g13webb

If only it was that easy. Having travelled to most venues, we were fortunate to have MB he was as good as they come. Replacing such talent was always going to be difficult. I don't blame Buster because there are not many out there to find. We need someone with and in-depth knowledge of the sport (that's the easy part) but someone who is confident and has an appealing personality on the mic. (No doubt there are a few of them about as well, but to find someone who has both attributes is unbelievably hard).... Without doubt MB was the best of them all.......

That's probably right, but the thought of him riding in all 3 leagues could be really detriment to his development ... Obviously it matters.... You say the positions will be changed when the first set of figures come out, but that's purely conjecture as the new team points limit has yet to be decided. If say Lynn start off well and the team 1 to 6 are scoring good points, then there will not be any leeway to make reserve changes.... Obviously the Promoters will be looking for a young, improving rider, on a low average, who will benefit from riding in the top league, not one who will be dropped and changed if his scoring is slow to develop. If a defeat was created because the reserve scored few points, then the other 1 to 6 should have more of the responsibility to perform, than an out of depth Reserve No 7

Like everyone else, I imagined young Josh Bailey would have been tailor made for that 7 position. Obviously he had talks with the Lynn bosses before signing for Scunthorpe and the Young Stars, So this idea of riding for all 3 leagues has to be a 'no-goer' Surely, had he been in the frame for the Elite side then he wouldn't have been allowed to signed for Scunthorpe . . So although the promoters, are said to be keeping their option open, have in fact excepted Josh will not be at No 7. We must wait with anticipation that we acquire the right man.

Nobody is asking for a 'every minute of the day' attitude, merely to be kept in the picture of the current situation. A morning bulletin would satisfy most people and would show the wheels are actually turning. Hearing nothing only add to the uncertainty. I don't see how keeping fans informed takes anything away from the discussions that are taken place. What is so delicate that the fans mustn't know. We have 3 parties to negotiate a solution. Eventually whether the club is saved or doomed the people responsible will be named or shamed, so why all the secrecy?? It is my view of life , that if anything has been done in secret, then usually it has been done underhanded, and that my biggest fear..... When deals are done in the open, you don't get 'back handers' , deceptions nor bribes . Deals are secured on good honest endeavour. Probably I expect too much........

I don't get this attitude of 'when we have some news we will tell you' , No doubt they are aware this situation is critical, the well-being of an iconic Speedway Club is at stake here. With only a few weeks before the season starts the situation should be developing every day. If not, then it should be, The fans who have supported the club for years wants to know the current state of the proceedings and should be kept in the picture every day.. The promoters are burying their heads here, not keeping the fans informed, whereas they should be getting all the help and support possible in the hours that lay ahead. Each day that passes with no movement is another day lost. The project just keeps getting harder and harder . How long before this becomes impossible to succeed???. What development happened yesterday? What is expected today??. what is the plan for the next few days?? We the fans deserve to know this .. We want to know if the outlook is good or is it as bad as it looks. Being treated like Mushrooms is not ideal for anyone,,.... or anything...... ..

A lot to be said about local rivalry, In our best supported years we always had the added fans from nearby by clubs. Ipswich and Peterborough always brought a big following when we race them and likewise we would take impressive numbers when racing away. Leicester could also be added to that group, but because the distance was getting near to 100miles the following wasn't as great... With all this talk about one league was on-going this year, my thoughts were directed to the rekindling of those wonderful local derbies, all to no avail. But they did generate a lot of local interest.....

Nice to see Batchelor continuing his winning run in Aussie land . Congratulations is in order on winning the South Australian Championship with a 15pts max. Keep it going Troy........,,

Me too !!!! I'm of the same impression. I've been to Brandon more years than I care to remember and my feelings are sad at the demise of what was once the mecca of our sport. I prey, I am wrong, but until I see actual work being done I'm afraid, my feeling won't change...... Why have the 'Powers of B' allowed the sport to continue this downward spiral??? Surely they realised the danger of their self preservation attitude, would always end up this way...

