Cliv Clav

Hammers are playing catch-up when it comes to knowledge of riders in the NL. I think we may struggle against some of the reserves in the league unless we can unearth a gem that no other team even knows about. Which is highly unlikely. I think the NL riders are better suited to challenging the Hammers round Arena than the PL or EL guys were against their counterparts. Most of the tracks these guys learnt on are smallish, and as they will be racing at a slower speed, mistakes are easier to recover from. So, I am not sure we will have much home track advantage in comparison to when we have been in the other leagues. Also, we have no real outside riders that we know of. We are always stronger at home when we have outside riders at Arena. Opponents always think the inside is the best line, but AJ, Bridger, Kennett, Kylmakorpi, Shields, Loram, etc would always fly round everyone as they know the fastest lines. This is why most of our most dominant home riders are outside riders. A big problem we may encounter in 2017 will be the time of day we race. It is very difficult to keep moisture in the track during the day, which is why we usually don't perform that well on Good Friday, as it is dry and dusty and favours gaters. Evening racing is always better and suits our outside guys much better. As it is difficult to predict what any NL rider will be like round Arena, whether they are trappers, outside guys etc, it is exciting to think almost every race is going to be a glimpse of the unknown. Because of all these factors, I will go for us finishing around mid-table. I am just glad we are away from of the mess on the EL. For example, the season starts in 2 weeks and one club has just announced it will actually run in the EL and another has just announced it is closing!

Tatum was better when you consider he was also a terrific motocross rider too. He was also very accomplished on indoor racing circuits (rubber and shale). He was more consistent, before he was riding with his disintegrating hip of course! His hip replacement has worked wonders when you see how badly he was limping in the last few years of his racing career. Shame Tatum took up Longtrack so late in his career as he & Wiggy could have worked together to take more titles off Riss & Barth etc.

Whilst I feel slightly deflated about these signings, I am not that concerned and am really looking forward to our new competitions this season, rather than just the one in the old EL! Mason is not a promising youngster, as I had hoped, but his average does fit and he used to be very good round Arena. He is not spectacular, but a solid middle order rider might be needed in our first year in this new adventure. Laurence has been around a while and not shown much improvement, but I think we may see some riders becoming eligible to race during the season that may be pushing for that number 7 spot. I grow tired of people saying Jon Cook is 'sticking his fingers up at fans'. He and Stuart are the only reason we can continue to have speedway in Essex. With Stuart living abroad, Jon is the only local guy trying to keep us going long enough to find a new home and secure our future. If he wanted to upset the fans, he wouldn't even bother trying to keep us alive! Alan hasn't been able to do too much recently due to his health and we have now lost Bryn, so even more falls on Jon's shoulders. I hope with more local riders, we can run more publicity events and discounted meetings to try to attract new fans from Essex. I notice that Vortex have disappeared from the website logo, I hope we haven't lost their backing! Looking forward to March and cheering on the new look Hammers!

As people have said; a good team, especially at Arena, is required to please those very against the drop to the NL. 3 Essex born riders signed so far will help fans get behind the new team. A couple of thoughts on potential 3 pointers: Charlie Brooks looks to have a good style from the pics I have seen, but haven't seen him ride yet. Any thoughts on him? Also, Jamie Halder had good results in the Development League, but I also haven't seen him ride either. Opinions? Other riders with Essex connections: Sam Bebee has ridden in Academy races at Arena, but is he going to be fit? Alex Spooner is a very local lad, but I presume isn't quite ready for the NL yet?

I would just prefer a younger rider. Having watched Mason on and off for 20 years, I would rather be cheering someone giving their all for 4 laps rather than a rider who is pretty much all about trapping. Just my personal choice though, by being frustrated by his performance on many occasions.

No David Mason thank you! Potential 3ish pointers could be a lottery, what is Jamie Halder like? Anders Rowe or Charlie Brooks ready for NL?

With 12.98 left, it will be interesting to see who the Hammers get for their 3rd heat leader. If we go with 2 x 3 pointers, which I wouldn't advise, we have 6.98 available for the last heat leader. Hammers assets, Shane Hazelden on 5.42 and Jack Kingston on 5.84 can't be fitted in together. Any ideas?

