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Great team selection by Poole management, as always.... I think one of the advantages with Poole, is that they are a successful club, well supported, well organised and 'riders' want to sign/ride for a set-up like that. Must be great for a rider to perform in front of a good atmosphere....surely that must squeeze that few percent more out of them.

Do you keep falling asleep on the Return key?!

Agree on your second bit there. Personally I’d rather one top flight title than ten in the second tier.

I’m not sure if it will speed things up but Michael Tomalin is the new promotor

He's not replacing DK though. It is a new team with less points available. He is a third heat leader, so aiming for 7/8 points a meeting is the right way to look at it. Should never compare to previous year. Just compare to other teams in the Champ.

Plymouth is small but it’s deceiving because it’s narrow so looks smaller than it probably is. Apart from its issues with being close to sea level, there is nothing wrong with that track, just because your typical throttle jockey finds it hard, doesn’t mean it’s a bad track, riding track that size requires skill over fast engines.

If Buster remains owner / promoter of Panthers there is 0% chance of Chris Holder being in the side . I hope for Pboro and Lynn sake the link is broken and Panthers get a new owner both clubs will benefit from this and get back to true rivalry between the clubs .

"A club spokesman" - why all the secrecy, we all know it'll be Carl? Why did Dickie Greer leave?

Poole are hopeful that Ben Cook continues his progression and becomes a solid third heat leader to back up Worrall and Lawson. He showed in the second half of last season that he is more than capable of doing this. He won’t be anywhere near as solid as Danny King though. Zach Cook started last season well but faded mid season, before coming back in strong in the last couple of months. If he continues his progress he will be a very important cog in the engine room of the team. We all know what we are going to get with Kyle and Adam. Kyle is going to be a very solid reserve and likely to push Jack Thomas out of the number two berth and down to number 6. He knows all the tracks, all the setups. He is likely to have very good meetings at home, with the occasional good meeting away. He can of course have howlers but that’s the nature of a reserve/second string. Always felt there was more in the can with Kyle and a 6-7 average was there for him with a bit of luck and avoiding injuries. Not likely now but compared to other reserves, he is likely one of the best in the league. He normally puts in a decent performance at Wimborne Road when in opposition and back riding the track every week will help him. Adam has never done great at Poole but he has never ridden it as his home track. He needs to be shown the quickest way around it and should gobble up the two point reserve opposition for breakfast. His experience is enough to score more than Nathan did. If he scored 3 a meeting, it’s 3 more than we got from the 7 berth last year. Jack Thomas is really the only “unknown” for most Poole fans. I remember he rode well against us for Oxford last season before a hand injury and was dialled in at Cowley. Surprised his name wasn’t one of the first on the list for the Oxford promotion. Expecting him to score solidly at home once he gets to know the track. Could well struggle away though. But that’s where Kyle’s knowledge could well come into play. Nothing is guaranteed and the team might not live up to expectations. However viewing the opposition, all have issues like weak reserves, even if the top 5 look impressive. Remember the old Adage. Reserves win meetings. And this coming season we might see that in action.

I have just heard from my good friend, man in black, Terry Stone, who tells me the first annual get-together at High Beech was in 1992. So I am prepared now to correct the speaker in case he makes a mistake in his speech.

From the final chapter of PC's book: I STILL love speedway and don’t like to think that it is in its death throes but a lot of things seem to point that way. I was fortunate enough to ride in what was a golden age for British speedway, in the 1970s and early 80s, and things have gone downhill since then. Make no mistake, British speedway is in crisis, with promoters and riders battling the effects of crippling running costs, dwindling attendances and very few major sponsors. A lot of tracks are on the brink, struggling to keep going. Hardly a year goes by without another closure. As I write, at least three clubs operating in 2022 may not be around next year. Speedway gets hardly any publicity in the national media these days and I think one of the reasons for that, and why crowds are down, is because there have been too many rule changes. Some of them are a joke and fans are sick of it. Their patience and loyalty has been tested to the limit. How can we expect the sport to be taken seriously by the media or non-fans when teams are so heavily dependent on guests and the rider replacement facility? There is clearly a shortage of quality riders but for most of them to be doubling-up (or doubling-down) and appearing for different clubs each week is farcical and leaves speedway’s credibility in tatters. Even if disenfranchised supporters can be lured back and much-needed new ones found from somewhere, how will British speedway keep them when so much about the way the sport is being run is wrong? Stadium facilities are an issue at many places but clubs who rent their tracks where greyhounds, and maybe stock cars, are also staged have their hands tied. The woeful state of dilapidated stands and toilet facilities are beyond their control. All the continental countries have youth training schemes or community stadiums which encourage kids to become speedway riders. Too many of our tracks are bound by council regulations and curfews.

