Swift Saint

You make some interesting points and I am not sure how best to find ideas that will rectify what you have said. Indeed, the actions taken by the Elite League during the close season, which I actually support to a degree make the situation you describe even worse for them. Ok two reserve races there may be but how are the National League reserves going to fare against regular Elite League team members? In the example that you give at Stoke Ben Wilson and Rob Shuttleworth will not normally race together. Only in the event of an injury would that likely to be the case. You have to give opportunities to newcomers and it is difficult to select them at the start of the season. We feel that given his fantastic enthusiasm his rapid improvement last season and his family pedigree and support Rob has a chance to be that magic discovery. But let's not pressure the lad. He has promised his utmost what more can one ask for? James McBain our other reserve has more experience and I feel sure that he will be an exceptional capture but looking at what happened at Stoke last season when everyone said at the start of the season that we had a good team and yet at times we could not have beaten a drum. But I believe that National League speedway because of the effort of the riders and the unpredictability is far and away the best to watch and I believe I have seen more third tier speedway in this country than anyone else. I smile now that all the snobs who made the assertion that they were not going to watch what they called "wobblers" now will be saying how great that level is which in turn will help us. But the mixing between the two levels in the same race may be a problem. I feel that the Premier League should have had one NL reserve and the EL one also and that would have been an improvement. But I do not know that for certain. I hope Mr Steeplejack that you will return to Stoke and that we will excite and entertain you. We have a burning desire to do well but who knows? One bad injury could wipe you out if you need a top replacement. Its that difficult. I don't think that really answers your question but it is my thoughts on this difficult subject. Malcolm Vasey

Nice reply Jayne I get fed up with people saying why don't you........... when they have no answers and just stand on the sidelines anonomously criticising and making futile suggestions about riders you have probably already tried or some who have not even returned your call. If they had any idea how long it can take to sign one rider let alone a team full. It is difficult this season but I believe that there is some merit in the EL Draft although personally I would have liked the Premier League to have been involved as well. Maybe in both Leagues each team to have one rider from the NL pool. More warning might have been helpful and then maybe we could have had a picking session as well. Good Luck with your team I know how hard it is Malcolm

No I think it shows and from your subsequent remarks that you knew little or nothing about him. In that respect it may be fact based but of very limited value because the content is limited to one fact which in itself is misleading others posting subsequently have only served to illustrate the weakness of your post. I wont add any more to this as we could go on forever but your own statements reveal you knew almost nothing about the rider in question. Malcolm Vasey

Well thanks for a public response but I still feel that your comment was derogatory to the rider in question and you need to be more careful how you phrase your remarks which did not tell the full story. I don't care what you say about me I am fair game but a lad delighted and over the moon did not need to read what you had to say in that style which sounded like a put down. So just improve your research before making such a comment and I wont complain. I don't comment abut the state of the Stoke track in the winter months either since I never see it. I understand that the drivers were pleased that a recent meeting was moved to Stoke in preference to the original venue. I have no interest in that sport but it helps pay the bills. I apologise for my comment regarding the club you support and your possible activity to help it and that apart I am attacking your post not yourself. I must restrain my comments in future too. I hope the Isle of Wight return at some point. A great Club but so lacking in support. Such a shame. I hope perhaps we might meet somewhere and are able to chat. You may find I am not so bad as you think. (or worse lol) Malcolm Vasey

As scientific as your politics Tom - utter nonsense. I will remind you of that during the season. Malcolm Vasey

Let me just clarify the above irrelevant and incomplete comment. Rob Shuttleworth made his debut at Stoke for Buxton never having ridden in the National League before and with less than three months experience on a speedway bike riding at No. 2. He progressed from that point to be awarded the "Rookie of the Year Trophy" in the NJL and I think the bald statement above is most unfair to him especially as he rode at No.2. I noticed before when you received an explanation about team selection from me after some misinformed statements that you never responded further. I think your aim in life is to offer implied and actual criticism of Stoke and this is another case in point. Why not transfer your energy towards getting your own Club operating again? Malcolm Vasey

