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OK, it’s a cold and boring Friday morning so I’ll take the bait…. 1. Louis has decided to strengthen the team by bringing in Brennan. 2. Therefore, in the same way as Belle Vue ‘somebody has to go’ to accommodate that strengthening. 3. Two clubs offered Rew a significant uptick on his points money. He was ‘keen to stay’ but expected Louis to move towards his new offered points money. 4. Any business when hiring an individual weighs up cost v benefit i.e. value for money and it would appear that in this case Louis decided that did not stack up for him as the owner of the business. 5. I have no issue with Rew wanting to increase his earnings and another team being willing to pay accordingly, that’s called Capitalism. I wish Rew all the best and hope that we see him back as a Witch at some point in the future.

Waste of money!

No, because he’s still on the rising star list as he meets the qualifying criteria. Whether a club uses him in any position from 1-6 is irrelevant. You only get a 25% reduction when you first exit the rising star scheme due to no longer meeting the qualifying criteria. Dan Gilkes will get the standard 2.5% British reduction, not 25%.

Would love to add Erik Riss to that team

And here was me thinking this thread was a Birmingham Brummies one.............

Matt marson ? The Australian that the evil Belle Vue colts have allowed to steal the place of a young English rider. maybe mark lemon should note how the angelic Chris Louis operates and nurtures young English talent.

What about that new Russian rider than contracted covid? Tikaly Chestikov

Looking forward to brummies visit to Foxhall, Zagar has alway been a classy rider despite what some say on here.

boomers from 50s 60s era when there was less snowflakes about, but more snow.😁

Oi 😅

The original thought was he would be on a 4.00, but the Regulations say that riders with Ekstraliga experience start on a minimum 5.00, and that was imposed. I think, although not sure, the Witches had to re-jig their team plans because of their incorrect assumption. Overall, I reckon 5.67 is a decent average for a rider who had a tough learning curve at Foxhall - his improvement this season was tangible. I'm with others in that: i) I agree signing Brennan was a no-brainier, and ii) I think Rew was more likely to have been retained - with either King or, most likely, Ellis, making way. From Louis' comments, Rew played a part in the decision for him to move on.

Not really sure why the Lions team was announced over a number of days being as there were absolutely no surprises whatsoever in the team selection and 99.9 % of the supporters already knew the line up.

Try retro Speedway

The 4TT used to be great and emphasised the variety we were exposed to “back in the day”. Am I remembering correctly; teams would begin the completion in sections (Glasgow were in with Edinburgh, Berwick and Newcastle, typically) and after all teams had a home meeting, the side with the most points would be seeded to the 4TT final at Peterborough? I seem to recall a different scenario, where eight sides across semi-finals would fight for a place in the grand final on the same date, also at Peterborough. I’d welcome its return. I think it would be a great addition to the British speedway calendar.

Think Steady picked the wrong Christmas film

Just checked and I've got Tomato Ketchup, HP, Lea & Perrins, Henderson's, Tabasco, Light Soy and two bottles of Tropical Sun Hot Pepper sauce

https://www.britishironworkcentre.co.uk/shop/search/?q=Speedway Love visiting this place too

Away especially and at home you don’t have to win races son and risk a crash to gain a point,when you can get a easy 2nd and 3rd with team riding to cancel thier gun rider points. Something that you don’t see much any more is team riding and Allen always looks out for his team mate if needed,defiantly a heat leader and I personally think he will push worrell out of the number 1 slot some time next year, I like the team but need the younger Kennedy to fire early in season and hold his own on away tracks,how can a team with so many Australians loose, can see more finals series comming up

Please stop!

No. Aussie can now ride in the NDL.

Snow! Just put some overalls on and get on with it. 🤣

Must admit I had to google it and I’m still not sure. I don’t think it’s a term of endearment and wonder why you would add it to a response when we are all fans chatting speedway. Probably a bit of naivety on my part. All the best though, looking like a great league this year.

One of my fav riders , great to see him over here again but not as an ace 😔

Why great to see him back.

Aces fans love him, no issue with Effort for us, Aces Legend in my eyes, great to see him back in British Speedway.

