STEVEHOLS54

I think it's difficult to assess until we know who the number 6 actually is. I agree the "All about the points/numbers limit" does make it look at bit strange considering where we are at, where Vinnie would have fitted even on a 40 point limit, considering he had already been allegedly allocated a slot when it was 38 points. Even more strange when the top 5 had near enough been agreed/known about by a good few on this forum long before any announcements. Suppose we just have to wait a bit longer to find out the number 6 in order to work out maybe why. If it is a young Aussie then you would think all the planning - Work Visa - accommodation - Engineers - sponsors - equipment etc would have taken a long time to sort out before any actual signing/announcement. That's without the fact they would have considered such a rider to have more potential than Vinnie. Difficult considering that any undiscovered possible gem would not have ridden UK tracks yet. Harrison Ryan is one of the very few as he did a few meetings for Leszno U24 last season and chances are he will be again in 2025. Have seen a good few of his races on Youtube but difficult to assess if he would be better. Having said that I thought Ben Cook when he first signed would be out by the time of first GSA back in 2021 based on his Aussie form so got that badly wrong.

Also just read on Max James FB page that on 2nd Dec he posted that Edinburgh advised him he was not part of their Team plans for 2025. That leaves only Plym or Poole. Would be a great way to showcase his ability until end June if he signed for Poole.

Back on to Poole 25 team topic. Mentioned him before, but with exception of Edind/Plymouth (plus Poole) finalised, what chance of signing Max James as the temp cover for Cairns until July. Only mention him as he just signed again for Leicester NDL as Captain for 2025. Not bad for a youngster who is not 18 until 5th July. Thought he would already have been signed for Champ as showed decent talent from what I have seen in 2024. Seems able to mix it and although still a raw talent could hold his own against plenty of the other reserves in the League. Just a thought in the final throws of guess the team for 2025 which should be announced during next 10/14 days.

No problem Clive. Very rare I take your replies/contributions the wrong way. Yes all will become clear before Christmas.

But does it work that way. If the 2 pointer scores only 1 point per meeting, does he not stay as a 2 pointer under the rules ??. If so you are just replacing a 2 with Cairns another 2. Hodder _ Garrad - Mcgurk all av below 2 in 2024 but still have a min 2 allocated to them.

A somewhat touchy reply Clive. As a sponsor maybe you have an inside track on the signing ahead of us. I can only comment based on the available stats I could find which were not great. However since sending this I did find a report on the Mildura Speedway FB page where they rode the Victoria State champ last weekend won by Lydsey with Bowes 2nd and Mcdarmid 3rd. Ryan scored 10 points in his first ever meeting at the track and reportedly improved with each ride after familiarising himself with the track. Didn't realise he was chosen for the SON2 squad so yes Lemon must have spotted something in him. Maybe he is a decent prospect but still risky with a no doubt lower down 2 pointer also riding for 3 months if we assume Cairns arriving.

A word of caution if it is 21 yr old Harrison Ryan as mentioned/rumoured on here. He rode a SGP2 qualifier. Can't find scores but he is listed 12 of 16th qualifiers last season in Italy. He is on Leszno's books and roe U24 for first time on a flying visit last season. Only rode 4 matches - 11 rides - 3 x 3rds and 6 last places with 2 retirements. I assume on Leszno supplied equipment. Consider that to Mcdiarmid (signed by Oxford) only 16 who scored 35 points incl bonus from 17 rides - 8 x 1st - 3 x 2nd - 3 x 3rd and 3 last places. Just from that would indicate Mcdiarmid is a different class potentially. I would assume Leszno ( who snap up plenty of decent class young Aussies) are not stupid, but it would concern me as he is not a raw youngster and his form in that short stint in Europe is not one that makes me think he is even on a par with the likes of Hook. The question is would Starke on his low 3.36 score more points than a Ryan on 4 with no experience on our more technical tracks. I would argue that at Poole especially Starke would score quite a bit more. Last seasons 3 matches at Poole with his 6.57 4 ride CMA incl bonus would indicate he probably would. For me a massive gamble considering we need at leas one reserve to score a decent figure over the 8 reserve rides.

Found this comment from Ford interview yesterday on the last 2 signings. And we’re just putting this final piece of the puzzle together now. “We should have the full team confirmed this side of Christmas.” If it was Starke you would have thought that deal was done before last season end. Or could it be still trying to tie up deal for the temporary 2 pointer ?? Either that or trying to work around Cairns no doubt busy overseas schedule for 2025 bearing in mind already signed up for POL U24 lge (Tuesdays) and his no doubt busy individual European tournaments riding in U21 events. Plus maybe spending more time in Sweden being mentored by Greg Hancock again like last season.

Can't be West. he's been riding POL U24 for last couple of seasons. Would be a 5 so too high. Additionally he hasn't impressed looking at his POL stats for the last 2 seasons.

I would hope so but having looked at a lot of the available stats I am failing to find a decent UK based 4 pointer not already signed up to a max 4.32 or overseas based ., Unless a an unknown young Aussie talent but even then I'm struggling. The POL U24 is a good place to look but nearly all of them would be too high on a 5. Candidates would be more than welcome. Hook maybe ? but not done much in 4 seasons in UK. Chances are also Plymouth bound again ?

Maybe/Maybe not. I would assume if it is Starke then his form at that stage and points scored could determine that possibility. Same with the like of Toby I suppose.

