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PK leaves. Kim Nilsson replaces.

 

http://www.lakesidehammers.co/content/?p=8091

I didn't see this change coming to be honest! There's no denying that PK hasn't quite been up to his usual high standards this season but I'd say his form has been gradually improving. Has Kim been scoring really well elsewhere since coming back from injury?

 

It's been an absolute pleasure seeing PK in Hammers colours and I wish him good luck for the future. On paper I would say it doesn't seem like the team is being strengthened, but hopefully it is a gamble that pays off.

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Do you think this will be the end now for PK in British Speeday retirement??

I really hope not, but I fear it could be. When he joined us, I'm sure I remember reading that we were the only club other than Wolves that he was willing to sign for.

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Do you think this will be the end now for PK in British Speedway retirement??

Did you just say that? Brave man. :P

 

Nope. He'll be coming home for a swansong in 2015 on 6.71. :party: He's worth so much more to a team than his points :approve:

 

If Lakeside think Nilsson's going to do better than good luck to them. :shock:

Edited by Wolfsbane
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If Lakeside think Nilsson's going to do better than good luck to them. :shock:

I'm really not sure whether he will or not, but I hope this is the season that he improves. We've seen some brilliant moments from him in the past, and he's one of our young assets so I've got my fingers crossed. Welcome back Kim!

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Has anyone ever seen Kim ride anywhere like PK? The comparison is like chalk and cheese. PK was gradually coming back to form although nowhere near that before his injury but Kim has never shown anything like that kind of potential. I wish him well - and us.

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Well, a great big thank you to PK - it has been a pleasure to see you wear the crossed hammers.

 

It may seem a srange move to many but PK is not getting any younger and he has appeared to struggle to regain his earlier levels of performance.

 

Kim is, of course, much younger (as well as being a Hammers' asset) and represents hope for years to come.

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My heart says no, but my head says maybe.

 

Having PK in the team has for me been one of the highlights of virtually a lifetime watching the sport. Few people would dispute the fact he is an absolute master craftsman and an absolute joy to watch plus the fact that he is by any standards an exemplary sportsman who would be a credit to any sport. There is no other rider I would rather have had in the team this last 2 and a half seasons. Nevertheless there is no escaping the fact that for whatever reason, this season he has only been a shadow of his former self. Of the Hammers top 5 this season PK has the lowest home average and the second lowest away average. He must be on the point of dropping to a second string role, and I doubt whether any fan wants to see that and I very much doubt whether PK himself would want it.

 

PK has had a fantastic career which may or may not continue for a while, but personally I want to remember him at the peak of his powers and not see him going down the Joe Screen route of going steadily downhill and regularly getting beaten by riders who are not really fit to clean his bike, and PK is older than Screeny. Then there is the financial aspect that if PK is on a wage as most top riders seem to be I doubt whether the Lakeside promotion want to pay top money for what is now a 6 point rider.

 

I would love to see PK back at his best but we are only seeing flashes of his former self these days. I can't help feeling his crash at kings Lynn last year was one injury too much.

 

As for Kim. yes its a gamble but he has been riding very well on the continent this season and he is at the age where if he is going to make the breakthrough now is the time. If he does show an improvement he will still start on a low enough average to still be a bargain next year.

 

So , I guess like most Lakeside fans I am gutted to be losing PK but I really wish Kim every success. With Mikkel , Lewis , Richard and Kim there is the nucleus of a young side that could mature together and be a solid team for a good few years to come, especially with Davey still in as Captain, bringing a bit of experience.

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i wonder whether pk himself made this decision?, hes been nowhere near as good as the previous 2 seasons but tho i liked the way kim was going for eastbourne late last season it seems a weird move unless the rider himself has decided it.

 

good luck to kim who has a very large pair of shoes to fill

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I think the reason for this change is because PK is going to retire. There surely cant be any over reason for this change unless the Lakeside management have gone loopy.

 

If this is the end of PK I would like to say I am happy that I got the chance to see the legend on a Speedway bike.

 

 

This is what I had in my head as well

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PK leaves. Kim Nilsson replaces.

 

http://www.lakesidehammers.co/content/?p=8091

 

Any absolutely crazy decision by the Hammers management. Id have thought it was April 1st its so laughable.