Chris Holder's inclusion is clearly subject to Buster not being in control of the club , but the article points at Buster's time in charge of the club and the future of the club going forward into 2023 and beyond , Im cup over half full in that IMO Buster has sold the club to Tomalin and the Panthers will be at the showground for longer than first announced But could be wrong and were all doooomed

It feels like the bottom 2 were put together as plan B after the talk of Newman not looking fit for the start of the season and his comments about possibly being his last season. 8 points felt like 2 newcomers were pencilled in. Newman will be fantastic at home when and if he can stay fit. Roynon is the odd one for me, yes the average fits but cant help thinking he'll be out for a certain Aussie when he's declared fully fit... All hinges on Thomas but as a previous poster pointed out, home wins and experience in the tail to pick up those bonus points away from home appears to be the plan.

Poole's youth development is at 2,3 and 4!!!!

No offence to Booth as i don't recall seeing him ride anywhere but with the raised limit only 3.00 riders that are being signed are those with proven NL pedigree. Even riders who have had a year or two will be at the weaker end this season

As a fan, couldn’t care less about the financial side. That up to them to deal with

Ten trophies in five seasons 2005-09 including two trebles. Good times. Nothing like competing on the top league though.

Bit more of an extension of Ritchie’s tweet in todays Speedway Star. “Witches are holding fire” is the headline. Basically it’s at least another month and they’re “keeping all options open and not rushing” The piece touches on plans being linked to FIM decisions and it seems still very much set on plan A for now. “we want to do everything we can to get the best possible side out, so that’s where we’re at. “Certainly we’ll be a team who are aiming to challenge for the title” So that’s the latest. There’s two sets of supporters I guess, those that are hopeful and will read that as a positive and will continue to get their hopes up, and the others who have seen this movie before and already know the ending

Poole doing their bit for youth development by going with reserves who have a combined age of 65

Did you never meet Rob Grant? As someone once said on here "Just sayin like" (sic)

Thought Jack Thomas was 4.78 with reduction?

Says promoter and sponsor for 2023 on Twitter biog as well

I will ask the person on Facebook, the name of the pub.

Mariusz Puszakowski not crap but so surprised he never got brought back a real entertaining rider

I knew you would mention him.... You forgot Kowalik, won the Witches the match at Lynn though

The biggest shame of all of this is that he came back, & also unfortunately found his way to Brandon.

I had to spend a night in Old Hill nick for an altercation I had with a Cradley woman who was built like a sumo wrestler.She started mouthing off,and I said shut the f..k up stupid c.. Anyway then it all kicked off,with about six Wolves fans and around 20 spoons. The police came,and the Cradley lot said I started the scuffle,and consequently I was marched out of Dudley Wood . I pleaded my inocence but still had to spend a night in the cell to calm down. .Yes,at the time I was angry,but looking back those were the days to be treasured .

not fair on the riders caught up in this, i know the season doesn't start until March but riders need to get things prepared and sponsors sorted

Best reserve pairing in the league congratulations to Poole fair play looks a good team and then ones we all have to beat.

Thomas rode when far from fit at the end of last season. I'd put money on him improving his starting average

Love a conspiracy theory so here's one that's based around a domino effect between two clubs, Kind of makes sense as well imo, Let me know what you think. 1. Peterborough's team building suffers delay after delay and Ipswich team building is now delayed yet another month according to Hawkins. 2. Ipswich aren't getting Emil and it's all PR and instead they're waiting to see if Tomalin completes the takeover of Peterborough because if he doesn't then they're getting Chris Holder to go with Danyon Hume. 3. Chris Holder has chosen his destination for 2023 (Peterborough) but it's only a verbal agreement on the basis that the club is owned by Tomalin, Deal off if Buster remains in charge. 4. If Tomalin completes the takeover and Holder finally puts pen to paper then Ipswich will probably end up with Richie Worrall considering he's the rider who's in one minute and then out the next at Peterborough but Peterborough aren't giving Richie the green light to sign for Ipswich just yet as we'll need him if the takeover doesn't happen. 5. Ipswich aren't signing a seventh rider until they know who the sixth rider is going to be but they've got verbal agreements in place with riders too as confirmed by Hawkins on Twitter. My guess is those riders are Chris Holder, Richie Worrall and Danyon Hume. The Emil stuff just isn't believable to me as I can't see Emil going back on his word by pishing off Torun's management and causing a rift with them to a point where the FIM has to step just so he can ride in Britain. Torun can easily terminate Emil for breach of contract if the Speedway Star article is true about the conditions in Emil's Polish contract where he agreed to ride in Poland only. All of this results in the following 1-7's for both clubs Tomalin owned Panthers (NKI, Andersen, Basso, Tungate, Holder, Cook & JJ) or Buster owned Panthers (NKI, Andersen, Tungate, Worrall, Basso, Cook & JJ) Ipswich (Doyle, Worrall, Riss, King, Rew, Thomas + Batchelor or a returning engine rider to Britain) or (Doyle, Rew, King, Riss, Holder, Hume & Thomas)

