SlicktrackSandy

I would put that in the past tense - yet they still persist with it as if it's set in stone !

Could be wrong but am not convinced that with the points options we are likely to have, 2 changes are unlikely to make a difference going forward. Unless the injuries to Josh & Craig are long term ones am assuming you may be thinking of a permutation of any 2 from positions #4, #6 & #7, the latter two being our most fragile as with last year. Question is could 7.28 points be better spent on two NDL ? replacements before 1st June or 3.28 points on one ? The management has always encouraged supporters to have high expectations of the sides they assemble and rightly so. However, starting with Josh's unfortunate injury and its unsettling effect on the team, we appear to have run into a perfect storm of a further injury to Craig, Paco's absence and off form reserves, while meeting an excellent Scorpions side at full strength rightly taking advantage of the situation as we would have done ourselves. Judging by the comments on Facebook the supporters understandable frustrations are there for all to see and as a clearly in pain Kye Thomson commented ( injured hand ) that sometimes you just have to take it on the chin and move on. However, as we are often reminded these days, Speedway is a business as well as a sport and that has to taken into account when moving on.

If launching a new team proved to be at all possible - "Peterborough Pumas" would preserve the big cat theme as they are not too dissimilar. Maybe that is being a bit too naive though when there appear to be so many self interests to negotiate around. Hope something positive works out one way or another in the very near future.

When you rely on a third party to ensure things run smoothly there's always a chance that this kind of thing may happen and you are the one to take the flak. Fortunately the issue was resolved fairly quickly and normal service was restored. Considering the tricky conditions after the deluge the riders did remarkably well to provide good competitive racing. Of course, but for the remarkable efforts of the track staff there would have been no racing at all so that is worth bearing in mind also.

Superb racers track at ECCO Arena. Can't really see past Bears for this one as they look pretty strong 1-7. However if Jye Etheridge can avoid injury between the dressing room and pits Bandits may just have a chance on aggregate. Should be a good one.

We once had Yarmouth Bloaters. North of the border version today would be Arbroath Smokies - may re-kindle fishy memories ?

Many moons ago can recall that Hackney Hawks used to have a shuttle bus service from near the tube station to the ground. Used that two or three times as I recall. About 30 mins before start time I think. Either free or nominal charge cannot be certain too far back. Maybe something like that would work for Comets i.e. pickup point somewhere very central for those who are not able/don't wish to walk a distance. Return immediately after match. Not familiar with the area or cost implications for the club but it's maybe one for the suggestion box ?

Very well put Sir if I may say so.

I used to like watching Royston Vasey too.

It may well be diluted and at present some say poorly run or run with self interest in mind. However it is still with us and those who chose are able to do so whether in person or streaming. In 1980 there were 20 teams in the equivalent of the CL and now it looks as if we are down to 9 so we are not exactly in the golden age for Speedway - but we are still here. There are clearly a huge number of factors involved in how we have arrived at where we are. At present there appear to be only temporary sticking plaster solutions to keep us jogging along until someone comes up with a grand plan to turn things around. Debatable if that will be possible and even less likely if support further diminishes so it is vital to hold on to and consolidate what we are working with at present. Some say costs are too high and poor value @ £20 or whatever for 90 minutes stood outside and only 15 minutes racing, but that is what Speedway has always been - except delete 20 and insert applicable substitute. Anyone old enough to remember the early 60's may recall that kids got in for the equivalent of 7.5p and adults about 12.5 p and riders could well have been on 50p a point if they were lucky ( Alan Weeks on BBC TV once mentioned that Barry Briggs got 10 bob ( 50 p ) a point ). Point being this is 2022 and it costs what it costs to run a Speedway meeting and keep a club afloat. Where are we now - max. £90 a point "capped" - suggests one heck of an income required to keep in business. Have never been a great subscriber to this "value" argument. Everything's relative on that score i.e. some ( not all ) may easily spend £20 on an evening and p**s it all against a wall never giving it another thought - it's all down to personal choice and rightly so, Only saying !

Most would be happy with that team I would have thought. Doubt if we could have done much better without a major upheaval which nobody would have wanted. If Lasse gets himself a bit more comfortable with the Armadale turns next year we could do o.k. He looked really fast at Redcar. Almost certainly good enough for top 6 and maybe even go at least as far as this year.

The guy must be highly encouraged after reading all these pages of tripe ! The lad is only 20 y.o. still - all that is history. Let's see what he can do in 2023 with our guys to help him along.

Way back in the dim and distant past was George Hunter not an advocate of this type of arrangement ?

I do like Lasse and he may well be favourite for the #2 spot - particularly as he is on our inventory, however I have never felt that he looked that comfortable on the Armadale track. He was certainly good at Redcar for example and looked a lot more at ease there. Having watched a few of Connor Bailey's races on his Facebook pages he would get the nod from me over Lasse. One outstanding race at Poole holding off Rory Schlein for the win showed just what he is capable of. It looks like 4.00 LF v. 4.35 CB as far as points go and out of choice I would go for the latter for 2023.

This would be my preference for a mix of experience, youth and potential for progression and come just within 40 ( I think ) Pickering Bailey Thomson Castagna Cook Hook Bickley I believe all the above candidates are still available and it also allows us to keep 4 of our 2022 team plus 1 "old boy" as a bonus for losing Sam.

You may well get the cigar for that one ! Cannot be far off that surely - not too dissimilar from 2022 but a bit weaker with no Sam. We ended up doing ok in the end so maybe play off candidates again if a couple of last years intake show progress.

That seems an excellent reason for him not being given a mention then ! Clearly missed that wherever it was said. Always enjoyed watching Ricky's races - nice tidy style especially on small tracks. Maybe have a change of heart after a couple of years out - if the bug bites again and enthusiasm is rekindled ?

Can't see that one coming to pass somehow - not even close probably. Just as a wee observation - am beginning to feel a bit sorry for Ricky Wells i.e. cannot recall seeing a single mention of him in any of the teams suggested here or elsewhere. His average looks to be 5.20 which is not quite in no mans land for team building I would have thought. At present not quite the 7.00 plus Ricky of old but still "only" 31 y.o. and certainly capable of more than 5.20 as an experienced campaigner. Maybe getting a home track that suits him well and we may see an upturn in form ? Just a thought.

Reckon he would be a quick learner on our patch at any rate and if he came in on a 2.00 he should exceed that over the season with the benefit of Theo's advice and track knowledge to pass on. If we don't give him the chance - someone else surely will.

Can see Hume ending up further south in 2023, but Matty Wethers is on 5.36 and could easily hold that average with his past experience at the Dale. Still an asset too I think.

So does Brooke ( his wife ) !

Very well said sir !

Yup -that looks about right to keep the total under 41 ( with 2 x 2.5% reductions ). JS seems to have had a transformation this year, but without that I would have given Kye the gig instead. Sam, Cookie and Sedgy all in the same team would be a formidable trio and they all gel well together too as has been witnessed in the past. However if points limit drops to 40 I would doubt if any team could afford to spend 10.58 on a #1 to leave only 29.42 for 6 others. AFIK nothing official yet on limits so who knows ? Main thing is we are running in 2023 so that is one heck of an early Christmas present ! Great credit to our management and to the stadium owners for making it happen.

Ditto on all of that. Sticking plasters have all been used up - major surgery now required !