Same as you, I thought Josh Bailey was a nailed on certainty. He would be ideal candidate for a reserve place. Its all very well riding in the National league and scoring high points, but to experience racing with the big boys would a tremendous benefit to him . He would get all the encouragement to progress along the way. I think it would be wrong if he was overlooked in preference to someone new to this club. What statement would that be to all those young, up and coming riders, who want to progress to the top League....

Sorry, But I for one don't like being corrected for menial grammar errors, or seeing someone else suffer the same fate. Posters come on here to air an opinion and do not want to be made to look substandard because he made some little mistake. They want to be welcomed and their points taken seriously. Someone acting like the school teacher is not appreciated. So what if he missed a full stop, does it matter, you had to read in 3 times. Not everybody had the same standard of education, and others probably found the expertise in other areas . I for one found Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Workshop Technology, Electric Techniques, Computer knowledge all quite interesting and sailed through those exams. English was a different proposition. 4 times I had to retake my GSE before I reached the required standard. I have been fortunate in life to manage this issue, as I have found my other areas of expertise more than compensated for this low-level of English ability. Probably you'll be more forgiving in the future when reading other poorly written posts.... ( Hope I haven't made too many mistakes!!)

Going back to the years when speedway was a success story, Leicester was always Tuesday track. Is there any reason why they can't go back to that?? The fact a Tuesday race night clashes with Sweden shouldn't be too much of a worry, 'cos this league will not have many top riders to worry about. If, or when a clash does rise its head I sure Promoters can arrange an alternative night.... A lot of posters seem keen to concentrate on the negatives rather than being optimistic that the Lions will run and should have a competitive team..., Of cause there will be teething problems, but with the right mind set, everything is achievable.....

I'm sure if an organisation were getting 100,000 hits a week, Sponsors would be lining up only too willing to come on board to join the venture...... Yet Poole are still looking for that company , .. .. .. .Strange that!!!!!!!

I've always resisted the temptation to have my 2 penny's worth because I have never been aware of the full facts. Obviously there have been many issues, we the fans are not aware off. But reading your post above tells me I was right not making any comments, and yes there were far more reasons why and how the situation was created. What a pity more people didn't learn the truth before jumping in with two big feet and apportioned blame until the full facts were known......... .

As per normal the , many of Poole fans saying all the wrong things at the wrong time. We all know our sport is in a precarious situation. My heart goes out to all the Bees fans not knowing of their situation, or usability of their track. It is obvious to us all, that running and promoting speedway is not the ideal way to generate wealth. All the parties involved in the arguing knows of the difficult of making ends meet..... The main point being made here is, when a top team like Poole, struggles to find adequate sponsorship, then this just illustrates the difficulties associated with running a club. Clubs cannot run a viable organisation on admission prices alone. Riders and machines are too expensive for the scant attendances we get . Sponsorship is the only option to balance their books. Finger crossed 2017 brings better fortunes, for all those who have invested in our sport......

In this easier format and weaker league, I would not be surprised if the majority of decent riders improved their score. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but as I read all riders completing in the premiership, will acquire new averages as from the first batch of meetings. So the rolling average format actually starts anew when the season begins. This alone will have immediate affect and is more likely than not give a truer reflection on ones performance from the start. In the previous years protected format, the EDR's were running amok and giving everyone false impression of their ability. This year it will be much harder for them to shine and therefore I see most of the reserves struggling to maintain there false presence. The new riders brought in on this low 2point opening might improve a small portion but it will also be hard to make much impression. Forgetting about the calculation factor, I see the heat leaders (HL) as the main benefactors of this reverting back to the old format. Top riders like Holder, KK, Lindgren, and Doyle should fill their boots most meetings. Riders like Nicholls, Bomber, Bjerre, King and Batchelor should also benefit from only riding against one HL at a time, so more than able to increase on last years scores.... The 2nd Strings..(2S) will be a more competitive area. Again having also benefitted from the protected format, this year will be much harder. But like a good bottle of milk the cream will always rise to the top. Some 2S will prosper and graduate to HL status while must will struggle and could drop down to the reserves. Who will be the biggest improvers? Could be anyone I've mentioned above, But I've a feeling KB and Batch will be somewhere near the top on that reckoning

No problems, The only reason I added to the tread was because posters were making comments towards Pedersen and/or his mechanic when in fact, it could have belonged to a number of people.....