Well you would have a guest for your No.1 if he was still in that position devoid of the seven day rule and a guest under the new regulations subject to all requirements being met for the other rider. That is my understanding of the new regulations but I have not seen them its from the discussion. The rule for a guest replacement No.1 is different to other guests in that the seven day rule does not apply. Malcolm Vasey

Under new regulations a guest rider is permissible for an EL absentee on the same race day to the points value of the missing rider. Malcolm Vasey

Just a thought as I have enjoyed posting here in the last few days but didn't Wimbledon's officials consider moving to Sittingbourne (Iwade) and would Rye House provide an opportunity perhaps? If there are some spare dates there it seems an opportunity not to be missed. In terms of distance its only half the journey from SW19 to Sittingbourne and there are frequent trains from Liverpool Street to the station 100 metres from the track Closing date for the National League is 31/01/14 Malcolm Vasey

It is my understanding that he will be helping Richie in Poland that was their plan it may have changed if you know different. Malcolm Vasey

You raise interesting points Islander but the logistics of signing riders is not as simple as your comments suggest. You may offer a rider a deal but he may not respond immediately and in an ever diminishing market place which is what it is you have to guard against losing good options. You also overlook the fact that both Lambert and Carr ride for Saturday tracks in the Premier League and there are often issues surrounding any rider that an outsider to a Club wont know of. You would not say what these are in case you jeopardised that rider elsewhere and I am not talking about anything bad. It might just be transport problems if the rider can't drive or school commitments. Benji Compton was very quickly re-signed by Kent so that was never a possibility. I will often not discuss why a rider has not been signed it might just be that in the market place you build the best you can get and a rider just does not fit. As yet we have not discussed affordability another factor and it may be you just cant match a rider's needs. I hope that helps you to understand the dilemma clubs face. I am not prepared to say anymore but I believe that the team we have signed so far is the best we could have hoped for once it was clear to us that Steve Worrall would be moving on. Steve was a revelation for us last year but he needs to be in Eastern Europe on Sundays and Edinburgh on Fridays and Swindon on Thursdays sometimes Mondays maybe it really is a minefield. So if two and two in people's team selections don't always add up to the four that you had expected them to have there is a short resume as to why that might be so. It's a dreadful process and is littered with casualties but that's the job and that's the challenge and its the same for all Clubs or is it? Malcolm Vasey

I will do what I can I like to inform but I am the Manager of the Speedway team and that is my role at Stoke. Whilst I am aware of other matters affecting the Club sometimes my efforts to provide an explanation have been met with negative responses and sometimes uncomplimentary remarks. I found it easier to stem my natural instinct to talk about the team than involve myself in heated discussions about events that took place long before I arrived at Stoke. I can say this and it is written in all honesty and that is that there is a deep rooted desire at Stoke to perform better as a Speedway team and it is something that we engage in every single day. I wish when criticism is made such as the remaining points we have to play with, that viable alternatives were suggested to the signings we make. Maybe then I could say well we looked into that but it couldn't happen for whatever reason. From an early stage of last season hours were spent trying to re-vamp the team which clearly was not working. Somebody came up to me at Buxton and said you are so slow you could have had a rider this week but you missed the chance. I said who was that? I was told James Wright and indeed we had approached him when we new he had left his Club to no avail several days before. When I advised the gentleman of that he said that he hadn't read it anywhere. Well, if I told the local press the details of every rider I talk to there would be no space for Stoke City, Port Vale or even the Premier League. Of course they wouldn't publish it anyway. I take on board the above request and I'll try and keep you aware of what is going on. Ben Wilson is the best possible signing we could make at this time of that I have no doubt. The rest of the team are all battlers and I hope to name another rider who always gives 100% very soon. Not all of our riders can have high averages. If I rider says to me and his attitude supports his remarks that he will do his best these are important criteria. I am optimistic about 2014, the balance will never be perfect but I feel with what we have and the irons that are in the fire we might make a great showing next season. I am desperate to achieve something at Stoke before I retire. I hope some of those missing fans will see that and give us back their support. Malcolm Vasey