Ace!

I can understand Gilkes position, not expecting to score as many points as last year in a tougher position, so wanting more money. But feel Sheffield are sensible to stand their ground, plenty of options who will score much the same as Dan would.

That is true, I guess in a strong looking league, an average looking team could end up bottom. I'm probably thinking on the positive side, cause I'd love Birmingham to do well & keep going for years to come.

One meeting at home will need to deliver enough money to pay for your four riders riding 64 times collectively over the four legs... And will be all the "top earners"... One meeting currently needs to deliver enough to pay 60 rides collectively for all your riders, including 2 reserves.. Is it a risk worth taking? Would the crowd numbers, including three sets of potential away fans, make the competition successful? Personally I always thought "The Fours" was the best competition given the level of talent on show... It would be good to see it back ..

Half of them aren't the same riders they use to be.

You've got to believe that Rew would've been retained if his demands were inline with what management wanted to pay. Ipswich persevered with him during his first season where he was below his 4 point assessed average and started to reap the rewards last year... So would surely have been keen to sign him up for 2025 when he will likely continue his progression. On that basis, I would guess that Ellis or King were lined up to make way - the latter has hinted at that with his recent comments.

Once the decision was taken to strengthen with Brennan, then one of the 2024 cohort had to move on. I have been told and I have no certainty whether it is true or not that the original plan was for one of the other riders to move on, however the situation with Rew changed the plan.

Hume or Gilkes doesn't really make much of a different to the side really. With Hume though you are getting a rider that gives absolutely everything, which also is his downfall. Seen him fall off or lose out on points due to trying too hard. Still a good side but is heavily reliant on the top 4

Keynan priced himself out of a return. He wasn’t sacked as like all riders they are out of contract from November onwards.

That rule lasted ONE year, could have 7 foreigners in your team if clubs wanted to.

Everyone fixated on Cairns forgets I think how crucial the final destination of Anders Rowe is in terms of the best 7 man team. He's shown real potential but just needs a full season without injury and could really kick on with a secure home base. I think he's as important to Poole as Brennan was last season. As for Kerr, he just doesn't seem the sort of high maintenance; injury prone rider; that seems a natural fit there?

You could make up an alternative narrative for all The Aces but the fact of the matter is someone HAD to go, even including Tate’s injury replacement the fabulous Antti. That’s not debatable. Like I say Ben ticked all the boxes unfortunately but whoever it was we could be unfairly berated for dropping a rider - which we had to do to conform to the rules. Things will be a clearer when the team is announced as why it was Ben. Louis mentioned Keynan wanted to stay as he had unfinished business and that Louis had reasons for getting rid of Keynan. Keynan also had reasons that could affect whether he re-signed or not. Probably 50/50 though as Louis stated it was mostly Kenyan, so 51/49. His sacking was unnecessary, a choice not available to The Aces, again not debatable.

It's 7.40? Lol

Douglas final rider

If it was any other team I'd agree with you, but last year Oxford kept weakening the team, maybe they've just started earlier this year?

Tasty looking line up that. The last two in the list will surely provide some serious bottom end (eye watering) fire power if called upon to deliver, should the established likes of ketchup disappoint on the night.

In Rob we trust.

Didn’t think I’d ever find someone on here as irritating as that twerp laguta fan but he’s giving him a good run for his money! 🤣

Where in the press release does it say the meeting is the British under 19 final?

All teams are done to a budget, its just that some budgets are bigger than others!

Huge respect to Workington! Going out all over the world to get new riders in british speedway. Fraser Bowes signs for comets. Another new rider onto our shores

Waste of money! We had 2 like that last season!!

The GP series now using all the F1 sayings like P1, LCP1, Q1, FP1 gets right on my wick, I’ve got one for them FO

Rybnik go Tungate Chris Holder Pedersen Chugunov Drabik Jesper Knudsen Kacper Pludra Trzesniewski Winkler Tkocz Wyczyszczok

Wasn't it going to be held at Leicester the day after Cardiff in covid year... then never heard of ever again