I think the top 5 were decided a long time back. With a 38 point limit that would have left on 4.32 for 2 riders rather than the 6.32 for 40 points. On that basis would have left them with only 4.32 for 2 riders, meaning no room for Foord. Would love to hear its an exciting young rider who has not done regular main Dane/Swed/POL U24 leagues (meaning on a 5), but can't think who out there would qualify. Mcdiarmit would have been a good young exciting signing but I assume plenty of money involved with him flying in an out of POL most weeks and that's without all the related costs for Equip/Mechanic and accom. Perhaps the thinking is that the experience of Starke coupled with the exciting youth of Cairns is a better mix longer term this season.

Can only think it was maybe related to when he thought it was being a 38 point limit. Then Foord got snapped up by Worky by which time too late to get him back thus changing plans for the new 40 point limit. Having said that I have a sneaky feeling they had already tapped up Starke for 2025 after his impressive returns against Poole at Poole last season. 3 matches - 14 rides for a 4 ride CMA of 5.71 or 6.57 incl bonus. Perhaps the thought process is to try and hold their own in the reserves race rather than get wiped out 1-5. He can pick up extra points plus hopefully they can rack up enough points over the top 5 to win well enough to gain the important bonus point over 2 legs. Hopefully stay in top 4 for when Cairns should hopefully shore up the reserve partnership in July. Factor in that with Tobias at 2, he could easily swap with Starke at reserve and we know what he is capable of from that slot as in later stages of 2024.

Also is Saturday the annual Sponsors get together with the Ford's. Wonder if they will announce Cairns (and the temp hold 2 pointer), or maybe Rowe. They used it last year to announce Brennan. Assume you will be there as usual ?

Whoops - Typo my end. I meant 40 point limit and the calculation mentioned was based on that not 38 points.

Which would bring us back again to 6.32 left so a 2 pointer plus Starke at 3.36 leaving Poole with a 0.96 point gap short of the 38 point limit, which would seem a bit of a waster considering maybe they could/could have tried for a much more exciting talent like a Mcdiarmid. Perhaps they already decided Cairns is going to be the seasons saviour for the team come July.

Playing mind games again Clive ?? 😉

True but seriously Jason Garrad the 37 year old who has been riding speedway for 10 years. Having said that he fits the age profile with Lawson/Kerr & if signed Starke as well as Josh Graz if he were to sign. Even Tobias is 30. Nothing against age as I'm no spring chicken.

Would only work if Rowe doesn't sign and JG's last Champ GSA 2017 is reduced by 25% due to time lapse. If they could get him on that basis would allow them to sign both Starke 3.36 and a 2 pointer. Must admit a bit gutted we didn't get Mcdiarmid, announced today by Oxford, but to get JG back would be a very clever move. Hope this is not another Clive wind up.

Reading on the Edinburgh 2025 Forum that 17 year old Max James may not be back at Edinburgh in 2025. Could this be the temporary 2 pointer for Poole until July ?. Rode 2 matches at Poole for Edinb in 2024 - 9 rides with a 4 ride av of 2.22 or 2.67 with bonus. Would indicate he has lots of improvement in him as only 18 in July, plus could do a job at Poole. Saw plenty of encouraging comments on him last season in his first Champ season plus he did well (especially his away av at Leicester NDL team. Anyway an interesting possible development unless signing elsewhere.

Getting back to Poole 2025. Assuming Rowe signed any ideas on who will fill the 2 reserve slots ??. We know Cairns likely from end June but still leaves the temp 2 pointer and for me more importantly the first reserve. Will it be perhaps an overseas rider (with potential) or the cheaper safer 3.36 option of Starke thus leaving almost a point on the table with the 40 point limit.

All the Kerr posts re av he may achieve. For me it could be Rowe who is the real steal for Poole. His av with Brit discount is 6.11. Based on his 2023 av. He only came back to Champ for Glasgow later in season due to Prem & POL U24 season and rode 4 matches (2 H & 2A). AV over the 4 with a 7.76 av. Home 8 av - away 7.56 av. Using this as a guideline you can see how his riding in Prem and the POL U24 has improved him and at still 22 he is improving (just as Brennan has improved). If he carries on scoring at those levels and Kerr also adding a bit to his av, then it could be another decent season for Poole. Especially if Zach Cook also finds some improvement. We should not lose sight of the fact his av was 6.23 but with BP it was actually 7.44. Even Thomsen who was 4.41 was 5.29 with BP. Plenty to look forward to but the reserve situation could also be critical if its Cairns/another 2 pointer until July and that so important number 6 who most of us are still guessing on who it might be.

Knowing Poole I'm sure the temporary 2 pointer would have been sorted some time ago knowing that a lot of the decent one's would have been snapped up by other teams. It's really that 6th slot that is the most intriguing. Would Poole really leave an almost one point hole and sign Starke ??. The possible returning Aussie comment/s on the FB Forum (I don't follow that forum) or an exciting young 4 rider like Mcdiarmid keeps the guessing interesting as we near enough know the other 5.

Jordan Stuart maybe if granted a 25% discount for not riding UK for 4 years. Still only 26 and if not retired could do a good job at reserve as was showing promise at Redcar before serious injuries. If not retired, as even Swindon signed him up for Prem before cancelling running in 2020/21.

So did I 😃