torpointfanatic22

Been surprised about Benko if I tell the truth - Didn't expect him to score a point let alone average over 4 from his first 4 meetings.

That statement alone is enough to show how far Plymouth have come over the past seasons. We may still get hammered but opposing fans thinking we will get close is good enough for me. Oh and updates will be here... http://speedwayupdates.proboards.com/thread/13167/ipswich-plymouth-lc-10-30pm?page=1&scrollTo=236790

Ipswich is a very tough place to go - Barker knows it well though and Rasmus saw it last season so at least has an idea of the place. If Simota and Kalle dial in early we could be competitive and that's not factoring in any input from Kyle. I'd be surprised if Benko or Reade do much though. I expect us to get beat but then I didn't think we'd turn Rye over so who knows! The lads have their tails up that's for sure!

I was kind of expressing a view with regards to the comments most people said about no-one really liking Ben. As a rider I rate him higher than Kennett and agree he is a top number 1! He was very impressive at Rye on Saturday and I'm told he was damn good at Plymouth the night before - He's giving the promotion a headache on that kind of form!

Indeed - Everyone has moaned about how dreadful Rye were and that Plymouth are still toilet but I thought the meeting served up some decent entertainment and the races between those two were excellent. I understand that people get annoyed if their team loses or don't appear strong enough (we've had it more than most since joining the PL) but if a neutral had turned up on Saturday night - I'd like to think they'd go again. Some first class racing (certainly the most passes i've seen at Rye in one meeting) - I may be in the minority but I'd sooner turn up and see that kind of entertainment week on week and win 50% of the time than see gate and go stuff and win all of them. But hey ho! To be fair Kennett may have cheated but generally comes across as a bloke pretty well. Sadly Ben has rubbed up a lot of opposing fans and riders the wrong way over the years.

There was and quite a bit of it too! Win or lose I'd have enjoyed that meeting tonight some very decent races! I said in my updates I wasn't sure if Rye are worse than I though or we are better - I'm sure it's a mixture but tonight I was very pleasantly surprised. Simota, Barker, Jensen and Super Kalle were great value for Plymouth. A crucial point from Reade where he was so much better than his other two rides and the same could be said about Benko who was poor in his first, okay in his second and much better in his third. Newman found some speed in his last ride and again a crucial two points. For Rye only Kennett really looked like being tough to beat. Bowen plugged away and Boxall was okay but I do wonder if Lambert and Tresarrieu will be there long term! The double header with Ipswich and Somerset along with the trip to Peterborough will perhaps answer the conundrum I raised above as to how this Plymouth side can fair. On Simota's most recent displays you have to wonder if Davies will walk into the side when he gets over. I'm currently set for humble pie on that one!

Whilst I wouldn't be as damning as some on here have been regarding the Demons, you have to admit RJ that a number of the Demons side have been around for some time and never really progressed beyond NL! Smarty looked like he may do something with Stoke but then of course had that nasty injury up at Berwick which hasn't seen him the same since. Tim and Ben have both had cracks at the PL which have been with very limited success but in Tim's case especially he has been off a bike for 18 months or so now so he will need bit of time before we see where his future lies. I expected to see a lot more fresh faces - More in line with what the Stags have done. Mark my words the Stags will get tanked a lot early season but just like the Scunny NL sides of a couple seasons back, they will improve and will surprise a few. It's nice to know a number of younger lads are down there getting laps in though with potential spots up for grabs in the future. What I don't want the NL team to be is a fixture filler as that would slightly defeat the point of bringing through 'future Devils' whig is what this has been sold as in the main. It's a project though so time will tell. In the meantime this is the Devils thread and I'm very much looking forward to catching my first glimpse of them this season at Rye on Saturday (even though I'm not expecting any points)!

Ooops! I even read the bit about Worrall before posting - Must have had a senior moment! Ah well all irrelevant now as we got a tonking anyway!

Somerset are always a good bench mark so will be interesting to see how we get on - We have a shocking record against the Rebels but I think this is one of the weaker Rebels outfits to come to Plymouth since we stepped into the PL. That said Starke knows the SBA very well as does Todd so both will no doubt go pretty well. Wright has never done much at the SBA though so that could be an area for the Devils to target. Not expecting Reade to do much but will be interesting to see how the likes of Kalle, Benko and Simota go. Barker shouldn't drop points to anyone other than maybe Morris and then of course there is Brady! I'll go for the draw 45-45! But if I was pushed to name a winner I'd probably lean the way of the Rebels, should be a belter though!

Surely your problems lie at the bottom end rather than the top? Aspgren out for Davies would be an improvement for you there is no doubt but surely if you need to replace anyone it would be one of the reserves to potentially allow Todd to ride at 6 or 7?

