CUFC_Brummie

And this is something that the fans need to push for progress on starting immediately, we need constant updates as to where things stand so as fans we can try and do something to help sooner rather than later, if we let it slip into October, or beyond, it'll probably be too late by then.

I think the reality was after the first few weeks of the off-season once Jenkins and Lawlor had been snapped up, that unless Belle Vue didn't run and we could pursue Bickley then we were always going to have to take a bit of a flyer on our last rider. I'm sure it'll take a while for Kean to adapt to this level of racing, but hopefully by the end of the season he can be hitting that 3 point average. We were blessed at reserve last year and with Zach the year prior, it seems like a little bit more back to reality this year but I have faith that Cupitt will be able to add to his starting average, and we're probably going to need him to if we're to be successful, you'd expect JPB to up his average but you'd have thought the rest will do well to maintain their starting average between them, particularly if Ritchings carries on where he left off.

Think we should just call it the Gustix and LT sh*t talking thread. Shame, this section of the forum was probably the only sane and decent one remaining until recently.

For the love if all things holy not Harvie Banks! Halder and a new 3 pointer hopefully.

We finished with a total team average 4.5 points higher than anyone else last year, so these guys aren't also-rans, they're still really good NL riders, I think it just means we're more likely to be in a tight battle for the top 4 rather than romping to the league title like we did last year without let's face it, unprecedented improvement from 3 riders (rather than just one) who started on a sub-4 point average. I expect JPB to put a couple of points on his average and if the other 3 can largely maintain theirs between them then we're not asking a ridiculous amount from the other 3 guys, if one of them ends up hitting the ground running then we'll be laughing. The league looks really competitive this year, but I still more than expect us to challenge for the playoffs regardless of who fills the last two spots.

So no Jack Smith, very disappointing, I've no doubt we tried though. Ritchings started the season like a house on fire but he was the "weak link" by the end, if there was one. We've gone top heavy so he's going to have to find that early season form again.

Solid enough, would have rather had Perry back over Bacon but far from a disaster, gives us a bit more to play with at #2. First reserve signing will be vital though.

All a bit farcical this, along with Swindon running a NT team cobbled together from riders of other teams, very amateur. If with Belle Vue they'd just said it was the Colts but they'd have to ride some meetings at Coventry due to track restrictions it would have been a bit more acceptable, though you'd ask why they couldn't get somewhere closer. The way it's been worded makes it sound like it's intended as some sort of hybrid though.

Gutted

So with Lawlor going to Cradley and Bickley likely to be at Belle Vue if they run, what other 3 point gems are out there still? We're going to need at least one to put a couple of points on their average even with scope for improvement still from JPB and Smith (if he returns) in the main body.

I would definitely be getting back Hume and Smith along with Lawlor and another 3 pointer at reserve, best remaining combinations after that seem to be either Perry at 1 with Ryan Terry-Daley at 2, or Bacon at 1 and Ryan Kinsley at 2, either that or you throw in another 3 pointer at #2 and try and get a big hitting number 1 from somewhere else. I'd rather have Perry, personally.

Excellent news that, still a couple more points to add onto that average.

Unbelievable, didn't expect that at all! Phenomenal effort from our lads, the result in heat 1 set the tone but we had to maintain it and despite a couple of setbacks we sure as hell did that! Some great racing tonight, top advert for the league. Horrendous timing for that announcement from Tony Mole, but we can reflect on that tomorrow, for now....CHAMPIONS!

Ellis, Perks and Knight got 35 between them last time, and Knight rode better than his 7 from what I recall. Barring mechanical failures or falls it's hard to see them not getting, at worst, within a couple of that again which leaves them needing very little from the rest. Would have felt more confident with Ayres and whilst Coles didn't ride very well last week, he should still be better than Stoneman so you may be able to knock a couple off there. The very best I can see based on that (33 for Ellis, Perks and Knight, 3 for Stoneman and 2 for the reserves) would leave us at 52-38 and do enough, so we couldn't afford any slip ups or any bad rides, and the chances of that happening are extremely unlikely. Brummies by 8.

Would feel comfortable with 10+, 6-10 we'll then be depending on the quality of guest in the second leg, less than that and Eastbourne are favourites. All our riders except Jack Smith, who's improved since then, did pretty well in the fixture at Arlington earlier in the season so we should be able to cover R/R reasonably well down there. Eastbourne ran us really close at home earlier this season missing Ellis and scoring nothing from reserve, so we should be guaranteed a close meeting. Mitchell Davey has ridden well for us when needed this season so I'm hopeful we can get that double digit lead, but I'll go 49-41 Brummies.

Oh I mean in terms of the competitiveness of the racing rather than the result, I don't necessarily disagree that they've got far more chance of coming and getting a win and I still would expect them to do it over two legs with their home track advantage, but after two years of dicking most teams left, right and centre I'd be quite happy for it to be a close run thing for a change.

Horrendously uncompetitive tonight, track was good but the disparity between the riders was huge. No faults throughout our 6 except for Tom Bacon who was a bit quiet, Clegg and Morris for Cradley impressive as expected with Hopwood certainly playing his part, but the others not even worth writing about. Not how the playoffs should be, expect it to be better against Eastbourne but really hope we go Premier next season.

What a race, this track is absolutely incredible.

Well done Wolves.

Fair to say the track won't suffer from a lack of water tonight....

Wimbledon only get 3.5k to 4k because that's the capacity of their current stadium. Away support is restricted to c.900 tickets, there are plenty of teams even in the bottom 2 divisions that would take over 1.5k there for a game. At their current level I have no doubt AFC Wimbledon would get 7-8k on average in a new facility, numbers speedway can't get close to at club level. The reality is that football will draw in crowds across the country, at all levels of the game, that other sports can only dream of. Bigger crowds doesn't only mean more money into the local area on a matchday, it means bigger stadiums, which means more quality non-matchday facilities available to business and the community. Plough Lane has been falling into disrepair for years, there must've been ample opportunities for it to be redeveloped for the benefit of greyhound and speedway racing long before AFC Wimbledon first started properly proposing to use the site, but like most speedway clubs and facilities, nothing was done and the price has been paid. The hope for speedway is that Belle Vue is the catalyst for other areas to take on similar projects, far too long in coming (in the sense of British speedway as a whole) and far too late for Plough Lane though.

"Woffinden does nothing for British speedway" Sky show Woffinden's races even though it's not the live meeting. "Why are Sky showing Woffinden's races?!" Maybe because he's a British 2 time and current world champion and highlighting the fact that he is, and that's he riding in this country right now, might, might, just get a few more people to go along....

Not the most thrilling of meetings but another good result for the Brummies, as said our strength in depth is exceptional, Clegg and Morris were untouchable all night and we've still come out winners by 7 points, excellent.

As said previously, by all means run second halves for juniors to help their development, but the reality is most people just are not interested, especially on a weeknight. Focus on getting the "first half" right, that's the key part of the product and what will draw people to the sport.

Well at least this discussion can be put to bed now as the world has ended due to him saying a naughty word. Speedway, jeez.