Nikko

Well it was third time lucky on the road as the Thundercats won their first AJL meeting at Ipswich last night. In a closely fought meeting the Thundercats really showed what they are capable of by beating a strong Ipswich team who used R/R for Martin Knuckey who didnt show. It was a strong performance all round with many highlights, the best of which was Adam Kirbys come from behind victory against Niall Strudwick. Full review will be on the Panthers official website over the weekend. SCORES: Ipswich Witches = 16 1. Joe Graver - X, 3, 1*, 3 = 7+1 2. Niall Strudwick - 1, 3, 2, 2 = 8 3. Martin Knuckley R/R (NS 3) (SP R) (JG) 4. Sean Phillips - 0, 1, R, 0 = 1 Peterborough Thundercats = 20 1. Adam Portwood - 3, 3, 2 = 8 2. Martin Pearce - 2*, 2, 0 = 4+1 3. Adam Kirby - 2, X, 3 = 5 4. Simon Pearce - 1*, 1, 1* = 3+2

Changes to the Thundercats squad. The Thundercats have been forced into a change and have made some additions to their AJL squad. Firstly Jamie Collins has quit speedway following a difficult start to the season. Thundercats Team Manager Neil "Nikko" Day confirmed that he had been contacted by Jamies father on Monday and that after crashing a couple of times on Friday at Lakeside and a couple of times at Stoke on Sunday Jamie had decided enough was enough. Speaking on Tuesday, Day said "it's disappointing that Jamie has decided speedway is not for him as I truly believe he had a future in the sport. Jamie had found it tough going in our early away matches and had had a number of crashes but it's all part of the learning curve and I urged him to consider taking a break from AJL meetings but to continue practising with us at Peterborough. Unfortunately at the moment Jamie just doesn't to be on a speedway bike and I respect that. He will always be welcome at Peterborough if he reconsiders or wants to come for a chat". Following on from the loss of one rider, and with meetings upcoming, Day spent Monday calling his contacts and confirmed today the following additions to the Thundercats squad. Simon Pearce - Simon rides at Lakeside but has already ridden for the Thundercats this season and will ride again for the Thundercats at Ipswich on Thursday night. Chris Widman - Chris has been cleared to ride in the AJL and joins the Thundercats from June as cover for other riders when they are unavailable. Liam Rumsey - Liam joins the Thundercats squad, again as cover for unavailable riders. Speaking about the new additions Day confirmed "We were very pleased with Simon when he rode for us at short notice last Friday at Lakeside and we had already agreed with him that he would ride this week at Ipswich as Ben is unavailable due to work commitments. When I received the news about Jamie I asked Simon if he would like to ride for us more often as long as the Lakeside promotion were ok with it and I would like to thank them for agreeing that Simon could race for us. I then discussed the situation with our captain Ben Holloway who suggested Chris and Liam and they soon agreed to join us. Along with the fact that Tim Nobes is now available and Conor Dwyer will also be available to us from June I am really pleased with the squad. As we have found recently, due to work commitments, riders cannot make all the meetings and so we need a bigger squad to choose from." Due to the short notice Tim, Chris and Liam cannot can make Ipswich on Thursday so the Thundercats will use Martin Pearce alongside his brother Simon, Adam Portwood and Adam Kirby. Finally Day commented on the weekends events "to be honest I didn't really want to spend anytime on Monday working on speedway after the events in Poland on Sunday but somehow we need to continue and so with a heavy heart I made the calls. As with the whole speedway community my thoughts are with Lee Richardsons family and friends. The sport has lost a true gentleman".

Bumped into Azbo (and Mark) at Lakeside last night and was really pleased to hear the news. As ADZ says Azbo had a very impressive season with the Fen Tigers last year where he was Mr Consistency and also raked up the most bonus points. Was gutted Mildenhall couldn't fit him into their team but glad he now has his chance, although shame it's due to another's injury and hope Marc Owen is ok. Give Azbo a couple of meetings to get back up to speed and he will not disappoint. PS such a shame to see Mark watching speedway instead of racing speedway.

