STEVEHOLS54

4.05 was his last GSA at Plymouth in 2021 when last here. The guy is 33 I believe in 2025 and I doubt he will be an improver. Great at talking up his ability as followed him closely prior to him joining Poole but was poor for them and fared little better at Plymouth when dropped. Think I would rather have Starke on decent equipment ,or my idea of a rider with real potential Mitchell Mcdiarmid - only 16 but looks exciting and already signed up for POL U24 next season.

Checked through the results for Sept/Oct and his last 2 meetings were against Poole on 11th & 14th September. In his last race on 14th in heat 14 he scored 1 plus 1 bonus point. No mention of fell/crashed/ excl in those 2 meetings that I can find. That coincided with Workingtons last meeting of the season.

Could it be that when it went to 40 it gave Danny the chance to sign another potential H/L i.e Rowe who is on 6.11 when his truer av in more like an 8. The 6.11 was his 2023 av as he only did 4 meetings for Glasgow in 2024. He got an 8 av from his 2 home and nearly 8 from his 2 away. This way you potentially have 4 poss H/L Lawson/Kerr/Cook/Rowe. Lower down you have Thomsen. Yes you could still have had Foord plus a 2 pointer (Cairns/temp replacement), but maybe he had another firm offer from Workington which he accepted in the meantime. Maybe Poole do have a better option than Starke lined up but I am anticipating comments such as Starke is an experienced rider capable of scoring well over 3.36 (especially at Poole) as a reserve which he will be, even though it puts us almost 1 point under the 40. I also found it interesting that after scoring well when riding for Workington at Poole in 2 meetings in Sept i.e 10 plus 2 BP and 5 plus 2 BP, he did not appear as a useful guest for Oxford injuries over the 4 meetings in October for Champ final & KO Cup, when they could have used his Poole experience at least with his low av. Could it be he had conveniently packed up all his equip for the season or maybe he had already been signed by Poole for 2025 ?. Just my thoughts.

Can't fit them both as with 4.32 left - Starke 3.36 & Trigger 3.00 = 6.36. I did that calculation the other day when looking at possibility of a stronger reserve than a straight 2 until expected signing Cairns arrives end June. Would only work if it was Howarth instead of Kerr but likely the Fords will go for the higher av H/L in Kerr. Supposed we just have to wait and see how it plays out. Makes you wonder if anything going on the the background. Foe example in 2023 Aussie Wichael West popped over on a visit (from POL) and did some laps at Poole. As on a 5 due to riding POL U24 regular think he was too risky as not as good as Zischke. Find in interesting that McDiarmid rode the max rides in 4 POL U24 matches to still keep a 4 av in Champ. You never know if that was pre planned or pure coincidence. He was riding against Cairns in the 250 cc in POL in 23 and was matching him in the matches they rode in. I'm probably placing too much hope in a young going places Aussie joining Poole.

With 4.32 left if the six are as expected, would seem risky to leave nearly a whole point (0.96) unused. Saw on Speedway GB today in Scunthorpe interview that Howarth left as wanted a track closer to home. Would that not narrow it to OXF/Poole/Plymouth. Only mention it as saw his name on Poole 2025 Forum mentioned a few times. However that would only take us 0.49 more if him instead of Kerr so 4.81 which still below 5 for one of these other Cont/Scand young riders. just a thought but Mulford (rumored on the Forum to be going to Redcar) is 4.27 which fits. Only logic of Starke for me would be 1) They feel need for more experience with a 2 pointer at reserve and likely to take more then normal 4 rides 2) Has proved at Poole he can and most likely will score more than 4 points a per meeting. Last season is evidence of that 3) Maybe the Fords are building to a tight budget. Especially with the uncertainty of whether they will even be racing after 2025 with the stadium uncertainty. Would still like to see the young Aussie Mcdiarmid as I see another Zischke in him if he came to UK. You have to be a good rider to see what he did in only 4 meetings in the POL U24 to see the potential. Still only 16 until next March.

But what are the rules. I know Zischke got a 5 when he rode 6/7 meetings in 2022 but do you jump from 4 to 5 if say you only rode 1 meeting ??. MCD only went over to POL on a short stay and joined a training camp with Wroclaw who then loaned him to Falubaz who tried him in 4 matches and signed him on a 2 year deal before he went back to Aussie. If he had ridden 1 meeting would he still have been upped to 5 ?? That's what I'm not clear on as to how many meetings can you ride to avoid being a 5 instead of a 4. Not that we are signing him but would be good to know what the rules are in that respect.

If he rode in the POL U24 Lge it will be normally a 5. Just like Zische did even though he only did 6/7 meetings 2 seasons ago.

