gazzac

I remember both and a few more before in the Elite, and the playoff final in 2002 still hurts. It wasn't a complaint, I'm just one of those supporters who just hate seeing them lose, hopefully be another few years before I see another. One thing I've learnt is not to post the same evening if we lose again. Be back for the Glasgow match having calmed down!

I'd put Tom at 3, riding with Lewis will be good, and I think he'll come on in leaps and bounds every month, Ben also seems to have settled at 2. Hopefully help with Alfie's confidence as well.

It did come as a shock, but as you say 45/44 is far more exciting than 60/30, just hope next time it goes the other way , I didn't realise until the posts on here what a bad loser I am, I'll try harder if it happens again . Think Sunday is good for the crowd, but Saturday night is so much better for the track, normally even better racing.

You're right really, having thought on it overnight, although my comments I think are correct, a bit harsh on our riders especially Richard Lawson as it all happened at speed in under a minute, can't imagine what that must be like. Also in any league we've been in, rarely lose at home, so when we do we are a tough crowd. It just shows with a top heavy team if the top 2 don't fire, even with the reserves scoring so well we will be beaten. I always thought to get to the playoffs we'd have to be unbeaten at home, so straight away going to make it difficult, I just hope Leicester really are the title favourites, otherwise we'll be in trouble at home again. Assuming we qualify past Birmingham in the KO Cup, we've Leicester in the second round of the KO Cup, so if this weekend is anything to go by could be difficult to progress in that unless the heat leaders improve, knowing our luck expect we'll draw Leicester in the semi final of the Shield!

Lawson still must have known a second place would do it for us and should have ridden accordingly before the hit.Worse still, what on earth was Kennett doing in heat 15, hadn't been near a race win all day, and when he missed the gate would be obvious he would come 4th putting more pressure on Lawson. Would have rather seen Kerr in heat 15, or even Georgie Wood, who had found some speed to go with his usual fight over his last 2 rides

At Eastie I love to be near the start line taking in all the noise and atmosphere, but can understand some preferring a face full of beef, to a face full of dust at the moment!

Arrogance with some aggression on the bike, and personable off it. Just what you want in a top flight rider.

Far better chance of silverware this year with Eastie going up, been their nemesis over the last 4 seasons, even when Eastie didn't win it, normally put Kent out in the semis, also had Eastie stayed in the NL wouldn't have had Abblit either this season.

Agree, that's really part of what I meant, always hits hard when it goes against you, and sweet when it goes right, had our fair share of both at Eastie. Never has the saying 'what goes around comes around ' applied to anything more than speedway I suppose.

Easties season long plan was stated by Connor Dugard at the start of the season to build a team that would improve throughout the year, get to the playoffs and Ko cup final hoping as usual to be safe and injury free. Think that was a plan well executed by the team. More than likely a full Mildenhall team could have won the play off, but I would say the result "may" have been different not would have, as Eastie were on fire at that point of the season and disregarding the injuries, a couple of Mildenhall riders had gone off the boil slightly, we'll never know and the record will always show Eastie as League and KO cup winners. As for the playoffs more often than not they are never fair, don't forget Eastie lost the first ever playoff having dominated the Elite league in 2002, being left without a match for a month as the league toppers went straight to the final leaving us "cold" to face Wolves who progressed through the semis, dropped that idea after one season. What I'm really saying is speedway is always on the edge of being unfair, but all things came together for Eastie last season at long last.

They were brilliant through the year, although it was Easties season long plan that did them in the end, did get lost in text a bit, I did mean this year's team aren't so brilliant, but as usual in speedway, almost impossible to follow a brilliant season with another one, as success means stripping a team, especially with the usual points reduction every year.

Not so brilliant

Has been a good heat leader, especially a couple of seasons ago if I remember correctly. Would have been a better choice, assume he's just without a ride and not stopped riding?

Good replacement, going well at the moment, also good chance for him to get set ups etc sorted for Easties visit the following weekend.

Thanks, didn't know that about Lakeside assets but makes sense.

Who's this tart kicking in by the way.....

I think he is on a 6.00 point CL average, still think it would be unfair on Morley at this stage of the season, even though it would make Eastie stronger, so he may end up at Birmingham or elsewhere. I know this probably should be on the Eastie thread, but if Morley is a Lakeside asset which I'm not sure , think it more likely Eastie will stay as they are.

He did start at Eastie , would have had a second season if the rules hadn't changed in the NL. If the rumour was in the bar, must be true though

It is a tricky one to try and keep everyone happy with keeping or delaying the start time, as I normally get there an hour early to get a decent place near the start line a late start is annoying, although normally Kev Coombes makes the wait entertaining , but travelling 50 miles along the A27 to home meetings, I have on occasion encountered an accident or detour arriving around start time where the delayed start had been a blessing. Suppose it does have to be fluid, but if there isn't a queue outside needs to be bang on time, intros done and first race ready to go at the start time to deter the regular late comers.

Or to dry his hair maybe

Think the late start was probably due to Richard Lawson not arriving until after 3.00, but agree with you ref the afternoon meetings on a hot day, will never get enough water into the track no matter how hard the track staff try.

Didn't think my guess was anywhere near up to heat 9, but the big guns did the business again with the back up of Wood. If we can get the other 3 firing especially Morley and Bowtell , Tom was a bit unlucky today, we will be a playoff potential team as thought by Eastie fans at least. Just be interesting to see how we fair in the next few weeks with the away matches, probably lose them but if we can keep the losses to under 10, just shows how hard it'll be to beat Eastie on an aggregate basis in any competition.

Eastie have come on in leaps and bounds since the first encounter , think it'll be a big win again, perhaps hit the 60 mark once more, if not somewhere near that. As long as Lawson arrives, otherwise still be a win but a far narrower one.

With Easties point's haul last night a bit unlikely I would have thought.

Shame, had too many injuries for a young rider already.