I am not defending anyone, it's a bloody stupid idea! Promoters have a lack of vision shocker! Ironically, I stopped following rule changes from the BSPA as they got more and more ridiculous in the Elite League. We may be in the NL now, and I am already appalled at the rules . Speedway in this country really wants to drive away it's die hard fans!

Awful idea! Completely short sighted. How do they expect smaller clubs to progress up, if they have no rider assets?! What is the incentive for any NL club to try to blood young riders and give them experience, if bigger teams can sign them as an asset immediately? Yes, I know that. I was just enquiring whether Mear or Hurry are possible. I don't expect to have more than 2 of those riders you mentioned anyway. Rye not running in the NL means there will be a chance of Morley being a Hammer. But, that all depends when we can confirm what is going to happen at Arena next season.

Thanks for the reply. What is the thinking behind this? Lakeside have spent time and money training up youngsters on a purpose built junior track, to allow these riders to join other clubs?! Surely this doesn't make any sense at all, unless I am missing something.

Sorry, I haven't followed NL rules for a while. What is the issue with assets that you are all referring to?

Can Rob Mear or Paul Hurry ride for the Hammers in the NL? Surely if Adam Ellis was allowed in last year's NL, then they should be able to ride for us. I wonder if we could persuade Ben Morley to join us? Luke Clifton is a former Hammer that may be interested in a return to Arena. Zach Wajtknecht should be a definite, following his acquisition last winter. Jack Kingston is another asset that is likely to be in the line-up. I was really hoping Taylor Hampshire would join us, having been a Hagon Academy member, but King's Lynn have nabbed him . Sam Bebee also progressed through the Hagon Academy. Jason Edwards and Drew Kemp would be excellent signings, when they get old enough.

What is Kasprzak's average? Would Shamek Pawlicki fit in with Lawson to complete the top 5? Did Cook say Lawson has been offered a contract? As he was targetting 2 new riders.

Kim definitely had his best year in the UK in 2015, he was my tip for rider of the year. He did benefit from the inside gates in heat 1 & his scoring is based on trapping. He is very cautious around others when racing is very close and never gets a little physical on track, similar to JD in that respect. If he had an average of 5 or 6 I would say he is a great signing. He may struggle to maintain a 6.98 average though. If he stays at number 2, that would help him to achieve it. I would still like some riders who will improve in the sport. I am not sure any of the riders discussed outside of Bech, can became better riders with more experience in this country. This is also why lots of other teams would love to sign Bech, but not many would fall over themselves to sign Kennett or Kim. In the middle & lower parts of the team, you should try to get riders that can improve their starting averages. That's why I considered riders like North & Jepsen Jensen. I think we may end up having lots of guests to replace Kennett, Blackbird (if he rides) & Lawson (if included) as there could be lots of fixture clashes. Especially on Good Friday! Let's just hope for dominance around Arena to maintain a good crowd size. That must be our top priority every season until we have our future secured. I would like to see a committee formed to aid the team publicise in the local area. If some of the fans, with a little spare time worked with Jon, I am sure we could increase knowledge of the sport and get more first timers into the meetings.

I am just throwing out possibilities as to who could fit in the last 2 places. I think that's rather harsh on a 20 year old, with only 2 years of experience in the the EL. After all, Kim Nilsson will be in his 6th year as a Hammer, he is still not a heat leader & has been released by the club in the past for under performance. Kennett is not a heat leader after 15 years of riding the EL tracks. Too much was expected of Bech too quickly. Bech is just turned 21, so out of the U21's next year, and is ranked 4th in the World at that level. He wanted to join the Hammers, was always first out to congratulate and check on other riders after falls, has won races in both the GPs and the World Cup and is our second best away rider. Hammers fans want younger riders who can improve, and we have one in Bech. Are we to expect Watt & Lawson to complete the team? That means only Nilsson would be under 30 in the top 5 and even one of the reserves would be 30ish. The other reserve, Mear, is 26 and been away from speedway for 3 years! Hardly looking to the future with that line-up. It would probably be a relatively cheap team for the EL, which may be hugely important for us. But, Jon said he wants to be much better away and have a team that can compete in the play-offs. If the emphasis is now on winning at home with a cheapish team to keep the attendances up, then that's understandable. But Jon did say he wanted to compete, not just exist. Riders who can improve their averages will always make a team better. It's a very big risk with the reserves, in my opinion. Both were out of the sport and Mear will only be riding EL, so won't get much practice on different kinds of tracks. It was his away form that got him dropped before, so I can't see that improving after 3 years not riding. Would be nice to hear that Blackbird is definitely riding and is looking forward to the new season. If we include Lawson & Kennett, we must also make sure we arrange fixtures very carefully as both could miss multiple Friday meetings due to PL matches. As could Blackbird, if he rides and he is in the PL too!

