to keep them hanging on.

According to Liam Carr on Facebook, they get their last pay when they attend the end of season do - I assume this is as an incentive to attend !

Looks good - what are the chances of either Worrall riding NL next year ? Or with their PL and EL commitments do we want to avoid ? i think there is no doubt that we will be in NL next year....as long as we don't go bump...I'm not sure if DT's 3 year plan meant 3 years NL, or back to PL in the 3rd, but even if he meant the latter, after all the rain offs and poor crowds, I can't see us considering PL next year.

Ah - good are they ?! Damn it, I'll be at Wembley

Loomer chips aren't that exciting !

Well we are definitely weakest - no denying that !

Just as we get bored about jibes about the Stoke track !

I never said you had violent fans, I said some of your fans are unnecessarily antagonistic - there is a difference in being vocal cheering your team on, and jeering the fans of the opposition, screaming who are ya at kids, and ridiculing someone who is being friendly to you, just because they are not a Heathen fan. This is not football. That's not all your fans, but it's a minority that can give a bad name.

Best fans ? Best following - definitely but best fans will always be in the eye of the beholder ! Personally I think there are a number of Dudley fans who are unnecessarily antagonistic to the opposition fans, which is not something I've come across with other teams - and these aren't thuggy looking people either. Even the Dudley fans I know get all mouthy when you see them at a meeting. It's the only time my kids don't go off on their own as they find it intimidating. Yes same here - I applauded Tom Perry a few times last night for creating some cracking races !

I agree. And Jaimie has been very understanding about it, his comments on the situation on Facebook are a real credit to him. I hope he gets fixed up soon. He has a talent, but has taken a bit of a knock in confidence this year - but showed some of his old self in the first heat on Saturday, before taking a fall in his next ride - and he was writhing around in agony after that and was riding injured. I'm sure whoever picks him up will get 100% out of him. It's a shame he can't stay, as he rode really well when partnering Lambo last year, so it's a pity we can't fit him in to partner again.

I believe he has decided to quit as he has got engaged and needs more reliable income. I hope he changes his mind as he has a talent and it would be a shame to see it go to waste.

Richie Worrall may never change his average this year then, as he's missing at least 2 out of next 3 Potters meetings !

Stoke have two reserved dates in June, one of which would be ideal - I assume it's not so good for Mildenhall ? I agree - last year the one leg of KOC final and both legs play-off semis were held right next to each other, I'd rather be watching some meaningful matches now, than one after another in October !

Do we know anything about Liam Carr ? Not sure I can make Sat now, my son is at a Scout thing at Crewe Park - originally due to end at 10 - which meant I could have gone to meeting and got back in time, but now due to end at 9pm - I know it's an earlier tapes up, but I'd have to leave at 8.30 - and I doubt it'll all be over by then

Now official - although only mentioned as an aside in the preview for the next meeting. I know it's supposed to be a league to develop riders, but stand alone teams like Stoke don't see it only that way - these are the only meetings their fans see, so they need a competetive team, which means the teams are a bit harsher on struggling riders.

We knew Reade would improve based on his performance towards end of season - but as for the others 3s are always gamble as it can be a big step for them

I gather from facebook that Naylor has gone

If Richie had been there I think we would have won, but it's something we will have to deal with, as with his riding schedule, he may be missing a lot. Still concerned about Naylor and Walter - let's hope it starts clicking soon. And hey ho a point is a point !

Yes a good meeting - the temperature certainly dropped at the end. Walters and Naylor are still a concern, and hopefully they will have started to get act together before Ben moves into the main body, or as you say, we may struggle. Good to see Tony finally getting it right again, and for Jaimie to get a few more points, he hasn't looked right so far this year, but after the early fall, his confidence seemed to pick up with each ride, and I hope that he's soon back to the form he showed last year. And Ben - well he's amazing - to think we dropped him last year for a couple of meetings ! Ash was good, but obviously still needs more time to learn our track, as he fell off twice at the exact same point ! I agree Irving was definitely best on the night, and Young showed real promise.

Yes we have to make the most of that, as no doubt it'll be his last season in the NL !

No disgrace there - The Worralls are in a class of their own - not seen Steve this year yet, but Richie is often half a lap ahead of everybody else !

Well done lads - although our new boys have had another tough night

Nice to see a thread where the fans aren't slagging each others teams off - long may it continue ! Yes I was a bit concerned about Ross and Rhys after seeing them on Saturday, but it seems they are improving which gives us hope. Concerning about Ashley - hope he's ok.

Please be on - I need a speedway fix ! From Potters website - STOKE Easy Rider Potters look to get back on track after an enforced break due to the weather when they entertain the Dudley Heathens in the Staffs Cup second leg at Loomer Road on Saturday night, in what is a busy weekend for the Potters with three meetings in four days. The Potters open their weekend with the visit of the Heathens at the new start time of 7pm with the Stoke Spitfires also in action against Mercia in the Midland Developement League. The Potters then travel to Scunthorpe on Bank Holiday Monday for the first leg of their National League KO Cup clash and then they make the long trek to the Isle of Wight for the second leg of the Wightlink Trophy. Stoke who trail by four points after the first leg when they went down to a creditable 47-43 defeat against the Heathens on their home circuit at Monmore Wood give debuts to Rhys Naylor and Ross Walter. The Heathens have drafted former Potter Tim Webster for number one Adam Roynon who is riding for his Premier League club Workington in their league cup clash against Sheffield and Webster will be well supported with the inform Tom Perry who has started the season wellc for the Heathens. The top two will be supported by Byron Bekker who linked up with the Heathens this season after riding for the Belle Vue Colts last year and Ashley Morris who has not had the best starts to his season and is more than capable on his day of hitting double figures while James White Williams completes the top five for Dudley. Dudley rider of the season last year Darryl Ritchings who has made a good start to the season lines up at reserve with Daniel Greenwood. Easy Rider Potters team manager Malcolm Vasey commented "I'm feeling very confident that we can pull back the four point deficit against a very good Heathens team, and I think we have the edge on them around our home circuit." Stoke: Ashley Birks (8.28), Jaimie Pickard (6.87), Tony Atkin (Captain) (7.84), Rhys Naylor (3.00), Richie Worrall (7.75), Ross Walter (3.00), Ben Reade (3.00), Team Manager Malcolm Vasey Dudley: Tim Webster (G) (9.08), James White-Williams (4.53), Tom Perry (5.89), Byron Bekker (6.55), Ashley Morris (6.63), Darryl Ritchings (4.29), Daniel Greenwood (3.00), Team Manager Will Pottinger Meanwhile Adam McKinna has joined National League rivals Buxton after the Hitmen and former Potters rider Tim Webster parted company.

Yawn - this record appears to be on repeat ! Now I don't want to be controversial, but I'm going to discuss the subject that this topic is supposed to be about ! So given the weather forecast - what do we reckon the chances of this meeting going ahead ?! Well we can hope that as this April's weather is what it's supposed to be like (rather than the heatwaves we've come accustomed to the last few years), perhaps we are in for a good summer ?! I can dream !