Pinny

Thats funny as last season the line up was pretty good. Wright, Parker, Barker, Nermark, Fisher, Iversen, Howe, Screen and Smart as well as the 7 Wasps that started the season. THat is a top field for an opening individual event, as well as the home riders for the home fans you have 8 top performers there (and Lee Smart ) which I think is a good field.

In fairness though, it was only 5 years ago that Correy was riding PL speedway. A big name from the past who hasnt raced for a bit longer would surely flock the crowds in and the reason I suggested Penhall or Moran (or both ) was because both seem to be involved in the production of the young americans these days.

Something I was wondering the other day... would a big, old name from the USA taking part in their tour be a bigger attraction for fans? Imagine the size of the crowds if, say, Penhall or Shawn Moran took part. I know its unlikely, but has it been looked into?

He may of said that but he has also compared Somersets stadium to Plymouths and from what I have seen and heard, Somerset is streets ahead.

Somersets stadium has improved year on year in fairness... quite a few people I met at Newport from away teams claimed the Plymouth stadium was dire. £2 for a warm can of lager, bitter or cider, disgusting toilets, poor spectating areas etc. Its up to those who told me to come out and name themselves The bar at Somerset is first class, whilst IMO being a little overpriced the food is always of a good standard . I havent been to the Plymouth stadium, I am just going on what I have been told and thats from a fair few respected posters on here.

I think the point about Bowden asking for help wasnt the fact he asked for help, but that he asked them to bring their own brushes which means despite not paying the people to come and help he also wants them to splash out and buy their own brushes which in fairness does stink of tightness.

I dont see why. They have a near ten pointer (whos pretty local too), a verygood second heatleader, a young reserve in glanz who will add to his figure... this team is better than the one that ended 2011 which had 9 home wins on the bounce wasnt it? If Plymouth can maintain a good home record then thats a big improvement on 2011... I am nowhere near Bowdens biggest fan but the amount of stick he is getting regarding his team is un justified.

Ashworth isnt a gamble and if you read back, many teams would of liked to see him in their colours. Dont forget, he will be second heatleader at Plymouth. The Devils do not look that bad and it is a massive improvement on 2011's side... Bowden has many faults but he has strengthened his side for 2012.

Plymouth actually look OK... Barker and Ashworth is a very decent top two, Glanz appears to be pretty handy around there, Boxall isnt a bad rider and if Werner still has his gating head on, he wont be as bad as expected around Plymouth although I expect him to be dreadful away. There are a fair few worse teams in the PL... fact.

Fixture clashes happen all the time, it is speedway. Having these two meetings running the same day is no different to an EL club racing the same day as a GP is on.

So why should they move their event? Why can't Parker choose a different date?

Havent Swindon raced this meeting on this sunday for a couple of years now?

In fairness the addition of Doyle and Sedgmen replacing Nilsson and Davies was what turned our season around somewhat... 5 straight home defeats and then Doyle and Sedgmen signed and we ran Edinburgh and Ipswich in particular close away before beating Sheffield at home for our first home win. The signing of Gjedde for Legault was basically the icing on the cake, effectively replacing a 7 point man with a rider who went on to average in excess of 10 for the Wasps. But had we kept the same team with Gjedde for Legault (Lanham, Nilsson, Gjedde, Aspegren, Jones, Davies and Kurtz), we wouldnt have been anywhere near the force that we went on to be at the end of the season. Therefore Doyle and Sedgmen (for the first few meetings before he dropped off and was replaced by Mellgren) have just a big a part to play as Gjedde, IMO.

Your constant biting when Newport are tipped to be outside the top 6 is what is embarrasing, just let it go over your head!

Ignore NWS... his posts are embarrasing. FWIW, I reckon Edin, Sheffield and Glasgow for the bottom 3. Sheffields team stands out as being the weakest... Franc and Hall as a top two is dreadful, both third heatleaders although I suppose there could be a good argument that Franc is a second heatleader. I feel Haines is finished and Jakobsen is nothing special although he always scores well at Newport, then again until 2011 most riders did.

Pretty sure that year Korneliussen was Peterboroughs third heatleader.

I also have no idea why this topic has resurfaced quoting a post that was posted almost a year ago.

Thanks Dicey. I work quite often away from home now which limits my access to a PC at weekends which isn't much of an issue throughout the winter, it is during the season when it becomes an issue. A few people have offered help but it isn't as simple as turning a PC on an editting the site... you need to completely know what to do and you need a good feel for the site, i.e not just writing in any old colour or font. We have 3 more months to fully resolve this issue so fingers crossed.

Site is ready for 2012 season... no 2011 reports, profiles or stats will be used on the website from now on . I suggest you email Laurence Rogers if you would like a complete run down of stats.

The question is, which rider will go missing first? Werner, Glanz or Boxall?

watson and smart

Brainless team building from Silver. Could hoof out Hawkins and bring a 7.5ish rider in which would probably make Rye a top 4 side, instead they look nothing more than average. Why he persists with Bowen year on year is anyones guess.

Neil Street memorial should replace the Prince of Wales trophy at Newport in march. Our opening meeting of the season, plenty of fans want to see racing. I'm sure every top aussie would take part to pay tribute to a true sporting hero. The NYC becoming the Tim Stone Memorial is a better idea... I didn't like the man but he was the only promoter to take the risk year on year on holding this event, including in the snow, ice, rain etc, and it should be left at its rightful home in Tims honour. Also believe the racing this year would be first class on our newly laid track.

I agree that whilst the PL top end is not as strong as it was, the lower end is much stronger than before. 42.5 without bonus is not far off 45.0 with bonus, so the PL isn't weaker than before. The EL, however. Well that's a different story!

I can - its a well known fact that Polish workers come here and are happy to settle for half the price a Brit will ! I would hazard a guess that except your world class Poles, the second rate ones that Ippo and Newport for example used to sign were fairly cheap !