To be more precise it was 8th March 2012, In my first posting on the subject I visualised the event as a few years back. Sorry about that. I didn't realise the date was that important..... Why didn't I tell someone about it ? In events like this, the track is graded periodically . Once graded the riders go out in groups of 3 and 4's to do a few laps, when they return to the pits and then another group come out. This carries on for half an hour or so before the track is again regarded. I pointed out in that first post I saw something reflecting in the sunlight not knowing what it was . Was it a stone, was it a piece of silver paper, could it be a nut or bolt, I had no idea until it was retrieved by the mechanics during the next grading break. I see them pick something up from the track, and it was only when SteveHone posted the pictures the following day I realised it was indeed a spanner. I don't know the reason for your comment making out I should have done something, I am a responsible person and can assure you had I seen anything that contributed danger in any way I would have jumped over the fence myself. In this instance there was nothing seen to be reported...... Is that ok with you.......

The spanner in question could have belonged to any Danish rider who was using Saddlebow Road that day. I was fortunate to also attend the official practice session the Danish had pre-arranged to use the track for a pre-season practise day back in 2013. The offending spanner lay on the track for some time and glistened in the morning sunlight while a number of riders were giving it go. I remembered thinking it was a mirror, such was the reflection in the sun. eventually it was collected by one of three mechanics who went to the trouble of looking for something during the break..... Nicky Pedersen was the lucky person photographed on the day, but it could easily have been Niels, Andersen or Mads all out on the track at that particular time.....

Nobody had more potential then Robert Lambert. In the three years in the Elite league we have seen him steadily improve but this did not happen straight away. I also think young Holder has a lot of potential but to expect it with immediate effect I think is very harsh and puts too much responsibility for someone of that experience. Kurtz did OK last year and will, I imagine, go better this year. But listening to some of the punters on here success is guaranteed to every one with potential. Life is not like that... I hope Holder and Kurtz are given the time to develop their skills and not over pressurised to get immediate results..... Poole are not known as a club to wait for success, they want it straight away..... Only time will tell.......

There is no problem, just a few opinions related to the start of the races. In them old footage you were watching, you could not see or feel the atmosphere of that specific race, but no doubt you could see the size of the crowd watching them lottery starts , and this what the issue is all about. Of cause we all want our favourites to win every race, and not be out done by a cowboy at he start, but do we have to have everything so specifically black and white where the top riders always win? Riders like PC, Lee, Morton, Carter, Penhall and many more, were brilliant riders. Them missing the gate wasn't a problem, whereas to others like Jessup, Louis if they missed the gate their race was done. You don't have to look far to see who the Racers and Gaters are....................

What's fairness got to do with it? . We see perfectly good starts today brought back because a rider was too good. We see the same riders gating all the time to win with ease, is that good viewing? How many times during a meeting is a race pulled back for another unfair start, More wasted time, and you think that better........ All I did, was pass an opinion saying I preferred it when the riders were allowed to move and jostle at the start. So what if he touched the tapes, to me it added to the excitement and added to the occasion... That reply don't even warrant a response., I said 'gating shenanigans' added to the races, not replace them..... I can accept your thoughts But surely you can see the excitement it added to a meeting. In the old way all riders had a chance if winning, the present rules only benefit the gaters and those who want a purist result. You say you understand the riders disappointment when they anticipate a brilliant start only too be brought back. They are the rules, the Ref can pull, when not having a second look at a TV screen, before making an opinion. All this does is add another few minutes to the proceeding. 2 or 3 of these and half an hour can be added to the meeting and there we are, standing about waiting, usually in the cold for that unnecessary perfect start. Does the sport actually need that degree of finesse ? AS you pointed out they're many ways to address the start procedure, but can the sport finance this additional expense?. The general perception is that the majority of races are won from the gate anyway and these strict, no movement rule at the gate only emphasises that fact. The bigger the lottery at the start, the more the excitement would be generated.... This is merely an opinion...... from somebody who has been to far too many race meetings,,,,