I don't know! As, I believe, Bech and Lawson rode most of 2015 as heat leaders (at no.s 3 & 5). It would be nice for the governing body to provide info on all the riders so that us fans can amuse ourselves by putting together teams and discussing the pros and cons of them. it's good fun. I gave up with going to away EL matches because of the farce I suffered a few years back when I booked days off work and a hotel stay for a trip to Poole, only to hear that Ford had cancelled the meeting as his team may lose! Fielding an under strength team, he called it. Like we have never had to do that on occassion!! I just go to home meetings these days in the hope that amalgamation will occur soon and we can get back to more simpler days, with more racing and more variety. From what Jon Cook has said over the last couple of winters, regarding one big league split into north & south, that may not be far away at all!

If those reserve averages are correct, we could fit 2 riders with the ability to improve their averages: Michael Jepsen Jensen 6.52 Mikkel Bech 6.16 = 12.68 Cook did mention a swap deal with Ellis, so maybe: Davey Watt 7.19 Dakota North 5.91 = 13.1 More likely to have: Davey Watt 7.19 Richard Lawson 5.65 = 12.84

Jonsson 7.84 Nilsson 6.98 Kennett 5.86 Total = 20.68 Leaves = 19.82 for the remaining 4 riders I am surprised that both Nilsson & Kennett are back, as Jon said we must improve away. Kim averaged 5.38 & Kennett 5.49 away last season! I know both are Arena track specialists, maybe we couldn't get the 2 riders we were after & are going for no losses at home to keep the attendances up? I think Bech on a 6.16 average (& an away average of 6.40) would have been a better signing. He has a lot more potential, especially as he is only just turned 21. Let's wait to see what is said about it all in the official press release. Any ideas of the reserves averages anyone?

Rob Mear & Lewis Blackbird, both out of retirement (we hope!), are Hammers reserves for 2016!!!

Hammers must improve away & find riders that could improve their average. Bech is a must keep on only a 6.16 average. Only just turned 21 and was our second best away rider. He can improve his average, especially if he is the third heat leader not the second as he was this year. He is also not in the U21's next year too. Nilsson can be excellent at home, but away not so good. Can he improve a 6.98 average? Probably not. Also, missing our meetings for Swedish 2nd division fixtures is frustrating. Kennett can improve, but will he? 5.86 average and he struggled at lots of familiar away tracks last season. Will he miss lots of meetings due to PL clashes? Lawson (5.65) can up his average a bit, but PL clashes could be a problem. Watt has to be very likely to return. In his late 30's now though, he is unlikely to improve. AJ in his late 30's too, shows we need some youth.

Amazing turn-out for Rico's meeting, thank you to all that came along. Greg Hancock did well riding Jonas Davidsson's bike, Crump was also on borrowed machinery last night. Was heartbreaking to hear Lee's son on the mic. The programme notes, especially the poem and words from Lee's wife and mother, were also very touching. Seeing Lee's kevlars hanging up and all the Chinese lanterns that were released after the meeting, really set an atmosphere to help remember a great rider and a lovely man.

Thanks for your help guys, much obliged :-)

Help! Trying to buy tickets for the Prague GP, but on e-ticket.pl the courier charge is enormous! If picking up tickets from the stadium on the day, do you need to have the credit card with you that you booked it on? I was planning on booking them on my Dad's card, but in my name. My Dad isn't going. So, I wondered if I have my passport with me, and the tickets are in my name, I can pick them up with the booking reference? Can't get the other site working properly (ticketportal.cz).

This venture will be welcomed by Hammers fans, as it will give us a chance to see our young British assets doing battle on our own track and will give us a break from a the same Elite teams. I am really looking forward to it, to be honest. Who will line-up for the Hackney team? Surely Hammers assets Jerran Hart, Marc Owen and Shane Hazelden. Essex boy Ben Morley would also be included. Who else? Could Rob Mear ride in the NL?

Excellent news! Hope he has a good season there.