STEVEHOLS54

Thanks Guys Hopefully he can secure qualifying sooner rather than later.

Believe that Beau Bailey first chance to qualify for his UK Visa may be in the Victoria Champ on Sat 29th Nov. His main competition seems to be Sedgeman (multiple winner before) - Declan Kennedy - Mitch Mcdiarmid - Fraser Bowes. The others look more beatable for a rider of Bailey's ability. The question is whether you have to finish in the top 2/3 or 4 to qualify. (can anyone clarify ?) Would be nice if he could qualify that early as would take pressure off the guy so he can enjoy his winter racing down there.

Well lets just say that the POL sites such as Speedway PL & Sportsfakty seem willing to mention it in various posts when referring to British Clubs/Riders and interviews but in UK on our main British Speedway site doesn't even think its worth a mention. Considering the decisions these guys make affect what the rules will be the following season would it really be an issue to keep us the fans at least informed of the meeting taking place.. Especially when the site has days of no news. Even a short statement saying the meeting is taking place on XYZ and that they would keep fans updated on what comes out of the meeting on xyz date.

Where did that comment originate from. Depends how you view it. Could indeed be Batchelor who has ridden for Poole. Or viewed differently Bowes could be returning to UK for a second season and staying with Middlo. Its one of those thought provoking comments that can be looked upon depending upon how you interpret it 🙂 Final thought. Find it incredible that the British Speedway site has not made a single mention of the SPA AGM that is supposed to be taking place today, in which we await what will be the rules for 2026 despite many of us near enough knowing at least for the Champ.

If Bailey is earmarked for the team, then I can fully understand why Danny& Matt want to keep a close eye on how the Aussie season goes. Especially with Bailey needing to secure a placing through one of these meetings to qualify for his UK Visa. Fingers crossed he gets that done & dusted in one of the earlier ones to take the pressure off. Bowes start to the Aussie season last Saturday was a strange one. Late withdrawl due to no motor. Maybe his equipment not arrived back from Europe yet. Bailey's did as he won all his 4 heats (beating Sedgeman twice) but lost to Sedgeman in the final after missing the start. Saw the race online and with a slightly better start I think we would have beaten him again the way he closed the gap. Looks a class rider.

Starke I could understand as probably first rider shown the exit door for 2026. Rowe I am a bit surprised. his no show and Danny Could his temper have been linked to the frustration of his groin injury holding back his progress/consistency ?? Even so I hope no major falling out as a very good rider if he can sort out his injury. Still can't understand that with all the people there Friday incl Zach Cook that the question of Zach possibly not riding in Champ next season was not put to bed. Is he sworn to secrecy or something as I would have thought that was the obvious question everyone would have asked. I also thought I saw on the Forum he was supposed to have been flying back to Aussie within a couple of days of season ending. Also with Danny there one would have thought the question of IF the BSPA AGM was still on for this Wed after a good few Forum comments mentioned it could have been postponed ranging from 30/11 to early January. Not even the British Speedway site has mentioned an AGM date.

just saw some photos of the Poole end of season function. Was surprised to see Zach Cook in the photos as thought he had gone home to Aussie just after the BSN Final ?? Any comments on him definitely not doing Champ next season. Also with various comments on the Forum pages about the Wed BSPA AGM being postponed maybe until 30th or even later (Jan), was there any news on offer if it is still due to be this coming Wed ?? Would have thought some news on both would have come out on the Forum by now. Besides Lawson signing for 2026.

That's 3 definitely signed already then with Rowe & Cairns already signed prior to 2025 season started on 2 year deals as informed by Danny Ford when he signed both. Also on Beau Bailey I see he announced he has signed in POL for 2026 for GKM Grudiadz in POL EXL as their U21 foreign rider plus also in their U24 team. That's some Tuesdays tied up for certain but no different to Cairns who did 8 matches for Z.Gora after he turned 16 end of June. Of course Bailey needs to qualify from one of the several State Champs or from Aussie U21 or Aussie main Champ to ride UK.

Would love to have Mcdiarmid at Poole. Considering this guy was 17 in March and his first season in UK at Poole Stadium alone he scored a 4 ride av of 6.77 or 7.38 incl bp from 3 matches and 13 rides. Very impressive for a 17 year old in his first season. His GSA is only 5.18 and he rode in POL U24 Lge and finished runners up with Zischke in the Son FIM U21 World team Champ. Definitely got a future in the sport.

Was Batch situation a case of nearly no other options as from memory thought most teams were already signed up when he was announced. Nobody wanted him in Prem so it was Worky or sell the bikes ?? Incredible really for a guy who was once a Grand Prix Rider who rode in 28 GP's. He is getting on but was only 38 in August so still has a few years left in him.

