vog

Tony Atkin makes it 5 signed on a 7.84 Very top heavy from Stoke,though a top 4 that could win meetings on their own!

Unfortunately, we say this every season. And every season we are left saying that something needs to be done. It never is, and as fans we are expected to just accept that they make the decisions, and we should be thankful. The amount of promoters whose responses are either "If you think you could do better, then do it yourself" or "You should just be thankful that there is speedway" depresses me. In an ideal world, we would have a governing body that doesn't change rules on a whim, and answers to an independent body. Until then, we will continue to be a joke in the eyes of many.

Riders coming through at Mildy? No idea. My gripe lies with whoever let Heeps ride. At the end of the day, had he been entitled to ride under the rules, he would have been in from day 1, Mildenhall made no secret of the fact they wanted him. Instead, midway through the season the paperwork was suddenly finished. No idea what paperwork, as no-one would say. You can only ride in the NL if you are British or hold a British Passport. Cameron wouldn't be able to claim citizenship through his parents until he was 16. Until someone comes up with an answer that isn't "It must be fine because it happened" I will continue to hold a gripe against the BSPA and Mildenhall promotion. As for other riders at Mildenhall, all credit to them. You had a couple of lads who upped their averages considerably, and others who pulled out performances when it mattered. However, it won't change the fact that I have an intense dislike for your promotion after seeing the way visiting riders were treated on my trips to Mildenhall. The promotion could have drawn a line under everything after our first meeting, but they stoked the fires, continued to play up them having no idea how Lambert could ride, continued to stoke the fire of hatred under him, and look what happened. Messers Lee and Louis should be ashamed of themselves, but we all know that will never happen. Apologies for going off topic, so to bring it back on topic, Louis is complaining about money that they always knew they owed. Stuff him. Pay the money that you knew you were going to have to and stop whinging. Paying double because you owe a year seems about right. Idiot.

And here was me thinking that Heeps replaced Nick Laurence...while, if memory serves, one of the Baseby brothers replaced Brundle. Lets face it, Brundle should have been allowed to double up, and Mildenhall would have replaced Laurence with Heeps. The whole thing stunk.

I know, but for average purposes he came over as an American. Hence I was trying to point out that, surely, Sitera would start on a 7, and not lower...

Wells is a Yank. The 6 came from his assessed 3 point EL average doubled, as it was higher than the WP average he would need. There must be other examples of riders dropping down on assessed averages. It was put in after the Brian Yarrow/Tomasz Piszcz fiasco.

So Wells WP average would have been a 5, yet he came in on a 6?

Wouldn't it be 7? Riders come down on the higher of their converted average or their initial assessed average (Stichaeur and Wells at Stoke prove this)

So, that leaves us with: 1. Ashley Birks 8.28 2. 3. Jaimie Pickard 6.87 4. 5. Richie Worrall 7.75 6. 7. Ben Reade 3 Total 25.9 thus far. Leaves us with 14.1. No idea who to have! EDIT: I think maybe Tim Nobes will be back as a second 3 point reserve. That leaves 11.1 for the other 2. Possible combinations I would like to see include Brendan Johnson 5.52/Lewis Kerr 5.55 Stefan Nielsen 5.28/Mark Baseby 5.67 Paul Starke 5.89/Richard Franklin 4.84

Jaimie Pickard for Stoke. 6.87

So, Jaimie Pickard makes it 4 for Stoke. Comes in on a 6.87...no idea where he will slot in or who comes in with him! Glad to have him back though!

Chuffed that Ben is back, I just hope that he has good machinery under him this year, as he showed at the back end of last season what he is capable of. Still no idea who will fill in the gaps! Wouldn't surprise me to see Tim Nobes in as the other reserve, leaving us with more room at the top end.

That'll do for me! I think both Richie and Ash can push on for 9 point averages this season, and should form a very solid top 2. We apparently have a verbal agreement with Ben Reade, although Mildenhall are trying to scupper that, but if he comes back, that is 3 good sigings!

I'd heard the same whisper...but maybe it was a straight choice between the 2?

Personally, I can't see Lambert or Isherwood being back, so thats another 14 points there for 3 riders, and that's assuming that Pickard doesn't go to Dudley (Now that Wolves own his contract) and Atkin is fit and ready for another season! If not, it could be all change. I would be happy with Ben Reade back, and Tim Nobes could be in contention. Past that, who knows.

Top of the league KoC Finalists Pairs Champions British Ice Open Champion (Yes, I'm counting it) I think that covers it for last season

How much did Sheffield win last season? Nothing? How much did Stoke win last season? NL Pairs... 1-0 my friend. And we even used a Sheffield rider to do it. At least he got success at a proper club

I hope you are right. We came so close to winning things last season, it would be a shame to find ourselves languishing towards the lower end of the table this season. Hopefully we can go one step further this year and win something!

Unfortunately, that's pretty much what seems to have happened. I loved Tim last year, and hope that if we do move to the PL, he would join us on a 3, but his average is high when compared to others, and it is an averages game. Richie Worrall on 7.75 represents, to me, better value than Tim. In an ideal world we would have both, but I trust Malcolm in his team building.

Looks like it. Feel sorry for Tim, but we get a loan fee and I would assume that if we are to move back to the PL soon, he will move up with us.

Richie Worrall joins Stoke on a 7.75 average http://www.stokepotters.co

So, Stoke are running NL again next year, and have made their first signing Richie Worrall joins on a 7.75 average, and Tim Webster and James Sarjeant have both been told they won't be required at Stoke next year. Richie should be a good signing for us!

Absolute genius from Rye House. Put Bunyan and Garrity in heat 2 together. Frighten the bejebus out of the rest of the opposing team, win every meeting. Fantastic.

I've been to Mildenhall twice this season, and although it produced pretty good racing at times, during each visit I left thinking that the fence was ridiculously dangerous, and that it was often difficult to pass due to it being dry (A lot of the passes I saw came from riders diving up the inside of someone, as opposed to passes due to pure grip) The fact that they now have an air fence is fantastic, because I was always terrified that the fence was going to cause accidents. As for the track, who knows. So long as it doesn't become a one line procession, that's fine!

Honest guv