While those of us interested in who may fill the 4.32 left after the 6 riders we anticipate signing (excl the 2 pointer to fill Cairns slot until end June). I have come across this interesting news on on POL site Sports Fakty, a 16 yer old young Aussie who last weekend won a Western Australia comp beating the likes of Killeen & Hook and on same site earlier articles about him winning other comps last couple of months. Already signed for Falubaz on a 2 year deal and is a protege on Woffinden - Was trialed in 4 U24 matches last season. As he only rode 4 meeting (scores were impressive)) could he sneak into the Champ on a normal Aussie 4 point GSA. I thought (maybe) it was 6 meetings to qualify as a 5 pointer. I could be wrong. For those interested site is below: https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/1151049/zuzel-falubaz-oglosil-kolejny-kontrakt-to-dwuletnia-umowa-z-zawodnikiem-u24

We were fortunate with Thomsen that the Ford's found a rider in the Danish second tier who was av 7 plus who he could get on a 4 as it was outside the POL/DK/SWE top league rules. It was a risk that paid off in the end. I see no way anyway the Ford's wanting another expensive rider flying in/out on top of Thomsen. Maybe a young Aussie coming over and basing himself in UK is maybe different. If we had 5 points left it opens up lots of possibilities for a Young and Good Dane/Swe/Aussie who has ridden in the POL U24 Lge. With 4.32 after Thomsen announced closes that door effectively if it is Kerr/Rowe/or even Howarth when combining 2 of the 3. Hopefully the Ford's have someone decent lined up because the GSAs don'tt show much out there besides Starke and we could end up very weak in the 2 reserve berths.

Or could give you a Starke/Trigger reserve combo with Trigger on 3.00, so a stronger temporary Cairns replacement until July ? Still doesn't get us to 5 points left though so options still limited.

If we ASSUME Law/Kerr/Cairns (or another 2 pointer until July)/Thomsen/Cook/Rowe it leaves only 4.37. So no young talent who raced in POL U24 or other POL Lges. Also no young Dane/Swede who has raced in their main Lges. I may be wrong but it only leaves Starke/Trigger/Smith/Piper - Hook is rumoured elsewhere, and doesn't inspire any confidence anyway. Suppose could be an Aussie, but most of the half decent ones already ride in POL U24 and just like Andersen are a 5. Unless Kerr or Rowe are not in the mix. Would be surprised bearing in mind plenty came up with those 2 a long time ago.

Didn't they use that last year to announce Brennan if I remember. Wonder if they will keep hold of the anticipated announcement of Kerr or Rowe for then, (both mentioned as in the team on here many weeks ago) or if they will use it to announce a new possible 5 point foreign rider ??. I suppose for those who do not use the Forum both Kerr & Rowe would be considered decent signing/replacements anyway considering they had to cut 6.49 points from last seasons team irrespective of the fact Ben Cook & Brennan are not returning to the Champ for 2025.

So much for my spell checking before sending 😛

Interesting article on Mikkel Andersen on Speedway News PL website today. https://speedwaynews.pl/zuzel/dunski-talent-zostaje-we-wroclawiu/ Confirming his long term contract with Sparta Wroclaw U24 Team as well as being one of the 4 U24 riders qualifying for the POL EXL Team. He is expected to be second choice in that last role as one chosen for the EXL team normally. Perhaps bigger fish to fry than in UK Champ but the U24 Lge is Tuesdays so could in theory ride UK WED and other days. Probably a pie dream but you never know ?

Also keeping Foord would have only left 4.83 thus reducing options greatly - especially regarding the 5 point overseas option which those rides automatically get if they have ridden in these overseas leagues - especially the Danish & POL U24 leagues.

I agree. As said by some on here it's purely the numbers game and not a comparison of Foord against Starke. Only logic I can come up with is that with 8.75 left IF we assume Law/Cook/Cairns (or another 2.00 until July)Rowe & Kerr it gives the Ford's the option of a rider up to 5.37. For me that realistically leaves Ablitt on 4.91 or better still a young 5 point Continental/Scandinavian/Aussie rider who has had experience in the POL U24 league so has raced in Europe. My wishlist would have Mikke Andersen as top of that list as commented previously. Him getting a Prem slot and doubling up with Poole would be great imo. We tried that with Rew when he first came over but he only wanted to really do Prem as he had a POL girlfriend so didn't want to stay for longer periods in UK, plus I heard he wanted all kinds of expenses covered to travel in and out so he could stay in POL in between.

Some logic as to why Starke might be of interest to Poole bearing in mind we had to lose 6.49 points from the 2024 team. Important thing is to win your home matches and at least gain the agg point over the H/A legs . That in theory should get you into the top 4 for play offs. Any wins away lessen that pressure. Last year was a special one off to win the treble and while would be great to do again the priority in order should be Prem/KO Cup/BSN in that order. Starke is 3.36 incl Brit discount. His averages in last 3 seasons riding at Poole (for away team) are worth looking at as its makes him a reasonably dependent reserve riding at Poole Stadium. 2024 3 meeting - 14 rides - 6.57 av incl bp - Incl 12 incl bp from 5 rides for Workington in one meeting. 2023 3 meetings - 13 rides - 4.31 av incl bp 2022 4 meetings - 21 rides - 4.76 av incl bp. In theory could be a reserve who could add 1/2 points to his starting av. The Fords are always looking to sign riders cpable of adding to their av, especially at Poole where we know from last season at reserve is capable of scoring more especially against weaker reserves.