Thundercats team for two meetings against Ipswich over the next 10 days At Ipswich next Thursday 1) Adam Portwood. 2) Jamie Collins. 3) Adam Kirby. 4) Simon Pearce At Peterborough the following Monday 1) Adam Portwood. 2) Jamie Collins 3) Adam Kirby. 4) Ben Holloway

Be leaving Kent shortly ready for, hopefully, our first meeting of the season. Surely we are not going to get another rain off!

Well the weather strikes again with Mondays meeting against Lakeside postponed due to continued wet weather. The Thundercats have now suffered rain offs in each of their first three meetings. The next meeting is due to be Mildenhall on Sunday 6th May

After two rain offs the Thundercats are looking for third time lucky as they hope to kick off their AJL campaign next Monday against Lakeside Junior Hammers at EOES. Thundercats Team Manager Neil "Nikko" Day commented "To say the boys are desperate to race would be an understatement. They are raring to go and look forward to showing the Peterborough fans what they can do". Teams for Monday are Peterborough Thundercats 1. Ben Holloway © 2. Adam Kirby 3. Adam Portwood 4. Jamie Collins Team Manager Neil "Nikko" Day Lakeside Junior Hammers 1. Mark Baldock 2. Martin Pearce 3. Jack Kingston 4. Adam Sheppard Team Manager Alan Sargent The Thundercats can also confirm that the rearranged AJL league match at Lakeside is set for Friday 11th May before the Panthers meet the Hammers.

Unfortunately tonights meeting between Peterborough Thundercats v Mildenhall Fen Tiger Cubs postponed due to waterlogged track. New date to be arranged. This is the second successive rain off for the Thundercats which is really disappointing but the lads will practice as much as they can over coming week and prepare for our first meeting.

Unfortunately tonights meeting between Peterborough Thundercats v Mildenhall Fen Tiger Cubs postponed due to waterlogged track. New date to be arranged.

Weather permitting the Peterborough Thundercats take on The Mildenhall Fen Tiger Cubs at the EOES on Thursday night after the Panthers take on Eastbourne Eagles. In a late change to the Fen Tiger Cubs Sam Woods will replace Josh Bates at No 1 following Joshs crash at Mildenhall on Sunday against Dudley. Teams in riding order: Thundercats 1. Ben Holloway © 2.Adam Kirby 3. Adam Portwood 4. Jamie Collins T/M Neil "Nikko" Day Fen Tiger Cubs 1. Sam Woods 2. Joe Graver 3. Niall Strudwick 4. Martin Knuckley T/M Kevin Jolly

Such a shame the meeting against Lakeside young Hammers was postponed last night due to waterlogged track. Thanks go to the Lakeside track staff for their efforts in trying to get the meeting on but in the the end the weather won. All the lads were there and raring to go. We had a good chat about the season ahead and look forward to meeting the Fen Tiger Cubs at Peterborough next Thursday. In the meantime Adam Portwood and Adam Kirby will guest for the Kings Lynn Lightning against the Fen Tiger Cubs at West Row on Sunday.

Just to confirm the Fen Tiger Cubs are scheduled to race against the Peterborough Thundercats next Thursday 19th April. A draft fixture list up to the middle of June has been sent to all clubs with dates for mid June September to be issued shortly. Certaintly a great time for junior league racing. Regards Nikko

The Thundercats are pleased to announce that Conor Dwyer joins the squad.

Hi Phil They both are, each team races each other twice home and away. At the moment the draft fixtures only go as far as the middle of June with more to follow for the rest of June, July and August. It will certainty be a little weird racing against the Fen Tigers for once but hope we have 4 great fixtures to watch. Regards Nikko

