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I'm finding some of this Cairns criticism OTT and rather odd to be honest. The lad is 16 and it was his first meeting as a fully fledged RS. I hope Rushen won't get this kind of hammering if he makes a slow start.

So, a young British kid (once again), goes from being a future World Champion, to being just another overrated rider... And. All in one meeting!!!!😁 Hyping these kids up does no one any favours, yet plenty seem to do it... "I watched him ride after the match and his times were close to those in the meeting itself"!! Was one particular pearl of wisdom I read about him about 18 months ago.. Riding on your own, without three far more experienced riders nailing you on turns one and two is a bit different from riding on your own, and your times , and finishing positions, in those races will get hit quite severely... Being fast is one thing, being a Speedway rider is another... Let the kid develop at his own pace, like all should be allowed to, as the entry level for UK riders is quite a low bar, therefore one or two can look "amazing" when riding against their peer group at 15/16... If these lads are Championship second strings by the end of 2027 then they are on track to become Premiership second strings, around two years later, (at 20/21 years old).... If they reach that level, then by 23 or so, Premiership HL and International level will be there "glide path"... Not many are Woffinden, Bewley or Robert Lambert level by 21 years of age, so just let these lads develop... And the aim isn't to have future World Champs, the aim is to fill team spaces with UK lads, something the sport desperately needs...

Luke Harrison might have struggled a bit. He'd only be five years old.🤩

Doesn't quite rival the unmasking of Kendo Nagasaki !

Its not OTT and its not odd at all. Go and read what people said about Boughen then look at the same people slating him as over rated when the wheels come off. I will take my hat off to Cairns if and when he hits form as obviously would like him to be a future star of the sport but after 25 years of following speedway there have been many , many riders hailed as the next Lee or Loram who go on to do not a lot. All this nonsense that riders should be in the top tier needs to stop. Riders should be left to the bottom two tiers to develop not slung into the top flight as rising stars having their confidence dented week in week out.

Rubbish.

I do think nowadays riders don’t really go through the hard yards like they use to,the fact is for everyone that really makes it (top 5 in world) there are a couple of hundred that fail, there are some really exceptional talents in speedway who were always going to make it like zmarzlik and bewley and then there are others like gollob and Pedersen who went that extra mile to make it but on the whole 99% just forge a league career which is no bad thing but my original point to this is you have to ride the struggle and get through it because it will come when you’re up against it and nothing goes right and the world is to blame and that experience will help you get through it,speedway is a mind game, the head on your shoulders is as important as the head on your engine, I’ve watched both Rushen and Cairns and indeed bickley, they all have the talent,Rushen seems the most natural on a bike but all 3 seemed from the outside looking in to have had the their career so far on the crest of a wave but the moment you take that to the serious stuff and three others want your peice of track it’s a whole new world and unless you are headstrong it’s a harsh one, good luck to both Cairns and Rushen and hope bickley makes a comeback too

Its not just one meeting though is it? What did he average for Poole from reserve last year, wasn't it under 4? As for crescent girl saying someone has lost their mind, dear oh dear. You lost your mind a long time ago mr barrie. its time the rising star program was removed from the top tier , it does more harm than good for young riders.

Agreed stacks of decent young british riders lost to the sport through being thrown into the deep end to early for every Screen, Loram and Lambert there's another 20-30 who although never hitting the heights could be the next Kings, Lawson's, Hurrys and have decent top league careers which would cut down on the need for flying in overseas riders.

Let’s hope we get the Sheffield Tobi from a couple of seasons ago. On his day can beat the best in the League we’ve seen him do it. Things obviously weren’t right for him at Lynn whether that be the ankle injury or other reasons going by what you believe, and Birmingham was just a disaster for everyone with so much uncertainty which couldn’t have helped riders’ form. Let’s hope this move settles him down again and he produces what we know he’s capable of.

Sorry, but hammering a 16 year old after one meeting, and only one completed race, is completely nuts. Some people have lost their minds...

He only finished one race. Must admit after that one race I immediately decided he was rubbish and should be sacked. Norick wasn’t much better, scoring only one point and even that was when finishing last. He has to go as well. I think that’s reasonable.

Wouldn't give a monkeys.... When I go to UK league Speedway, I just go to watch the racing, and dont let the Mickey Mouse way the sport is ran get in the way of what can be a decent night out.

Cookie, Viv Muddle and latterly Vinnie practising this morning and into the afternoon. Craig looked very comfortable.

Agreed I can't think of to many sports where you start in division three and end up in division one at the same time your in division 2 granted the odd special talent can make the leap but 90% of the time it does more harm than good and loads of potential top league future third heatleaders and second strings are lost to the sport.

He also has to get past Kyle

It's odd to be hammering a young lad one meeting into the season IMO but there we are. I'd far rather see our own youngsters at reserve than foreign tripe and at Lynn the most exciting element of this year's team is Scott and Rushen for me, can't wait to see them develop. You are right about the hype bit but thats not the riders fault as far as I can see, I'm sure he'd rather be left alone to develop at his own pace. It's us as fans who hype them up because very good ones seldom come around and we get all excited when it looks like one or two hit the scene.

