GeneralMelchett

Last year in the round 1 Fixture the Witches didn't have much backup to Emil and Jason and the Aces won the match effectively with a 5-1 in heat 12 which was a real bad heat for the Witches on more than one occasion last year! In the 2 Fixture it was much closer but Kurtz, I think, surprised most of Foxhall when having been on a 5-1 in heat 13 shot out of the traps to win heat 15 - again the Witches conceded a 5-1 in heat 12! Kurtz managed to get 2 wins against Emil and Jason last year which was probably about as good as any visiting rider at Foxhall v's them - so definitely no room for complacency. However on the plus for the Witches is no Charles Wright for the Aces who seems to go well at Foxhall! Still looking forward to it!

Looking forward to my first meeting of 2024 since the Kyle Howarth testimonal was postponed. Expecting a Witches win but Belle Vue took victory both times last year and in Brady Kurtz they do have a rider who can and will pop out of the start and stay there so no room for complacency!! Wishing good seasons and injury free for all in 2024!

Buttons meant 4-12 for Doyle!!

I felt for him as in a fair few races he would be placed after the first lap but then greater track craft or whatever would mean others would get past him - shame as if he could have held on and scored a few more points confidence would have been better etc - in the end the right decision was made - I recall moaning about it at the time but Dan proved a really good addition until his injury!

His Foxhall form was sensational for the last 2 seasons but last year he had 0 last places at home! from 57 races 150 points! I suspect he has a few more seasons in him yet too! Injuries permitting. One of the best bits of a meeting at Foxhall is hoping he misses the gate which he can do and then work his way through from the back!

TY for that - I had heard it was 2k per tv meeting but wasn't sure if it was 100% correct - seems it was!

In itself tho that is slightly ambiguous - was it 5m over 5 years or 5m per year - it could be read either way? I read it as 5m over 5 years so 1m per season? Spread out over 10 teams that isnt so much. I seem to recall that one ex promoter hated sky matches as the fee per match didnt cover the lost revenue (as the gate always dipped) and disruption to the smooth running of the meeting. Thats early 2000's from my recollection. what is also good to read is this - giving you the viewing figures https://www.methanolpress.com/sky-sports-british-speedway-viewing-figures-2002-2009/

Let’s hope so - I saw him a couple of times at Owlerton last year and in one meeting if he gated he won fairly comfortably - in the other he was struggling badly.

For those that might be interested there is an interview with Adam Ellis in the star this week a short summary is (edit actually its now last weeks WE 27th jan) 1/ He wasnt surprised to be ditched by Sheffield last season he felt things were going well on the continent but not in the UK for whatever reason. He even contemplated quitting the UK scene and focusing on the Polish league and other stuff. 2/ He suspects his GB call up for the WC was due to him riding in Poland - 3/ He is optimistic for the season ahead and is looking foward to riding for Pila and having Hans Nielsen as his TM. he is also keen to get going back at Ipswich - he also feels riding with Doyley and Emil will benefit him.

Without doubt that was not the finest moment of many people - including a fair few on here! Damn good rider at his very best and enjoyed seeing him ride on those 2 season he had at Ipswich - I wish him a long and happy retirement.

agree they look a lot better Tobias alone will be worth going for lets hope his attitude rubs off on the rest of the team he never gives up - the good news for Stars fans is they are cup semi finalists already in 2024! They are still over 1 pt below the limit however!

Good - he definitely deserved a recall for 2024!

I’ve always really liked Hume - he is an honest trier - he has last season popped out of the gate on a 5-1 with his heat leader and done well gaining many decent points. he does fall a fair bit often when in decent positions - I am sure no one is more annoyed than he is - I wouldn’t have an issue with him being back but he won’t be this year. I do feel a different track will help him actually.

Because the home form was the reason the Witches were not going to get into the playoffs - you have to be in the play offs first, someone has said get riders who can ride Sheffield and Belle Vue better as well in a previous thread that is probably true too - but if you dont qualify for the play offs then you dont even have the chance to test that!

It's a serious point in a way - Kings Lynn have been a perenially weak team for much of my time following Speedway, yes they have had some success but more often than not they are propping up the table (sorry!) Then my team don't even exist now - but we did win a few things in our 34 of racing! The Witches are almost there -2 play off finals in 4 years is a decent return but yes they should be looking to go all the way in 2024 if Doyle and Emil are the spearhead again

on readin your comments - id have been really happy to see Tobias at Foxhall if it wasn't for the fact they have Doyle (and hopefully Emil) signed on for 2024

Feel better now! It was a case of nearly but not quite! Could be worse tho could be a Kings Lynn fan!

I do like Hume as he is an honest trier - bit like Barker really, but there were occasions last season where he dropped points he shouldn't have through falls etc, I am sure he was as frustrated as anyone, he has the potential - possibly needs to ride a different shaped track to Ipswich. I'd be inclined to try something new Jenkins - don't know much about him really as he missed Peterboroughs visits to Foxhall last year - but he seemd to have had a decent season for both Peterborough and Oxford last year so why not!

We can debate about aunties having balls or not - however for next year the Witches should plan to be stronger at home which is where they needed to be better in 2023, those three home defeats were part of the reason they MAY have finished 5th had the random drug test failure given them a helping hand. The history of 2023 will simply say the Witches lost the playoff final narrowly on aggregate and won the cup.

When they signed Barker last year based on his 2022 I'd been fairly happy but I think he disappointed in 2023 - he was in the team when they lost the home meetings so I'd prefer to look elsewhere. Ellis means no Riss I suspect, Emil possibly will be confirmed last for a big fanfare so the next two will be the RS and one other. I d be happy to see Dan Thompson back he did enough to deserve a recall for me - his injury was bad timing as he had been doing really well.

Got yourself a decent top heatleader in TM - he is exciting to watch and never gives up.

To be fair on paper Kings Lynn are the wealthiest club in the Premiership - although that’s probably inflated by the other activities at the NA!

I travel down the A1 every fortnight luckily the 40-50 zones seem to have all gone now!

Almost 20 seasons! I don’t know how long he has lived in Norwich but he’s put the miles in here in the U.K.!! Of course to an Aussie it’s probably no distance after all Melbourne to Sydney is an 18 hr drive if you ever do it!

I regret I only ever made it to Alwalton once, but from Sheffield it is about 90 minutes on a decent run. The figues for the November 23 accounts for the season just finished have a deadline of Aug 2024 some time off yet!