Cliv Clav

On both occasions that the Hammers have run out of Rye, I have seen very few people sporting anything related to Rockets. It's been mainly Hammers and Panthers fans in attendance. Whilst we are still trying to get back to Essex, we should remain the Lakeside Hammers. Most Essex fans will not travel further to support a Rye team or a team that isn't the Hammers. Especially at a track that doesn't provide good racing. Also, Lakeside isn't that geographically specific like a city name would be. If the team can find a new home in Essex, the team should be called the Essex Hammers to get the entire county behind the team and increase the catchment area.

Rathbone was asked in the pits at Rye last night why he hadn't moved the start time back to 7pm. He said he didn't want to as it would lose him money on the attendance. Also, had Rathbone accepted several dates at Arena, the tie would have been completed earlier. But he was too scared to face the Hammers on their home track, as he knew the Hammers would wallop his team in Essex. The BSPA wouldn't allow the Hammers to race some meetings at Arena and some at Rye, so he knew they would have to hold all meetings at Rye. So, it's entirely Rathbone's choice to race on this day and at this time. Considering Peterborough signed a rider the Hammers were told was illegal when they were going to sign him, in Nicholls (and another in Kennett!); they get to face the same team 4 times without a home track; and the opposition had to use a 16 year old National Leaguer today at 7..... I find it hard to see why Rathbone could feel hard done by at all this season! Dark pits at Peterborough, I hope everyone can see what they are doing with their bikes!

Nice video Tony, let's hope you can make another soon called first meeting at new stadium!

Sadly not. Only about 2 passes after the first lap, if you don't count Alfie's struggles. Haven't enjoyed the racing at Rye since the early 90's, even then the straights were too narrow. The shape of the track, angle of the recent banking and the narrow straights means there is only really one line to victory there. Especially when it is very dry. Unfortunately half of the Hammers season ticket holders I used to attend Arena with are put off going to Rye by the racing.

I hope the club are talking to Thurrock Council about the site and area of the old Tilbury Power Station, as there is a lot of land there just surrounded by industrial areas or the Thames. As you mentioned Rayleigh, I believe the Hammers spoke to Action Park, on the outskirts of the town, in recent years. But that was closed due to noise, despite it being surrounded by fields and the adjacent A127! Dunton golf course and the farm areas next to it are getting 4,000 new homes on it, so that rules out the A128 area. More housing estates in Rayleigh, Rochford and Hullbridge being planned doesn't help in those regions. If we look out in the wilds, Barling has some unused land and isn't too far a drive from Southend. Maybe Foulness Island or Coryton as they are sparsely populated or only home industry. I hope that this is not the end of the sport in the county, as the catchment area in South Essex is huge with lots of old fans to be tempted back if the sport was ever run properly. Since the announcement yesterday, I have spoken to many Hammers fans who won't be attending after our last meeting at Arena and some that are considering not continuing next year. The main reasons are; not wanting to support a team in another county, not wanting to support a team that isn't the Hammers, not enjoying visits to Rye enough to go back and those who just can't or don't want to travel even further. Let's just hope that Stuart & Jon manage to get something in Essex sorted very quickly!

It seems that 2500 homes are to be built on the site between the services and the go-kart track, if it gets all the necessary planning permission. This link shows all phases of the proposed development: https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/lakeside-shopping-centre-become-new-1840782 Let's just hope that Jon, Stuart and the rest of the Hammers management and helpers can find a way to help us continue to race for many years to come at a new stadium or venue in the local area. Fingers crossed everyone!

Yes you do! Very wide and smooth track that enables riders with skill to race safely by attacking the circuit. Those riders who don't feel fully in control of their bikes are generally the ones that struggle, just as Andrew Silver was saying last night actually.

Good performance by the Hammers, with only Barker taking any points off our top 5! An engine failure for Newman a fall for Zach whilst on a 5-1 stopped us hitting 60. Alfie faced 2 international riders at reserve last night, as both Pijper and Busch have represented their respective countries, so wasn't really expected to beat anyone. I expected more from Mikkel B Andersen as he has scored well at U21 level and the Danes usually go well at Arena. Nice to see Ben and Newman get a heat 15 run-out. I can understand the meeting starting a little late as some people were affected by the Police cordon on the A1306 following the murder along that road.

Adam Ellis has ridden the Godden at both meetings at Arena so far this season.

