Bitza

I really just wanted to Post that before the season starts, so that if the Pirates don't win everything again, I can point out to Danny Ford that he should keep abreast of what's been written here on the forum in order to keep ahead of the game. (just humour) The key word in my last post was "prioritise".

Bit of a prediction for the season, cos I recon Ford really should have prioritised signing Dan Thompson, he is going to improve so much this year. Whereas Kerr at best stays fit. Good to see that Anders is riding well, roll on Wednesday.

Well the law of averages tells you somebody had to be right! After all just about every possible rider has been mentioned at some point. Well done lewy.

All true, but surely the difference is basically that in a Premiership team the top and bottom riders are better, but the filling is the same. So in simple terms take a top four Championship team add a couple top riders to replace the replacement riders, and you have a Premiership type team. Bosh job done.

From my point of view, Poole's involvement means another opportunity to watch speedway, which is great. All this fuss about a championship club being in a Premiership competition, is really little more than hot air because the standards are so similar, complainers are kidding themselves of the great divide, I think.

Now something along John's line of thinking, offers a more imaginative alternative to a 2pt sacrificial lamb. Not beyond the realms of fantasy that there's a retired rider out there who might quite fancy a three month comeback, with no great pressure to perform at their former level.

Well Ford really is leaving it to the last minute to announce the team before Christmas, can't wait. Happy Christmas to you all!

If the "envious eyes" bit was fact then nobody would watch NDL and the like. Yes the Premiership has some top riders but it doesn't automatically make the racing more exciting to watch. There's no denying that watching Vinnie and Tobias was worth the fee.

Not surprised in fact I kinda suspected it, maybe it's time to go professional? He isn't the first motor sport contestant finding themselves in that situation, fine while they come up through the ranks but generally there comes a time for an "awkward conversation". If that is actually what is holding him back let's hope he's had that chat.

Don't think he was plan B, cos apparently he was signed very early on. He was more likely a remnant of the 38 total team. The key to his success will be getting his machinery sorted & maintained, not beyond the wit of man. Maybe finances have been an issue, or possibly misplaced faith in his spanner person.

Plenty of speculation about the last two, but does anyone out there have any idea of when the next official announcement might come?

Well I know nothing about him, but from the still photos he looks to have a riding style similar to Ben Cook, low down below the handle bars, great to watch and can be very effective. On the down side also pics of him giving the air fence a hard time.

If it it's Starke then the Fords have dropped a b.llock, it's got to be somebody else surely, my money is still on a continental/aussie. The confirmation of Anders is good, but it's the reserves that's crucial especially considering my (and others) comments about the Glasgow team.

Redcar to announce team this evening, Sat 7th.

Surely it's simply a matter of balance, Glasgow have riders I would have liked to see to see riding for Poole 25 but.....but they also have a big hole come heat 2. So in answer to your question, sure I'm fine, are you really as well as you make out?

I was just looking at the "confirmed riders for 2025" thread, and it struck me that no team has yet confirmed a rider on 2. The number 7s so far include the likes of Vinnie and Killeen, making the Pirates apparent choice of employing a 2 look like potentially a risky strategy, bearing in mind that a reserves points are worth the same as a heat leaders.

When you look at the confirmed riders for 2025 one thing is evident... no riders on a average of two so far?!

Totally agree, I'm feeling confident it's not Starke. Can anyone expand on the returning aussie rumour bit, with some names?

Sedgeman confirmed as Monarchs rider.

Was curious to see how bad Kerrs injury record was over the last season, so I checked out the league results. He missed 5 meeting and scored zero in two when he was injured. Not too impressive, but maybe it was just a phase he has learnt from?!

So that gives 4.32 max for the last rider (assuming Rowe +2). If so it looks like a continental 4 to me.

About time we were drip fed the confirmation of another rider I'm thinking.

Fair point, I can see many riders seeing it as an opportunity to show what they can do, a bit like Vinnie did. I always had a sneeking suspicion that someone had said to Max Perry something like "it's OK lad nobody's expecting you to win every heat just go out and express yourself" and he took it a little too literally.

But if you substitute Howarth on 7.27 for Kerr 7.76 you get 39.92. Not a bad fit all in all. To say it again a rider doesn't become bad overnight, Sam has slumped but he will come back just a matter of when, hopefully 2025 at Wimborne Road.

If its 4.3 for the final rider, I can't see it being Starke bearing in mind that Vinnie would have been an alternative.