hyderd 1,216 Posted February 29, 2020 7 minutes ago, DC2 said: Here’s their signed averages for this year and their 2018 ones in brackets: Andersen 5.79 (7.56), Tungate 6.59 (7.61), Harris 6.16 (7.78), Nicholls 5.5 (6.64). Surely there’s a chance that they could recover their 2018 form and add a point each? Possibly Tungate, the rest are past their best, but could at best hold their average. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bagpuss 10,781 Posted February 29, 2020 19 minutes ago, DC2 said: Here’s their signed averages for this year and their 2018 ones in brackets: Andersen 5.79 (7.56), Tungate 6.59 (7.61), Harris 6.16 (7.78), Nicholls 5.5 (6.64). Surely there’s a chance that they could recover their 2018 form and add a point each? This is also what people don’t get about Proctor. Seems you’re not allowed a bad year any more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
foreverblue 6,096 Posted February 29, 2020 36 minutes ago, Bagpuss said: This is also what people don’t get about Proctor. Seems you’re not allowed a bad year any more. Not sure about Proctor, personally I am not sure he will have a much better season than last year but I think when Harris or Hans start getting good scores it could spur on the whole team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bagpuss 10,781 Posted February 29, 2020 18 minutes ago, foreverblue said: Not sure about Proctor, personally I am not sure he will have a much better season than last year but I think when Harris or Hans start getting good scores it could spur on the whole team. Starting at reserve I’d be gobsmacked if he doesn’t average 6+ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
foreverblue 6,096 Posted February 29, 2020 17 minutes ago, Bagpuss said: Starting at reserve I’d be gobsmacked if he doesn’t average 6+ Nicholls must be able to get a 7 then! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebrum 6,821 Posted February 29, 2020 With only Peterborough to announce last signing I’ll have a stab at predictions. 1. Swindon - huge top 3 that proved impossible to stop last season. The only caution is Jensen adding to that average? Ellis is excellent in mid order. Stewart is a complete unknown at this level but could make a massive difference dependant how he settles. Perks likewise has to continue his upward trend. Rowe is the weakest rider in all teams however he only has to beat his opposite number 7 to do his job so that’s more than possible. 2. Sheffield - a very solid top 4. Pedersen should be in the top 2 averaged riders this year if you go on polish form. Holder should be a solid number 2. Howarth should improve after an injury hit year in 2019. Their reserves are the weakest pair tho. 3. Wolves - a solid packed side with no out an out number one could come unstuck against the powerhouse pairings. Should be room for improvement in all 7 riders which has the hallmark of a dark horse side. Nicol is unproven at the level but has a lot resting on his shoulders if he doesn’t hit the ground running. If he does then they are going to be very tough opposition. 4. Belle Vue - another side like Wolves with huge potential for growth. No recognised number one but Kurtz should really kick on at the NSS. Lidsey and Bewley are rapid talents and will hold the key to just how much of a force they will be. Kildemand will either be a hit or flop such as how his rising star has fallen over the past 12 months. Etheridge will need to improve away as he was awful before. 5. Peterborough- seems a lot will be resting on their ‘new’ 7th rider if it proves to be a newcomer. Having Iversen back is massive for the Panthers and the rest looks really solid if not a bit dads army. Hard to see a weakness. Nicholls at reserve is a no brainer for any side. 6. Kings Lynn- another solid side and will need Lambert back to his 2018 form to help the Stars back into the top 4. Cook will be a dependable number 2, whilst Riss has way more to give. The rest need to up their game particularly away. Hartel looks a weak link. 7. Ipswich. Purely based on a number 1 who has retired when still had more to give. I can’t see him being anywhere near the force he once was. However just like last season there is a solid look about them so won’t be surprised again if they prove to be the biggest of dark horses again. Crumps main strength will be as coach and motivator in my opinion that could have a huge influence on all 6 riders. This could be the making of Kemp who on paper looks 2nd worst number 7. As a Brit I hope he has a massive year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wolfie456 500 Posted February 29, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, stevebrum said: With only Peterborough to announce last signing I’ll have a stab at predictions. 1. Swindon - huge top 3 that proved impossible to stop last season. The only caution is Jensen adding to that average? Ellis is excellent in mid order. Stewart is a complete unknown at this level but could make a massive difference dependant how he settles. Perks likewise has to continue his upward trend. Rowe is the weakest rider in all teams however he only has to beat his opposite number 7 to do his job so that’s more than possible. 2. Sheffield - a very solid top 4. Pedersen should be in the top 2 averaged riders this year if you go on polish form. Holder should be a solid number 2. Howarth should improve after an injury hit year in 2019. Their reserves are the weakest pair tho. 3. Wolves - a solid packed side with no out an out number one could come unstuck against the powerhouse pairings. Should be room for improvement in all 7 riders which has the hallmark of a dark horse side. Nicol is unproven at the level but has a lot resting on his shoulders if he doesn’t hit the ground running. If he does then they are going to be very tough opposition. 4. Belle Vue - another side like Wolves with huge potential for growth. No recognised number one but Kurtz should really kick on at the NSS. Lidsey and Bewley are rapid talents and will hold the key to just how much of a force they will be. Kildemand will either be a hit or flop such as how his rising star has fallen over the past 12 months. Etheridge will need to improve away as he was awful before. 