STEVEHOLS54

Think Bailey has now earned first choice over a young Dane in his Danish Team, so Wed may be an issue on fixture clashes plus he can get 5/6 rides per meeting in their 6 man teams. He now has POL U24 every other Tue I think. DK Wed - Also now qualified for the SGP 2 finals which I believe are another 3 meetings. would love to see him over here but more likely in 2027 as both Prem & Champ will want him and would not surprise me if its B.Vue & Poole who share his services. Especially considering the Poole/B.Vue rider connection the last 5 plus years.

I fear he will try & battle on even though probably not fit to. He also must need income with little to nothing coming in via his racing. I think he knows he may be on his last chance to make it work in Europe. He has in the main been shunned in POL/SWE/DK and I wonder anyway how many UK teams would have gone for him after the end of last seasons behaviour. I think a lot will feel that at best this guy is a 4 or max 5 pointer even if fit which would tie in with how he was performing in POL. He didn't impress in their U24 League and progresed even less when appearing in their lower league/s. Personally I think its only Cairns & Rushen over performing which is keeping him in the team but that option will go as they both move into the main team and they lose the option to replace his rides when required. The Ford's may just persevere with him rather than pay for a better overseas option in the hope they can get away with it, but I am not convinced and just hope he doesn't cost the club trophy wise.

My fear is that Poole have benefited greatly from having the option of Rushen & Cairns having the ability to get 5/6/7 rides as reserves. If and when Cairns were to go in the main team we then have newman and Bowes as reserves. Newman maybe can get points but I have no faith in Bowes even competing 4/5 races let alone get the points to even match his reserve standing. For me he is another of those riders who thinks he is better than he is, and while I have sympathy for his injuries, his form abroad over 5 years was enough to convince me he was not an improver. He is riding more like a 3.5 point rider based on 2026 scores, hence why I feel they should look to sign a promising 5 pointer (if they can get one in) rather than just keep on persevering until he drops below 5. Someone like 21 year old James Pearson who is getting scores better than Bowes has achived when he was over there.

I don't think Poole will win any trophies this season whiler Bowes is in the team. It's been a tale of injuries/falls and equipment plus poor rides that have led to this. His career in 5 years in POL/SWE has gone nowhere. He has not progressed and last season it went downhill. There is no real demand for the guy in those Countries and this season he only got into a POL squad late and even then not a first choice rider. I feel he is at a place in his career that if he fails at Poole them maybe he won't even get a plaCe in UK speedway either. Meaning back to Aussie as plenty before him have. I questioned his appointment even before he was officially announced. At 25 you think he is still young but remember he has been doing the Euro circuit since 2021` and has not progressed. The question is do they empty him while he is still on a 5 point av as it allows the Fords more scope to sign a more exciting recruit from around Europe. I just hope they don't just let it drag on until he drops below that. Even at reserve i would have no trust in the guy doing well. I also hope the Fords don't just keep perservering irrespectrve just to save money. Would love to proved wrong but 5 years of his statistice don't lie.

IF Bowes could be out for up to 8 weeksw where does that put Poole in regards to replacement/s. Are Cairns & Cairns allowed to cover that whole period, if not for how long. Read on Google AI that a pierced lung and fluid on the lung can clear in as little as 2 weeks but that would seem maybe unrealistic if you are planning to race again so quickly after the injury. Then there is his back. I wonder if it is a long period, would Bailey maybe reconsider UK bearing in mind he is not getting many opportunities overseas. His DK Team only used him for one match so far seemingly giving preference to home talent Villards Pedersen. Even in last nights postponed match after Bewley's seriour injury. His POL Team Grudiatz havent seen fit not to include him in their first team again favouring more local young riders. That only leaves their U24 Team where they have only ridden 2 matches in the new 4 team U24 format on Tuesdays. He rode in both. I wonder if a combo of Cairs/Rushen for as long as possible or for a while and a later introduction of Bailey would be possible. In a way I feel for Bowes but you have to question how he is having so many crashes in Aussie/UK. Could be bad luck. So frustrating as well considering how well he rode in those 2 races up to the point of his latest fall.

I do but not every article printed over Speedway PL and Sportowefakty daily. Thanks for clarification which explains why. At least gave him a chance to get some more laps on a bike. I wonder how long the eye injury will keep him out.

I have openly stated I am not a Bowes Fan. However would be wrong for me to start any conspiracy theories. Poole said on their site yesterday injury occured which working on his bikes in the workshop. Not been a great 5 months of 2026. Had 2 crash injuries before UK started and now this.

