Steve Shovlar

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.

So Wolves have signed Zack Cook. Got themselves a great rider who will just go from strength to strength in 2023. Clearly Wolves fans don’t follow the Championship otherwise they would be cheering the signing. Give Zach a few meetings to suss out the tricky track and will be scoring very well.

Agree it would be a very strange choice of rider. But a rider can be hopeless at a track but if he rides it every week will soon find the right lines and improve.

At his age he wants to be riding every day he can.

£££ ?

Absolutely a choice. Poole management always trickle feed riders throughout the winter. Has been the way since Matt took over in 99. Pretty sure as Stevie Wonder once sort of said, the team is signed sealed and will deliver in 23.

If Danny is heading to Brum it will not be through choice. But he does ride Birmingham very, very well and as a real number one will no doubt give them some serious clout at the top,end.

So that basically confirmed Steve Worrall and Richard Lawson. Both Cooks is 4, so three riders to be named. We know that Ablitt and Drew are not likely to return. Three new riders IMO.

Let’s be honest. Other teams aspire to win a fraction of the trophies Poole have won in the Ford era. Glasgow even tried to buy most of the previous seasons Poole team but failed miserably. There’s much more to it than just putting together a decent looking side. Last season proved it. When it came down to the playoffs and end of season action no one else was even close. The bad news for the rest is that in 2023, it’s all going to be so familiar with Pirates romping it when it matters. Sad to see Danny King move on. Served us very well in his time with us. He must be gutted but with the low points limit we could never keep all three heat leaders. Good luck to him with his future club.

The last rider to get a guarantee at Poole was Greg Hancock. Riders get paid points money and any sponsorship they can garner.

That’s a pretty rubbish Berwick team. I was watching Rory at the press conference last season when he had “finished”. Everyone was,patting him on the back and saying to him to enjoy his retirement , but his body language and facial expressions gave off a completely different vibe. I always thought it was a couple of seasons too early and clearly it was. He has sat at home in Aus brooding and missing the racing. Riders are a long time retired. Clearly Rory thinks he still has enough in the tank to continue and so he is back next season. Surprised? Not in the slightest. Berwick though? A strange choice but if they have made him a decent offer, why not?

Has to be believable to work though. Why would we release our top rider, who we have just swapped Basso for, to go back to Glasgow?

Thank god Nigel Leahy has had a lot of practice with it.

Not now. Too much water under the bridge and the team is built with top heat leaders in their prime, backed up with second strings and reserves who have to put points on their starting average. As much as I like Kyle and was disappointed when he lost his place, the club has moved on.

Poole would never go with 2 two point reserves. They would be there all season, no chance of reserve swaps if one of the top 5 had an off night. Need one decent scoring reserve.

Not enough meetings. 11/12 is not enough meetings. Means many weeks with nothing going on. Should have been two home and away. Scrap group comp. Dear oh dear very poor call.

Think Danny Hume lives in Hertfordshire.

Ben Barker at 3. Danny King at 14 below Brennan. Think you need a better algorithm.

Heat 14 Drew lost most of his spokes when Thompsons footrest smashed through them.