Aries

The loss of Kevin Long on the mic has been massive from my perspective. Can’t be understated what a difference he made to the meeting experience. Huge miss.

It’s been raining again the last few hours where I am in Ipswich, only just started to break out. Definitely not dry here though Speedy! Edit: starting to now though. Seems I’m a bit behind where you are.

Kind of disagree because it completely depends on the situation and how much rain has already fallen, and how much is forecast. Some clubs DO postpone way too early on the strength of a forecast that has a few “possible showers” in 24 hours time. I’m sorry but you can’t be calling off meetings on the back of a few possible showers being forecast more than 24 hours before a meeting. If everyone started doing that then nearly all meetings would be getting postponed. I think that was his point.

Damage has already been done Phil. This isn’t anything like the Lynn call off (against Ipswich) where it was postponed on a potential forecast. Working nights, it rained from 11pm Monday evening, all through the night, and pretty much all through Tuesday on and off, with torrential downpours, hail, and Thunder and lightning. It’s rained again this afternoon, and more rain expected tomorrow. The sun has gone in to hiding also as well as the heat so that doesn’t help. I took this yesterday at 5pm before heading back to work. Never seen rain like it! The roads became rivers. https://share.icloud.com/photos/017QGq4JLvX6EJVqkb6kjwrUQ

https://ipswichwitches.co/king-tobi-getting-back-to-his-best/ Jake Mulford, originally booked to guest for Ipswich in this meeting, now guests for Sheffield instead 😂 Rider replacement for Chris Holder also.

Was really looking forward to this weekend, but no Bewley has taken the shine off it for me and probably lots of others. Been the most entertaining rider around this year and will be hugely missed.

You mean the bloke that went against the cartel and has been ostracised for it by looking after his riders by making sure they were properly insured? Yeah him.

IF the meeting goes ahead, let’s just hope that Bangs comes back in refreshed after his enforced break, with a good attitude and a determination to do well and score some points. We all want him (well Ipswich fans anyway) to do well and be a success. Let’s hope he starts delivering so we don’t have to even look at potential replacements.

Absolutely this.

Andrew Chisholm is in charge of the day to day running of the club, not Coleman who has his hands full elsewhere. Chisholm and Hurry put the team together, and decide on team matters, that was confirmed before the season started. I’m not quite getting this overreaction either. It’s all explained in yesterday’s article. They planned to use Kennett while the uncertainty around Bangs continued. They were less than impressed when a scheduled practice session after Thursdays meeting didn’t materialise when Kennett didn’t bother turning up so quite rightly binned the idea. They then booked Mulford as a guest for Thursdays meeting under the impression that Bangs would still be unavailable. That changed literally yesterday when Bangs himself is quoted as saying he only received the paperwork from Doctors to resume racing yesterday I have been working really, really hard to get some papers from the doctors to allow me to get started as soon as possible. I got that today, and now I am ready.” What have they actually done wrong here? I agree it’s an unusual set of circumstances, but circumstance it is. People are being overly critical and typical of this forum, overreacting to trivial matters.

Just that will do for starters 🙄

I, and a few others were wrong it seems. Bangs now back for the Sheffield meeting on Thursday https://ipswichwitches.co/hellstrom-bangs-back-for-sheffield-showdown/

Sorry but I disagree with both of you. I’ve been watching Speedway for more years than I care to remember, as have many. I’d like to think I can spot a rider who’s trying hard, but struggling, and one that isn’t. It hasn’t been the lack of scoring from Bangs that has disappointed me so far, it’s been a distinct lack of real effort that to me looks as plain as day. If others want to disagree that’s fine, no problem with that. But nothing will change my mind. Something just hasn’t been right with him right from the get go. Perhaps he’ll return (I’m not convinced) and whatever issues he’s having will be resolved? We can only hope that’s the case

That’s the spirit.

Just randomly came across this on Twitter/X. Superb 👏🏻

Anyone know if Kennett was there and had a spin after the meeting Thursday? That was the plan apparently.

Who is the “up and coming rider”? You speak of GM? Jenkins?

Don’t be daft. It was the duo you mentioned not returning leaving Ipswich with very little top end strength, that made the signing of a strong number 6 imperative if the team was to be successful. It was hoped that Bangs would have been that trump card on a 4.5 average, but it hasn’t materialised. We’ve covered him ok so far and made the cup final, but we’ll be underdogs against Leicester, and up against it to finish in the play offs without that number 6 position being filled sufficiently. No chance of winning it IF we got there. The rumour originally was Thorssell on a reduced 4.5 average. Perhaps that could be revisited..

Kennett has always been a decent trapper, so if he can get out of the gate sharpish at Foxhall, he could hang on and score a few points at home. Away should be problematic though. But hey, who knows! Hopefully he surprises us..

Can he do any worse than Bangs has up to now? Possibly! But it’s a pretty low bar let’s be honest. Bangs has been utter crap. BUT, I’m not convinced now that Bangs is returning. The rumour was there, and now he’s “ill” for 28 days? Just what kind of illness does he have? If he’s not coming back either by his choice of the promotion/manager, then you’d hope they could come up with a better replacement than someone who has been out of the game for a while. It does give them 28 days though to have a good look around and do a deal with someone if Kennett doesn’t score many/any points I guess.

Used to when Henry was media manager, the new fella now puts them up the day before and has since the start of the season. It’ll be up today at some point.

It certainly doesn’t, you’re right. To the point that although I have a season ticket, I haven’t bothered to attend a couple of home meetings. All seems a bit drab this year without that sparkle of Emil/Doyle. Needs rectifying this winter if I’m to part with my cash again next year.

Well if Bangs isn’t returning then the Captain isn’t aware of it. There was a big piece in this weeks Star about Bangs’ return against Northampton next week and King tipping him to find form on his second visit to tracks.

You sure he was going to be riding this evening?

I second this. Hope you’re ok Phil.