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SteelShoe

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Posts posted by SteelShoe

  1. Posted

    4 hours ago, Grachan said:

    I watched this on BSN. A couple of things made me pay to watch it. One was to see the Workington track - which looks excellent. The other was I was interested to watch Celina ride and see how she did.

    It's so typical of speedway these days for people to demand changes immediately - I guess it's a product of the points limit to concentrate so much on figures - but I think it would be a major mistake to try and replace her and I'm sure Workington won't do that. Not in the short term, at least. I hope not, anyway.

    Yes, she's saddled with a 4 point average, but they knew that when they signed her and knew that wouldn't be easy to achieve immediately, but you can see just by watching her that there is a good rider there. Sure, she needs to improve her starting and first turns, but apart from that she's a good as many other reserves in the league. If the more experienced riders in the side can help her with that I reckon there's a bit of a star in waiting right there.

    Comments that she is "way off the pace" are simply not true. In one race she passed one of the Redcar reserves for a point. In another she snuk past the other reserve momentarily. Not exactly ground-breaking stuff, but not "way off the pace" either.

    She's also a charismatic interviewee (her dropping of the F-bomb made me chuckle) and someone whose rides I looked forward to seeing and also the main reason that Workington are the Championship side that I - as someone without a team - am most interested in at the moment.

    Obviously she needs to start scoring more at some stage, but I can honestly see that happening if they stick with her and support her. She doesn't come across as someone who will be phased in trying to do that.

    It's not all about the average. Swindon took Jason Doyle on a 13 point plus average one year and he was always going to lose about 4 points on that and I think they won the league that year.

     

    Right on the money this post.

  2. Posted

    2 hours ago, Mr Blobby said:

    The classic you have a go comment got to love it. Like I said early take away the fact she’s female, if she wasn’t and was male would you be saying the same things probably not. 
     

    She is averaging 1 point a meeting and she’s came up against Redcar twice who with ourselves probably have the weakest reserves in the league. Other than 1 point against borke she’s only beat Ben trigger who’s not very good and her team mate.  
     

    You’ve been brought in on a 4 point average and your averaging 1 your not doing your job or even close to doing it, take the fact she’s female out of the equation the stats aren’t great are they? 

    Personally I think that Celina is an intelligent charismatic young lady who will quickly assess with help and support from the club were she needs to be with regards to her equipment and gating. She has been given a 4 point assessed average which doesn't particularly bother me. She will be given time as will Sam McGurk who needs to improve in similar areas then we will see where we are. 

    • Thanks 1

  3. Posted

    Thank you to all the Redcar fans who made the journey over.  Speedway clubs have to try and support each other wherever possible. It was a really entertaining meeting despite the delayed start due to the late arrival of the medical cover. Really felt for Danny King who was unfortunately side swiped on the home straight after Sam McGurk appeared to pick up grip and come hurtling across the track, a really nasty looking incident that I was relieved to see him walk away from. Get well soon Danny. Most of the Redcar team showed plenty of spirit with Jonas Knudsen in particular catching the eye on his first visit to The GT Tyres Arena. 

    • Like 2

  5. Posted

    Thoroughly enjoyable meeting  at the ECCO Arena tonight. The Comets delighted all their travelling fans with a performance of desire and commitment. 12 points down after 4 heats the team fought their way back into the contest to take it to a last heat decider. Never in front until after heat 15 was just reward for the effort. Cookie and Batch showed what great competitors they can be and reinforced the feeling among the Comets fans that they still have plenty to offer regardless of the many negative comments that have been made on this forum about them both. Claus was just fantastic and once again displayed just how competitive and tough he is on the track. Antti didn't get the points his efforts deserved but both him and Tate once again showed great promise. Big well done to Celina who was competetive throughout and very nearly caught Jake Mulford on the line after having to go off a 15m handicap. Hope she is alright following the colllision with Connor Bailey after the race. The bears didn't do a lot wrong but only having 5 heat winners 4 of which were in the first 4 heats was telling.

     

    • Like 1

  6. Posted

    Good race track, good few racers on show so given the right weather should be an entertaining meeting. Once again a new track for the Comets newbies to get to grips with soon as possible. Score wise it's hard to call  for me personally but the Bears obvious favourites. Always enjoy my trips to the ECCO Arena, it will be great to cheer on my home town team there for the first time since 2018.

    • Like 2

  11. Posted

    3 hours ago, JamesHarris said:

    I assume you are a smart person so what do you think? One can look at this two ways. 1 - the rose tinted way of how wonderful and progressive this is. Equality for women in Speedway. Or 2 The realistic way - This is a PR masterpiece. Lets jump on the equality and diversity bandwagon. The media will be all over it and it may get us a few more sponsors in the meantime. I'll let you decide.

    Do you really think Worky signed Celina based on either of these ? .  More like an expectation that she would be a competitive Championship standard reserve in 2024 . She is two meetings in one of which was very challenging. Anyone who watched a battling performance against Rory Schlein and the beating of Bastian Borke in the same race will have seen that Celina has potential. She is still very much getting to grips with UK racing and bike setup. Comets will give her a chance and if she fails to realise the promise they see in her then they will no doubt do what they feel is in the best interest of the club and its supporters. PR Stunt Nah, gimmickry is not in the Worky promotion make up.

