STEVEHOLS54

Indeed yes. if Ford doesn't get Sundstrom if POL EXL 3 Max League rule incl you Nationality league isn't lifted. If it isn't he has already said he may have to go down the 2 stronger rider route of say a 6 plus and a 4 plus, and THJ falls into that (possibly). Having said that if the Poles don't lift the rule then KL are in trouble as it would also exclude NKI. Lets hope not the case as both clubs would be affected. What it does mean though after Fords comments to the media this morning (Bournemouth Echo) is that KL cannot announce their full team anyway until the Poles decide if NKI is part of that thinking. Problem is nobody has come forward with any news or comment as to when the Poles will decide one way or the other.

I think this is a big season for both the Holder Bros for various reasons. I think both have a future at Poole but plenty riding on what happens this year. Chris I think has his GP career at stake as I doubt he will get another Wild Card if he fluffs his lines again (although having an inside track to the top Monster guy in Europe in Parsons may have a bearing, but he cant assume he will be bailed out). Also I don't think Torun will tolerate another 2017 season from him and neither will Lejonen in SWE. Notwithstanding what Matt Ford may do if he heavily underperforms. I am a big fan of Jack for his obvious potential and initially was upset he didn't sign. BUT I was not aware at the time of some of the antics and foul language allegedly thrown both Matt and the teams way during his petulant 2017 Prem debut year. I heard he had shown attitude but not to the degree mentioned various times on the forum since. I think maybe a good idea he has a year away. Its also a big year for him as he seemingly will not ride Champ in 2018. He has big boots to fill if he is to keep a place in Torun. he needs to improve in order to prove to the Swedes (maybe Lejonen with Chris ??) that he is worth signing for either during 2018 or for 2019. He also needs to show a good chunk of humility and prove to the likes of Matt and the Speedway World that he is continuing to improve and prove his worth to Matt that he is worth resigning for Poole in 2019. In other words he also needs to grow up a bit in his mentality towards Promoters/Managers and fellow riders. I think Matt has opened the door via some of his comments in the media that he may be back in the future, and for sure an improved rider via experience and mentally more mature, riding with an hopefully also improved Chris in 2018 would open the door for 2019 for both of them back at Poole immediately after the 2018 season ends. Anyway that what I would like to see long term but of course its for both of them to prove it on the track and in their attitude this season.

I know its still early, but would be nice if Chris at least did a twitter comment saying he was pleased to be back at Poole. Well that is if he is happy to be back. Also Mr Ward not jumping in with an enthusiastic comment other than a sarcy "News to me" The silence from Chris is a little deafening to say the least. Just hope he hasn't signed through gritted teeth due to lack of other UK options and Matt not being happy to let him go other than on a full transfer as an asset. I assume Chris will at some stage break his silence ?? - Well lets hope so otherwise it will say a lot about his resigning...

I don't have a bad word to say about Rosco. The guy has boundless enthusiasm for the sport. Is a seriously good team manager and did a brilliant job with Swindon last year. The sport needs more like him and long may he continue in the sport.

Wouldn't expect anything else from someone based in Swindon You never know maybe he will aspire to such dizzy heights come the end of the season. Assuming he was to sign of course Had he been Swindon bound then of course the 8% reduction for his 4 years out of UK would have been fairer

IF... there is a rule deducting 2% per season for each season missed and he is NOT a GP rider than his 7.22 could be reduced to 6.64 but in all honesty if he is signed with Holder & Shanes then Poole don't need the reduction anyway. Better to keep the higher points JUST in case come end of May. But barring injury I doubt it will be an issue and he will be a decent signing.

Why?? - Ah of course, because he could be Poole bound..... According to Speedway GP he is 7.22 final GSA for 2013. His av in Poland for 2017 was 4.5 per meeting per 4 rides. (Based on the 8 meetings he rode). Why should he be increased, if anything he should be decreased. Happy to stay with his old GSA though if the Poole haters feel we got one over the rest with Woryna.

Yes and there is a youtube video of him from a few years ago where he led Messrs Holder and Ward a merry dance for 4 laps around Poole and beat both. For those interested just type his name into youtube and there are several clips of him. He has done well in both SWE Leagues and is retail by Gorzow so must have something. I just hope the Poles do relax the 3 League rule as he could be a bit of a dark horse if he does sign for Poole (Especially in this weaker league compared to when he last rode here in 2013). Not sure if he will go the whole way to the top but as you say he is fast, he can gate and at 27 has not been over raced. Could be one who develops a little later than some as he still has the potential. Not sure why he chose to have 4 years out of UK. Not sure if he had injuries or what, but he is more mature having promised quite a bit several years ago and maybe he has decided this is the right time to give it another go in UK. If he is Poole bound then I think he could do well and probably not on a megabucks deal that perhaps the likes of Milik/Madsen would want (that's if they wanted UK which I have my doubts they do). He could be accommodated in the team with Holder & Shanes even if he stays on his 2013 GSA with no reduction for his 4 years out of UK. To be honest I think Matt would prefer he does stay on his higher GSA as no point in having it reduced in the event things didn't work out and he wanted to review the situ come end of May. In Lundstrom's case though I am confident he wont have to.

