STEVEHOLS54

Certainly hope not and puzzling to see why he has been added to the field. A 24 year old who has not been able to secure a POL regular team spot.Now shunted out to Landshut in POL 3rd Div where he achieved the 42nd best av from 10 matches and 38 rides with an av of 1.158 points per ride = 4.632 per 4 rides. That's less than the 5 point GSA he would get in UK. Definitely one to swerve IMO. I believe that this is the last season of the POL U24 league as it's been costing POL Clubs too much money to run with little in way of crowd support. There is an immense amount of young U24 riders in this league who will be looking for clubs in 2026 with rumours that some will be looking to ride in UK now that this regular Tuesday race day league will no longer be running. KJP also rode in that Lge and was 31st best in what would have been his last year this year anyway at 24. I suppose not harm giving him a run out tut honestly think there must be much better options from the pool of excellent talent in that Lge willing to look at UK for 2026. Just my opinion.

Do you mean with being led by Lawson- Rowe (already signed) - maybe Cook and then youngsters Cairns (already signed) - Rushen - Beau Bailey - Maybe Zischke if Worky doubts persist, but his GSA is borderline if we could accommodate should Zach stay, in which case maybe one of those many exciting European 5 point youngsters if the Fords want to invest.

Tate Z would be 1 point to high on points available if it is Lawson/Rowe/Zach Cook/Cairns/Bailey (4) and Rushden. I calculate 5.88 left. If that's the case cant see anything that excites at that kind of level based on latest GSA's. Glasgow have shown there are exciting Overseas youngsters out there on a 5 and Nagel has shown that and could well be their title winner. It's whether the Ford's want to dip in their pockets to help finance one of the many good ones who would be interested.

Can someone confirm if the Final GSA for Team building in 2026 is based on what it is after the final league meeting in the regular season and before the play off's. That would mean Poole Teams Final GSA's for this season will be known on the 20th Aug after the away match at Oxford. Is my understanding correct ?

Will's GSA now down to 3.74 after 7 matches. That will do nicely if the GSA AV only cover matches in regular League season (i.e 16 maches). There are 3 matches left (1 hone - 2 away) so with Poole comfortably inplay offs and good chance the would be top. I would suggest Will is told to just enjoy getting track time & experience in those 3 matches and not push it. We could in effect see him nearer 3 than 4 which for team building 2026 would be a bonus if you factor in possible Rushen 2 - Bailey 4 plus Will on maybe 3.50. In effect 9.50 points for 3 of the brightest young talents in the sport. That would leave approx 30.5 for the top 4. Lawson 9.5/9.75 - Rowe 7.75/8(maybe lower as he is riding partly injured) - Cook or another 7.35/7.5 pus a rider maybe up to 5. You would expect Cairns to push on an add to his expected closing 2025 GSA and as for Rushen & Bailey ?. Well who knows but expect more upside in than their combined current GSA's.

By the way no criticism of Cairns. Still only recently turned 16 but the hype was like that of Robert Lambert when he first started racing in Lge speedway. Unfair but no surprise considering his form in junior racing and the backing from his family in equipment - overseas travel - overseas racing, and coaching in Sweden and USA from Greg Hancock. Things that a lot of young Brit riders don't have access to.

Think Poole have a bit of a conundrum here thinking of 2026 and regarding young Will Cairns. Thought I read that Champ had agreed a 2 year deal on Champ staying at 40 point limit (sure i saw it from an interview with Danny Ford after last annual Promoters meeting. If this the case then we have Poole sitting on current GSA 41.81 and that's with Will's 2.00 GSA. According to Brit Speedway stats he is on 4.15 from 6 meetings so for sure that will increase the team total. Poole have 4 league meetings left that will make up the final GSA for this season if they only take lge meetings into account and don't take play offs for the final GSA's for 2026. Poole it's safe to say are already in play offs, and possibly will top table. If this is the case what do they do in planning for 2026. I'm sure they would like to keep Will at reserve next year (as he and Rowe already signed deals for this and next season). Do they ask Will (in particular) and Anders (clearly riding injured still) not to push to hard in those last 4 matches ?? Any thoughts ??. Also any thoughts on trying to sign Southern based Cooper Rushen (who expressed a preferenceto sign for a Soutern Club) to partner Will at reserve for 2025. Saw some comments about him maybe already signed on the forum in last 2 months but that went quiet. Cooper for some rated more exciting and maybe better long term prospect than Will ??. Would that leave us exposed at reserve or can we really expect o see Cairns push on in 2025.