    • Like 2

  13. Posted

    1 hour ago, topaz325 said:

    Well what can I say after that showing I,m not going back to watch the Comets again.........

     

     

    Stopped reading the posts half way through....what do people really want.

     

    Here is what I witnessed , great racing , a big crowd and good weather. Some fine prospects who are already showing that in the future are going to be stars in the sport.

    Celina and Sam along with Antii and Tate are new to the championship will take time to adjust to the tracks, Cookie , Claus and Batch all showed fighting spirit.

    Berwick have a decent side and may get some silverware this year but I,m more than happy with the Workington side, optimist maybe , realist definitely.

    Most of well done to the management and all who help putting on the Workington show.

    Spot on !

  14. Posted

    54 minutes ago, Endeavour said:

    Went to Worky today . Some fine racing.

    i thought Batch looked as if he chucked it. In 2 previous races I thought he could have done a bit of team riding with Celena and Sam.

    Berwick look a solid team and in my opinion could be in the mix for a play off spot. If all their riders get dialled in at home they will nigh on unbeatable there. A well balanced team.

    Worky have got 2 great prospects in Tate and Anti.

    Agree about the team riding, also felt the same about Claus and Sam in heat 14 when Comets were briefly on a 5-1.

  16. Posted

    2 hours ago, Blue Groove said:

    I know it's early days, but first impressions:

    Claus - still got it

    Tate and Antii - both excellent today even first time out, once they get settled in I'd expect them to be the heat leaders with Claus

    Cook and Batchelor - best days are in the past but will still do a job

    Celine and Sam - looking like the weak point, but let's give them a chance and see how they do against teams with similar level reserves.  Neither were going to challenge Hodder and Celine had a good second ride to beat Borke.

     

    Would like to think there is life in Cookie yet, just seemed to lack that extra bit of speed today . I'm also hoping Batch can up his average. I believe Claus is a year older than both riders and Bomber 5 years older. It's whether they still love to win.

  17. Posted

    On 3/30/2024 at 8:25 AM, auntie doris said:

    What sort of crowds do the Comets get now? used to love the Saturday nights at DP when I lived up there 2004/5, Stoney and Steady, crowds of 1200. Whereabouts is new track, must try and get up there this year. Good luck for the season, great to see them back.

    Hope you can get up at some point auntie doris be great if you could.

    • Thanks 1

  20. Posted

    7 hours ago, scunny1 said:

    Ok, can't do anything about a heavy downpour that was forecast on several weather apps. The promotor was straight out after the rain stopped, actually driving the tanker sucking the water off, so he was being very proactive in trying to get the meeting on.  If the call had gone out for 20 odd volunteers to help sweep off the rain water, I am sure they would have helped.  Even our number 7 , young Harrison , was keen to sweep the start finishing area!

    What was a major failing, was keeping the crowd informed and entertained. Just playing the same tape over and over was plain lazy ( All aboard, all aboard...!) What is the point having an announcer in the box if they are unable to communicate with the crowd. Why no rider interviews to break the boredom- new team members, new female etc?

    From the demeanour of the team manager and Worky captain,  on their track walk after sterling remedial work, it was obvious they had no desire to ride.  Don't know what Babs Horley was saying to the riders, but personally I have seen worse tracks raced upon? The second shower sealed the event end and finally a decision was forced.  To cap it all , the farce to get tickets stamped/ refunds needs to be addressed. Surely someone could direct the crowd to what was happening , which  side to queue, what procedures etc.  Maybe the tickets should be date stamped as they are being sold on entering the stadium, just a thought?

    I only had to travel 5 miles home, but did wish the Workington fan parked next to me,  a safe journey home for his wasted time and money. As others have said not a good opener, we must do better all round.

    Good post.

    I did feel for Rob and the team because it was such an unfortunate time to pour with rain on the season opener.  He was indeed very proactive with track work and gave it his best shot. If that track had been at a more prestige event then it is my view the meeting would have taken place. You sum up well were things need to be improved from the point of view of the paying public. I feel that the crowd have the expectation of a call off decision in the circumstances experienced nowadays so either the referee has to be stronger in getting the meeting going or the decision not to race taken quicker. It was a hard call but  with everyone already there I think the riders should have given it a go, the track would have only improved.

    • Like 2

  21. Posted

    Very disappointing travelling 180 miles for a rain off which was ultimately caused by a heavy shower about 30 minutes before start time. The second shower which came after 6-30pm only lasted a few minutes and made very little difference. These are my personal observations and thoughts :

    Hard to understand why the track was watered with dark clouds approaching.

    The PA system wasn't functioning properly so nobody had a clue what was happening, we just stood around cold in excess of 70 minutes after the advertised start time before people started walking toward the exit.  Not a great advert for Rob who was just saying in the Speedway Star how they are trying to raise the profile of the sport. 

    The track staff did a good job with the track to the point were I believed the track would come to the riders after 3 or 4 heats if racing had got underway. It was observed that the drain on the 1st bend was higher than the track, this contributed to the large puddle of water that formed there.

    We appreciated getting a refund quickly. It was made known to us at this time that the riders wanted to give it a go but the referee ultimately called it off.

     

     

    • Like 4
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