Roger Jacobs

aka: Helmut Hayfever Also: Vladimir Kalina Dawid Stachyra (a controversial choice for some, but was of no value to the EL - and has again proved it at Poole, where their fans are calling for him to be booted out). Weather looking over Foxhall towards Ispwich: bright, with approx five tenths cloud. Extremely windy! Currently a "sandstorm" of topsoil blowing off the fields across houses on Martlesham Heath and the A12. Forecast showers, but I can't imagine it will be off unless there's heavy rain later.

Witches best score at EWR is 37 (not counting artifical joker increases), so it's not easy to be optimistic. Hopefully a good victory at Foxhall will set them up for a better performance away, with Barker a better #1 than in previous visits, and Ellis has ridden there before (a rarity for him). Tungate & Heeps (sounds like a detective duo) are in decent form - so the focus will be on Risager & Lanham to deliver a few points more than they have before, and Makinen to deliver anything.

Apologies (one p) to Redcar for clogging up your thread but, given the recent fuss about Philpott, the use of arson fire is in the most extremely poor taste (and I've always thought that, but the murderer just proves it). It's not a clever play on words, it's an illegal and dangerous act. That's unfair. Jenga was trolled.

T'would be good to say hello. I'll be loitering by the turnstiles, so you're welcome to tap me on the shoulder. I'm told we will be graced by the presence of Mr Snackette, and the Special One may well be there too. I'll accept payments either from you or from them to not reveal their identities . Of course, Her Majesty Crazy Sue, the Queen of Live Updates is also a Foxhall regular, so is another personality you can add to your autograph album. PS: Just checked last year's PL match - suddenly remembered why I had forgotten it: the Sackers Witches three "heat leader" scores were Lanham 2, Doolan 0, North 4 (+2 artifical joker points) - eight last places between them.

From the Ipswich Website: "As part of getting the fans behind the riders this year we would like encourage the comeback of banners on the terraces. So if you used to bring a banner with either the team name or your favourite rider on it then dig it out and bring it along. If not then please design one and help us cover the terracing with banners to help cheer the Witches on! There will be a prize at the May Bank Holiday meeting for the best banner and also one at the end of the season. So make it big & bold and give us a 'W'!" Expected line-ups: Sackers Witches: Barker, Makinen, Tungate, Risager, Lanham, Ellis, Heeps Henderson Insurance Scorpions: Auty, Howe, Palm Toft, Birks, Jorgensen, Bates, Douglas The Palm Toft / Birks partnership could be a fascinating to watch, because they both chose somewhat erratic racing lines in their appearances at Foxhall last season, and may even collide as they weave down the back straight. No idea about Auty - he might be good or he might fall off. Howe rides Ipswich very well, as does the ever-smiling Jorgensen. Bates and Douglas will be making their competitive debuts - as too we hope (third time lucky) will Makinen . Although I always remember them as the Saints or Stags - it's worth noting that Scunthorpe are the only team in the UK whose name contains an epithet which BSF members (particularly followers of Ipswich) apply to Aljack/Jackal . Witches to win.

Illegal and dangerous are two words to associate with Arson Fire.

My reply was to the comment that changes are made in other sports, and the fact it is more difficult in speedway simply because there aren't squads, reserve teams, etc. and also, genuinely, finances. I know it's stating the obvious, but it's true. In a previous post I did make it clear that I think Sedgmen would be a good replacement. I have also said that I think Stefan Nielsen would have been a better bet in the starting line-up, i.e. even before we saw Makinen ride. Maybe Makinen would be more suited to Leicester, where his sponsors are, and they need to replace the clearly out of his depth Simon Nielsen.

Where in the above is DW having a go at the track - all he has done is made a factual statement that Glasgow have too many riders who can't ride the track, or have never been there. The only implied criticism is of the Tigers themselves.

That applies to every promoter, at every track. Well said.

But this is British speedway, where just about every type of resource is limited.

Duplicated post edited.

Not on the pace. He had one scoring ride on Thursday when he beat Tom Perry, but in his next one Perry passed him with ease. Sadly, we've heard that Makinen has had a major family issue which can't have helped - so it's a difficult one for Chris Louis: do you give the rider the chance to ride through it, or tell him to take a break (knowing he will be playing even more catch-up when he returns), or tell him he's out ... A difficult decision for any employer. PS: I the cold light of day, a move for Sedgmen seems a very good option - he told me just before he decided to go home in 2011 that he would love to ride for Ipswich. Of course, the Aussie seems to have his own 'history', but if he's happy somewhere he could be very good.

Ellis rode at the SBA in the Under-21 qualifier - so he has got more experience there than a virtually any other circuit Plymouth preview here: http://plymouthdevils.co/article-3.html Pete Simmons tweeted recently that they had reached Bristol and it's dry.

I wouldn't say just one rider. The Rabbles played their part in a very entertaining meeting. Both teams were clearly fired-up, but it was the Witches who were much more composed in their approach. The Witches were not flying - only 8 from Barker, and Makinen really struggling. As already pointed out, the 6 artifical joker points made it look a lot closer than it was. From my perspective, the Rabbles were comparatively disappointing last night, and didn't really function as a team. The Witches showed a real edge to their performance that was missing too much last season, coupled with a maturity to their racing - if they can hang on to that combination, they will be a good team in a competitive league.