I use to enjoy the shenanigans at the start that created lots of atmosphere. Riders like Mauger and Michael Lee used it as a trick to con and outdo lesser opponents. It was part of the game when you had the chance to use physiology. Its all very well saying you have to stay still, mustn't touch the tapes, will always result in the good gaters winning. No doubt the good riders wanted these new rules that favoured the best, but as far as the spectators were concerned it makes the process less exciting. and more predictable. Back in the early 70's when Mauger was god, he came down to Saddlebow Road, on the back of 12 straight maximums for Newcastle. He expected this to continue. He lined up at the start of heat 1, messing about like he always did, he rolled back an forth, he kept pushing them tape ready to fly. but in this instance the Ref let them go when Mauger was pulling back. The Lynn pair got the drop, Featherby hole shoted with Betts riding shotgun. It took Mauger 3 laps before he passed Betts, but Featherby was clear and well worth that win..... Mauger score 14 that night he was someone very special. Out doing him at the start was riders only chance of beating him. That great race would not have been allowed today. The start strategy has ruined more races and added to the length of meetings , than any other rule change. Even when a rider gets a ace start the Ref brings them back and wastes more time. Sometimes I think the Ref wants all the glory and imposes themselves all too often. This standing still and no touching the tapes at the start has probably made it more fairer to the purist, but it has taken away the added excitement of the starts, it has added more stoppages, and made the races more stereotyped. Give me the old starts any day..... And you wonder why all those supporters don't come any more.......

In the last 6yrs I have seen NKI ride many times. During that period he has shown to me, and everyone else, that he is the ultimate professional. Immaculately turned out, always on time , and tries to win every race. I find it very difficult to think of a meeting he didn't try to win. Now it is he who I judge other riders by. Over the same period , I to have seen KK ride on many occasions , Sometime he is amazing and others he is useless. I am in no doubt of his ability as he has shown many times, but I also feel when the chips are down I wouldn't want to have to rely on him to survive. He appears a very moody rider, troubled probably, why is this inconsistency so evident??? Why has he let the clubs down he rides for? Why hasn't he got the reliability has other top riders???? Over the last 6 yrs NKI has out shone KK every year, that's not to say KK is not as fast , just that he has never had that consistency. I hope KK comes good , but I can't help in thinking he'll let you down. Fingers crossed.....

What a cold world you would live in if everything was Black and White. No, Loyalty is not a demand nor a condition of a contract, but it is important and generates much togetherness, confidence,, connection with the fans , responsibility, all attributes that encourages fans to go and watch. I am sure Holder has shown a lot of Loyalty to Poole over the years, as have Poole shown to Holder. In this case there wasn't enough loyalty to overcome certain issues, but don't let this make people think that 'Loyalty Means Nothing' because its an important virtue in everyone's life.........

It would be wrong of anybody to run GM down. Over the years they have been the mainstay of our sport. But in saying that, we have to believe that making racing cheaper has to be the prioritive of any league. It has been well herald the costs the riders need to pay to be competitive, so any chance of a big saving has to be considered. If the performances of Freddie Lindgren was attained from a sealed unit, one has to be impressed. I hate to think of the tuning costs over the years that riders pay, money that is lost to the sport forever. Listening to Holder opinion when asked he replied, It was important to be confident of his machinery when competing in big meetings. Going there with a used engine wouldn't install the same feelings he got from a specially prepared one...... That was a fair comment..... So obviously a mental factor is there to be considered as well. Probably we have reached the time when the machinery used in the leagues to those used in the SGP have to be different. If a rider could use these sealed units for a whole season, for a one off cost of £4000, then they have to be considered...,.. . Maybe some will change their Christmas present list. . Merry Xmas to you all.......