Lewis Bridger another one that springs to mind.

Floppy Norris was another, proving that when he put his mind to it he was actually quite a decent rider!

Another example but in reverse, is Jason Doyle. Was knocking around the reserve berth at Poole on a 4 and a half point average approaching his mid twenties before something clicked! World Champion. Appreciate that’s a unique case that’s not exactly common. So on one hand best not to put too much expectation on youngsters who seem to have all the talent, but at the same time not write off riders who don’t immediately produce early in their career.

Danny King in 03 would of been british league cup for Ipswich not EL only meetings. Basically premier league standard at the time but point taken, as a 16 year old he was also streets ahead of Cairns.

Cairns has been hyped up massively over the last 2 or 3 years but its clear to see he is out of his depth at this level. There has been many, many better British teenage prospects over the years than him.

Top performance from Tate tonight ! Best in BV colours to my knowledge good to see we all know he’s got the talent . Got a feeling Cookie is going to be fighting for the number 1 spot this year. Can’t wait for the season to start now .

You are well aware and you've been very active. So why question? Why doubt? Why mire in the demise of speedway. Looks like you absolutely love it, cant fix it and never lend a hand but always online to want for more despite giving less. Aye but you bought a season ticket.....yet put down and question everything else. Get yourself involved Ian, change the dynamics of meetings, be more than a worthless typist on the Internet. You won't, you aren't.

Ditto,but if a couple of decent riders are missing I just give it a miss nowadays.No longer a diehard.

Sums up UK Speedway doesnt it? Teams are fully allowed to sign riders knowing they will miss meetings, (invariably away meetings), but, if they plan their fixture list well, they can actually improve their team by bringing in a track specialist ringer... Can't believe that more people don't take this sport more seriously...

Yes 600 miles it's 42 mile each way from my house to the motorway at Penrith 😧 but was a bit easier back in the day as nowhere near as much traffic on the roads

Spot on your lot could surprise a few this year Tobi if his head is right could put 1.5 - 2 points on average, Bangs has talent to be one of the best newcomers if he can adjust to the track, Lawson steady eddie 7 point man, Tom capable of putting a point on average in a weaker league, Nicholls will do a job at home also if King and Edwards can maintain averages you will make play offs.

No longer getting BPs behind Dan Thompson this year should boost his Green Sheet figure - last year his CMA was 8.00 which included BPs.

Yip

Think most long term fans could name a dozen” superstars “at 16 over the years who just never hit the heights.Thats speedway.

Niels Iverson was another was pretty much an engine room rider for years went to Lynn when they were struggling and most thought he isn't number one material but kicked on and had a great carear.

Looked excellent last night outshone Holder lowering the colors of Brady Kurtz in the process.

Ben Howe, Leigh Lanham and Savalas Clouting are 3 others that spring to mind

IMO Rushen is a far better prospect as he can gate a little, but his racing/passing is out of the world for a 15 now 16 year old and also seems to have the self promotion to put his name out and about, looking forward to seeing how this boy does, planning a trip across to Redcar when Poole come north just to watch the kid 😀 Another youngster to watch out for, but is only 9/10 years old at the moment is Oscar Berwick 😀

Great night for Leon Flint at Belle Vue, top scoring for Sheffield, only 1 duff race. I think this is the year that Leon takes a step up, similar to what Dan Thompson did last year, maybe not achieving an 8 plus average but definitely consolidating heat leader status.

Also cairns has had a growth spur in the tail end of last season which won't help when most riders are not big these days

you should get a good night sleep on Thursday 😁

Scoreline pretty close but racing nearly sent me to sleep...🥱

Used to love doing Poole v Eastbourne home and away back in the day!

Tate flew out of the start in heat 2 and won easily at BV tonight, think he will do alright at reserve because the Premiership reserves are weaker than last season.

No but Jack roberts and Liam Ashcroft were there practicing

Batchelor ?. Thoughts with the good people at Northampton Speedway at this difficult time.

Craig is a type of rider who in the past had done only a little bit of practice, bit like batch 😀 hearing Craig has lost a bit of weight, so good to go, will be fighting Jonas for the number 1 position 😀

Are you not in Bournemouth then

Not a bad 1-7 especially as a new club, all got potential and could shock a few on their day. Best of luck to them !

Who is Jaimon Lidsey going to talk to in the pits? The rest of the top 5 have a combined age of 160.

Well his average fits, with a 1 year 8% reduction and then 2.5% British discount.

While I respect the views of the 'good old days' brigade I think we are way past the point where random bikes and kevlars for team mates are acceptable or appropriate for our sport or any other which claims to be professional. British speedway gets plenty of things wrong but the correct team image is vital with social media, live streaming/TV and merchandise sales etc. Can't think of any other team sport where a side looks like waifs and strays and doesn't all wear the same kit.