I take much of what has been said on board last season was a terrible disappointment. We have virtually completed our top five for 2014 and our Press Officer will issue a Press release concerning our new No.1 very shortly. Happy Christmas to all my speedway friends Malcolm Vasey

With due respect to the site in question that career record is incomplete Malcolm Vasey

The match will be staged later in the month just waiting to see the outcome of Mildenhall's match at IOW tomorrow and will discuss it then. Malcolm Vasey

After two to three days and nights of heavy rain quite consistently with the current air temperatures the track will take two or three days to dry out and be workable. We are disappointed we were hoping for a win tonight and I am confident we would have achieved that.Malcolm Vasey

I am pleased to announce the availability of my new book The Complete Analysis Stoke Potters and Spitfires 1994/95 2003-2007 and 2011/12 This is a brand new book covering in great detail the activities of Stoke Potters and Spitfires predominantly in the third tier of British Speedway but with a background history of the origins of the club and their season by season activities of earlier years. The book has been printed and published by Gemini Publications and is in the same format as the highly successful book about the Mildenhall Fen Tigers published a few months ago. The book comprises almost 200 pages, is A4, comb bound with laminated covers and forms a part of a complete library of thirteen books by the same author which offers a comprehensive history of this level of speedway since it returned in 1994. There are many coloured photographs mainly unpublished previously most taken by the Author who plans to make low cost seasonal updates available to buyers if required so that their book remains up to date. Each season is covered with a narrative summary, complete statistics, match results and the book has an A-Z career record of all riders representing the club at this level. Stoke is an interesting Speedway Club that battles for survival in an area of hard working and vociferous supporters. The Author has been Stoke's manager since 2010 and claims to have seen more third tier speedway than anyone having managed teams at Boston and Scunthorpe and also having been part of the Mildenhall set up prior to that. This book will be sent to UK purchasers post free until the end of October and is £13.99 representing great value compared to many modern books. Overseas postage will be charged at actual cost. The whole range of the Author's books remains available and is a valuable resource for speedway historians, book and programme collectors and those who love to read about our great sport. SPECIAL OFFER Order the new Stoke book and the similar Mildenhall History together for £25.00 post free if order is received befre 31st October 2013. Orders to Malcolm Vasey, 5 The Cove, Belton Great Yarmouth NR31 9LA and payment by cheque should be made to Malcolm Vasey Or pm me for a flyer of all my books or call 07768 073284

Interesting line up Greg but I see three Kings Lynn riders and no one from Dudley despite last night's result. Could never be. Malcolm Vasey

That's true but I know nothing about Facebook never look at it and anything on their is not from me. That's not a complaint anyway

Where are all these complaints about our track. It was wet for two heats. Thats all Malcxolm Vasey

Anyone who gives themselves the nick name Adonis has to be highly opinionated. In Greek Mythology Adonis was the God of Love and Desire. I saw little of these qualities in his post hence it seems a total misnomer. He doesn't even tell us what lies behind the array of quotes he has gathered together above perhaps his naming qualities reflect also his expression. His literacy seems to lie in childish emoticons. Emerson Jones was almost totally wiped out at Buxton in a fearsome accident that must have left him financially and mentally destroyed. He is trying to re-group. People like Adonis should leave him alone to sort out his future. Malcolm Vasey

I can confirm that Stoke twice made enquiries for last season and again this season and the answer was as you have stated regarding the Australian Championships. Malcolm Vasey

This situation is most unfortunate and I sympathise with the Island management. Last season we had to have Adam McKinna as cover when we were given a fixture that a new rider was unavailable for releasing him after it was rained off. Under normal circumstances a rider must have ridden for a team before any facility is allowed. We made an enquiry about Jake Anderson and were told he had ridden in the Aussie Championship system and was not eligible. Robert Branford was a last minute arrival Malcolm Vasey

This is a Challenge and we want to put on the best possible event. There is no restriction in a Challenge that prevents the use of Rob Branford in this way although were it an official fixture this would not be allowed and in the circumstances we would have to use the Rider Replacement facility. So with agreement with the Island Club we are using Rob who is desperate to shop window himself his average being 0.16 less than Ben's . Malcolm Vasey

Agree with what. Mildenhall won the lot.