Edinburgh 2023

[gazzac]

I think at the end of the day 'toughness ' is an underestimated part of speedway in some ways. Brennen especially with a couple of early bad injuries came back stronger where Kemp who initially looked to have more talent on a bike doesn't seemed to have made the gains, maybe not as tough. Occasionally you get the combination of both and they go all the way like Dan Bewley, of the current crop Brennen is at the balance point,  fingers crossed he can be the next Dan.

[Tsunami]

7 hours ago, JanAndersen said:

I think it’s that fans want to see him do better as they think he could be at the next level if he really pushed himself. I’m a bit like that; I never get the impression he’s that bothered. He might be perfectly happy where he is which is the important thing but he has the talent to push on like Brennan and Flint IMO. 

Despite the success Drew has had with U19 and U21, and some of world meetings with Brennan and Bewley, it really is a mystery that in league matches he performs so poorly. Might be the bike, but I tend to think like you that sometimes he can't really be bothered.

[JCookie]

1 hour ago, Tsunami said:

Despite the success Drew has had with U19 and U21, and some of world meetings with Brennan and Bewley, it really is a mystery that in league matches he performs so poorly. Might be the bike, but I tend to think like you that sometimes he can't really be bothered.

Wonder if he got it in his head that he could just cruise through after his successful youth days. Even the best have to work harder than nearly everyone else.

[Tsunami]

3 minutes ago, JCookie said:

Wonder if he got it in his head that he could just cruise through after his successful youth days. Even the best have to work harder than nearly everyone else.

I just hope he can fix it as he is truly a great rider like when he has been for GB. 

[lisa-colette]

1 hour ago, Tsunami said:

Despite the success Drew has had with U19 and U21, and some of world meetings with Brennan and Bewley, it really is a mystery that in league matches he performs so poorly. Might be the bike, but I tend to think like you that sometimes he can't really be bothered.

Hmm, don't agree. For one thing his average went up over 2 points for Poole from beginning of the season to about half way through. So how is that performing poorly?!

Though form wasn't the best last couple of months of the season but he just used to take first couple of rides to get going and nine times out of ten would win H14. 

I have see him get double figures at Poole and also get zero (once!) but I never thought it was because he couldn't be bothered! 

[ASpeedwayfan]

34 minutes ago, lisa-colette said:

Hmm, don't agree. For one thing his average went up over 2 points for Poole from beginning of the season to about half way through. So how is that performing poorly?!

Though form wasn't the best last couple of months of the season but he just used to take first couple of rides to get going and nine times out of ten would win H14. 

I have see him get double figures at Poole and also get zero (once!) but I never thought it was because he couldn't be bothered! 

Yeah he's certainly earned his average this season. But he's in the awkward position where you're not sure if he will up it or lower it. What he does need is stability and a track he loves and will be riding on it every week 

Edited November 20, 2022 by ASpeedwayfan

[szkocjasid]

How about?

Edinburgh
Josh Pickering	8.92
Craig Cook	8.24
Justin Sedgmen	7.04
Cameron Heeps	4.33
Connor Bailey	4.32
Lasse Fredriksen	4.00
Kyle Bickley	3.00
Total	39.85

[mikebv]

9 hours ago, JCookie said:

Wonder if he got it in his head that he could just cruise through after his successful youth days. Even the best have to work harder than nearly everyone else.

Always gives me the impression that his image and the fact he gets ""seen as a speedway rider" are the most important things to him..

Maybe he is just overly laid back in his approach but to be like that (or appear that way), you really need to be a "winner" or you will face criticism..

To be fair to these young lads who come through, the third tier isn't the greatest barometer as to their true talent, and people can easily get carried away watching a 16/17 year old kid winning plenty of races at that level, and raise unfair expectations off the back of it..

The Polish U24 league provides a truer picture of where these lads are in relation to their peers..

And if you are not in at least the top five or so over there then you are going to struggle to reach anywhere near the top given how many "over 24's" race at the top level consistently each season..

If you cannot beat your peer age group at U24, then you dont have much hope of moving on to the highest level...

Be interesting to see how these young British lads progress next season given many are now "established" with quite considerable experience, therefore coming up to the stage where a season can pretty much define where they end up long term....

[Endeavour]

12 hours ago, szkocjasid said:

How about?

Edinburgh
Josh Pickering	8.92
Craig Cook	8.24
Justin Sedgmen	7.04
Cameron Heeps	4.33
Connor Bailey	4.32
Lasse Fredriksen	4.00
Kyle Bickley	3.00
Total	39.85

Totally underwhelming.

[SlicktrackSandy]

5 hours ago, Endeavour said:

Totally underwhelming.