Probably the small subject of money ?? Remember he may have already set his stall out by making no secret of the fact he would be 20% down on revenue as a result of no longer having the old SKY money (or as it stands NO TV deal). I question if either Madsen or Milik really want UK anyway as they seem happy with their commitments as is although slight surprise Madsen didn't sign in Sweden. You never know with Mr Ford though if a surprise may creep out after all the rumour of Holder & Sundstrom being the 2 with Shanes to keep within the team points limit.

More than happy if they are the 3. Was merely making the point that if one (or both) are not part of the already well voiced 3 on this forum, then I wonder if Matt may have a surprise up his sleeve.

Yes it seems all announced together. Will be good to see Leicester finally get out of the basement (hopefully). Just hope Matt really does have something worthwhile to come out, as passing up the chance to resign Hans who has proven quality and ability in the Prem, we need to know soon if he has a rider of equal if not better quality to replace. Suppose we have to continue to be patient.

What like Chris Holder and Linus Sundstrom with Shanes to bring it in limit ?? Wouldn't be any surprise as its been well vented on the Forum. Would just like to see it sorted. Of course the Polish EXL max 3 League rule will have to be lifted to allow Sunsdtrom in. Unless as you say Matt really does have a surprise in store ??

So Andersen signs for Leicester (just announced). What now form matt Ford ??

Don't think Pedersen would even consider UK. After what his back went through last year where he was close to retirement due to the seriousness of the injury I can see him doing the following. Poland (Sun) -Sweden (Tue) - a drive over the land connected bridge/s to DK for (Wed) and then GP's and maybe even another attempt at the SEC on Saturdays. I think the last thing he will want is commuting in and out of UK for MON/WED matches (or some of Swindons Thurs) on top of his commitments to SWE and DK midweek. Does the guy really need all that on top of all the cost for equip to be here plus mechanics/accommodation/flights in and out. No chance and at his age he wont be back to ride UK again other than say at some kind of special testimonial. Even then where is all the money going to come from in British Speedway to finance all this when the sport is close to being on its backside financially. One also has to remember he is bound by the POL EXL max 3 leagues incl your own nationality League which puts him in the same situ as NKI and I think for sure most if not all would prefer NKI and that's IF the Poles relax the rules which to my knowledge they have no,t yet hence why maybe Poole cant announce their full team still.

I partly agree. Don't think one rider has been announced in UK who is doing more than what the POL EXL rules allow. Unless he is not riding in EXL where he can ride where he likes. Such as Hans A. Poole have 17.89 points left for the 3 riders. IF... Shanes is in that takes 2.95 leaving 14.94. You could even have both HA at 7.75 and Chris H at 7.16 = 14.91. Well rumoured of course has been Linus Sundstrom on this Forum and he should be 7.22 LESS the 2% per season for not having ridden here since 2013, meaning 7.22 less 8% = 6.64 meaning they could sign any 2 from 3 from Holder/Andersen or Sundstrom. But Sundstrom cant be announced or signed unless the Poles relax the 3 League rule as he rides POL EXL plus both Swe leagues. It could be mind games or it could still be the 3 League POL rule which will pee off Kings Lynn if they are planning to try and get NKI back if it isn't relaxed to allow 4 leagues. He already signed POL EXL/SWE and as it stands still can only do DK as his Nationality League.

Maybe but remember that a lot of UK tracks are a great leveller compared to the POL tracks, with our being tighter and more technical and some with the usual holes and bumps. You need to be able to negotiate and handle them as its not as flat out as in POL. It may take all these youngsters a while to get used to them and also find the right set ups which assume so different to POL tracks. Riders such as Woryna probably will benefit from having has at least one season here where some of these other young guys it will be a completely new experience on top of the travelling/commuting to UK which will also be new let alone the drives to and from the airports on our great road system..... However those going it at reserve will at least not be thrown it at the deep end initially.

With Drodz now moving out of the 2 POL junior berths for 2018 and into the seniors he will probably struggle to get meetings in 2018 in POL with Fricke now signed for Wroclaw. I assume part of the reason for signing in UK is that he will at least get meetings as a probable reserve in UK to cover the shortfall. There are still plenty of weakish reserves in UK teams compared to the POL EXL, so in theory he may score relatively well against other reserves if he has been brought in on a 4 plus av. He will have to adapt to our smaller tracks but the fact he is retained by Sparta and not loaned out means that he has shown some ability. Interesting signing who has done his apprenticeship in the junior races in POl EXL (and against the top riders), and could be a surprise package without too much pressure put on him. If he and Bewley are their 2 reserves it is a young up and coming pairing who should do well.

