Steve Irving

.

In your opinion it’s nonsense, in MY opinion, it isn’t. As I said, we’ll agree to disagree. There’s been far too many riders over the years to mention that have come out and said riding different size tracks was good for their careers and improved them as riders. Moving from the NSS would be a breath of fresh air for him. You disagree because you see him as a Belle Vue rider and nothing else and don’t want him to move.

Totally disagree. Personally I think it would do him the world of good to have Ipswich or Leicester as him home track. Cardiff is nothing like Ipswich. IMO he needs a move away from the NSS. Agree to disagree on this one.

Probably a completely different take when you’re watching sat up in the stands, compared to actually standing on it. It’s a very nice compliment to Ipswich either way. It was some occasion, an occasion we haven’t seen the like of anywhere here for a number of years. Fair play to them.

They’d be neither “tapping up” or “poaching” Dan Bewley. Dan Bewley is not currently Belle Vue’s rider. He’s a free agent and can negotiate with whomever he likes, and Chris Louis can do likewise. Mark Lemon can enter negotiations with Tom Brennan if he wishes, or Jason Doyle, or any 2025 Ipswich witches rider come to that. He’d be doing absolutely nothing wrong. No tapping up or poaching needed.

Don’t let anyone on here tell you ever again that winning the title is “worthless” and “means nothing”. Of course it means something to a lot of people, and not just the fans. He probably won’t go anywhere, but he SHOULD IMO. Mike makes some great points. He’s not adding strings to his bow by pinning the throttle and riding the boards at the NSS every week. He seems to have only one way of riding and does the same in the GP’S. Again Mike is correct, he’s been passed multiple times on the inside because of his lack of track craft. He would improve as a rider tenfold by riding Ipswich every week or a track similar. One where he’d simply HAVE to adapt and learn to ride different lines if he wanted to pile in the points and earn good money. No time for patting yourself on the back and dwelling on your success. Thoughts should, and would, already be fixed on next year. Ipswich now have a couple of riders on averages they shouldn’t really touch. King started on an attractive figure because of his wrist issues last year which saw his performances dive. He’s had a good steady year which has seen that average rise and now has an average that Ipswich shouldn’t go near if they want to be successful. Surely now is the perfect time for him to bow out at Ipswich on a high note after lifting the title as captain? Unfortunately, you can say the same about Dan Thompson. Started on a ridiculously low figure due to a 25% reduction, has piled in the points at reserve, but has struggled a little when moving in to the main body. Now on a 6+ average, he wouldn’t be at reserve next year. Still young of course, but I’m not sure I’d have him in the main body of the side on that figure. Certainly doesn’t scream “bargain”.

Well done Tigers Lad 👍🏻

Totally agree. Same with Leicester too though. If they manage to pull this off from here then in my opinion it’ll be an incredible achievement even bigger than Sheffield pulling back an 18 point deficit a couple of years ago. The downpour and conditions made it a farce and without question affected the outcome of that final. Ipswich hadn’t lost by more than 18 in the two previous league meetings there that year under normal conditions. But with the weather not a factor here, if Leicester manage to win at Foxhall by six or more then it’ll go down as one of the greatest achievements in Speedway. I personally can’t see it and I think it’s going to take an Ipswich heatleader to crash out of the meeting in their first ride or something similar, for Leicester to prevail. They’re going to need a helping hand and although It’s not likely, these things CAN happen. It’s speedway after all.

Oh I agree and Emil conceded that himself. Just saying he was unfortunate because although he caught a bit of unseen grip, Douglas had almost ground to a halt in front of him which gave Emil nowhere to go but in to him. He was unlucky.

Tbf to Leicester, it’s not likely to be a great atmosphere when it’s the away team doing all the overtaking.

Firstly they ARE walking the league. They pi$$ed the semi final and they’ll pi$$ the final. Secondly, no not everyone DOES get injuries. Some are more fortunate than others. It’s pretty unfortunate to lose not just one, but your TWO most important riders at the exact same time isn’t it? Ipswich lost the biggest weapon in the entire league when Thompson got injured. At reserve, he was scoring heatleader points on a regular basis. And Doyle had started the season very well after almost a year out, until he dislocated his hip and hasn’t been the same rider since.

We were robbed of more box office action there! I’ve no doubt Emil would have hunted down those in front of him the way he was going. May not have caught Fricke this time, but would have certainly put him under pressure as he was far quicker all night. Emil was a bit unfortunate actually. Douglas locked up in front of him and made it difficult for Emil to avoid him.

Or simply beaten by a better side? Ipswich have a stronger team than Leicester, it’s pretty simple really.

Really? They won by 8 at your place earlier on in the season! In fact they were beating just about everybody until they lost Doyle and Thompson in the space of a few days which punctured the Ipswich tyres. Neither Doyle nor Thompson have actually been the same since those injuries either. Thompson was going like a train and riding like a seasoned heat leader until he broke his wrist. Hasn’t hit those heights since and neither has Doyle. That could have provided an opportunity for others, but the strength of the side means they still looks like comfortably coming out on top.