Also to back track a little. I think Tate Zischke (20) and Mitch Mcdiarmid (17) are other promising Aussie talents. Was gutted when Poole didn't sign Darcy prodigy Tate in 2023. Unfortunately a serious injury kept him out of UK in 2023 and a more serious one in 2024 curtailed his undoubted talent. Until his second one he was av 7.70 incl BP from just 12 meetings in his first UK season with Worky. I think Darcy Ward felt the Workington track was more suitable being more open for his first season hence why he started there. Mcdarmid has done well for a turned 17 in March in his first UK season. Still a big fan of Ziscke and would love to see him at Poole still on his arguably low 5.76 when the guy was rediscovering his form & Fitness after his potential career ending injury in his first match for B.Vue in 2024. Most of the Worky fans on the forum think he will be back there though for 2026. Fingers crossed we get Bailey as I read that Middlo has plenty of accommodation for riders who want to lodge/board there. Just like both Cook's did.

Plus I think the Aussies will assist all they can in trying to help one of arguably their biggest young speedway talents in a good few years develop his obvious talent in the UK.

On that score just found this last couple of line interview with Bailey posted shortly after his 3rd place in the SGP3 Final last season. He said: “I’m done with the 250s now. I wanted to give them a crack this year. I’m going back to Denmark on Sunday to train on the 500s until I go home. Then I’ll do the Aussie and state championships, and hopefully I will get a visa for the UK next year.” Lets hope he does qualify.

I think most Danish sides sign 7/8 riders for there 5 man teams. They also I believe have to field a DK Junior & senior. Bailey has a similar situation being one of 8 riders signed and in his case he will have to compete with 2 decent young Danes for maybe 1 position. One of them WON SGP3 last season (Bailey was 3rd) plus the other one was a decent rider in POLU24 Lge. He is 19 and Villards Pedersen the SGP3 winner in 250CC Class is 16 and 6 months older than Bailey.

Nope it was Villads. Type it into Google and see. Bastian is over age and rode some SGP2 last season but didnt win it. SGP3 is also the 250CC under 16 Championship. Bailey finished 3rd.

Not sure how it works for young Aussies just turned 16 in Oct I think. P.S: Pedersen won the FIM SGP3 in 2025 with Bailey 3rd - Heiselberg is 19 and spent last 3 seasons with Varde - Scored 7.56 incl BP per 4 rides last season as well in POL U24 for Torun. Pretty hot competition for that junior slot then.

For those who think Bailey will be tied up most Wed in Denmark riding for Region Varde. Mateusz Cierniak, Jonas Jeppesen, and Fredrik Lindgren have joined the team. Gleb Chugunov, Villads Pedersen, and Nicolai Heiselberg have also confirmed their involvement. Daniel Bewley is also joining the team, returning after a failed partnership. Adding Bailey I make that 8 riders for a 5 man team (normally). Most DK teams have at least one young Danish rider riding for them so even allowing for a squad system I would be surprised if he get too many outings. Unless he is another Darcy Ward 🙂. The above was posted on POL site today.

If it was Lawson/Rowe/Cairns/Bailey/Rushen/Bowes and Kerr on his 6.77 after Brit reduction the total would be 0.83 below the 40 point limit. Would they really go that far below the 40 points ??. I know team building is a juggling act, but having to shed 4.53 points - losing Cook who av just over 8 per meeting at Poole stadium and 9 incl BP, I think Kerr inconsistency could cost Poole next season if they retained him. Factoring in we could have 3 new riders in Rushen/Bailey & Bowes. Suppose ultimately it may come down to how ambitious the Ford's want to be. I am sure Kerr would have his good meetings but it's his bad ones which would concern me. All riders have off days but with potentially alot having to hit the ground running, would it be too much. Of course none of us (or should I say most of us) know if Bailey & Rushen plus Bowes are definite or ultimately just Forum rumour

Yes its easy to forget not everyone uses the Forum so a % won't be aware of Zach not returning or Cairns & Rowe were signed on 2 years deals. As a side note i read this morning that the POL EXL squads are near enough agreed subject to ??? in some instances and Bailey is down to sign as one of 4 Juniors in the Grudziaz EXL team. Think they may allow 1 junior other nationality now but he will be 1 of 2 out of 5. Nailed on no doubt to ride in their U24 POL EXL team though which has I believe a new meeting format. I wonder if he will do UK if he does get a qualifying slot in one of the Aussie meetings this Winter. Also Kevin J Pedersen leaving his POL EXL 2 side for 2026 and now too old for the POL U24 Lge as well. No new club in POL National Lge on the horizon either at this stage so I wonder if another rider who will look to UK if he cant seek employment except maybe DK. Believe his scoring was also poor in POL hence why not offered a return.