Watch from the under the home straight stand, it's by far the best place to watch from. The back straight is ok, and the stock car track on the back straight too, but the home straight is more sheltered from the wind. Avoid watching from the bends, and bring a chair. If you get there early enough you can walk through the pits before they start warming the bikes up. Enjoy! I think Peterborough will do better than some people think, Nicholls and Bacon like it at Arena and Danes have historically gone well there. The 3 riders we are bringing up from last year's National League team will find it tougher than the first meeting, but looking forward to cheering them on. Going to be great to see the Hammers in action as a team at home. Can't wait!

Nick Morris, Richard Lawson & Adam Ellis all looked good. It will be a huge test for them in the next couple of weeks against riders who are considered 'experts' at Arena like Nicholls, King and Schlein. Kyle Newman rides the right lines, but just lacks the speed of the top 3. Zach & Ben were both beating riders with higher averages, something that is vital to our home success. Their away scoring will determine how good we are as a team. Zach showed no effects of being out of the saddle for so long. Alfie mixed it in a couple of races, leading heat leaders for a few laps, but a few mistakes cost him points. His style needs refining to prevent these mistakes, but it will be great fun cheering him on every week as he is fearless and determined. Special note to Ken and the track staff who produced a smooth and consistent track, something every rider wants.

Some excellent racing tonight, with lots of passing. Good start to the season and looks like an exciting season ahead at Arena this year. Nice comments by Nick Morris about Lee Richardson and from Adam Ellis about the Hammers fans. Can't wait until next week.

Yes, almost 3 months after the BSPA release averages to start building teams with, the SCB have spotted 2 mistakes! On the ball that lot(!) Surely these organisations agree on the averages before team building takes place?! Are the SCB only now checking the averages that teams are using for riders? If so, why so late?!! Isn't their job to govern the BSPA and insure things are done correctly? Not briefly check what is going on every few months!

If the BSPA/SCB had said that Ben & Zach's average were going to be changed, no team would have signed them at all until they were! Why leave it until this close to the season to change them, surely it doesn't take 3 months to sort out 2 averages?! Mind you, they changed Hurry's listed average 5 months after publication last year! We need an independent governing body, that can set rules at the correct time and stick to them! With the make-up of the team changed, and a long tail in place, I can't see us challenging for any trophies this year and will struggle mightily away from home. Can't see many Hammers fans travelling to away matches.

Just checked the SGB site, it is July 1, not June 1 as quoted in the Star. I should never believe anything I read on page 3 lol

According to the Speedway Star the Fours will take place on June 1 but, in the fixtures section, there are 3 Championship meetings already on that day. Lakeside v Workington, Glasgow v Scunthorpe and Redcar v Sheffield! I guess these 6 teams will have to find other dates now. What with that and a Good Friday clash of fixtures for Richard Lawson, who has 4 meetings on that day, I hope this isn't a sign of things to come! Edited: This was a mistake by the Star, now been pointed out that it should say July 1st.

Alfie Bowtell would be a good signing, he improved massively last season and still has no team places at all.

Pretty sure Jon Cook mentioned a Good Friday double header with Ipswich in a recent radio interview, so looks like a Hammers v Witches match-up.

Ken was at Arena today sorting some stuff out, so it looks good. He has done a superb job since taking over the track work.

The BSPA published Hurry's average on their official averages, that ALL promoters have, months before the start of the season. If it was such a bargain average, why didn't you sign him? You had plenty of chance when he was practicing on the Island before the season started.

According to this week's Star, Nicholls and Kennett were being lined up for the Hammers before that rule was brought in for next season, that effectively bans them from the Championship. Glad to see our promotion still put together a decent team despite those set backs.

So it was the Hammers that were lining up Nicholls & Kennett for 2018, according to the Star.

Not a bad looking team: 1 Nick Morris 2 Max Clegg 3 Adam Ellis 4 Kyle Newman 5 Richard Lawson 6 Ben Morley 7 Zach Wajtknecht Room for average improvement, heat leaders that can ride away tracks well and the bottom four should be strong at home. I would expect Lawson to be captain. No riders being flown into the country will keep costs lower. Will be an interesting year at Arena Essex in 2018!

Morris and Lawson are both good away from home. Kennett would still score well away, as he did for Rye a couple of years ago. However, at Arena we need a great heat leader as Morris has struggled a lot there in the past. Kennett is excellent around Arena and we need someone like that to combat King and Schlein or Harris and Worrall on their visits.

In that case I am hoping for Eddie Kennett and Tom Brennan to complete the side with Zach.