Poole mention on a FB post that RR in place due to an eye injury. Seen nothing mentioned elsewhere. I also thought he was due to ride in his first POL match for his new team but that didnt happen although maybe more to do with not enough time for logistics and getting equip over in time.

Newman yes but not so sure on Bowes. In theory it should help increase his GSA. If we get to that stage then it may well be a question of money as I get the feeling the Ford's won't want to pay for a foreign rider/youngster to come over with all the associated costs involved. Not in the Champ with less money involved in the sport. Problem is of course is if they stay with Bowes and his GSA does not get back to above 5 at reserve then they have kind of snookered themselves on a decent replacement. Hopefully his POL signing late this week will give him more laps to improve confidence but in all honesty I remain to be convinced. Just hope I am wrong.

I don't have the inside track for contacting the Ford's. On the other hand Clive you do as a sponsor and reasonably well connected to them for many years. I'm happy for you to pass it on. It's not that I don't like Fraser and nothing to do with what happened at Workington end of last season. I just base on analysis of his scores in Poland over 4/5 years where you would have expected improvement to secure a place in one of the POL 3 leagues. You have to ask the question why he hasn't. I assume the guru's over there must have analysed his performances statistically just I can as a fan. I hope he does improve. I wonder what Matt & Danny will do after the next 4 meetings when I believe the first real GSA's come out and if his GSA is below or well below 5.42. Unless of course they feel he may do better at reserve once Rushen or Cairns go above him on GSA's.

I am all for giving half decent riders a chance but was against Bowes signing even when he was only rumoured as going to Poole in the close season. I also gave reasons for my concerns. This guy rode Poland for 4/5 years yet his form went backwards looking at his POL U24 form and POL second Lge scores. I would say to the degree that if was had not reached the over age liimit for this this season he probably would not have been offered a berth and his 2nd Div Team didnt want him back, with the team manager having been angry at his end of season performance. No team made an offer other than a POL team who I believe may not have even come to the tapes in 2026. You would think his scores in the U24 would have shown a steady improvement over the seasons but looking at them there was none over the seasons culominating with a poor 2025. Even Mitchell Cluff was above his 2 swasons running. I have seen nothing to show me he is an improver but I would love to be proved wrong. Yes he has some decent scores last year to achieve a 5 point GSA with Workington , but if he perform as he did over 4/5 seasons in Poland then I would not be surprised to see a lot more down scores than up. His scores are available in the statistics pages on POL U24 and POL Sportowe Fakty site.

Last GSA in 2024 was 5.51 or 6.29 incl BP. (so he fits) Still only 20 and will ride in POL U24 and in POL Lge 2 in 2026, Better rider imo than Bowes or Hook and still improving. Smart move if the Fords could convince him and Middlo can offer him a place to stay. His POL Exl side gave him a 5 year contract when he first went there which is saying something.

I get the impression he turned down Poole offer due to his commitment to developing in POL & DK. We have to remember he is not only in Grudiatz U24 team (Tue) but is also named as one of the U21 Overseas riders for the main POL EXL side (Sundays) as well as riding DK on a Wed which they can drive to. Maybe at recently turned 16 they don't want to overload him flying in and out of UK on different days of the week and especially DK which may prejudice his team selection (Wed) and let's be honest its a much stronger Lge than UK Champ. If he progresses as I forsee he has a big future and only right he should develop amongst the best riders and in the U24 the best young riders. We may have to see such talent miss UK anyway as from 2027 the POL have changed the rules again allowing only ONE addl Lge outside of the POL EXL. For sure in almost all cases it will be POL and SWE or DK, especially as they can drive compared to having to fly. So Tue (POL U24) - Wed drive to DK and then drive back for POL (Sun). I am also excl all the SGP 2 qualifiers and meetings which nearly all on the Continent plus other Indiv meetings he may pick up if he shows his obvious talent.

Going to be interesting to see where they would fill that hole from what is left available. Don't think the Fords would be happy to invest in a recognised overseas talent now they are in Champ. Not that many would want to take Champ money and a strict wage policy that the Fords have allegedly. Hopefully that question will be answered before Xmas.

Yes - But its opinions which helps keep the forum going 🙂. Its difficult to criticise the Fords with what they have achieved with Poole over the years. However that doesn't mean we have to agree with their chosen teams prior to season starting. At least expressing an opinion cultivates healthy discussion on the Poole Forum. Especially in the dank miserable winter close season 🙂