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If you say so, are you a regular?? The figures have been quoted in the local press down the years for various meetings, when the crowds been big and low, having been at virtually every home meeting for almost 30 years now I’d say I have a pretty good grasp of the numbers. from the start of last season being back in the top flight I’d argue there was 2-300 more on the terraces right from the start, from a handful of meetings into the season that had increased further due the success the team was having on track, in addition to this rather than typical one or maybe two of the sponsor boxes being in use 3 or 4 were used pretty much every meeting, will all of them full for the playoffs, we consistently had 1300-1500 in the championship peaking at close to 3000 in championship playoff meetings, so I don’t think my estimations are far out at all all the best

Ipswich get at least 1500 as a minimum I’d say and most meetings last season were 2000-2500+

He is tall, and in my experience when watching him on smaller tighter tracks where you have to turn the bike hard, he looks awkward and uncomfortable as anything on the bike because his bloody long left leg is in the way!

None of them are 6ft3/6ft4 though are they? And let’s face it hans Nielsen was a generational talent. i remember a few seasons ago reading a big interview with Nicki pedersen, part of that interview was talking all about fitness and keeping in shape etc through the season, he referenced being an ideal height and weight for speedway, he said he had gone up and down a little in weight over the years and felt 72kg was the absolute optimum weight for a speedway rider, he went into detail explaining his fitness regime, explained that when he was heavier he was giving away speed but also when a bit lighter than that he wasn’t as strong and also didn’t have the weight to get as much drive, it was quite interesting I thought. now obviously it’s a lot easier to be strong and lean at 72kg if your a Nicki, tai, zmarzlik, madsen etc. build than if you are much bigger, and at 6ft3 for example which is how tall say AJ and K. Andersen are, there’s no way you can be strong and healthy at that kind of weight at their height, so you’re always giving away some advantage. I know this isn’t the be all and end all but a few kg either side will make a big difference especially at the top of the sport the Grand Prix where the margins are so small. I’d point out niels, zagar and doyle as some of the taller current gp riders, to me these guys always look to keep themselves exceptionally light for their build. its interesting in all 4 wheeled motorsports the minimum weight takes into account combined weight of car and driver - whereas in speedway only the bike has to meet a minimum weight restriction. I don’t particularly follow superbike/MotoGP closely so don’t know how it works there perhaps my original remark came across not quite how I intended, I don’t think it’s impossible to hit the top end of the sport being tall, I just think it’s a hinderance, I’d also pose the question, are many of the riders people have referenced actually that tall or do they just appear tall on a speedway bike as many riders are actually quite small? 5’7 5’8 etc. Then someone 5’10 5’11 looks tall on a bike, like say doyle for example whereas Andersen the rider I originally referenced I believe is more like 6’3 6’4 which imo makes it a lot harder being that big! That said whenever I’ve seen him race he’s given a big effort and improved every time I’ve seen him race!

He’s too tall imo, this being a problem is accentuated on the smaller uk tracks where you’re turning tighter, and grippier tracks too, harder to deal with a higher centre of gravity Can’t think of many tall riders that have managed to overcome this and reach higher levels - Andreas jonsson being the standout I can think of reaching no.2 in the world

It’s not just one meeting at British final though, he’s been on ippo radar for a while now having guested a few times and been superb giving his absolute all! agree with taps this announcement suggests to me Chris holder will be getting his visa, otherwise would’ve likely been down the more strength in depth route with a stronger second reserve than Danny and a weaker rider than holder Edit: Doolan isn’t even riding full time this year is he!? As he’s started as a firefighter now

I think so yes, iversen won some races against opposing heat leaders that i don’t think any of the others would’ve done to get us over the line and into the playoffs and playoff final

I’ve see Chris Holder fly around Foxhall in the past, Foxhall is also pretty different shape to monmore

True and if the holder rumours come to fruition and he’s on 7.16 with klindt on 7.43 it’s not the strongest top two but still pretty decent and still allows for stronger reserves

Probably but you never know *incidentally having just looked with a reduction sarjeant would be 3.18!

Klindt heeps king a pole who never said he’s not riding uk this year an Aussie world champ allen 3.18

Yet many claim there’s no difference between the two leagues!

Wouldn’t win all our home meetings with that side imo, teams with a strong top end like Swindon for example would come and keep it close by getting lots of 3-3’s and the odd 4-2 and then hts 13-15 would have a clear advantage and turn us over

Wooden spoon

That was said last year....we did ok!

Pretty sure that given the choice Chris Louis prefers to get everything done and then announce the whole team together

Time will tell, if he starts the season fully fit unlike this year he should be an improvement next season

Apologies thought you were comparing berge to auty. for what it’s worth don’t think there’s a lot of difference in wells and auty level tbh

That’s fair, if berge is better on your home track then makes sense you ride half your meetings there, ironically I have seen berge ride owlerton once and he had a poor meeting that night! still maintain that berge may be talented but has never reached the same levels of consistency as josh, he was signed at Belle Vue with everyone expecting him to score well there and didn’t really do it

Berge is toilet, he’s always been toilet 3,0,0,1,0 is his usual, auty may not be the best rider but he’s been a consistent 7.5-8.5 rider in second tier for 8+ years now berge has never shown anything like that kind of consistency

Tbf we could do a lot worse than greaves as a 3 point man at the bottom, rides Foxhall well! i for sure thought haertel looked like he had some talent, very big lad for a speedway rider though, what sort of average would huckenbeck be on?

Jan kvech, Fred Jacobsen, Jonas jeppesen would be three I’d be after all good prospects

I’d imagine berntzon would be assessed at 6.5, quite an experienced international rider now

Massively improved his consistency over past two seasons though - hence his significant increase in average, can actually make starts too a rare trait for anyone in a witches suit

How can you go backwards from stone last in the league?