21st century heathen

No problem mate. We're all opinionated otherwise we wouldn't bother posting on here. Not at all, read on for my view. This is certainly a consideration and basically means teams will once again most likely line up with the top 3 at 1,3 and 5 rather than one of them at 4 to cover heat 14. -------------------------- I've long since said that teams should mix it up and try something a bit different to the accepted 'formula' for team line ups. I'm not sure who did it first but whoever was first to put a heat leader at 4 brought a breath of fresh air. It was something different and was a success on many an occasion. One of my ideas was to try something with the number 2 position and have said in the past a stronger number 2 than the 5th in your averages would be an interesting experiment. I expect a straightforward line up of: 1) Roynon 2) JWW 3) Bekker 4) Perry 5) Morris 6) Ritchings 7) ? But I would like to see something a bit more forward thinking. At home: 1) Roynon 2) Perry 3) JWW 4) Morris 5) Bekker 6) ? 7) Ritchings My reasoning? Roynon has to ride at 1. Perry at 2 should be a strong partner for Roynon in heat 1 and a strong rider for heat 8. Getting off to a good start at home is important so that the rest of the team aren't immediately under pressure. Perry should be looking for a big improvement this season and that should include beating some number 1's on his home circuit. JWW away from number 2 so avoiding a potentially confidence denting first ride. A relatively easier first ride should set him up for a solid night. He loses the generally accepted easier heat 8 but there's no guarantee your number 2 will win heat 8, particularly as he's 'only' (forgive the term) your 5th best rider. He can be tac sub'd from heat 12 if needs be, but hopefully that won't be an issue at home! Morris at 4 to cover heat 14 and hopefully more often than not win the heat to see us home and dry if it's been a tight(ish) meeting. Also I feel that if riding with a partner is a weakness of his then he should be trying to forge a partnership with someone more experienced than a reserve. We've had some strong 3/4 partnerships in the past and I feel Morris could fill a part of that roll in the modern era for us. He really could prove a hell of a 'weapon' in the middle order this season. Anyone remember the job Pete Nahlin did for us in the middle of the team in the 90's? Bekker at 5 because my personal preference, as I said before, is a more experienced rider to partner the reserve 3 times. It also gives us a bit more experience in heat 13 with him partnering Roynon. Hopefully we'll see some consistent sharp gating from him, especially in heat 13. ? at 6 mostly because I want Ritchings at 7. However, it's not a total sacrifice as it gives our 3-pointer the inside gate in heat 2. Ritchings at 7 because it means his 2nd ride should be a relatively strong pairing with Bekker and then his 3rd ride is heat 8, again this should prove a strong pairing with Perry. His 4th ride will be heat 12 when the reserve may be partnering a tac ride in the worst case scenario of us having a nightmare. Away from home I would change the line-up. 1) Roynon 2) JWW 3) Morris 4) Perry 5) Bekker 6) Ritchings 7) ? The differences because: Away from home you may be 'wasting' Perry at 2 when he may only score the same as JWW could but he should be stronger in the middle order than JWW would be. On balance the more traditional line-up with JWW at 2 would be the less risky option. Morris at 3 for heat 12 when it's more likely away from home that you may look to use a late tac ride. Perry at 4 is particularly as a stronger rider to cover heat 14 than JWW would be if they were the other way around, which gives us a more powerful end to the meeting. Ritchings at 6 so that he has the generally more favourable inside gate in heat 2. This is more a factor away from home where the away reserves will probably be stronger. The hope being he pops out and we at least share the heat. He would ride twice with Bekker and once with Perry which should be useful too. Also he could take the extra ride in 14 in a reserve swap if needed. On paper it makes us relatively weak in heat 8 but that's always a favoured heat for tac rides anyway. Again on paper I'm very much favouring being strong at home. This is by design as I feel gaining maximum points at home is the right platform to build your season. Consider that maximum points at home and nothing away from home on 2012 would give us more points than we managed in 2011. Also, from a business point of view it's far more important to be strong at home. Through the dodgy spell (putting it mildly!) at home last season the crowd stuck behind the lads and turned up despite grumbling as we did so. But would the crowds levels be maintained if it became a regular problem? My experience, from being a regular at Monmore and Brandon over the years, is that crowds can dip somewhat significantly when a team has a poor home season. We need to build on our first two seasons and hopefully attract even more of the old guard, not see a few start to drift away.

