Steve Shovlar

Looking at the other teams, I seriously can’t see past us making it a hat trick of titles, injury dodging accepted. Think we are just going to be too strong again, though it could be tougher than this year. Experience at the top, the Cooks very likely to improve, Jack Thomas on a bargain average, and our experienced reserves who should see off the majority of their opposition fairly easily. Backed up by management who are very good at getting the best out of the riders. Happy New Year to all Pirates fans. I believe another successful season awaits. Is there another club in this league capable of giving us a proper challenge?

It’s always interesting how others view the Poole team. To me we look a notch above all other teams. No weak link like last season. Two top performers, two young Aussies who improved massively as last season progressed, an up and coming Brit at number two who proved his capabilities at Oxford last season and two experienced riders at reserve capable of whipping the arses of most of the other named reserves. I get the feeling that many on here don’t yet realise the full potential of the Cook brothers and view them as 5-6 point average riders easily beaten by their counterparts. If that’s the case I see why some are viewing the Poole team as not looking special.

It’s like saying there’s no home advantage at Belle Vue when clearly there is masses of it.

1. Poole - If the rumoured team is correct, Pirates will be the team to beat again. I am taking it as read we all know the expected lineup. Top two are number ones and pretty rock solid. The Cook brothers improved beyond expectations. Ben Cook rode like a heat leader and still has plenty more to show. Zach was very impressive from mid season onwards. Both riding the Premiership will give them even more track time. Jack Thomas is a steal on a sub 5 average. And if it is Kyle Newman and Adam Roynon at reserve, they will have the beating of the majority of their rivals. After the first set of GS I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kyle and Jack swap places. 2. Redcar - Looks a very good lineup. Strong heat leaders in Riss, Wright and King. The second strings are not as solid as Poole’s. James Shanes lives in Dorset so a long way to go for home meetings. Hume still has a little more to give. The reserves are not as strong as Poole’s. Edwards likely to swap with Shanes. Weak at 7. 3. Plymouth - Strongest team they have ever had and likely to go through the fixture list unbeaten at home. Will hand out some thrashings as well, meaning they will pick up lots of aggregate points. Howarth, Worrall and Barker are good heat leaders and Starke is on a bargain average. Gilkes returns from injury but showed great form around Plymouth before he hurt himself. On his travels not so good but lots of room to improve. Reserve Trigger looks a weak link and it depends who the final name is. The worry for other teams is keeping it close at Plymouth to be in with a chance of progressing in the playoffs. Plymouth could get an Exeter sized home advantage and the new points system is in their favour. 4. Glasgow - A good looking team, but not title favourites for me. Harris, Basso and especially Brennan are very good. But CH is not young and for BB this league is not his priority. Brennan has lots to give though. Vissing is well past his sell by date. Nowak should be solid at home, but away? Not so sure and Poland his priority. Complin is a very decent reserve. Pjiper will struggle away. 5. Oxford - Good heat leaders in Masters, Kerr and Nicholls. Masters likely to top the league averages again. Kerris good around Cowley. Scotty is now in the very twilight of his excellent career. Is this one season too many? Hopefully not. Heeps is a poor signing imo. Has done nothing in the last couple of seasons and surprised he got a berth. Dan Thompson would have been a much better option but team building points clearly gave Heeps the gig. Atkins and Killeen are very weak reserves. 6. Edinburgh - Not as good as lasts years lineup imo. Cook and Pickering are solid heat leaders but CC is not the rider of a few seasons ago. Thomson, Fredericksen and Castagna are at their level and can go AWOL at times. Hook and Bickley are decent reserves and better than several clubs. Not a team to challenge. 7. Scunthorpe. Ryan Douglas is a great number one, but he lacks backup. Allen and Palm-Toft blow hot and cold. Mountain is far better than his average and should be a solid second string/third heat leader. Lambert is what he is, a second second string, and could well be swapping places with Kennedy at reserve. Joe Thompson is a decent number 7 and should improve. 8. Berwick - Jorgensen, Flint and Schlein will find the going tough against other clubs heat leaders. Flint is really a second string and Rory has had a year out. He sold all his gear so new machinery which could help or hinder him. Knudsen is a good second string with a future. Etheridge is at his level. Coles and Stoneman could both struggle against other reserves. 9. Birmingham - Nick Morris is a good number one, but the rest of the team are journeymen, and I can’t see them getting off the bottom of the league. Each on their day will have decent/good meetings but up against the top teams should be beaten handsomely. I know that Brum have a limited budget but success brings in good crowds. A losing team and fans stay away. Getting the balance right is important and Brum are a heat leader short of that. I wish them well. Poole the team to beat. But the real danger is the team Plymouth have built to get a huge home advantage. It would not surprise me to see 55-60+ scored at Plymouth on a regular basis which would be devastating to other teams in a playoff situation. Of course this prediction doesn’t take into account any injuries which May/will occur to teams during the course of the season. Roll on March and let’s enjoy!