Thanks for that info Clive. I noticed in various videos on Youtube incl a lot of practice meetings/practices up and down the Country his dad was prominent in guiding him on the track. Maybe he doesn't want too much pressure piled on him this early bearing in mind he only turned 16 in November. If he does start to show the class & form I saw early signs of riding at 15 he could have a good future in the sport. He possibly hasn't had the kind of finance piled on him like Will Cairns has in equip and all the overseas trips to POL etc plus all the private tuition staying at Greg Hancock in Sweden and USA from his I assume affluent parents, but that is neither Cairns or Springers faults. However Sonny's dad certainly seems to have invested plenty of time in getting & guiding him around the UK for practice and other matches. Will be interesting to see how both riders progress but if Springer does I would love it if Matt/Danny could tie up both of them on multiple year deals. Time will tell 🙂

Maybe I've not seen enough of him other then a few video clips. We can all get it wrong when we look at videos of only a few rides. I remember a 23 year old Ben Cook arriving in 2021 and based on some of his Aussie form, I was very sceptical and thought he would be out by the first GSA's before he had even ridden for Poole. How wrong I thankfully was 🙂. The guy deserves his chance so good luck and hopefully he can score a few points

You really expect anything else from Danny Ford ?? Can't see how you can compare a what will be 25 year old with at least 6 years experience in NDL to a raw young what was 15 year old in his first season at NDL level. Anyway the deal is done - Danny is happy and its only temporary until Cairns. The bigger question on the likes of Springer future will no doubt unfold over 2025.

But IF Springer really improved this year and stepped up a level you could possibly tie up one of the UK's top prospects on a 2 point GSA who could easily achieve 3/4 points per meeting in 2026. That surely is a positive team move. I look at Springer and how he performed at 15 against Foord (nearly 3 years older with more experience) in some races, then I saw a rider who could be better than Vinnie when he reaches 17/18. Remember he was only 16 last November. Having said that I am sure many promoters will be monitoring young Sonny's performances this coming season and will be alert to signing him if he does progress. Just feel we could have got a head start if had had signed until July.

To take the positives. Poole signed Cairns really early last season. They saw the potential and struck to give him a near enough 2 year deal considering he could not ride anyway until 1st July. If we assume that Springer was to show plenty of scope/improvement in him in the period up to say July, there is nothing really stopping them trying to sign him as a 2 pointer with lots of improvement in him for 2026 (assuming that Cairns will achieve over 2 per meeting GSA by end of 2025). Would also leave additional points for top/middle end of the team for 2026. Just have this feeling that from seeing Springer on various videos riding 2024 meetings that the then 15 year old looked like he is going places and his riding of Poole in the NLR Series once he had got used to the track was impressive as was his riding in NDL meetings. Could be wrong but his decent gating/exciting style and always trying was pretty impressive for a 15 year old in his first season at 500 cc level. Last time i had that feeling was when seeing plenty of videos of a young Tate Zischke in Aussie before his accident in Aussie 2023 when he could not ride a bike for 6/7 months.

So they sign an Aussie who will be 25 in March who has been riding UK since 2018 (with a 2 year break in 20/21). I know this is only a temp appointment, but did they even attempt to approach a young Brit based here like Springer/Vale etc who have more scope to improve. My personal view from videos seen is he did not look a natural on a bike and his riding style looked awkward to me and certainly not impressive for someone who has ridden on NDL tracks for 7 years (less 2 off). Compared to both Springer & Vale both have shown improvement and both based in the South. Maybe I am wrong and they were approached and didn't want to take on Champ this early if also both still in education system. Of course we will never know that, but I think we could have done better. But of course the die hards will say its only a temp appointment. My personal view remains that Springer (only 16 last Nov) showed a lot more scope to improve and could have showcased his talent to be considered for a 2026 slot. I get the impression that Marsen was the first and possibly only rider they approached. Could have done a better job promoting a young up and coming Brit talent for the future, but just my opinion.

I'm not one of them. Vinnie Foord is a prime example of a young rider who had a 3.81 GSA or 5.14 incl BP at close of NDL 2023 and look how he progressed with Poole in 2024. Springer was 15 last season and the videos I saw indicate he is better than Foord was at 17 back in 2023. Who knows what will happen pre 1st July but if a young lad (whoever he is) does that well then there is nothing to stop the Fords offering him a contract for a reserve berth in 2026 plus he could even be pushing to keep his place for next season depending on circumstances. However no pressure would be on him as it would be unfair and if he was to develop like a Vinnie did in 2024 then I'm sure Poole would make sure he is signed.

True but from start of Poole season until 1st July - 6 matches at Poole - 3 at Oxf/Plym - 4 at Edin/Berw/Glas/Worky = Total 13 of which 9 in the South which better suited to a Kent based youngster. Also important logistically for a 16 year old not even qualified to drive a car until Nov 2025. Again may not be him but Danny did mention a young rider and the logistics of such a signing are with him and his parents. Would point to being one of the younger NDL guys which narrows the choice a bit. Similar situation to Ashton Vale (Hertfordshire) & Jody Scott (Norfolk) although Springer arguably the best located of all 3 for Poole. Anyway we will hopefully find out soon. I would love it if we signed someone who shows potential and gets dangled a carrot from the Ford's to be one of our reserves for 2026. Especially if he does reasonably well at Poole. Would get plenty of meetings in 2025 with the NDL/NDT plus U21/U19 qualifying meetings on top.