Gunners

Disagree about Lewis Whitmore, he had some good meetings at home, away tracks may be a learning curve for him but would have him as a nailed on reserve in the team next season.

Young Stars JB – was excellent, a great ride to catch then take Williamson SC – was steady, but that’s his role RK – Tough night fell in 1st ride then did well to stay on bike in 3rd when pulling a massive wheelie out of bend head towards fence. Always 100%. TS – Looking a bit sharper out of the gate than normal now he is getting some PL experience. Should soon be beating visitors number 1’s regularly if he continues. NG – Thought he was fast last night could not make out if he was team riding or racing JB in one race. LW – Wins his first race, two 3rds behind a team mate and fell when giving it a blast around the outside on the last lap while trying to take 3rd place. I think he is only 15yo, really like his attitude. SH – Very Good night nearly got his maximum. Colts DB – put his bike down in first race, and was so slow out of the gate on his 2nd. Was very fast in his 3rd ride and was going around the boards on bend 1&2 around JB/NG when he lost it. Have to say he looks very neat on the bike. In 12 months when he has developed a bit more upper body strength he will take some stopping. In his last two races lifted both times out of the start, as if he can’t control the torque from the start yet, that will come with the strength. TW – steady, was quick out of the gate. MW – Very strong, and was involved in some good races, you can see everyone wants to beat him. RS – was excellent, did well in 1st ride to put bike down to miss RK then got better with every race. LP – they missed him. DH – struggled with the track I think, didn’t want to leave the inside line. Did not look to confident. LC – could see he was trying too hard as was getting out of shape. Looked very much on the pace in his last ride against 3 stronger riders.

I thought Lewis was excellent, although always 4th going in to 1st bend he was in touch, which allowed him to chase the rider in front of him. The way he changed his racing line while understanding his limits was top notch. So unlucky not to get Purchase in his last ride, inches in it at the end. For me this is why I watch NL when I can. I look forward to seeing more of the same from young Lewis. Shane H was MOM for me with Lewis a close 2nd.

I'm 10 mins from track, rain stopped around 10am,sun is trying to comeout, is very warm (car says 14 degrees).

Is there a MDL fixture tonight

Does anyone know much about the two lads riding at reserve for Stoke tonight, Joe Lawlor and Kevin Whelan.

I saw him at KL last week and he did not look ready for NL racing. Would be better for him to get more MDL experience then have another go.

Leicester did very well and were unlucky, Klindt was excellent until he blew his engine while leading in his 4th ride. Shame his 2nd bike wasn't as fast. Summers improved as the meeting went on and had the ride of the night to beat Lambert. Good to see Freddie looking fast again. For KL Lambert was the star man with credit to Carl and Lewis at reserve, thought they were solid when they needed to be.

Thought the young stars looked very fast last night on their home track. Stoke did not offer a lot if I'm honest. I think Tedlam needs to drop to reserve with young Miller getting more MDL outings to help his confidence, otherwise Stoke will struggle to win any matches. For the Stars I thought Kindsay was excellent and Bailey looked very fast.

Thought the young stars looked very fast last night on their home track. Stoke did not offer a lot if I'm honest. I think Tedlam needs to drop to reserve with young Miller getting more MDL outings to help his confidence, otherwise Stoke will struggle to win any matches. For the Stars I thought Kindsay was excellent and Bailey looked very fast.

Its a month in to the new season so for the people who have taken in some EL fixtures whats your thoughts on; 1) the new race card format 2) are you enjoying watching the draft riders in the meeting 3) do the draft riders look on the pace.

See Speedwayplus.co.uk for pics of the old track.

Great pictures. Brings back the old days.

Joe H - Now my understanding is he has just turned 15. This was his first meeting at CL level. If that is true then IMO i have just seen the individual perormance of the Season at Loomer Road at CL level ( i bet PL level as well ). 1st ride - Last in to bend 1 on lap 1 - in 1st coming of bend 2 on lap 1 - with a superb blast around the outside of everyone ( dont think Sam was expecting that ). Then when in the lead never got excited just looked so composed. 2nd ride - Last in to bend 1 - David S slowed Sam down for 2 laps then Joe blasted his way around the both of them on bend 3 & 4 on lap 2. Again looking carm once he had overtaken the 2 riders. In his 3rd and 4th rides he got himself into third place and just rode sensible races, he wasn't trying uncontrolled or silly racing lines. I thought at this point tiredness must be kicking in as well, making your debut and racing so well ( plus he only looks half the size of the other riders including Ben Barker ) then bugger me they give him a TR ride in his last race and he scores 4pts coming 2nd to Ben ( and not to far behind him ). How many 15 year old debutents can claim to having a TR ( at an away track as well ). Overall view was the Bays more than likely benefitted due to the changes due to the injuries of Allott ( or Luke ), Irving and Branney but the meeting was good and enjoyable ( and very quick, meeting took 1hr 25 mins inc interval ). My MOM's were for the Spitfires David Haigh and for the Bays well it has to be Joe H. This is taken from a match posting on the Spitfires v Bays thread. If you get the chance go watch this kid ride.

