Premier League Fours 15/8/10

[NeilWatson]

I understand that Peterborough only had a podium and trophy for the winners too,so didn't recognize the efforts of the second and third place teams, if that was the case it was a bit of a poor show when put together with all the extra charges imposed on the meeting.

 

It was the usual three-tier podium, but only one team appeared.

[Deano]

 

 

Let's have a look at yesterday's riders.

Jason King started with Peterborough Pumas. Carl Wilkinson started with Peterborough Thundercats and given a chance at EL as #8. Paul Clews started as a Thundercat, also rode PL with Panthers. David Howe started as a Thundercat, had a season at PL then onto EL with Panthers. Ricky Ashworth given his EL bow doubling-up with Panthers, rode over 20 matches that year but declined a second year. Simon Lambert, Lee Complin, Andrew Tully, and Ritchie Hawkins all given their chance at EL as doubling-up riders. Richard Hall given his EL bow as a Panther.

For PL teams not in yesterday's event, Oliver Allen started as a Thundercat, was given his PL bow in Panthers' 1998 PL title-winning team, then his EL debut as a double-upper again as a Panther. Chris Schramm started as a Puma. Gary Havelock had a couple of seasons at the EoES and Andre Compton was given a chance at EL level. Craig Cook is Panthers' current #8.

Now onto the riders who did make the Team GB side last month. Scott Nicholls, an Ipswich asset at the time, was given his League speedway debut in the 2nd tier with Panthers. Simon Stead started as a Thundercat, progressed into the PL with a team spot as a Panther then rode as a double-upper for the club in the EL. Chris Harris was given his EL debut as a Panther doubling-up for a couple of seasons and Lee Richardson had an EL year at EoES.

Danny King started as a Puma then came back for a couple of years in the EL with Panthers and Paul Hurry rode at EoES for a couple of years back in the 90's.

So, I don't think Peterborough's contribution to the development of current British riders can really be criticised.

But to answer your point, it's not really surprising that Peterborough - or other EL teams for that matter - don't have many Brits in their squads, given that some promoters lower down the progression ladder prefer filling their teams almost entirely with non-Brits. After all, if a rider lacks PL experience, he's hardly likely to get a call to ride EL, is he?

 

As much as I admire the efforts of Peterborough in bringing on young Brits, lets not compare our current 1-7 with Peterborough's offerings of the last 17 years. If we did the same and more why not just go back to the 40's. I'm not defending using an all Aussie line up, but please use a level playing field.

[guitar_art]

We read constant criticism of the EL, specially around WTC time, that not enough Brits are given the chance at EL level so the GB team suffers internationally as a result. Here we have a team from lower down the Team GB preparation ladder tracking 5 non-Brits in a team competition (and winning the event to maybe prove the point) and, on checking their web-site, I find they actually only have one Brit in a PL septet. How are British riders meant to progress to EL and International standard if some PL promoters prefer to use so many non-Brit riders. The 'Aussies' part was just for convenience - I could, and probably should, have used 'non-Brits'.

 

 

This is an old chestnut. The bottom line is while the rules are what they are then team managers will choose the best riders they can get regardless of nationality. Or do you think that Birmingham should penalise ourselves by tracking only Brits while the rest of the league cherry pick the best riders from whatever nationality?

 

To put it another way name some (available) brit riders that could do the same job our current team is doing.

 

Oh and we also have our named number 8 Ben Taylor (Currently injured) and have links with Dudley in the NL that have Brits that will hopefully be ready for the PL soonish.

[zonkers]

Zonkers, are you volunteering for a future Super7 event?

 

All the best

Rob

 

 

Lol ! Wouldn't mind I'd need a seat though !

[KenB1]

Yep congratulations Birmingham, most consisitant team on the day, best team was newcastle who I think may have given this super Brummies team a good run had they made the final, but the fact is they didnt and the Brum boys were worthy winners. The track wasnt at its best, lets hope next year it is and the Rockets and Islanders can come 1st and 2nd - and Charlton win the footy league and cup and.....

[TheScotsman]

Now you see, this is why I don't really post on here anymore. The absolute b*ll@x that's written, beggers belief at times!!! How some of you sleep at night, is beyond me! You must all have nightmares the week before Edinburgh visit your track!!!

 

Ok, the facts about Fish... Yes he lifted after a cutback on turn 1&2 after missing the gate... He was mid track exiting turn 2 - putting his wheels in line... He stayed on the inside of the track down the back straight...

So from this, how can he have fenced Howe? He'd have needed to go to the outside of the track to do it.

 

Next, i've got a photograph from the middle of the back straight (so probably about 20metres from the crash) showing Howe going down before Fish even gets to him. It also shows Fish locking up coming out of turn 2 avoiding Howe...

 

Why let facts get in the way of things though? I can understand why he was excluded, as it would have looked like he'd taken Howe out from where the ref was sitting... But the fact is, he never touched him. Howe was already going down... But of course, you lot won't agree with any of that because you hate him for the points he can score against you. Total rubbish.