For sure you are not the only one. I think most Poole supporters just want an end to it one way or another. Of course it could be that Matt Ford is having difficulty finding another top quality rider prepared to ride in UK and with this POL 3 league rule still not clarified possibly to complicate. Am sure as well Matt certainly wont be happy that a rider of GB quality with so much history at the club may have effectively said "I don't want to ride for you". That would be the ultimate slap in the face for Matt. Lets hope that's not the case. Some who may be in the know certainly seem a little conspicuous by their silence on the matter ;-)

I agree but interesting the SS has gone into print on it. Of course it could be subject to the Holder situ resolving itself. Unless Matt doesn't want Hans back irrespective of the Holder situ. For me IF (and I say IF) Holder was not returning, then for me it would take someone special to be coming in instead of Hans to allow him possibly to sign elsewhere. Must admit find the situation intriguing.

Which begs the question - What is going on with the Holder discussion. Is he in or out, as the discussion seems to be dragging on considering the various mentions that he was apparently in every team combination Matt had in mind. Also an apparent insider info that Chris had 2 days to resolve it, which if to be believed has now expired If he has agreed to let Hans sign for Leicester (and there is no smoke without fire), as the SS is normally reliable, then one wonders why he would let Hans go without resolving the Chris issue. Of course it could be resolved and the news is hot footing its way to us in the next day or two but you cant help but think perhaps its not going well ?? Maybe Matt has another ace up his sleeve possibly with all this reassessing going on as rumour has it all those foreign riders new and old have been sorted on what their GSA's will be for a while now. Leicester have had Vaculik and Piesz GSA's clarified and announced on twitter today. Hopefully there is a plan B if Chris decides he doesn't want to ride for Poole and sits out the season ??. Of course there is still that old chestnut of the max Leagues the POL EXL will allow which could be holding back potential signings ??

On the subject of the Polish max 3 league rules. Matt Ford was saying some time ago that he expected to announce at least the first 4 riders for the 70th Anniversary celebration meeting the week after he did his interview when the shop was opening at Dolphin Centre. He still hasn't named any which makes one think has the POL max League rule not yet been clarified hindering his attempts to name some of the big World Stars he hoped to have riding. Noty only that but also his own team plans i.e Sundstrom maybe ?? Cant think of any other reason why he was fairly confident of naming 4 riders back then but to date has named none. Obvious choices will be the top 4/5 Poole riders one would have thought, but that's not as headline grabbing news as some of the top guys not planning to ride UK due to either the 3 league rule still being in effect or not wanting UK as a full season. We know some would consider it because of the fact it is the 70th Anniv., and also because it gives them a chance of some early season practice. Of course another reason could be that if as he reported he will be down 20% on revenue due to the poss loss of the TV deal them maybe he can't afford the luxury of bringing over the big names and all their equip just for a one off meeting.

indeed the averages/stats don't lie. He rode much better for Rye House but his Wolves GSA dragged him below the 4 he achieved at Rye. Anyway still a shame but back now to Poole matters ;-)

Maybe a victim of this new one over 8 rule where teams are going for more strength in depth maybe ?? Plus thre dropping of the 2 Brit rule. Having said that one would have thought at least he would get a place in Champ, but seems not to be. Maybe if he can be patient he can get a place in May perhaps if some are not performing. Or he could just say to hell the sport is no longer worth the effort. I hope not as we need as much of our UK potential talent to stay in the sport. Was he not a Poole asset at one stage or maybe that changed ?? A shame and while you may think he was dire at Wolves he did achieve a higher GSA than Wajtk/Shanes/Ayres/Greaves and he is still only 20.

Maybe scrap that on Leicester as one contributor says that Sargeant may be on an assessed GSA of over1 point less than another contributor has put. If that's the case both could be an option

Will he get in at Leicester ??. According to Forum comments on the Leicester Topic they only have about 7.15 left after their 2 new riders have been assessed. Leicester Speedway twitter says Vaculik at 8.00 and Piesz at 6.50. Andersen can't and depending on how one Leicester riders GSA is assessed lower down the order maybe Holder cant either ?? On other news - Sad to read Ellis Perks wont be riding UK this year (at the moment) as nobody seems to want him. A young British rider trying to find his way in the sport with a 5 point Champ and 3.33 point Prem GSA, one would have thought at least one club would sign him. It seems that clubs are more eager in both leagues to go for untried and foreign talent then promote its own riders. He has made his feelings felt on the matter in one comment on his twitter.