5. Peterborough- seems a lot will be resting on their ‘new’ 7th rider if it proves to be a newcomer. Having Iversen back is massive for the Panthers and the rest looks really solid if not a bit dads army. Hard to see a weakness. Nicholls at reserve is a no brainer for any side. 6. Kings Lynn- another solid side and will need Lambert back to his 2018 form to help the Stars back into the top 4. Cook will be a dependable number 2, whilst Riss has way more to give. The rest need to up their game particularly away. Hartel looks a weak link. 7. Ipswich. Purely based on a number 1 who has retired when still had more to give. I can’t see him being anywhere near the force he once was. However just like last season there is a solid look about them so won’t be surprised again if they prove to be the biggest of dark horses again. Crumps main strength will be as coach and motivator in my opinion that could have a huge influence on all 6 riders. This could be the making of Kemp who on paper looks 2nd worst number 7. As a Brit I hope he has a massive year. Let's hope Steve we get to go watch any speedway the way this Corona virus is going. On 1/11/2020 at 6:50 PM, geoff58 said: Edited February 29, 2020 by Wolfie456 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Scrutton 180 Posted February 29, 2020 Cant understand how you can rate `Hartel as being a week link as he hasn't ridden a lap in `britain Perhaps he will be but with Riss as a countryman and Lambert speaking German and I am sure both will be helping him get used to British Tracks But he must be given a chance 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
therefused 819 Posted February 29, 2020 9 minutes ago, John Scrutton said: Cant understand how you can rate `Hartel as being a week link as he hasn't ridden a lap in `britain Perhaps he will be but with Riss as a countryman and Lambert speaking German and I am sure both will be helping him get used to British Tracks But he must be given a chance he has ridden over here before, for ipswich. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv 10,706 Posted February 29, 2020 15 minutes ago, John Scrutton said: Cant understand how you can rate `Hartel as being a week link as he hasn't ridden a lap in `britain Perhaps he will be but with Riss as a countryman and Lambert speaking German and I am sure both will be helping him get used to British Tracks But he must be given a chance Ipswich in the Championship. Raw with some potential - a gamble but not a no hoper Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Clive Ward 181 Posted February 29, 2020 2 hours ago, John Scrutton said: Cant understand how you can rate `Hartel as being a week link as he hasn't ridden a lap in `britain Perhaps he will be but with Riss as a countryman and Lambert speaking German and I am sure both will be helping him get used to British Tracks But he must be given a chance Agree with you that Hartel needs to be given a chance and with the ‘only 2 transfers rule’ this season I’m sure he will be. Having Erik in the pits with him plus Robert also able to speak the lingo will definitely help him. As for people saying he is going to be a weak link I think we need to have a look at him first, saying he has ridden here before is not really a good guide as he only had a few meetings for Ipswich before getting injured and that was a couple of seasons ago and young riders can improve quite a lot in that time and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing him ride and then people can make judgement on him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
89buttons 761 Posted February 29, 2020 7 hours ago, DC2 said: Here’s their signed averages for this year and their 2018 ones in brackets: Andersen 5.79 (7.56), Tungate 6.59 (7.61), Harris 6.16 (7.78), Nicholls 5.5 (6.64). Surely there’s a chance that they could recover their 2018 form and add a point each? In my opinion 7.61 is an inflated average for tungate - he’s a 6.5 man hans had a horrendous year off the track and I think with that behind him and a clearer head then yes he’s going to improve on last year, and could as suggested put a point back on harris it really depends on if his wrist injury has healed properly as it never really did last year he quite clearly just couldn’t hold on or turn properly a lot of the time, but being honest he’s been in decline for the last few years and I just don’t view him as a consistent heat leader/Heavy scorer anymore nicholls will likely do well at reserve however his level has dropped in a big way in the past couple of seasons imo, have watched him at Ipswich for 20 years now - his back yard and in the past couple of seasons he’s been well beaten around Foxhall by some very ordinary riders in both championship and premiership I don’t see him averaging much more than 6 really Merely my opinion not knocking any of the riders - just can’t see all 6 of the so far announced riders all putting a point on their average as you suggested Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebrum 6,821 Posted February 29, 2020 4 hours ago, Wolfie456 said: Let's hope Steve we get to go watch any speedway the way this Corona virus is going. This virus thing is being way too sensationalised. Flu kills more people each year already. 3 hours ago, John Scrutton said: Cant understand how you can rate `Hartel as being a week link as he hasn't ridden a lap in `britain Perhaps he will be but with Riss as a countryman and Lambert speaking German and I am sure both will be helping him get used to British Tracks But he must be given a chance He has ridden here before and was hopeless. That’s why i rated him (or didn’t rate him in this instance). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bagpuss 10,781 Posted February 29, 2020 2 hours ago, stevebrum said: He has ridden here before and was hopeless. That’s why i rated him (or didn’t rate him in this instance). Bit harsh that, he wasn’t ‘hopeless’ but only rode a handful of meetings before getting injured and most of those were on smaller tracks. Given a longer run and in a league where 75% of his matches will be on big, fast circuits he could perform very differently. As has been said two years is a decent chunk of time for a young rider to develop and hopefully he will be a decent number seven for us. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisa-colette 6,032 Posted February 29, 2020 I can enjoy watching this league and not care that Swindon are beating us! Lol. 1. Swindon 2. Sheffield 3. Wolves 4. Belle Vue 5. Peterborough 6. Ipswich 7. King's Lynn Share this post Link to post Share on other sites