Can't see that one coming to pass somehow - not even close probably.  Just as a wee observation - am beginning to feel a bit sorry for Ricky Wells i.e. cannot recall seeing a single mention of him in any of the teams suggested here or elsewhere.  His average looks to be 5.20 which is not quite in no mans land for team building I would have thought.  At present not quite the 7.00 plus Ricky of old but still "only" 31 y.o. and certainly capable of more than 5.20 as an experienced campaigner.  Maybe getting a home track that suits him well and we may see an upturn in form ?  Just a thought.

[xvcjk]

6 minutes ago, SlicktrackSandy said:

Can't see that one coming to pass somehow - not even close probably.  Just as a wee observation - am beginning to feel a bit sorry for Ricky Wells i.e. cannot recall seeing a single mention of him in any of the teams suggested here or elsewhere.  His average looks to be 5.20 which is not quite in no mans land for team building I would have thought.  At present not quite the 7.00 plus Ricky of old but still "only" 31 y.o. and certainly capable of more than 5.20 as an experienced campaigner.  Maybe getting a home track that suits him well and we may see an upturn in form ?  Just a thought.

I think he may be retiring.

[Bandit59]

6 minutes ago, SlicktrackSandy said:

Can't see that one coming to pass somehow - not even close probably.  Just as a wee observation - am beginning to feel a bit sorry for Ricky Wells i.e. cannot recall seeing a single mention of him in any of the teams suggested here or elsewhere.  His average looks to be 5.20 which is not quite in no mans land for team building I would have thought.  At present not quite the 7.00 plus Ricky of old but still "only" 31 y.o. and certainly capable of more than 5.20 as an experienced campaigner.  Maybe getting a home track that suits him well and we may see an upturn in form ?  Just a thought.

Think it was said last season Ricky's was retiring.

[Bandit59]

1 minute ago, Edin03 said:

I think he may be retiring.

Beat me by 10 seconds lol

[SlicktrackSandy]

14 minutes ago, Bandit59 said:

Beat me by 10 seconds lol

That seems an excellent reason for him not being given a mention then !   Clearly missed that wherever it was said.  Always enjoyed watching Ricky's races - nice tidy style especially on small tracks.  Maybe have a change of heart after a couple of years out - if the bug bites again and enthusiasm is rekindled ?

[TTT]

1. Josh Pickering 8.92
2. Jacob Hook 4.00
3. Kye Thomson 6.60
4. Michele Castagna 4.93
5. Craig Cook 8.23
6. Lasse Frederiksen 4.00
7. Kyle Bickley 2.85

= 39.53

[SlicktrackSandy]

34 minutes ago, TTT said:

1. Josh Pickering 8.92
2. Jacob Hook 4.00
3. Kye Thomson 6.60
4. Michele Castagna 4.93
5. Craig Cook 8.23
6. Lasse Frederiksen 4.00
7. Kyle Bickley 2.85

= 39.53

You may well get the cigar for that one !  Cannot be far off that surely - not too dissimilar from 2022 but a bit weaker with no Sam. We ended up doing ok in the end so maybe play off candidates again if a couple of last years intake show progress.

[Mr Blobby]

2 hours ago, TTT said:

1. Josh Pickering 8.92
2. Jacob Hook 4.00
3. Kye Thomson 6.60
4. Michele Castagna 4.93
5. Craig Cook 8.23
6. Lasse Frederiksen 4.00
7. Kyle Bickley 2.85

= 39.53

Switch hook and lasse in the order and I don’t think you’ll be too far off. 

[xvcjk]

36 minutes ago, Mr Blobby said:

Switch hook and lasse in the order and I don’t think you’ll be too far off. 

I’d be tempted to give Lasse the reserve berth to start the season

[JCookie]

Is Hook going to be a Jye Etheridge 'worst Australian ever' or is he genuinely just not very good? Seems a risk to bring him back on a 4 when he wasn't close to that last season.

[King Jamie]

2 hours ago, Edin03 said:

I’d be tempted to give Lasse the reserve berth to start the season

Given that Lasse finished with a higher average than Jacob (albeit still under 4), despite spending the whole season in the top 5, logically it would make sense to declare the stronger rider as the reserve.

However, if Fredriksen still doesn't go over 4 from reserve, Hook will be stuck at number 2. A lack of points there could destroy him.

2 minutes ago, JCookie said:

Is Hook going to be a Jye Etheridge 'worst Australian ever' or is he genuinely just not very good? Seems a risk to bring him back on a 4 when he wasn't close to that last season.

He tends to jump out the start, and sometimes grab a win, once per meeting. I hope he's learned a lot from this season. Nowhere near the worst rider I've ever seen and one I would be happy to see included in 2023.