Thank you for your concern,i have spoken to John Amys Dad this morning and she is ok All Amy was concerned with as John spoke to her as she was on the track,was how Chris was what a lovely attitude from a nice young lady I hope Sean is also ok,but with regard to Chris i was very disapointed with his attitude after his accident last night Whilst i understand that Scunthorpe came flooding back as he hit the track,he could have been back in the rerun Just lately his whole attitude stinks and he has this weekend to get his thinking head on,blubbing in the pits is not what i want to see. This is not another "Pushy Dad" but im not prepared to tolerate attitude from a 12yr old i do bloody near everything for,there is no room for Hollywood in my house (bungalow) Please do not answer this post unless you have anything constructive to say All the Best (Apart from you Chris) Pat Bint <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I have to sympathise with your posting. If I can share my experience over the last 12 months as a Father / Coach ( I will state that the sport is know where near as dangerous as speedway ) I have two sons aged 12 and 7 who are both talented ( bags of potential for the age ) at their respective sports ( which are a million miles away from speedway ) who at times frustrate the hell out of me. ( like yourself I don’t class myself as a pushy dad ). My eldest plays a physical game to which he was playing at the highest standard with coaches from the county looking at him. Unfortunately he broke a collar bone when training ( a freak accident ) which put him out for 4 months. When he returned, for the first month he still looked the part but I could tell something wasn’t right. I would ask but the only answer I could get was ‘everything’s cool Dad’. Then all of a sudden after a couple of weeks, when he played there was a lot of emotional outbursts ( tears sometimes and anger the next ) which is totally out of character for him. I would try at the time to talk to him but it would only make things worse and I would end up in the same situation I think you found yourself in. A friend of mind who is a sports psychologist ( his son trains with mine luckily, or his advice may have cost me a few quid ) observed what was happening and approached me with some help / ideas to over come the problems. He didn’t list them but for ease i will. 1) If he cries or blows his top, let him – you can not control frustration, fear or anger only he can. ( as long as he is not directing it at anybody else, then you may need to step in ) 2) As you are his dad he knows you set the rules / boundaries at home. Kids at times struggle when parents are their coaches as sometimes they see you as setting rules on their performance on their patch ( the other kids parents just watch and someone else coaches so the differentiate between parent and coach ). 3) It was suggested to me that at the next outburst just to let it happen and let him finish it. I did. 4) A few days later go out to a neutral environment. In our case that is the KFC. 5) For one hour i had to listen to what he didn’t like to do with everything in his world. ( bedtimes to early, little bro is a pain, the usual stuff you would expect ) after 10 minutes he was done. I then suggested what miffed him about his sport ( he had not mentioned this in his 10 minutes ). Nothing really he replied, so we just spoke around his injury and his performances and how they and he had changed. The next 30 minutes was eye opening. Once he started to open up he told me how he felt scared of breaking the collarbone again. This frustrated him as he knew the chances were the same as before. If the negative thoughts got his head the anger was / is effecting his performance and he knows it ( his anger is with himself and it just compounds in his head ) or at other times this would manifest as tears and he explained he could not control it as he thought he was disappointing everyone. 6) From that moment on we put together some actions to do if i) He felt he needed to cry - he takes himself of away from the group ( 30 yards not to far ) with a drink and composes himself ( usually 5 to 10 mins ). ii) When his anger blows – we both go away from the group with a drink and i take him through some breathing exercises ( these were given to me by my friend ) again in 5 mins we are done. We have been doing this for 4 months now and the results have been fantastic. He is back to were he was and the outbursts are nearly none existent. We still do KFC every two weeks ( the chicken can get a bit boring ) and his list of things he does not like is still the same ( bedtime to early etc ) but he does use that time to tell me what he wants to try and things I could do better in training ( he does like that bit ). He also has told me during these chats that he finds emotionally he can be all over the show somedays but that’s what its like when you are 12 and the next 7 years following that if my memory serves me well. Im sorry this posting is so long, if it doesn’t help then, well know harm done. For my 7 year old well I will leave that for another day ( think Homer and Bart ). Good Luck and I hope he is racing again soon. Any 12 year old who rides a speedway bike has my respect.