Lakeside 2017

[Ben91]

No thanks. Leigh is a really nice bloke , and a Hammers legend but he is nearly 40 years old and watching him is like going to a funeral these days. Young blood is needed.

We had him at Rye this season and he did struggle granted, but he's on an attractive average should he drop in to the NL. I'm hoping to see Morley fixed up as he's a Rye rider but Lanham's average has more scope for improvement in it at NL level. That's the name of the game when it comes to building a team.

[Brian]

If it came to a choice between Lanham and Morley, I'd take Morley. Can't see either improving their averages but think Morley is more likely to maintain his.

[HAMMER180]

oh dear not much interest on here at

the moment hope that's not a sign of

next seasons meetings. must say that

NL does not really get me going but will

try to get into to it and keep the faith

that we will get back in the PL even if

we don't end up with our own stadium.

but to be honest if we are running on

Saturdays I will be torn as rye house

looks a better prospect and all my families

favourite riders are there.

[Sings4Speedway]

oh dear not much interest on here at

the moment hope that's not a sign of

next seasons meetings. must say that

NL does not really get me going but will

try to get into to it and keep the faith

that we will get back in the PL even if

we don't end up with our own stadium.

but to be honest if we are running on

Saturdays I will be torn as rye house

looks a better prospect and all my families

favourite riders are there.

 

Don't worry im sure it will pick up as the season progresses. Also team announcements make for interesting debate so as further riders are announced it should pick up.

I can see the lure of Rye House but only if a decent team is visiting as whatever calibre of rider is there nobody wants to watch a one sided event. Personally i hope they are running on Saturdays as it means i will be able to attend Lakeside a few times over the season.

[waco]

Taking in to account Rye House and all the car meetings on sats,unless they go mid week,,i can see them sticking with fridays despite the traffic problems,hopefully these will be easing by the spring..Though would sundays clash with Eastbourne not sure when they are running..?

[cityrebel]

No trophy meetings at arena, only 11 league matches and a possible cup/play off run. Alternate sundays might be enough to accommodate a limited fixture list.

[marko]

Friday's in the NL would be worse than a damp Monday with sky in town, I feel, it has to be Saturday or Sunday, maybe a Sunday afternoon? I would be quite partial potentially to the latter, night meetings can be on the cool side at Arena at the best of times.

 

PS everyone is talking about Leigh Lanham but how would his average compare with Robert Mear because I had Rob and Ben in my mind, people have also mentioned Zach W but I think he will be racing in the PR and CH? so riding in the 3rd tier would be too much.

Leigh once settled in would be a very good number one at home but away from home? I also think Robert Mear might be a better fit for helping to motivate the kids, not saying Leigh could not, that's just the impressive I have from this side of the fence.

[Nathan Mole]

Eastbourne will be riding Saturdays as Connor Coles is also signed up with Newcastle in CH, who ride Sundays

[gee jay]

Taking in to account Rye House and all the car meetings on sats,unless they go mid week,,i can see them sticking with fridays despite the traffic problems,hopefully these will be easing by the spring..Though would sundays clash with Eastbourne not sure when they are running..?

saturdays.

[szkocjasid]

One thing about Lakeside is they have signed 2 riders who weren't very good away from home last year!

Friday's in the NL would be worse than a damp Monday with sky in town, I feel, it has to be Saturday or Sunday, maybe a Sunday afternoon? I would be quite partial potentially to the latter, night meetings can be on the cool side at Arena at the best of times.

 

PS everyone is talking about Leigh Lanham but how would his average compare with Robert Mear because I had Rob and Ben in my mind, people have also mentioned Zach W but I think he will be racing in the PR and CH? so riding in the 3rd tier would be too much.

Leigh once settled in would be a very good number one at home but away from home? I also think Robert Mear might be a better fit for helping to motivate the kids, not saying Leigh could not, that's just the impressive I have from this side of the fence.

Zach W doesn't have a Div 2 team!

LAKESIDE ?

1 Leigh Lanham 8.68

2 Zach Wajtknecht 8.59

3 Marc Owen 7.25

4 Alfie Bowtell 4.21

5 George Hunter 4.00

6 Chris Hay 3.23

7 A N Other 3.00

Total 38.96

[TonyE]

Surely it will be Ben Morley.

[marko]

With the points limit as it is i would guess we could only have two out of Ben, Robert, Leigh and Zach

All but one of the CH teams is complete and I cant see Leigh or Zach riding for Edinburgh so are they in contention? could we squeeze three in and then go with a longer tail end in the hope one or two of them will turn out to be overnight sensations which can happen at this level? that would be my call as a top heavy team will nearly always beat and strength in depth one.

