The Somerset Mystery

[Bagpuss]

To me home advantage comes from having a track which is in some way unique and as such provides a big challenge to away riders, particularly if they only visit once a season. In Lynn's PL days we had a considerable advantage as the clay based shale used was very grippy and visiting riders were all at sea. Somerset is a very fast almost circular track where there is no hiding place, there isn't really anywhere else like it in the PL. Edinburgh is very tight and a big ask for away riders, however often they have been in the past, just like Lakeside and Eastbourne in the EL.

[SCB]

Of course, what it could show is that you recruit riders with a liking for a particular type of track (your own) which will mean you perform better at home than away. Is that the same as saying the track gives you home advantage?

Im thinking of the aces tesm of 84, which was utterly dominant at home but dropped away points cost them the title. Hyde rd was commonly regarded as a "fair" track. But the likes of Smith carr and courtney who all excelled on bigctracks but struggled on smaller ones all averaged at least a couple of points more at home than away. Home sdvantage, or natursl result of developing/signing a psrticular type of rider?

Of course thats track advantage. It's the advantage of having a track your riders can ride. It's their home track. Thus home track advantage.

[Cliffeboy]

Of course thats track advantage. It's the advantage of having a track your riders can ride. It's their home track. Thus home track advantage.

Which goes right back to a comment I made yonks ago about pretty much all riders enjoy racing at the OTA ,you cannot say that about most other tracks where riders do not like riding there,so a home advantage is greater.

Since the dreaded camber has been sorted at Rye their home form has dipped and teams are having more joy there than in previous visits,Luke Bowen eluded to this in his recent article in the Star and intimated that Len may try and get the track back as it was. Don't do it Len imo the racing has been the best I have seen at Rye , I know a lot of results have gone against you but get a half decent team next year and I for one will be making a few more trips over there. Home die hard supporters may dis agree with me but I would leave it as it is.

[TheScotsman]

Certainly looked like a big camber there each time I have been over this season.

[Chris]

Which goes right back to a comment I made yonks ago about pretty much all riders enjoy racing at the OTA ,you cannot say that about most other tracks where riders do not like riding there,so a home advantage is greater.

Since the dreaded camber has been sorted at Rye their home form has dipped and teams are having more joy there than in previous visits,Luke Bowen eluded to this in his recent article in the Star and intimated that Len may try and get the track back as it was. Don't do it Len imo the racing has been the best I have seen at Rye , I know a lot of results have gone against you but get a half decent team next year and I for one will be making a few more trips over there. Home die hard supporters may dis agree with me but I would leave it as it is.

Absolute rubbish. The reason why Rye were murdering everyone for years at home was because we had top sides. Riders like Robbo, Ed Kennett, Danny King, Tai Woffiinden, Linus Sundstrom etc. same as the Somerset team of the last few years. They have built very good sides. They were crap at home in the early years when they had poor sides. Len has built crap sides and it has proved there's not a massive home advantage as many many teams have come to rye and won.

 

Edinburgh have built good sides in the last few years hence they are untouchable at home. There's been many years before that when they have not had a good sides and have had home defeats throughout a season.

 

Build decent sides and the dominant home form will follow as you have better riders. Nothing to do with home track advantage.

 

Somerset is a brilliant racetrack and I wish it was on my doorstep. Proper speedway.

[Shadders]

I don't know where this myth about the adverse camber at Rye House disappearing came from. It's still there, believe me.

Chris is spot on. There is very little home team advantage when you build a weak team. Speedway is very much a confidence sport. If you're on a roll you can believe you can beat anyone.

Rye House used to be a track that teams feared, many were beat before a wheel was turned.

Edinburgh and Somerset have that reputation now.

Edited October 17, 2014 by Shads

[Nutz]

Rye House used to be a track that teams feared, many were beat before a wheel was turned.

Edinburgh and Somerset have that reputation now.

 

Absolutely... Teams with a home track that's a fortress have it as the opponents are defeated before they turn a wheel. I remember a few years ago (2007 in fact), Edinburgh had one of the worst seasons in history and we turned up at the all conquering Kings Lynn... However, people I spoke with that night said it was the best speedway they'd seen in a long time as we came and fought hard and weren't defeatist from the start... Yes, we got hammered (61-34 if I remember correctly) but we gained a lot of friends in Norfolk that night.

 

It's proof right enough that riders that have ridden for Edinburgh for years on end, change track and return with their new team, only to look like a novice! The track doesn't change, the mentality of the team does. We've pulled a lot of victories out of the jaws of defeat this season away from home as the mentality has been there not to lose. It's worth a lot of points on the track when you believe you can actually win.

 

As for the camber at Rye, if it wasn't there, the speed Cook came into turn 1, he'd have still been travelling to Harlow!! He needed the camber to stop him!

[Cliffeboy]

Absolute rubbish. The reason why Rye were murdering everyone for years at home was because we had top sides. Riders like Robbo, Ed Kennett, Danny King, Tai Woffiinden, Linus Sundstrom etc. same as the Somerset team of the last few years. They have built very good sides. They were crap at home in the early years when they had poor sides. Len has built crap sides and it has proved there's not a massive home advantage as many many teams have come to rye and won.

 

Edinburgh have built good sides in the last few years hence they are untouchable at home. There's been many years before that when they have not had a good sides and have had home defeats throughout a season.

 

Build decent sides and the dominant home form will follow as you have better riders. Nothing to do with home track advantage.

 

Somerset is a brilliant racetrack and I wish it was on my doorstep. Proper speedway.

Hey Chris did you miss the bit in my post that said " Get a half decent team" which would mean pretty much any of the guys ypu mentioned. Luke said in his bit in the Star roughly that when riders got it wrong coming off the second bend the Rye guys would take advantage as they either over cooked it or slid off,I`d call that home advantage.