Excellent victory by the Sackers Witches, who confounded me too with a genuinely determined display (aptly described by Jaybea as showing real "gusto"). If they can win with Barker only scoring 8, then that's not a bad effort. Last season, especially after conceding a 1-5 in Heat 1 they would have struggled. Overall, the Witches not only rode with gusto, but they rode sensibly and within themselves, whereas, in the cold light of day, a couple of the Rebels were trying too hard. Davies has been in great form, but has not had a happy time at Foxhall. In Heat 1 he was perilously close to the fence a couple of times and when he tried to pass Heeps in 8, he hit the first bend way, way, way too quickly. It was a fearsome fall, because he was thrown hard onto the track, but hopefully he's only shaken up. Nielsen, who everyone was really looking forward to watching, never lasted a whole race, and got himself in a tangle several times. He rode well to lead Heat 11, and tried to get in Lanham's way to bring Doyle through - but ended up making an awful hash of the first bend - thankfully Lanham had chosen an outside line. Of the other Rabbles: Perry worked really hard for his points and produced good passes of Makinen and Heeps (I think he shocked Heeps in 12 by finding some real drive on the 4th bend, 3rd lap). Grajczonek had an ordinary meeting. Newman never has a consistent night at Foxhall - he was passed in fine style by Heeps in 10, and then fell trying a big outside run when chasing, and was also passed by Ellis in 14. Morris didn't get going in Heat 4, and was definitely behind Heeps when Nielsen fell - although challenging a few seconds later when Dan Holt realised the red lights had to go on. After that Morris looked really quick, but when you get to 13 & 15, someone has to come third and last. He was off gate 4 both times - and that outside gate still looks a tough draw (16 points tonight). Doyle really is rather good at Foxhall! I'm sure it was a chain that snapped at the start in Heat 5 - he definitely went over to gate 4 after the race and picked something up. As for the last heat, you could see Doyle's frustration after the race - should he have tried to hold Tungate up to get Morris through? We will never know. For the Sackers Witches: Barker - disappointing, if truth be told - didn't look quick. In the "interval" after Haet 8, he was interviewed by Kevin Long and said he's happy and really pleased to be at Ipswich - just needs to get himself sorted out. Maybe the return to the SBA tomorrow will be a kick-start for him. Makinen - poor bloke is playing catch-up already - I don't know what to say. He's sure to be given more chances - so hopefully he can pick up some points at the SBA tomorrow and against Scunthorpe next week - otherwise, the pressure really will be on to find a replacement. Tungate - excellent. Named as Man Of the Match by sponsors Collier & Catchpole, and rightly so. Such a good motorcyclist, with a very good racing brain too. I spoke to him afterwards and he knew what was needed in the final heat - he said that he settled for second place and just concentrated on that. Works really hard on the first bend, and also produced a measured pass of Davies in 5. Risager - 8 from 4 at home is fine. A couple of good heat wins, and also looked determined when behind, trying different lines. Lanham - ditto above. Beaten on the line by Morris in 13, which will have annoyed him - another bit of a muddle while Barker was looking to help. I didn't see it, but apparently the hand he hurt at Soemrset is still a bit of a mess. Ellis - what a talented lad! Had to work really hard in Heat 2 when in second place, with Nielsen buzzing around. Good third place in Heat 11 (off gate 4 and ahead of Nielsen). Topped it with a clean-as-a-whistle pass of Newman in 14, when the pressure was on. Amazing to think he's been riding competitive speedway for less than a year - and has barely any PL experience. Heeps - another composed and clever young rider. Not spectacular, but quietly scoring good points. He may move to #2, but I'm sure he can take it in his stride - literally bounced back from being carted-off by Davies to get a valuable point in Heat 10. Well deserved victry for the Witches, who showed the overall determination that was often missing last year, and were rewarded by riding their luck and earning the points with some quality and thoughtful racing.

I don't think you're the sort of bonus the riders would like

And Nielsen. Newman's form at Foxhall is literally up and down. Davies has had some really poor matches, but is in much better form now and probably a lot more confident. Grajczonek ought to be a match for Lanham/Risager/Tungate. Overall, very tough for the home team. My biggest concern is that the Witches don't seem to have a "killer instinct" (hate that phrase, but can't think of a better way to say it).

Rain overnight, which isn't such a bad thing, and it is supposed to be clear(ish) for the rest of the day.

Just for the heck of it, here's my programme piece for this week: ------- Removed.

Expected line-ups: Sackers Witches: Barker, Mäkinen, Tungate, Risager, Lanham, Ellis, Heeps Cases Rebels: Doyle, Davies, Gracjzonek, Newman, Morris, Nielsen, Perry Likely result: Rebels to win by 6, maybe even 10.

33 points (+4 artificial joker points) is a poor effort by the Witches. It's easy to say they are rusty, but Somerset also have only had a couple of matches. I don't think Ipswich fans will be as tolerant as they have been in recent years.

Not in 1-5 results though - it may as well be a last, especially three in one match, which is obviously a net -12 deficit. It's clear though that if Makinen doesn't get going quickly, then the fans will be calling for a change. I'd like to think the Sackers Witches can do enough to get a point tonight, but the Rabbles are clear favourites - not just for this match but for the PL.

There were actually puddles at Martlesham when I left off at 18:00ish, and it is soooooo cold! It was chilly this morning, but everything seemed OK, then suddenly ...

A tough match, with the Devils looking much more balanced than previous visits. Be interesting to see what Kling does at this level. No frost last night. We've had some light snow flurries this morning, but nothing drastic. It will be very cold!

LOL! Better quality all round :-)