You could entertain kids in Prague for a couple of days. Boat/pedlo's on the river, lots of activity on the bridge (get pics drawn them etc) and around the main square with horse and carriage rides, loads of small shops selling stuff they can waste your money on, funicular railway with a decent sized tower to climb up on Petrin Hill (fantastic views - recommend to anyone), even the trams and underground rides will probably entertain them for a while (and so cheap to get a 3/5/7 day pass), food's not a problem as there are something like 4 McD's and 5 KFC's and if all else fails take them to the torture museum and scare them into silence! Prague really does have something for everyone. If the arts are your thing then hit the opera and museums. If you're an alcoholic hit the beer (even the 50p a pint stuff is better than ours ). The old Jewish cemetery is meant to be well worth a visit. The crystal is a good buy if that's your thing. Lots of good restaurants as well as the fast food giants, but as with any city be prepared to pay a premium on the tourist trail. Oh and if you've ever wanted a suit of armour but never been sure where to shop for one I have seen one for sale in Prague!

It depends what you want out of your trip. If it's just a good night out at the speedway and getting in and out of the country as fast as you can then Poland is probably your best bet for a cheap trip and a good chance of seeing some decent racing. If you want to make the speedway part of a city break then I would advise Prague without giving it a second thought. It's a cracking city to spend a few days, and nights, in. It's still relatively cheap too, though not the bargain it was 5-10 years ago.

I would be surprised if he went over 8 in '12. Established riders rarely bump their average up that much from one season to the next. A point improvement represents a more realistic target for riders trying to recover from a dodgy year or two. It's not easy to judge at the moment because no other team has named more than 5 riders, and some have not named any. But from what's been confirmed so far I don't think there's a team that should really 'scare' us. What we do have is huge potential for improvement throughout the team. Of course it needs to be realised, but there are plenty of riders on the 'right' average in our team. Cheers Neil. I thought I'd read it somewhere and hadn't just made it up myself. Some of those crashes he had would shake up all but the truly crazy, and when combined it's no surprise that there's a psychological effect as well as a physical one. All in the past now though. If I may be so bold - I think the responsibility of riding at 5 is a tough one for any rider. There's pressure to go out and win your races as your reserve partner may struggle and be at the back. The flip side is that if your reserve partner is there or thereabouts there's an expectation that as the senior rider in the partnership you help him out and defer to him even if he's on your preferred line. My personal opinion is that I would want an older and more experienced rider in the role. Just to be clear I will say that it just happens to be Ash we're talking about, my opinion would be the same of any young and relatively inexperienced rider. I don't think it's necessarily the case. What you need is riders that can improve their average significantly. We have that in other areas of the team. If the others do their job then a solid 3 pointer at the bottom that chips away and scores a few points regularly will be enough. It depends on how you've built your team. Of course a 3-pointer scoring double figures and taking 7 rides is very handy indeed, but it's not the only factor that will decide how the season pans out. This is case in point. Yes, a high scoring reserve is good but a team that improves overall will probably walk away with the silverware as there's no weak link. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mod note - Just a preemptive strike here. Keep it friendly please guys.

Tom and Ash get in each other's way if they both miss it and are both trying to find a way through the traffic, though they do look quite comfortable when out front on a 5-1. As a spectator I felt there were signs of a growing understanding. Either way I'm happy to have both back. If they're not paired together I would revise my expectations slightly. Tom at 3/4 with Byron should average a little more as I feel Ash is better than him (just my opinion) so would therefore have taken more points off Tom. Ash at 5 is a tougher position so I would revise him down a bit and even a little under 8 would represent a good season for him. Royno - depends if he goes flat out up front or drops in behind his team mate so 11 with BP's is what I would expect. Basically he shouldn't drop too many points to opponents but may not have a very high average if he sits in 2nd often. JWW - I'd be happy with anything that's an improvement as I've not seen enough of him to offer any real analysis of where he should be in '12. Tom - He should have done better last year so his sub-6 start point is low in my view. He should be looking to average 7-7½ in '12 if he's going to make a real breakthrough in speedway and move up to make a career in the PL, and perhaps beyond one day. Ash - As above I think position in the team will dictate to a certain expect how much he can put on his average. He needs to be looking in the region of 8 either way. He did it in the early part of last season so the ability is there without improvement as such. He just needs to keep the bike rubber side down and put it together for the full season. I think he quite openly admits, I'm sure Neil can confirm or deny if he so chooses, that the heavy knocks affected his confidence last season. As we all know confidence is so important. Boris - I know a lot of people rate him very highly, and I certainly don't have any problem with the guy, but I just haven't seen anything that really convinces me he's going make any sort of big step up. I might be wrong, and will be happy to hold my hands up if I'm wrong, but for now I'll just say that if others improve as I hope/expect then a solid 6½ from in the middle order will suit the team just fine. We can't afford to carry him if his average drops though as I feel it would pile pressure on -----> Darryl - Fully deserved the award at the end of last season as he showed signs of good progress, battled well, lead confidently at times and was a real pain in the backside to anyone trying to hold him off. It was his first season and often the encore can be tricky, as Tom found out. So although I think that with better equipment for a full season, I believe he struggled with a few bits n bobs later in the season last year, he could make a significant step up I will keep expectations realistic. Near a point improvement to put him over 5 will be job done. Number 7 - According to the Heathens FB feed there are on-going discussions with riders so this one's open to quite some debate. Depending on who we get he could prove the difference. If we are lucky enough to get a 'wonder-kid' that can bump up his 3-point start figure significantly we're looking very very good indeed. A more 'raw' novice rider in, that's looking to just justify himself and his position in the team/league with a 3.something at the end of the year, and we may not quite have enough fire power at the bottom end. Whatever happens as long as the lads give us 100% effort and commitment they'll get the full backing of the large, relatively speaking, crowd. Give it some ommer lads. Neil - The only fixed positions are the top averaging rider at 1 and the lowest two at 6/7. We could start with Ash at number 2!