Interesting fact. Jack Thomas only ran 4 last places in 2022 on his home track. All four were against Poole. In the first meeting he had bike issues in his first two but came out with 8 from his last three. He then made an attempt to come back from his wrist injury in the B fixture which resulted in two last places before being withdrawn. Looks like a rider who once dialled in can be a real force on his home track. Needs more consistency away from home and if he stays clear of injury could be very popular quickly with Poole fans. A sub 5 average needs to be improved or he will be at reserve after the first GS.

Excellent show tonight with lots of interesting questions answered.

Jack Thomas officially announced.

https://youtu.be/-6FuoJvLY1o

A very nice guy and I have had a few chats with Adam last couple of seasons. He was touted as a future star at the start of his career but had some horrendous smashes which basically wrecked his opportunities. Was out of the sport for quite a long time. Possibly a real bargain at reserve compared to other clubs.

Matt never has been a hairdresser. He owned a hair salon. That’s it.

If Newman is at reserve he will do very well against many of the other reserves so far signed. The chances are he would move up and swap with Jack Thomas who could be one of our second strings. He won’t swap with Zach Cook who has shown his ability and is likely to improve considerably further in 2023.

Steam it from your iPhone/iPad to your smart tv.

I have asked Steve W a few questions after a meeting and he has been very chatty and friendly and no way aloof. Perhaps before a meeting he has his serious head on and can come across as studious, but I have found him very approachable once the races are run.

Think this shows clubs can perhaps generate more funds through BSN pass than what they get from Eurosport.

There’s more chance Keleher signing for Plymouth than Poole. In fact no chance for Poole after his antics in the Pirates colours. Don’t think there will be any surprises for the lower end of the Poole team next season.

I wish those looking for a new home for speedway in the Somerset area every success in their endeavours. But being realistic we know that every site “discovered: will have others clambering over it to build unites/houses and are likely to outbid a speedway promotion. it would be nice/great to be proved wrong and a team in Somerset be revived after the previous Somerset promotion grabbed the £££ when they got the opportunity,

But honest and realistic.

Wish them well. Finding a bit of land though is virtually impossible, as Edinburgh found out. It there’s land that can get planning, it will attract others with deeper pockets.

If it’s the 1-7 I have now been told, it isn’t very exciting and I would expect changes through the season. A team to do well enough for the playoffs and a team within a certain budget.

It’s not Dan Thompson.

I am normally savvy to the lineup early but admit I have had so much on my plate at the moment I am not savvy to the 1-7 for next season. I can take an educated guess and name 5 of the 7. I don’t think there will be any surprises or shocks. The top two will maintain. The next two brothers will improve. One will improve slightly and the remaining two will hold their own. Will be enough to walk into the playoffs. Hearing rumours that Glasgow are out bidding everyone else in their desperation to win the league. If true, then I hope their fans turn out in big enough numbers to cover the expense.

Dan Thompson is an option. Think he is a little better than his sibling. Struggled at Poole so far but he is very young and an improver. Would soon get dialled into Poole and start scoring decent points. I would not mind his inclusion. However. Away from home he struggles and that might not change next season. I think we need riders who already have experience of all tracks and can score home and away. Perhaps three pretty average riders who will just do what is expected of them. What we don’t need is a rider who doesn’t or is unlikely to score. Nathan tried so hard but lost the race in the first 30 metres most of the time. He has a future though and I wish him well. Drew beat himself up everytime he failed to win and it got to the stage where his depression became too much. His own worst enemy. Needs a mentor and a sports psychologist. Both Cooks will improve again. Plenty of improvement in both. The step up for both to the PL will no doubt help as long as they stay clear of injury.

No expenses for the Poole promotion in finding accommodation and a workshop. Lives 20 mins from track. Knows the track and if he brings his best would do a good job at reserve. Knows all the tracks.

Thinking a different rider no one has mentioned at reserve who knows the Poole track, rode for us for years and lives locally.

All this talk of Rew but I just can’t see it. He is based in Poland.