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Team to be called Middlesbrough Tigers. Number 8 is Katie Gordon. Ben Rathbone also named, so too Jamie Halder and Elliot Kelly and Archie Freeman. Danny Phillips announced and as captain. Ben Trigger last to be announced. Trigger also will ride for the Bears in the Championship. Team Manager Stuart Swales.

Really enjoyed Tom riding for Glasgow and am surprised he wasn’t kept as I don’t think he’s peaked like some others have suggested. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed in him at Poole as he’s capable on his day of beating anyone in the Championship. I’ll try not to hold it against him, riding for the Pirates……lol

I would have waited for Birmingham to finish there side but I predict it won't be strong enough anyways to make a big impression. These predictions are based on if every rider stays fit (un likely I know) 1. Sheffield - 9/10 side. Super strong top 3 at home and real hard chargers in Howarth and Pickering.. Good reserves with room improvement also. Can Chris Holder do the business away from home though? Not so sure. Still a great team though. 2. Ipswich - Best two riders in the league plus plenty of room for improvement with Ellis, Thompson, Jenkins and Rew. Great side and will annoy everyone in heats 13 and 15. 3. Leicester - Basically have 5 heat leaders at home. Fricke, Lawson, Masters, Douglas are track specialists. Abit like Oxford we have arguably the best 2 and 4 in the league. Weaker at reserve but Thompson will have plenty of practice in the NDL. Becker is the secret weapon here. Like wolves team last year which everyone rote off they still finished in the play offs. 4. Oxford - Set up like Leicesters but with a stronger number 6. Just lacks a little quality to support Majec. But it's super solid with smart signings like Bomber, Wright and Klindt. Like this side a lot. 5. Belle Vue - Could easily have put this side in third and will probably will regret it. Great heat leader trio but can't see Blodorn and Cook improving much on those averages. Home form is crucial for the aces. I'm torn on this side and il keep changing my mind. 6. Kings Lynn - Much better than last year, but still not enough. Great number 1 and will be strong at reserve all year. But there's too many inconsident riders in this side for me. Outside chance of the play offs but won't win enough away from home. 7. Birmingham - Unless Lingren signs they don't stand a chance. Based on previous seasons Tolley doesn't know how to build a good side. Flint, Brennan and Worrall are good riders but that's it really. God I hope they pull off a surprise signing but I doubt it.

Max developed well in 2023 and can ride Edinburgh very well, He was only at reserve last year due to him being in such a successful Leicester team with Thompson x2, Boughen and Max Perry in another team he would have been higher in the team. Max has immaculate equipment,Good sponsors and is very keen to listen & learn I wouldn’t have doubts about away meetings he can regularly beat the likes of Harrison,McGurk,Perry,Hagon

Sorry can't agree with that at all I've never seen such a magician on s/way bike I always thought Mauger was the best but IMO Bart will become the GOAT !

Australia bound apparently.

I'm surprised that there has been no comment regarding the article printed in the latest Speedway Star which reports that the FIM is to be petitioned to re-classify the 1946 1947 and 1948 British Riders' Championship Finals as World Championships. These three finals all featured the 16 best riders in the World, and the three winners, Tommy Price, Jack Parker and Vic Duggan should certainly be entitled to claim the status of "World Champion" which has been denied to them. These three events were conducted in exactly the same way as previous and later World Championships with Qualifying Rounds which featured every rider competing in the British Leagues. I'm not 100% certain about 1946, but the 1947 and 1948 Qualifying Rounds included a number of European riders who were not attached to British Clubs, and the fact than none of them were good enough to qualify for the Wembley Finals is immaterial - the best 16 riders of the day were all in the final! Every speedway rider of quality was competing in the British Leagues during those three seasons, so why these event were not described as "World Championships" in the first place is a nonsense - and this ought to be rectified. Tommy Price perhaps, had the advantage of riding in the final on his home track, but there can be no question at all that both Vic Duggan and Jack Parker were the outstanding riders of the time. Parker, who rode speedway from 1928 until 1954, and was one of the country's leading riders for all of that time, was a very worthy World Champion, as of course was Vic Duggan, and it is scandalous that they have been prevented from being accepted as such. I was pleased to read that the campaign is being supported by Tommy Price's wife and by the sons of both Jack Parker and Vic Duggan, and by a number of respected senior promoters such as Len Silver and Reg Fearman, and I believe speedway enthusiasts everywhere should also give it their backing.

Thanks. (tried the thank you through like thing but it isn't working for me!)

Didnt want to hear that !

I don't know. What comes next? Declare the winners of the Star Championsips of the early 30s as world champions as well? Don't mess with historic facts. Those meetings never were contested as world championships. I am against any retrospective change of historic facts.

That's what happens when you try and type fast to get the info up on the BSF!!!

Pretty much the team I expected to be honest. Gavin Parr did say they thought they had a rider but he signed somewhere else (think we all know who that is) but not a bad looking team in a weaker league. Few riders coming back from injury is obviously a concern but hopefully they’ll be ok. If Bailey, Edwards and Mulford can push on should be a decent season.

I believe the only reason he wasn't retained was because he didn't make his mind up in time. If he had, I'm pretty sure they'd have had him back. I think being captain was the biggest barrier for Tom. Without that to focus on, and with a weakened league next year, he's set to improve noticeably. Just needs to be a bit more brutal in the big heats too.

I'd have Belle Vue ahead of Oxford but otherwise looks right to me

Just the same as Max said when he joined Lions last year. The same Max who is now the track record holder. They’ll be no issues for Becker at home.