From what I've been told this is spot on. The tools are all there so I guess no excuses! (That isn't meant to sound harsh). I understand his biggest issue tends to be gating which of course is very important especially at the SBA. I couldn't make the Demons P&P last weekend but I spoke to someone who did and they felt Benko showed a fair bit of promise. I accept P&P can make any rider look good but at least that shows some potential. Totally agree - I don't see him being okay - I think he will either prove a decent little signing or he will disappear in a whimper. Will be interesting to see which way he goes. Part of me fears the worst but the other part is excited at an 'unknown' who could be anything! The Simota signing on the other hand is a bit of a meh for me as although he has pedigree I'm not convinced by him or his results on the continent. As I said previously continental results don't necessarily transfer to the UK. From what I've seen his last EL average was 4.44 in 2007 so there is at least something there to cling on to but that was 7 years ago now. Be interesting to see how he looks at P&P tomorrow.

I think most are going by his appearances in the UK last Summer where he was underwhelming to say the least. His form on the continent isn't that great and continental form doesn't always transpire to the UK anyway. Sticky had excellent form in the Czech Republic but his form in the UK was poor.

Simota confirmed in the local rag today - He has signed on a short term deal in the hope that Davies will still get his permit!

Just because he wants to ride for Plymouth doesn't mean he should. We will of course be short of options due to the timescale but would R/R not be better as Barker and Jensen could have an extra ride, given it will only be short term? I know we all want to see 7 riders in a team but I'm not sure about Simota.

I sincerely hope that's not true, he's dreadful! Only rode in Czech Republic last couple of seasons on the whole - Bar a couple individuals / pairs meetings. Form on the whole is no better than Stichauer's. Have a look here... http://speedwayresults.com/rider.php?name=Zdenek&surname=Simota&season=2013

One thing for certain with this Plymouth team is that we have a team of entertainers, win, lose or draw and personally I don't care where we finish as long as the racing is entertaining. I do find watching a team of gaters can become quite dull and that is something we definitely don't have!!! Can't wait for it to get started!

Couldn't agree more about the reserves - Early on Kalle will hopefully do the business but Benko and Reade could be the sticking point. If one or both struggle and we replace them with better then we could well hold our own as a mid-table outfit, if not it could be bottom 3. If I were a betting man - I'd bet Tim Webster will at some point be in the Devils 1-7!

If the point your getting at is that Davies isn't second heat leader material, Benko is unlikely to do much and Reade could struggle then I'd agree. But who knows! As I've said before about the Plymouth side - I don't see us finishing in the play-offs but I don't think we'll be bottom. My worry is Barker, as on starting averages there is a lot of pressure on him to do the business and I've heard his off season hasn't been that great.

Premier Shield - Newcastle Premier League play offs - Workington First place - Workington Premier League Cup - Scunthorpe Premier KO Cup - Workington PLRC - Craig Cook PL Pairs - Sheffield PL Fours - Peterborough Wooden Spoon - Redcar I think it will all depend on the first eight matches as to how far off the pace Benko is - If he surprises a few we could do okay, but I'd be shocked if after four home and four away we aren't already looking at two changes and that alone could make a huge difference. It's always difficult to predict these things as teams can change so much throughout the season but I fancy your lot and Glasgow to be below us on current line ups.

Demons team confirmed for 2014 as... Tim Webster Ben Reade Lee Smart Matt Bates Danny Stoneman James Shanes Richard Andrews Matt Bates will captain the side. http://www.plymouthdevils.co/devon-demons-complete-line-up.html

Yep, fully expecting Benko to struggle so can't really be a disappointment. If he ends up averaging above 3 he will be a great surprise.

A little extra news non team related is that Plymouth have had a variation planning application accepted so we can now host meetings on Bank Holiday Mondays as well as Fridays and Saturdays.

I do hope we are in it to develop our own side. Scunny have had some great prospects come through their ranks and I'd love Plymouth to replicate something similar. I'm actually quite surprised there aren't more fresh faces but hopefully in the future we will see more youngsters come through. Yeah Reade has also got a place in the PL side which does worry me a little, what with him racing all three leagues but he's a good lad and if he can get going and get his tail up early on I think he'll do okay.

When I say improve I'm talking about the team as a whole and that they are all young. From what I have heard and from the scores I've seen, Benko is probably going to struggle to average 3 initially but the hope like with all overseas newbies is that he gets better with time. Fingers crossed! If not I'm sure the promotion will make changes!

Wouldn't necessarily disagree with that, but it's all about improvement for me and every member is still young enough to improve in my book. 11th last season so top 10 will do me nicely.