Lakeside 2017

[The Voice Of Reason 2,124]

But he is the highest scorer in third tier history for a reason.

Indeed he is.

 

And that, quite ironically, substantiates the point made by the previous poster, doesn't it?

Edited December 22, 2016 by The Voice Of Reason

[teaboy279 1,038]

No it doesn't, it offers a perfect measuring stick for up and coming riders. Until there are 84 better riders then him in the third tier he should still get a place.

[Sings4Speedway 3,247]

Shane Hazeldene and Jack Kingston are club assets but Lakeside couldn't have both as there would be insufficient points left for the final rider. Does anyone know much about Dan Gilkes. He is part of the Revolution Team and scored 11 from 4 in the Rye House 500cc youth round last year qualifying 2nd behind Kyle Bickley. I believe he is 14 now but cannot find out if he will be 15 in time for next season.

 

Shane would be a good signing for anyone. Started to really get going last season until his horror injury but providing he is fit would be an excellent signature.

Im not sure why Kingston is mentioned so often asset or not. He has proven time and again to be unreliable & temperamental. The talent is there but its very raw, his ratio of falls is high & number of times he poodles round at the back is higher.

Ive only seen Gilkes a few times but he walks & acts every bit a rider who is due a future in the sport (which is not a good thing). Don't know how much assistance he gets from Revolution but every little helps. Im just not sure how much competitive racing he has actually done? He only competed in 2 of the youth rounds at tracks he knows & i would have though he would be looking to do more if he was planning to move up?

[E I Addio 15,843]

If he has "never been anything" then the youngsters should find it easy to take his team place......

But he is the highest scorer in third tier history for a reason.

He may be the highest scorer in third tier history but is that because he has spent longer there than most? Whatever the reason the fact remains that he is 40 years old and not going to get any better. According to the Kent Kings website, his average without BPs last year was under 6 per match, and he achieved 17 wins. , 31 second places, 49 thirds and 8 lasts. I don't want to knock the bloke but looking at it in hard facts what exactly does he have in his favour that would benefit Lakeside ?

[teaboy279 1,038]

Can I ask do the 8 lasts include mechanicals and exclusions?

Tbf either way if your not running lasts then your not giving away heat advantages.

Look at his record on the smaller tracks it's just the biggies like iow, Coventry and Lynn where he struggles.

[marko 956]

tea boy he has had over 20 years to crack the larger tracks, he is what I can only describe as a professional junior, I hope youngsters aspire to be much more like a Jason Crump, Tony Richardson or even a rider like Chris Harris than be a rider stuck in the bottom tier because the only riders he can beat are ones who are either young enough to be their son or so green they find it hard to put together four consistent laps.

Sorry but I would rather see a youngster try his wattsits off and fall off from trying too hard than watch an veteran poodle around for four laps, the sport is about Racing, not Riding.

[Ben91 1,743]

Lakeside need a third averaged rider than can up his average and not leave Morley and Wajtknecht to do the bulk of the team's scoring. Mason is not that man. Morley is experienced enough to be classed as the 'old hand' at Lakeside, despite him only being 22. He's raced in the PL regularly and has had a go in the EL since the introduction of the draft reserves a few years back too.

[Halifaxtiger 5,318]

tea boy he has had over 20 years to crack the larger tracks, he is what I can only describe as a professional junior, I hope youngsters aspire to be much more like a Jason Crump, Tony Richardson or even a rider like Chris Harris than be a rider stuck in the bottom tier because the only riders he can beat are ones who are either young enough to be their son or so green they find it hard to put together four consistent laps.

Sorry but I would rather see a youngster try his wattsits off and fall off from trying too hard than watch an veteran poodle around for four laps, the sport is about Racing, not Riding.

 

I think you are right here but would add that I have no issue with each team having a senior man. Having sponsored young riders, I know only too well the benefit of having someone like Jon Armstrong around - by all accounts, he is simply brilliant with those prepared to listen and I have never heard a bad word about him. Tony Atkin, I believe, is the same.

 

The thing is, though, that they must be of heat leader standard. Its no use having someone below that - whatever their effect - because it can then be reasonably argued that they are taking a youngsters place. At the moment, Atkin & Armstrong are not.

[old bob at herne bay 828]

What would Tatum''s CMA be in 2017 for the NL . That would be the sort of stunt that might draw some much needed attendees to an NL side at Lakeside ?

[waco 1,026]

Heat leaders on the right average are in short supply..If they have not signed one yet I can see problems,

[Parsloes 1928 nearly 495]

I remember watching David Mason for London Lions 20 years ago and he is no better a rider now than he was then, how can a rider who has never been anything teach other riders? if a rider like that wants to ride a bike then he can go and do events with the Dragons or Southern riders clubs, certainly shouldn't be taking a team spot which a youngster wanting to make his way in the sport could have yet alone draw a wage from it.

Well that's nonsense...

Back in 1996 'Magic' was recording one of the highest ever averages in the history of the third tier AND, as you say, doubling into the top division with the London Lions. A few years later he was the Conference League Riders Champion.

No, of course at 40 he's not better now than he was then but David has most certainly been at the very top in this league before and for some years at that (hence a record number of maximums at this level - a more salient fact really than record points scorer) so to say he's never "been anything" is frankly ridiculous..

And as Teaboy points out, his average and more importantly consistency marks him out as still a valuable second string in anyone's book.

[Guest]

Well that's nonsense...

Back in 1996 'Magic' was recording one of the highest ever averages in the history of the third tier AND, as you say, doubling into the top division with the London Lions. A few years later he was the Conference League Riders Champion.

No, of course at 40 he's not better now than he was then but David has most certainly been at the very top in this league before and for some years at that (hence a record number of maximums at this level - a more salient fact really than record points scorer) so to say he's never "been anything" is frankly ridiculous..

And as Teaboy points out, his average and more importantly consistency marks him out as still a valuable second string in anyone's book.

 

Well said P1928! TBH I find it incredible that, at the moment, David Mason is without a team. Again, he's probably affected by the stupid averages system - with one too high to allow him to be fitted in, but which let's a rider with lesser ability to have a team place because his average fits the farcical system.

[E I Addio 15,843]

 

..

And as Teaboy points out, his average and more importantly consistency marks him out as still a valuable second string in anyone's book.

 

Who wants a 40 year old second string that is not likely to increase his starting average ?

 

As for consistency I pointed out in an earlier post that his most consistent position in 2016 was third,. He is not going to pull punters through the turnstiles at Lakeside

[Islander15 1,065]

 

Who wants a 40 year old second string that is not likely to increase his starting average ?

 

As for consistency I pointed out in an earlier post that his most consistent position in 2016 was third,. He is not going to pull punters through the turnstiles at Lakeside

That's a good point. The older riders should really be heat leaders that are showing the younger riders how to ride the tracks and set up their bikes e.g. Atkin & Armstrong. Even experienced riders in terms of years ridden as opposed to age, like Wilson & Halsey, lead from the front as opposed to a stagnant middle of the league style older rider like Mason or Jones who would be chasing their own set-up in order to improve themselves. Edited December 27, 2016 by Islander15

[ruckerroo 792]

Bad traveller, middle order second string, non passer, whats not too like .......