It's a big season for both of them as they look to push on in the NL and start to break into the PL properly. Assuming they're paired together again at 3/4 I would be looking for them to average at least 15.something between them, with Ash over 8 and Tom over 7. As harsh and blunt as it may sound less than that is not going to be good enough for us as a club or for them as riders looking to progress their careers. By all accounts the Aussie trip seems to have been a huge success, and for Tom in particular I think the extra speedway experience could be crucial. He's still done very little speedway, although an accomplished racer in other respects, and he did admit that not racing speedway in between the 2010 and 2011 season had an effect on the early part of his season last year. I, for one, am hopeful that the Aussie trip has got him well and truly hooked on speedway and that his full commitment in future will be to speedway. That's not to suggest that I think he should quit grasstrack.

Not necessarily. The points limit is below the average number of points scored in a meeting. The team could improve its average and still be crap. Hang on mate, they weren't written off. He said untried 3-pointers could be brilliant or hopeless. I can't see anything wrong with that, although we do have some youngsters coming through that have shown well at junior level. villiers remembers only too well some of the reserves we've had in the past. Heathens fans of old are scarred for life after watching some of them try to get around. Nathan Stoneman likes Dudley Heathens and his two favourite teams are Dudley Heathens and Eastbourne Eagles. Personally I don't think he's ready for the EL yet so...

I remember someone saying Bekker was a steal last season on his average from the year before, but it still went down. Ditto for James. Both riders will get my full vocal support when they pull on the Heathens race jacket but I'm going to need some convincing we've signed the right riders for 2012. My challenge to both of them is to go out there and prove me wrong. -------------------------- Our side seems almost done and dusted now. The club have confirmed they'll speak to Ash and Tom when they get back from Aus. It would be a major surprise if they don't re-sign, so with the exception of nailing down which 3-pointer it will be our line up is virtually confirmed. Roynon Morris Bekker Perry White-Williams Ritchings ? I've said all along my preference would be Clegg at reserve but I expect N Stoneman. Time will tell.

I've posted in the Edinburgh thread with my thoughts on him.

I feel his style just needs honing, or smoothing out if you will. Compare him having only ridden speedway for a couple of years to Darryl (who has grown up shifting shale) when it comes to changing lines, mid-corner cut-backs etc. Somewhere like Monmore will help him do this. Somerset is a perfect fit for his more natural style of getting out wide and letting the bike run and build speed lap after lap. I also hope everyone give him time to settle and help with the right set up and lines to ride etc, and Tom, for his part, certainly does need to decide whether he wants to really get stuck in and further his speedway career. I hope the Aussie trip and this PL chance has convinced him that speedway is the way forward. And yes, his gating is shocking at times but he has improved on it from 2010 to 2011. 2012 is a big year for him already.

It's a fair comment as a generalisation but I don't think he is at that stage yet. He improved last season. He started the year on fire but a succession of heavy falls took their toll and his form dipped alarmingly. There wasn't more difference between his home and away stats than you'd expect. He averaged just over 7 at home, just over 6 away. He's only 18 and has only ridden Monmore in the N L for two seasons. Although I accept riders sometimes need to move around I disagree with you about Ash at this stage. It's even less of an issue for Tom in my opinion. He just needs to ride more speedway. He's only ridden most tracks a few times. Coming from grasstrack means wide open spaces hold no fears for him. If anything riding a smaller track with tighter corners is what he needs to improve his speedway technique. ------------------------------------- New signing on Saturday. Someone new to the club. http://www.dudleyheathens.co/news.php?extend.456

I'd rather the more experienced rider were paired with the reserve. Tom and Ash, assuming they sign, are slowly starting to gain an understanding together so keep them as a pair at 3/4.