Looks like the Hammers aren't bothered about the play offs unless they have something else in mind and another change on the cards to strengthen before the play offs start as the Hammers already have a foot and a leg in the door.

 

 

Do you think this will be the end now for PK in British Speeday retirement??

 

 

No, somebody will pick him up on that average, plus if no one does he wants to ride for Wolves before he retires so thats as good as a given.

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Any absolutely crazy decision by the Hammers management. Id have thought it was April 1st its so laughable.

I thought the same at first, but the more I've thought about it the more I've been considering this:

 

Nevertheless there is no escaping the fact that for whatever reason, this season he has only been a shadow of his former self. Of the Hammers top 5 this season PK has the lowest home average and the second lowest away average.

I suspect that it must have been a genuinely mutual decision. If PK wants to continue riding in Britain then I think he'll get a team place somewhere pretty soon, and if he does then I hope his average doesn't continue to fall.

 

I'm extremely grateful for being able to watch him riding for the Hammers the last few years - he is a real legend of British speedway. We'll need all the other boys to continue with their good form and Kim will need to get stuck in from the word go!

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Not sure if Nilsson will be too much of an improvement but you can understand why Lakeside have made the change, PK has been off colour for pretty much the whole season. Looked absolutely dreadful in the live Swedish meeting a couple of weeks back, how long do you wait for a rider to turn it round, especially one in his forties? Just hope if he has one more season for Wolves he doesn't struggle and spoil people's memories of him, wasn't nice to see Ermolenko scratching about for points in his last couple of years racing.

Edited by Gordon Bennett
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Any absolutely crazy decision by the Hammers management. Id have thought it was April 1st its so laughable.

Looks like the Hammers aren't bothered about the play offs unless they have something else in mind and another change on the cards to strengthen before the play offs start as the Hammers already have a foot and a leg in the door.

 

 

 

 

I think your heart is ruling your head Steve. PK has been such a brilliant ambassador for the sport that its impossible to think of him anywhere other than at the top. None of us can see into the future. If PK picks up then yes it will have been a crazy decision but if it goes the other way then I don't want to see him slip further and further down the ladder. I just want to remember him as he was. TBH he has been struggling in heat 15 all year, and I don't think he has won one. That's not the PK we all know. Personally I thought he reached the point of no return a few weeks ago when he started being passed by lesser riders even when he made the gate. That would be unheard of in his previous time at Lakeside and I suspect at Wolves as well.

 

Whatever the real reason you can bet the decision wasn't taken lightly.

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Not content with wanting to throw the Lynn match under the bus they have now decided to throw the entire season under the bus as well.

What is written in the star this week does not suggest there are money troubles yet this almost smacks of lets save a few quid, scrape into the play offs and hopefully bag a nice profit from a well attended semi final.

 

Kim Nilsson is the future but long term, not right now, if Davey Watt retires at the end of the season or goes elsewhere what does that leave them with? Mikkel Bech who isn't even fully proven as a true heat leader yet.

Bridger could develop into a heat leader in time but earlier in the season struggled there, ironically the departure of PK will force Lewis back into that position so its likely to have a big impact on the team than simply missing one rider.

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I think your heart is ruling your head Steve. PK has been such a brilliant ambassador for the sport that its impossible to think of him anywhere other than at the top. None of us can see into the future. If PK picks up then yes it will have been a crazy decision but if it goes the other way then I don't want to see him slip further and further down the ladder. I just want to remember him as he was. TBH he has been struggling in heat 15 all year, and I don't think he has won one. That's not the PK we all know. Personally I thought he reached the point of no return a few weeks ago when he started being passed by lesser riders even when he made the gate. That would be unheard of in his previous time at Lakeside and I suspect at Wolves as well.

 

Whatever the real reason you can bet the decision wasn't taken lightly.

 

 

My heart ruling me head??

I`m making a comment on the obvious! Nilsson for PK is in no way a forward step - a side step maybe. I would be very surprised if he could even match what PK is doing in poor form!

No doubt there is logic to the decision (as far as the management go). But it seems on paper a huge backward step.

 

Kim Nilsson is the future but long term, not right now,

 

 

Future 5-6 point rider maybe, Cant see him achieving much else unless he has a momentous turn around in form.

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