I believe Radio station sponsors were the same - free radio ads/ reporting in return for being called Signal Potters, Radio Tees Tigers, etc

Maybe Buster and Holder are more civil to each other now. It was quite a while ago now.

Thomas will do very well if his wrists are fully healed.

Isn't everyone with the points limit going down! Although you could argue that Brum are stronger.

Unfortunately so, The bottom part of the article doesn't fill me with any confidence at all tbh. Your info said 4 had signed and 3 of those were confirmed one after the other at a reasonable pace but Holder hasn't been announced yet which makes me think something could've gone wrong with that one and by the process of elimination everything points towards Holder or NKI being out. Hawkins comments tells us Andersen & Worrall are both at Peterborough imo, Tungate's like on the fixture list post points towards Rohan being a done deal imo. I also think Buster Chapman remains as the owner as it stands because that 1-7 is a Buster Chapman side rather than a Michael Tomalin side imo.

i think this side looks good bit injury prone at 6 and 7 so i expect changes as the season progress just my opinion of course .

Spot-on Lisa!

Well that didn't take long, did it?!! Anyone would think Adam was a Plymouth asset?!

I think Danny Ford has taken the long game view. With the new 2 point win and 1 point agg win over home & away it will be important to keep matches as close as possible to get that important agg point. No more racing away with the league with the 3 point system. Also with 2 high scoring reserves it does open up more possibilities if one has a dip in form and they wanted to change to a rider of maybe better quality or one of those young riders from DK or Europe or an Aussie who are racing regular but never done UK who they could get on a 5. With so many weak/young and inexperienced reserves in the league this season, getting a 5 GSA is an easier possibility especially with home form. Maybe they won't change but it gives more options than swapping say a 2 or 3 pointer. Very important when it comes to the business end of the season.

Still not sure this is that good of a side based on last season Look at the replacements King - B Cook …. Although he may step up will he be as solid as King was?? B Cook - Thomas … would love to see Jack do well as that will help my club but I can’t see him doing what Cook did last season Kemp - Z Cook… would expect Zack at 4 to outscore what Kemp did last season Z Cook - Newman … can’t see Kyle doing what Cook did Ablitt - Roynon….. Roynon should get 4-5 most weeks Poole had to lose riders that was obvious and while 2 of those replacements (Cook at 4 and Roynon at 7) should do better the other 3 I think Poole are much weaker than last season The team will win nothing with that 1-7 but there will be changes and I expect Poole to be top 4 thus in play offs

Best side by a mile to my eyes, not one weak link.

Has PK still been active on a bike since his retirement? If he’s continued dipping his toe in now and again he might be up for it. Loved PK personally, was an absolute menace at Foxhall and rarely dropped points! One of the nicest blokes you could wish to meet too. Will never forget how kind he was to my kids seeking his autograph after meetings, top top fella.

Good luck to Adam! Hes someone ive known for a while and i hope hes a massive success

I have to admit I like the fact that Poole have done the opposite to every team in the league. Every team has tried to maintain a strong 1,3,5 at the expensive of carrying a 2 pointer at 7. Poole haven't. Last season Poole did the same and had a strong number 6 (once drew kemp was at 2) to carry the third ride for their 2 pointer. So will be good to see what the winning formula is this season.

Josh Embleton confirmed for 2023

I have done! I see nothing about any other signings, or possible signings, or even hints of possible signings on the OFFICIAL Facebook and Twitter pages. As I said in my previous post everything else is just rumours or guesses, unfortunately.

Statement ilke that Is why we are disliked

Seen some great action there when the dirt line builds as not too many will use it but when they do its a fantastic spectacle, especially when you stand on the back straight, so close to the action. Track sizes are a moot point as you can see riders spaced out over 200-300 yards on some big tracks when slick so it's personal choice I guess.

Wouldn't bring me in,,,