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We could have kept Ben and gone top heavy. Brady Kurtz Norick Blodorn Jaimon Lidsey Ben Cook Dan Bewley 3 pointer Jake Mulford (RS) I doubt any top team would have a three pointer partnering the RS just so they could keep their top lads or worse still poach others - would they?

I thought Tom was good for the Brummies last season and our ex juniors Steve & Leon put some points on the board. Shame they had to seek out foreign imports that didn’t work out due to the lack of available riders from other clubs. 😡 We’re releasing a 7 point heat leader this time if that helps. This would have been a good team for you, if it fits and folk didn’t gazebo you again Zagar Antti Brennan Worrall (either) B Cook Flint Pearson Up the Aces!

Please don’t bracket Belle Vue with Ipswich & Sheffield on this matter, there is just no comparison, sadly.

Next season, Ben whilst at 1, will ride against the same opposition in his first three races. The difference for his fourth race will see him against 3&5 instead 4&7. You would think this will impact his scoring. The silver lining is that he will be partnered by a lesser rider than Jaimon and is more likely to be in front of his teammate. Ben scored the highest number of bonus points for The Aces (24) and had he finished in front of his teammate his average would have been 7.53.

Yes. One of the advantages of having ex riders Louis & Lemon in control of things like that. They fully understand the frustrations of no/late payments.

You mean like getting a riders average reassessed last minute because he didn’t fit or having a last minute illegal facility granted for a rider who was never going to ride for you that season as he had better offers abroad?

Looks like being same again with Fricke at No1. Just another play off final ffs.

Fair play to Ipswich for going with the same team as last season. We were told many, many, many times how they would have walked the league but for their injuries and with their play off opponents having to de strengthen it makes the task this coming season even more cut & dried. Let the battle commence for us losing finalists. The nonsense about enticing Tom with big bucks from a Birmingham team skating on thin ice is thankfully put to bed. Making a trophy cert unnecessarily stronger to the detriment of one of your business partners is just insane. We all want trophies but there is a way to go about it - we ain’t Poole after all. Buying titles never goes down well with the fans, sponsors or occasional tv audience so great to see and well done Ipswich.

The stronger teams have to change to get back under the points limits so Cook, Ellis, Lawson & Howarth are the type to unfortunately move on to the weaker clubs who can keep their teams intact aside from releasing their weakest to make room for a stronger rider. It’s a system that’s happened for decades.

Up to July Tom rode seventy odd percent of his meetings as a second string, adding just under half a point to the average he left us on whilst riding in the same positions. He then more than held his own at number five adding another 0.19 to his average. Not big numbers but still impressive improvement imo. I hope the witches fans don’t get on his back if he’s not banging in the big scores as they do but instead get behind him. With the correct backing he can push on.

Be great to get an Aces v Witches final. When you remember the titanic semi final of ‘23 with THAT heat 15. Terrific stuff, it would be get to see those four riders going for it again in a final.

You made a good point there about Ben at the NSS. The general opinion on here is that we easily beat opponents around there due to many factors so sacrificing a few points means we still win but don’t hammer teams. Zach’s away average was actually higher than Bens so hopefully that will help turn some of those close losses into wins.

Out of around 10 teams that have put or left Connor on the scrap heap over the last few seasons, just one is continually being vilified for it. The fact it’s the only team to have offered him any top flight meetings (just a few less than previous seasons) since 2022 is BSF trolling at its finest. 2019 Left on the scrap heap 2021 Kings Lynn 16 then dropped 2022 Sheffield 18 then dropped 2023 Left on the scrap heap 2024 Belle Vue 13 then dropped

It’s the same team that won the league but with Zach (5.57) instead of Ben 6.99 due to rules. Will a 1.42 drop make a huge difference to our ability to qualify? Zach finished strongly against some tough teams whilst in the main body of the side. In his last 3+3 meetings he averaged 6.40. Carry on like that and it limits the damage to our title winning team.

If we keep Ben we release, say Jaimon to help bolster another teams side. It matters not who it is the fact remains the same, it helps other teams, you’re being deliberately obtuse just to have another go. We’ve not pinched Zack, you are again talking nonsense. This is the rider who only a few months ago was sacked by his team and tossed on the scrap heap. It’s only correct that he should look to better alternatives and a mega loyal team like Belle Vue is ideal, plus we’ll have a glowing recommendation off in brother. With regards Connor, it makes everyone sit up and take notice on the very very odd occasion that we make changes (the least of any team in recent/mid times). Other teams can drop riders willy nilly and it goes under the radar as it’s the norm. Belle Vue stand out in that respect. “Purely for your own clubs gain because you have to shed points” We have to shed points whilst simultaneously gaining. You are the fool if you can write that.

That would be a departure from the norm for The Aces as we stay loyal, more than any other team since covid and probably before that.

That’s rider control/averages for you. The strong teams help the weak teams (well some anyway). I’m happy with that if it stems the decline of UK league speedway. I would have rather kept all of this years squad especially after helping Ben but a point on his average and being out biggest improver but it is what it is.

Agreed. He tried to make out having the top two in place this year would have secured a league title when as you rightly say it’s impossible to use a riders scores from selected meetings to try and prove what they would have scored in meetings they missed. A poor original post tbh.

Speedway updates.

There’s definitely improvement in Ben, no doubt. It’s a numbers game, if we keep Ben we would then have to alter others in the team. It’s a problem we have every year. My take is Jaimon sorted his equipment out when Poland finished and was superb after a frustrating season. God knows why he didn’t change things sooner. It showed he’s a class act - as good as Ben could be next year but on a more favourable average. Good luck to both I say.

Was that when we were missing Wright who had scored paid 19 at Foxhall and we got 3 from his replacements? We did beat you twice on aggregate that year when we had a full team and you had your top 2.

The Aces might get a look in as the witches management have admitted many times that they don’t get on with a racers track like NSS.

Away from Belle Vue it would be essential for him to improve his gating and thus make things easier for him, boring for us.

We’d love to keep Ben, same with Tom, Max, Worralls, Craig etc but rules are rules and if we can help other clubs operate, then all the better. There’s always a warm welcome back for our ex Aces.

We tried our bit by putting the hard yards in with Tom for you to get some benefit this year. With regards some other clubs I can see exactly what you mean. 😡