If correct then will be interesting which combination Poole go for to fill the 8.73 left after Lawson/Cook/Rowe/Kerr and Cairns (or another 2 pointer until July). Thomsen 4.41 Ablitt 4.91 Starke 3.36 Young Dane/Aussie (with experience in POL U24 Lge) 5.00

Would love to see Mikel Andersen sign for Poole. I put his name up on here some time ago and have seen several others mention him more recently. Guy is only 17 in April 2025 but in his short career has Won SGP 3 in 2022 - 3rd 2023 and stepped up to SGP 2 (500 cc bikes) in 2024 where he finished 4th in the standing. Rode POL U24 in 2024 where he was 18th in Lge standings out of 115 riders who rode in the Lge over the season. 9 Matches as being only 16 in April with an av of 2.023 per ride. Finished above likes of Pearson/Rowe/Flint/Bailey/Gilkes/Zischke. Huge potential talent but would he give up DK (rode there in 2024). Knowing our luck it will be a possible chance signing like Aussie Fraser Bowes 36th in same Lge - Age 23 - Not done a lot in the U24 Lge last 2/3 seasons, in the hope that maybe he will be an improver like Ben Cook who many of us thought may not last a season before being dropped. How wrong the doubters were on him 😁. Either would mean it takes 5 points leaving only 3.73 meaning good chance it would be Starke on 3.35 with Brit discount as only suitable option. Unless of course it's Ablitt & Starke meaning we lose Tobias as he is 4.41. Can't see Poole building to 0.96 below the 40 point limit if its Tobias and Starke . Especially with a 2 pointer holding up the rear until Cairns comes in.

Andersen rode 2 matches for Wroclaw in POL EXL - 7 rides 1.143 points per ride. Most of his rides were in the POL U24 league against most of the promising young Poles/Danes/Swedes/Czech riders. He was even higher than the likes of Rowe and all the other UK/Aussie young guys except Rew who is 5 years older. Anyway highly unlikely that such a class talent will ride in Champ.

Hagon's GSA with Brit discount is 4.73. If we keep Vinnie (which hope we do) I fear we may see a lot more of Hagon's second half season form as is as capable of being half a lap behind more than his occasional heat win. I would love to see the Ford's convince young Mikkel Andersen over to UK. Was 16 in April - Won SGP3 in 2022 - was 3rd in 2023 and finished 4th in the 500 cc SGP2 series in 2024. Was 18th in his inaugural POL U24 season considering he was only 16 in April from 9 meetings with a 2.02 per ride av from 44 rides. If we think Cairns has a future then this guys form indicates he is going the right way. Wouldn't be easy prising him away from the Danish Wed meetings Lge, but would be a hell of a coup on a 5 GSA just 0.27 above Hagon and probably in a different League talent wise at only 16.

Nobody I can see on the GSA's. Yes Killeen & Harrison (with Brit reduction) have potential to improve. But so does Thomsen. If he avoids injuries I forsee his home av increasing to compensate away glitches on tracks he is not so familiar with. His fearless attitude on those wide outside lines he takes close to the fence generating so much speed provide plenty of points and entertainment. Plus he can gate which is a plus. We arguably have him still on an average lower than his true worth due to the GSA cut off point and due to the nasty injuries where he definitely came back too early. I also assumed he wanted to show willingness and didn't want to lose his team place if we was out as long as he should have taken in reality.

Said on BSN last night he prefers riding UK to both DK and Swe. Can imagine Poole crowds better than both Leagues add in he loves entertaining the crowd. He also said he definitely wants to be back in UK next season but probably under instruction to say nothing on that score at the moment. His demeanour was definitely of a rider who seemed to believe he is returning to Poole in 2025. On a GSA of 4.41 looks well worth a shout when fit. Loves the track and if his equipment and fitness holds up he well score plenty next season.

Could Poole have a situation where both Cairns & Rowe are rushing back from Tue meetings in the POL U24 Lge next season to get to Poole Wed fixtures home and away ??. Read an article on SGP today that Cairns will ride in that Lge from 30th June 25 as just signed a contract plus Rowe would still qualify for at least one more season at least being only 23 in May 25. I know a number of riders do/did that Lge incl Zach Cook but still a lot of air & road miles on day of the home meetings at Poole flying say POL/Stansted and then Poole. The Poles didn't waste any time snapping up Cairns.

What makes you ask. Rumours on the street or just a hunch. Just my personal view but think he has been a but hit & miss and his stats for 22/23/24 echo that although always middle to high end scorer in the Champ.