 

 

Sitting in the stand we didn't have such a good view as you Nutz but my first impression was that Fish could not have made contact with Howe but after a few seconds we just knew he would have to get the blame anyway.

 

That's the trouble with having the web army on your case all the time. A bit like Nicki P. really!!

 

 

However the best moment for me was in heat 5 of the final when he was off gate 4 and Lyons off 3 (with the 2 rabbits off 1 & 2!!). They were pretty level out of the start and side by side round bends 1 & 2 with Lyons trying to squeeze Fish out. Fish however kept it wound on and wriggled through the smallest gap to just get his nose in front coming out of bend 2. He then punched the air in celebration knowing that he wasn't going to be passed in the next 3 and a half laps. Job done!!

 

Great showman!!

(Slightly surprised he let Lyons pass him so easily in the final race - looked like he was caught napping along the back straight!!)

[Nutz]

(Slightly surprised he let Lyons pass him so easily in the final race - looked like he was caught napping along the back straight!!)

 

In truth, it was a great bit of riding from Jason, who was the only rider on show yesterday, with the guile and speed to pull that move on the Fish. He changed lines down the back straight, and maybe caught him unawares, but pushed his way through the tiniest of gaps - that if Fish was a dirty rider, would have closed the door and ran Lyons onto the centre green... He didn't, and Jason was the deserving winner of heat 12...

 

How many battles have this pair had over the 3yrs Fish has been with Edinburgh??? Always fierce, always hard but always fair...

[TheScotsman]

Yep congratulations Birmingham, most consisitant team on the day, best team was newcastle who I think may have given this super Brummies team a good run had they made the final, but the fact is they didnt and the Brum boys were worthy winners. The track wasnt at its best, lets hope next year it is and the Rockets and Islanders can come 1st and 2nd - and Charlton win the footy league and cup and.....

 

 

Yes I forgot to congratulate Brum on their superb victory.

 

I don't agree that Newcastle were the best team though - Brum had 4 riders who could all (and did win races).

For Newcastle, King was poor and Larsen was rubbish in his 2nd ride, only managing to beat a woeful Lambert.

Bach was nowhere in his first, even against the woeful Lambert!

Lemon was by far their best rider.

 

Sheffield were really unlucky and Edinburgh were steady but only had Fish capable of regularly winning a race.

[BobC]

BobC, I'm confused... surely you also agreed with the ref?

 

All the best

Rob

You are quite right Rob.I did agree with the refs decision,my mate didnt,he blamed Howe!

 

Ive changed the original post.

[colincooke]

Just like to say well done Shane Parker.Life in the old dog yet.

[Paulco]

So everyone was ripped off by the sounds of things . It's about time these things were just staged on PL tracks - so it's fair for everybody . I suggest Workington for the fours in future .

[Tsunami]

Congratulations to the Brummies for their win yesterday.

Pity about my team because once again, as in the Pairs, from being favourites for the events a stupid foam airfilter got sucked into the carb and in both cases cost us our place in the final stages of both meetings. To those who cheered our 3rd placing in the semi, and said we though we were cocky about winning it, time to get a life and look at the real facts. AS JCT71 said earlier, show us any post where we were gloating that we were going to win this event. Some folks on here never stop surprising others and need to take a look at their own teams antics. But for that airfilter, Rene would have won 3 points and we would have been top qualifier with the Brummies. Best race on the day from Rene but sadly no points after that overnight journey from Latvia and the U21'2 semi. Arrived in time after a hectic car journey up from Heathrow.

 

Really pleased for Brummies fans as they epitomise what good sports and company they are. Nice for them to take this trophy after we took the PT off them and unfortunately one of us is going to knock the other one out to make the final of the KO Cup. Looking forward to it.

 

Great to see the event back st Peterborough despite the over charging mentioned by others. Standard of racing was poorish but an Edinburgh fan told me the the track was hit by a monsoon at Saturday teatime and the track had been under water. In saying that they watered it at 1.00pm to dampen it but I think the real mistake was to not put more water early on it so that the track remained wet for all the meeting. Praise their efforts though to continue to work the shale and spray water on it, as it is almost an impossible task to keep a track wet and workable for 28 heats on a warm afternoon. Maybe my and everyone else's comments/criticism is unfair in view of the difficulty of the task.

Racing wasn't great but there was some brilliant and fast attempts to overtake without succeeding. Matty Wethers in a couple of races was right up the back of other riders giving them a hard time but never managed to overtake but his efforts need recognising.

Fish was the Fish of course. Can be breathtakingly good at times but a clown at other times. Picked up drive yes, but still ensured he was heading straight for the fence to block off Howe's progress around the outside of him. It really isn't relevant that he never touched Howe, who really had a choice of getting off before being hit or enjoying being in a sandwich between the fence and the Fish. David was sensible, the ref was sympathetic and the Fish was just stupid and dangerous. As usual the Monarch fans can see no blame in the Fish and there lies their problem. Nivver wrang. Also nice to see Jason put him in his place.

