GeneralMelchett

As they say the devil is often in the detail, you can draw a lot from what is or isn't said, a rider who was merely going through the motions wouldn't say the things he has - he would simply say something bland like - 'I am pleased to re-sign for the Witches and lets go for 2024' All the other stuff about the club being run well, being paid on time and family etc are clues as to how he feels. You can choose to ignore that if you wish. They also provide illumination on what may or may not have gone on at other clubs in the past. His body language in the pits, with the fans and after winning heats also shows a lot, again someone who views his time at Ipswich as a 'pure' convenience' wouldn't be like he is with the fans etc. Finally - treating someone well often brings it own loyalty as a director of a company of 22 staff, many of whom have been with us for 10+ years I know all about that! Yes no one works for free and in many cases convenience helps - but it would be more convenient for me to work in the local chip shop as its 2 minutes from my home and i wouldnt have to run a company of 22 people and all the stresses that goes with it, but I still choose to do it!

On this point if you examine what Doyle said last season and this - it is clear his reasons for his staying at Ipswich for season no 3 (slightly different to his long service to British Speedway) and perhaps a dig or too at former clubs - last season he mentioned about always being paid on time, and how well run Ipswich were, this year he describes the family atmosphere at the club.

I suppse 'if your aunty had balls she'd have been your uncle' applies here.

There is / used to be a very interesting thread on the digital spy forum about celebrities you had met and opinions of them - one who consistently came out really bad was old Cilla black and I think Feltz got a few un positive reviews as well anyway back to BV and 2024 BV Twitter account says no Charles Wright or Tom Brennan - let’s hope they don’t sign for the same team in 2024!! does this mean the other 5 are back?

They will want at least 2 'big' headlines for the papers i would have thought! Great to see Doyle back at Foxhall he is surely one of the most exciting about - if he misses the gate watching him reel them in is highlight of the meeting for me.

think how long the Emil annoucement took last year - maybe they are awaiting ink to dry on contracts or permits or something!

Oddly we got the right result but in the wrong year if you are a purist - Sheffield finished top in 2022 and lost to Belle Vue, Belle Vue then finished top this year but never made the final, under the old system both teams would have been crowned champions

Their path into the playoffs would have been a lot smoother and they may have not have been relying on the Leicester implosion, they got there in the end! But who knows since history simply records they had a very successful year, what it won't record is how they nearly didn't get there! Two more home wins and they might have finished top as two of the losses were against Belle Vue, three more and they probably would have finished top, would that have changed the ultimate destiny of the final 2 - I have no idea and its irrelevant now! Interesting, for me anyway, is i think Sheffield have weakened themselves away from home a little in this coming year but we shall see come sept / oct 24 I reckon.

Ipswich need to be stronger at home in 2024 three home defeats (which i annoyingly all attended in 2023) were 2 too many in my view. I'd take Brennan for sure - not sure about Ellis at Foxhall I recall him being a Witch in 2019?? but i wasnt watching much, if any, speedway then so not sure how great he is at Foxhall.

Strand out signing for sure - when he came in last season he was in my view on the reasons they won - he was so good at Owlerton! I remember him reeling off three straight wins in the match V Belle Vue Gilkes rode well before his injury at home, can't comment on away as I don't think I saw him ride away from home. At Owlerton tho he was decent and on the pace.

Think they are building for winning at home by a larger margin than losing away for sure. pickering and Howarth will be strong and compliment the 3 already announced for sure

Lets be clear most clubs would love a rider of Dolyes abilities and never give up attitude in their team - there are certain riders (like footballers) that wind you up a bit when they ride against your side but you'd have them in your team in a heartbeat!

must admit - I was pleased Sheffield won the title for him, in 2022 he didnt have the best playoff final and was slated a bit for it so it was just rewards for an honest trier to get rewarded in 2023. I will try and get to his testimonial as well. whatabout it?- The comment was about Woffinden not Doyle!

Would be a great addition, have a lot of time for him as a rider and how he comes across as well, but if they retain Dolye and Emil (which they should) can't see how it could be done!

He might have been sniffing or licking fivers - apparently huge numbers UK bank notes have traces of coke on them. However for his stupidity alone he deserves a larger ban and fine, and in his 30s he should know better!

That's because you are not an attention seeking moron! Monmore is the scene of two of the best meetings I have ever been to both 45-45 draws one was Wolves v Cradley from 1988 or 1989 the other was the Playoff semi final between Wolves and Ipswich in 2005 (i think it was) both absolute belters that will live in my memory for all times.

And for us some fantastic entertainment - was pleased to be there the night he broke the track record. as sign of his stature is how popular he proved at other tracks despite usually beating all the home heat leaders.

No idea if it fits or if he would be available - Klindt rides well at Foxhall - well he did this year!

I am going to stick up for Lambert a bit - I recall seeing him ride at Owlerton in 2016 or so when in his debut season for Newcastle - you could tell he would be a star and let’s be clear he is - which is why his sourly interview on Tuesday was in my view beneath a great rider - he was a bad interviewee for sure! his trajectory up has been quick he just needs perhaps a bit of humility and to learn that skill of speaking your mind with greater tact and diplomacy winning and losing with magnanimity

It was more a comment on turning the attention on himself - to be fair I’ve heard a few stories about Terry over the years but agree he probably wouldn’t do that!

I think he felt he should have done better - perhaps at his level he should have - but yes 9-10 against Emil and Doyley was fair enough- I suspect heat 15 might have stoked his ire but from my perspective Doyle did nothing wrong - heat 4 and the non exclusion of Hume was too far in the past in the context of the meeting to be annoyed by its potential implication on the scoreline - to my mind ref got that wrong for sure!

It’s not such an odd thing - I remember Rob Tilbury being boooed and hated at Arena then he signed for us!!! Everyone loved him!! Sins against are often forgotten!

No Lambert was just hiding behind excuses for his poor performance agree re Tai however shades of John Terry in full kit Branleur’ mode!

Sadly it’s a vicious circle - if the riders misbehave then (some)fans will respond in kind if (some) fans misbehave so will riders!! repeat ad infinitum