His away GSA was higher than his home GSA this year, so I suspect you might well be correct... https://britishspeedway.co.uk/2023-rider-statistics/

Dougy didnt ride M.G very well...So his Ave should go up ...

Could have had the top 3 +Wright Cook and Mountain and Bailey stronger imo.

Need 2 big guns at 1 and 5 ..to make the difference.. To challenge Ipswich and Sheffield..

Actually he said that Schlein was his favourite team mate he’s had in terms of professionalism, so yes, I’m sure he did learn from him.

When Ian Jordan wrecked Eastbourne, Tom's registration reverted to the BSPL. Pretty sure Glasgow purchased Tom from them.

No I wasnt a Lawson doubter but I am a Brennan doubter, not worried about the team as a whole as it is looking like a very good side which will challenge for the title but as a fan Kyle was a favourite of mine and had a really good season overall.

Good signing.IMO.

Yes it was good to meet him last night. Very personable and made a point of going around to every sponsor - chatting and photos - during the evening. First 'live' interview with one of the Piratecast crew too. Watch this space.......or more accurately, social media and Youtube!

Haha but although he did say liked the track. Think he will get plenty of points at leicester.

If its a choice between Brennan and Rowe then it's Tom all day long for me, as for Newman I don't think there is value in his average at all, I expect he will be back in the future if he goes elsewhere and his average dips

0.40 left a perfect fit.

Ah makes sense

Good side for me, if Wolves can get to the play offs which they did easily then Leicester with Fricke should certainly do that and potentially compete for the final

Could put a little on his average but wont go above 8 in my opinion

Noticed also that he clocked up 20 bonus points from 14 matches which is pretty impressive. A very promising looking RS and best of luck to him at this level. He will learn a lot in a short time.

Agreed 100% racer.

He did, biggest collapse ever I seem to recall, just don't mention engines

There never is & never will be a "4th heat leader". Three heat leaders, two seconds strings & two reserves.... is a speedway team. Team is Ok, don't see it being able to challenge, may scrape the Play Offs. Other than possibly Blodorn & Bewley I don't see any improvement.

If this team.was not bad enough .they put Sudden 'stick a fork in it "Sam as the team manager.

Like Lidsey last year.......

Might be wrong but wasn't it said that Ben Basso had to practice on Saturday mornings and that was the reason he couldn't ride for Glasgow next season.

Happy with Leon , his Ashfield form or lack off is based as an away rider against a then strong Tigers home team. I can understand some wanting Claus over Leon but I think there is more scope for improvement in Leon than there is with Claus. Riding Glasgow as a home rider is much easier than a visiting one.

Taking away bonus points, the averages are: 2021: 6.40 2022: 6.83 2023: 6.42 He spent time at reserve in 2021 though. He's got a decent average riding at 4, and I'm guessing he'll be riding at 3 next season, which is probably equivalent. I'd still rather have Claus back though.

Think he needed a change.

Pretty sure they signed him to be a reserve not a heat leader and as a 2 pointer he will definitely increase that with a good run in the team. I like his riding style and he seems to have a good set-up so at the moment it's looking like a good signing for the Scorpions

His average is OK on paper when looked at it at the end of the year we were quite happy as we broke it down into the basics. First 6 meetings he rode was still suffering massively with the injury which restricted his movement on the bike. Then he moved into the main body of the team at 3 which whilst getting back to fitness was hard work for him onto of numerous heat 15s against big hitting riders. We set a target of 7.5 at the start of the season before the crash and to end up on 6.86 we felt was a good effort. If he had refused the additional heat would of been almost on target

I would imagine a few Wolves fans will go to Perry Barr for their Speedway fix in 2024. You also have Leicester, Sheffield, Belle Vue in the same league.. which are also an awful lot closer than Oxford which was the Brummies local derby in 2023. More chance of a few visiting fans, but the key will be getting a decent race track & competitive team.

Just had a look at other clubs and Wolves to me seem to have pitched it perfectly previously. Under 7 free, 7-12 £1 and 13-18 £6. That eliminates the issue of groups of teens walking in for free, under 7’s no charge as they’re not going to be attending without a paying adult, and a token quid for the 7-12’s. Sensible pricing.

To British parents, and he's British U21 champion.

I have been to Monmore Green & Perry Barr many times, had season tickets at both over the years. I used to enjoy the racing at Monmore Green but it hasn't been as good as it was in the last 10ish years. When Wolves had Peter Karlsson & Lindgren you could guarantee good racing weekly, before that when Ermolenko was in his pomp especially when Cradley visited with Hancock & Hamill. Perry Barr was a decent race surface when it re-opened, I think it deteriorated after Tony Mole departed the club and the last time I was a regular visitor in the 2021 season it was awfully dusty almost every week.

Ones still open and one isnt…. dont be bitter about it and Birmingham is 10x the track Wolves was

It's awfully sad that Wolves have closed, but let's not rewrite history, it was a poor racing track. "Raved about on Sky" - Nigel Pearson would've raved about speedway in someone's back garden, it was his job. "Hosted British Finals" - so did Kirkmanshulme Lane, it was still a crap track. God knows how crowd size comes into the track argument, I suppose you had nothing else.

This is a terrible side .. What is more amazing is people on facebook etc saying its a great side .. i must have read the names wrong to me a bit and pieces side that will get crushed in heats 13 and 15 week in week out

You brought a ringer in for the play offs and it worked