According to the BSPA website the points limit is 50. Happy days. (first line copied below) Updated: 06/12/2011 . BELLE VUE BUXTON DUDLEY 1 1 1 Adam Roynon 9.08 2 2 2 Byron Bekker 6.55 3 3 3 Darryl Ritchings 4.29 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 8 Total 0.00 Total 0.00 Total 10.84 Remaining 50.00 Remaining 50.00 Remaining 39.16 *edit* format lost when pasted but see the bits in bold. .

So was 'Fred'. Yes, it seems the days of one-club career riders is behind us. The points limit is just too low for more than the odd few riders to stay put.

With due respect to all riders at this level - You've had fair warning of the changes so should have been planning for it long before now. Regarding the new rear mudguard - even as a fan I think it's a very good idea as it will prevent (hopefully) the horrific injuries that Nicholls, Pedersen, Norris and Crump have suffered in the past from tyre burns when limbs get 'sucked' in under the mudguard. I would have thought speedway riders would welcome them rather than moan about the aesthetics.

I'll be honest - I'm not convinced about Bekker at all. I could be completely wrong but I can only comment on what I've seen myself and I'm not sure he's going to make a big step up. He gets my support while he's wearing a Heathens race jacket. So c'mon Boris make me come back in about 10 months time and admit I was wrong.

Delighted to see a club give 'Fred' Perry a proper chance. I'm hoping speedway, as opposed to grasstrack, is really starting to get under his skin, especially with the current trip to Aus going well. Tom has a true Brit never-say-die approach to his racing. There's a good reason he's so popular with the Heathens fans. http://www.dudleyheathens.co/extras/ytm_gallery/ytm.php?view=UOjEp6lV-HM&p=1&c=2 http://www.dudleyheathens.co/extras/ytm_gallery/ytm.php?view=Oy0rhfrk0go&p=1&c=3 http://www.dudleyheathens.co/extras/ytm_gallery/ytm.php?view=KFuMn7ej4ZM&p=1&c=3 http://www.dudleyheathens.co/extras/ytm_gallery/ytm.php?view=Ppbsqfk_WjI&p=1&c=3

All league's have a pre-AGM where all but dotting the i's and crossing the t's should be sorted. It's only when someone moves the goalposts behind your back that there's a problem. Fortunately, despite a few spats the NL doesn't seem to suffer the same in-fighting seen elsewhere. I suspect all clubs know where they stand with regard to rules for next season. ----------------------- So we have Adam and Darryl signed with another to be announced soon. Tom has posted on FB that he has one team sorted for next year, and just one more to sort out now. Hmm... Let's call a spade a spade it would be a big shock if Tom and Ash weren't back with the Heathens in 2012. Roynon Morris Perry Ritchings That would be a good start that would make many a Heathen happy. I expect at least a couple of new faces next season. Call it gut instinct.

Darryl will sign his contract at the club's Christmas 'do'. Another signing to be announced soon too. http://www.dudleyheathens.co/news.php?extend.451

Hamill and Hancock. And perhaps more surprisingly Cross and Nahlin. It was a short-lived partnership but they were prolific as a 3/4 pairing when we also had Hamill/Hancock as the two heat leaders. They were no quite so consistent away but at Dudley Wood a Cross/Nahlin 5-1 was nailed on and for them to record 2 or 3 5-1's at home each week was not unusual.

Sorry, I should have just type 'the Council' for clarity. Really? I thought pretty decent numbers had turned up. Shame.

Such a shame to be losing a team from the NL. I, like a few others, thought that Newport may run NL only for a while as the financial risk is lower. Of course, it would have been a loss to the PL in that case so either way it's sad for us to be losing a club. Fingers crossed that the locals come out in force next season and the future of the sport in Wales is secured. Best wishes to all down there. It's far from a clever marketing ploy. The association with the Dudley name is keeping a lot of Heathens fan away because DMBC appear to have done, and continue to be doing, jack all to help us find a new name. Make no mistake it's extremely controversial and largely very unpopular. But after 14 years of no speedway the name is a small price to pay and many, like myself, don't acknowledge the Dudley part of the name anyway. The Wolf Cubs raced in the old CL for a while. It was dropped by Wolverhampton Speedway due to low turn out. Birmingham Bulls have raced some meetings at NL level and been well supported I believe.

I don't doubt a single word.

Rob will be able to recall what colour socks they both wore!

That's a good point actually. It may well have been that Olsen named him at reserve which is why he refused to ride rather than he refused to ride in the first instance.