Maybe the Fords see something in Bowes that I am missing. His POL stats are poor for 2025. In POL EXL 2 (so 2nd POL Lge) he was 55th of 59 regular riders with 4 ride av of 3.4 and won only 2 of 47 rides. In POL EXL (U24) he was 38th of 59 regular riders with 4 ride av of 5.64 - won 16 of his 74 rides. Will turn 24 in NOV and has ridden POL for about 4 years. A lot of his opposition in POL U24 was against riders a lot younger than him with less experience. Yes there are talented young rider in that Lge but he doesn't seem to have gone forward to any real degree. My personal view of this is based on his stats and time spent in POL (4 years) considering he was also based there. Maybe that one performance of 13 from 6 rides (incl one retirement) at Poole on 23rd July showed them something. Although his 2 from 4 rides guesting for Glasgow late August was not good.

Probably a sensible signing if true. They are faced with having to lose one of their 8 plus point riders (Wright or King) on top of having to shed 4.07 off team total to get to 40 points and find a replacement for Riss. He also did well there in 21 & 22 where his AV ranged from 7.51 to 8.46 plus BP. For them it would be a sensible signing probably. I think that IF we do get/have Bailey/Cairns/Rushen as our bottom 3 then we have more scope to sign a better mix/team also depending upon how determined the Fords are to invest in a really good top 4. Knowing we will have Lawsom/Rowe would give us 13.23 for 2 decent riders. That even includes possibilities from places like the POL EXL who have never ridden in UK like Hellstrom Bangs and others as well as those who have ridden in POL EXL2/POL National LGE (Div2) POL EXL U24 and SWE. I excluded DK only because of the WED race day clash. To be honest I am struggling to come up with riders from the last GSA who would fit that would have scope to improve except for the likes of Morris (obvious massive improver on his current GSA) Joe Thompson (who probably will get similar or worse GSA next season), Edwards (who I don't think will improve much), Zichke (lots of potential) but the Worky Fans are confident he will be back, Mcdiarmid (lots of potential) but maybe happy at Oxford), Luke Harrison (lots of potential) but think Scunny will do everything to keep him. As for Bowes - After what he has achieved (not much in POL)and the Worky end of season saga, I honestly couldnt have seen many fighting to sign him up but who knows ?

I also hope they don't take the easy route and sign Kerr again. Too inconsistent for me as we witnessed last season (especially that last match).

Be even better if it was Lawson/Rowe/Morris/Hellstrom Bangs/Bailey/Cairns/Rushen and still 0.37 below the 40 point limit. Morris is on a bargain GSA and assuming Cook served reasonable notice of his intention to move up/on, you would have thought the Fords would have made a big effort to bring in a third H/L on a crazy low GSA. We/They all knew the limit would be kept at 40 as it was already agreed last season for 2026 and with Promotors in regular contact as well, many would be well advanced in seeking out the best top end combinations for 2026. For me the likes of Bowes is not an upwardly thinking possible signing. Done nothing really in 4 years in POL/SWE and if anything in POL has gone backwards. Add in cannot qualify for the POL U24 anymore and unlikely anyone wants him there after his performances in POL EXL2 and open criticism from his POL Team Manager. He was also one of the lowest point av riders in both POL EXL U24 and EXL2 last season. All of that after 4 years of riding and basing himself there. No thanks not a fan of Bowes. If tapped up and accepted to me its because he will not get a job in POL so will probably be desperate to probably get a UK slot.

Bit of a random one to get Poole 2026 Forum back on track. Saw someone open a forum subject this week on young Swede Philip Hellstrom-Bangs (Age 22). Comment was that he might give POL EXL a miss in 2026 and consider riding in UK. I see he has just signed in SWE Prem last 2/3 days (Tue Raceday). He would be on a 6 point GSA due to riding POL EXL. In fact as I type this just seen an interview posted on SportFakty in last hour during which hew said. "I have a few contacts in England, so we'll see what comes of it. I'm open to suggestions. I think it would really benefit me a lot – the tracks are difficult, technical, and riding there could be an interesting challenge," he says in an interview with speedwayfans In the same interview it mentioned he may not be doing POL this year. The interview leaned towards Prem BUT could he double up if POL not happening, and if so could be a decent signing on 6 points if not looking for megabucks ?? If affordable would prefer him to the likes of Bowes on 5.63. Bangs was also top 3 over 3 meetings of the SGP2 in 2024. Any thoughts or will the Fords steer clear of investing in any of the young foreign talent with experience of riding in POL, with maybe exception of hopefully Bailey who looks a level above anything above what we have in UK at just turned 16.

i think Anders is a young rider (23) still with lots of potential. he was signed on arguably a low GSA where his AV for 6 matches for Glasgow was nearer 8 than 6. Inconsistent he was yes, but, was the groin injury a major factor in his inconsistency as I can imagine its not pleasant if you are riding in pain. In a way I hope it was a factor as would be a good indicator that there is more to come from a fully fit pain free Anders. I an glad we have him for 2026 and hopefully he will be a Sheffield again and he is signed for POL for 2026 so all signs are positive. Just the question of if he has the injury holding him back a bit can he get it treated as the question of rest not an issue with a 5 month break.