The Peterborough Thundercats have announced their first squad riders for the 2012 AJL season. The first riders named are Adam Kirby, Adam Portwood, Ben Holloway, Jamie Collins and Tim Nobes. Now joined by Conor Dwyer. Another couple of riders will be announced shortly. The Thundercats start their AJL campain next Friday 13th April against Lakeside Juniors with the Thundercats racing BEFORE the Peterborough Panthers take on the Lakeside Hammers. The AJL meeting will start approx 6.45pm with the EL meeting starting at 8pm. The first Thundercats team are: 1) Adam Kirby 2) Jamie Collins 3) Adam Portwood 4) Ben Holloway © Team Manager: Neil "Nikko" Day Thundercats draft fixtures for the next couple of months (more to follow, and subject to change) are: Fri 13 April @ Lakeside (postponed waterlogged track new date tba) Thu 19 April v Mildenhall Mon 30 April v Lakeside (subject to not being a Sky meeting) Sun 6 May @ Mildenhall Thu 17 May @ Ipswich Mon 21 May v Ipswich (subject to not being a Sky meeting) Thu 31 v Kings Lynn Sat 2 June @ Rye House Mon 4 June v Lakeside Wed 13 June @ Kings Lynn Thu 14 June v Mildenhall Lets give all the lads in the AJL the support they deserve. Nikko

Update on the offer to facilitate a meeting at the BSPA. No contact from anyone. Regards Neil "Nikko" Day

Good point

Hah, thats a classic you've seen his dress sense. Oh gawd the thought of "those" shorts coming out again this summer

CMO - sorry but HalifaxTiger is the least pretentious person I know. He travels up and down the country as a true speedway fan and although you may not agree with his views they are based on experience of most tracks in the country, Your comment about not being welcome is just plain childish, and I would not expect a true speedway fan to come up with such a stupid comment.

Certaintly an interesting signing

I would say up to a 6 point NL average is way to high and also 2 NL riders out of 4 is too many. For me this league is for young riders to gain experience in team racing and to to get ready for NL teams. Personally I have no problem with 1 NL reserve per team but no more and no riders who have ridden at NL heat leader or above. If you look at some of the reserves this season they are still very inexperienced and this league would help them. It will also give some riders without a team spot the chance to show what they can do. Rules are going to have to agreed and stuck to. If they are then this can only be a good thing.

Excellent post and I could not agree more. Look at the young riders without a team spot, there are a number of under 21 riders with one or two years experience who are now without teams and you have a number of 15 and 16 year olds who have come through the under 15 and under 16 championship who cannot even get a start in the NL. I know full well what it takes to run a NL side and yes the fans want a winning team but you also need variation of teams to race against and young exciting riders coming through to excite the fans. The Midlands league is filling a gap and is a very worthwhile exercise which I wholeheartedly support but we are reducing the racing experience of of our young riders. If you look at some of the 16 year olds in Midlands League squads for the 2012 season they should be National League reserves. It's such a shame that Sittingbourne, Bodmin and Exeter are not ready but will they ever be? It's even more of a shame, although understandable from a business perspective that Newport couldn't continue and Lakeside decided not to run an NL team having looked into it. You are spot on that the BSPA should not wait until the end of each season to sort this out. Let's see how serious the BSPA are about the NL and the future of young British riders coming through. I send out an open offer to Mr Peter Morrish the BSPA and the promoters to facilitate, at my own time and cost, a meeting in Rugby to discuss over the coming months a blueprint for 2013 and beyond. As a Programme Director with over 25 years experience in facilitating such meetings I am offering my time and as I am no longer directly involved with any club there is no conflict of interest. Regards Neil Day Edited with apologies to Mr Morrish for spelling his name wrong earlier.

More disappointing news and even less track time for the young lads now, the opportunities and chances to progress to the PL are getting less and less. Let's hope the AGM brings some positive news about some new teams or we are in big trouble.

Hi neil3065. I have no riders on my books anymore as I am no longer directly involved in the sport as I closed down Nikko Racing earlier this month, therefore my post had no hidden agenda. The Fen Tigers were successful last season because they had an experienced rider at reserve all season, this year they are going a different way. No one can argue with the Mildenhall managements experience, least of all me, and wish them well.

Even by the standard of other reserves named or being looked at so far this is a big ask for the lad. To go from 250cc racing to only just having started on 500cc bikes to NL racing by April is a massive leap. Great too see a young lad come through though. Good luck to him, I hope everyone gives him plenty of time and doesn't expect too much. The other reserve is now even more key and you would expect it to be someone with NL experience, albeit a small amount or the Fen Tigers are going to be very weak at reserve. Last year was built on an experienced reserve all season, the makeup of this years team is certaintly different.