As someone else has said, the Fish also shut off coming upto the line in heat 28 and drifted across leaving the fast finishing Masters nowhere to go once he was caught in the loose shale at the base of the fence. Totally ignorant of the riders own rules of safety of no shutting off and also continueing to maitain your own raceline after finishing a race. It's common sense, it's safety and it is generally agreed code between all riders. Pleased that Masters was OK in the end, after such a naughty accident.

 

Meeting was good value for £15/£10 and the weather made it a pleasant day out. Let's make it a regular back at Peterborough, it's just not the same as standing in the rain at Worky at night.

 

Nice to pick up with known fans from around the country from the shy retiring wee laddies with the proper kilts on from Edinburgh, to SCB and Silver Bee, to Lucifer Sam in drag apparently, and a not to be seen very often Tim Sugar, top TM from defunct Reading.

 

Must do it again, but it has got to be Peterborough.

Edited August 16, 2010 by Tsunami

[Paulco]

 

Fish was the Fish of course. Can be breathtakingly good at times but a clown at other times. Picked up drive yes, but still ensured he was heading straight for the fence to block off Howe's progress around the outside of him. It really isn't relevant that he never touched Howe, who really had a choice of getting off before being hit or enjoying being in a sandwich between the fence and the Fish. David was sensible, the ref was sympathetic and the Fish was just stupid and dangerous. As usual the Monarch fans can see no blame in the Fish and there lies their problem. Nivver wrang. Also nice to see Jason put him in his place.

As someone else has said, the Fish also shut off coming upto the line in heat 28 and drifted across leaving the fast finishing Masters nowhere to go once he was caught in the loose shale at the base of the fence. Totally ignorant of the riders own rules of safety of no shutting off and also continueing to maitain your own raceline after finishing a race. It's common sense, it's safety and it is generally agreed code between all riders. Pleased that Masters was OK in the end, after such a naughty accident.

 

 

Budge up lads , room for one more on the bitter , twisted and jealous step .

[Midnight_Lady]

Budge up lads , room for one more on the bitter , twisted and jealous step .

 

Something Tsunami has become over the last few years. Maybe it's just getting older but I somehow doubt it.

 

He says it isn't relevant that Fisher never touched Howe and on that I agree. But what he fails to say is that it is relevant that Fisher picked up drive or grip as others and himself have stated. I am sure he will next tell us all in his great opinion of course how a rider who picks up unexpected drive or grip is always able to control the bike.

 

Just another case of having a go and running with the pack on a rider he intensely dislikes! Especially the petty comment about how it was great to see one rider put him in his place yet not a word about the great race those same two riders had earlier on when Fisher won.

 

Pathetic

Edited August 16, 2010 by Midnight_Lady

[Merlin]

Congratulations to the Brummies for their win yesterday.

Pity about my team because once again, as in the Pairs, from being favourites for the events a stupid foam airfilter got sucked into the carb and in both cases cost us our place in the final stages of both meetings. To those who said we though we were cocky about winning it, time to get a life and look at the real facts.

 

 

Just out of curiousity who made Newcastle favourites for the event?

 

And who composed the following?:

 

http://www.speedwaygb.com/news7.php?extend.8398.5

Edited August 16, 2010 by Merlin

[Merlin]

Budge up lads , room for one more on the bitter , twisted and jealous step .

 

 

 

What took you so long? Putting on your 'I love to hate Fisher' sweatshirt?

 

You're normally in much qicker than this at the smell of any anti-Fisher post.

[Cliffeboy]

Well done the Brummies,the best team won on the day. Somerset finished as top qualifiers in the semi`s with 15 points with only three fit riders,and then managed to come third fielding a reserve three times,a great effort,well done everyone.

[george.m]

 

As someone else has said, the Fish also shut off coming upto the line in heat 28 and drifted across leaving the fast finishing Masters nowhere to go once he was caught in the loose shale at the base of the fence.

 

Come, come now folks Ryan is the world's fairest rider!

Ryanfair.

All those races where you suspected his racing ethics .... dreams! Never happened!

Edited August 16, 2010 by george.m

[Shadders]

Sundstrom just looks knackered now. Has lost his edge and its not surprising with his schedule of riding in every major country. You can't be having the sort of schedule he has and it not take its toll. Kessler still at the club is just some sort of sick joke and him being there was a big reason in not bothering to travel. Why he hasn't been shipped out already just sums up Silver/Sampford.

A few people flagged Sundstroms schedule up at the start of the season... A similar thing happened to Robert Mear when he started riding for Lakeside in the EL... His Rye form plummeted and it's looking like Linus is going the same way.

 

Thanks for that SCB. I wondered what had happened. Of course Shadders couldn't wait to get in with his anti-Fisher post but since there was no detail, just abuse, I assumed it was the usual bilious gripe to discredit him. Seems I was right!

It must be great to be you Merlin, being right all of the time

 

What company produced the programme?

I'll bet you it was the same outfit that produce the error laden Rye House programmes!!

[Midnight_Lady]

Come, come now folks Ryan is the world's fairest rider!

Ryanfair.

All those races were you suspected his racing ethics .... dreams! Never happened!

 

Here come the girls.