[Countershaftcounter]

Zach and Morley announced, no surprises there.

[Guest]

​LAKESIDE HAMMERS PRESS RELEASE:

:::::::

 

LAKESIDE Hammers are delighted to confirm Ben Morley and Zach Wajtknecht as their top two who will lead their National League side in 2017.
The pairing join Alfie Bowtell and George Hunter in the Hammers line-up with four of the seven team spots now in place.
Morley, 22, is no stranger to the Arena Essex Raceway after spells in 2014 and 2016 in the Elite League with the Hammers and has enjoyed plenty of success at NL - he won the National League Riders' Championship only last year.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Wajtknecht already has three British League Gold medals to his name, despite only being on the shale for two seasons.
Club coach Kelvin Tatum said: "Ben and Zach are two solid performers at this level and we feel they'll provide plenty of points from the top.
"Ben knows the Lakeside track well, he's an exciting rider and he's already a firm favourite amongst supporters as well so he should prove to be a popular signing.
"He's still young, but he has a vast amount of crucial experience at all levels and that could benefit the whole team.
"He's what I'd describe as a consistent, big hitting heat-leader in the National League and we're predicting big things for Ben in the Lakeside race jacket in 2017.
"Zach already has some significant honours and achievements next to his name and that means he's already got a winning mentality drilled into him.
"He was part of Somerset's Premier League winning side last year and we'll be hoping he makes it a hat-trick of National League titles too after back-to-back successes with Birmingham.
"He's a Lakeside asset, which makes us even more chuffed to be able to include him, and the amount of potential he's got as well really excites us too and I think the fans will take to him pretty quickly.
"We're delighted with how the team is shaping up so far and we're already counting down to the new season for what is an exciting new adventure for the Hammers."

[HAMMER180]

Good signings anyone know their points?

great to have an asset and ben is a great kid

would think their points are high so only 8/9

points left for final 3.

[E I Addio]

I don't know why everyone keeps banging on about Leigh Lanham. The high water mark of his career was 2008 when he was paired with AJ but since then he has gone backwards at a rate of knots. A very nice bloke but these days a thoroughly boring rider. He has guested at Lakeside several times over recent seasons and did very little except ride exactly the same line in every race, unable to vary it to pass another rider. Sorry but he is just not going to pull any punters through the gate. It has to be young riders prepared to make up in enthusiasm what they lack in experience. That is what the NL should be about.

 

Kelvin Tatum is there to provide the advice and support. It is riders young enough and enthusiastic enough to learn that are needed.

Edited December 16, 2016 by E I Addio

[Islander15]

Good signings anyone know their points?

great to have an asset and ben is a great kid

would think their points are high so only 8/9

points left for final 3.

Morley is 9.22 & Zach is 8.59. 12.98 left for the final 3 so you could go with 3 pointers at reserve and Nathan Stoneman.

[liam]

I don't know why everyone keeps banging on about Leigh Lanham. The high water mark of his career was 2008 when he was paired with AJ but since then he has gone backwards at a rate of knots. A very nice bloke but these days a thoroughly boring rider. He has guested at Lakeside several times over recent seasons and did very little except ride exactly the same line in every race, unable to vary it to pass another rider. Sorry but he is just not going to pull any punters through the gate. It has to be young riders prepared to make up in enthusiasm what they lack in experience. That is what the NL should be about.

 

Kelvin Tatum is there to provide the advice and support. It is riders young enough and enthusiastic enough to learn that are needed.

To be honest and with no disrespect meant I doubt the club could sign any rider at this level that will pull punters through the gate unless we could get AJ on a 21 point average

 

Ben should be pretty much unbeatable at home and a lot of good things are said about Zach so I would say that's a pretty powerful top two.

Edited December 16, 2016 by liam

[TonyE]

I just cannot see how Leigh Lanham and National Development League can fit in the same sentence. Surely, the purpose of this level is to bring young riders on.

 

Leigh provided me with great pleasure during his 'golden years' at the Raceway but this league is no place for him.

[Sings4Speedway]

Morley is 9.22 & Zach is 8.59. 12.98 left for the final 3 so you could go with 3 pointers at reserve and Nathan Stoneman.

 

Stoneman & 2 x 3 pointers would fit perfectly and make a very solid heat leader trio however it would force either Bowtell or Hunter to be at 4 which would add quite a bit of pressure onto the third heatleader. That said if the reserve picks are good then its shaping up to be a pretty competitive side.