Hunters

Mattie Bates missing at IOW last night because of injury. Does that mean he is not at Plymouth tonight? I have heard nothing about it.

From what I saw Friday this will happen before they have completed 4 League matches and get new averages.With Trophy and challenges they had 7 matches to prove themselves. Connor Coles and Kelsey Dugard out with Jake Knight and a 3 pointer in. Coles also looks to be struggling at Newcastle, where he has also had several matches, compared to the performance of many of the other double up riders.

Put the claws away chaps, this should be a terrific match between two evenly matched sides. Well worth watching and I would love to be there. I see Birmingham as a 4 top men team against Cradley's 3 but more fire power in Cradley's reserves. If I had to make a forecast then I would go Brummies 47 Cradley 43 tonight but fancy Cradley to finish higher in the league.

That's blown my theory out the water. But if he is not riding this year why was he at P&P?

I think Aaron must have come with his brother for a practice, he was out last year and I see no way that he could fit at present if he is going to make a come back. His average is too high to replace one of the bottom 4 and too low to replace a heat leader. It would need someone else in the 6 bracket and we know they are like gold dust. The Jake Knight scenario though makes real sense as we need a real No 1 which takes the pressure off Mark Baseby who can go to 5 and particularly Georgie who can do well at 3. We can afford to down grade the replacement for Adam Extance as he will spend all season at reserve and there will always be a good reserve with him to take extra rides if necessary. I presume that will be Charley Powell who should have a good season now his shoulder has recovered and with the general weakening of reserves and second strings. There are one or two possibilities out there, From the sound of things Jamie Cousins has been practicing with Georgie and is going well but did not get a place with Kent. James Purchase is another with a bit of experience, with their knowledge of local track and grass track talent I would expect the Dugards to have someone lined up. This could also be a good move for Connor Coles who has to go from Eastbourne Saturday night to Newcastle on Sunday along with his Moto Cross commitments. Far better to be with a midweek team like Kings Lynn and I believe he comes from the Anglia region. Hope we get some answers in the next few days because I will be away until Good Friday. .

Just had an hour at Press & Practice and I think I see Plan B coming. Replacing Adam Extance with a lower 3+ rider would have given other teams between 1 & 2 points advantage before a wheel has turned. Much more likely they would change the team. I was surprised to see Jake Knight practicing and he looked a cut above everyone else. From his body language with Martin Dugard in the pits he seemed to be saying 'I am back'. My guess would be that Connor Coles is moving probably to Kings Lynn and Jake will be No 1. This leaves 3.79 points to replace Adam Extance. Would make the eagles even stronger. The two who impressed most apart from Jake were Mark Baseby and Tom Brennan. Tom obviously has a lot to learn from behind but when he makes the gate he will be very difficult to catch. The other youngster who looked to have the makings of a good rider wore No 50 on his back. I would like to know his name if anyone has it. Looked a bit big for Nathan Ablett but might have been Jason Edwards? Certainly one to follow in the British Youth Championship this year.

Any idea when p&p is? I have seen nothing on the Web site.

I don't have anything to do with social media apart from this forum and don't know a Paul Goldsmith so I am reliant on what I pick up here if it is not on the web site.

Where does this come from? On the web site Connor says he has not been able to find a replacement yet , no talk of a plan b.

Not so sure about that they, have 5.21 to play with but there is no one like that left. Guess it will be R/R until Gary Cotham's shoulder heals.

B Morley 9.22 L Payne 8.11 D Greenwood 6.82 B Hopwood 5.83 T Brennan 3.00 K Bickley 3.00 J Jenkins 3.00 Total 38.98

I cannot see them losing any at home and only a few away. About time Belle Vue had something to cheer them up, they did have a very long and depressing run in the Elite so they are entitled.

That would be a Pity. You name Bridger and Kennett, well Dugard and Brennen like blasting round the outside as well. Must be how they were trained, an Arlington thing. There could be some good races with a bit of dirt.

And now three more have joined us making 5, there has to be a message there.

Got to agree with you but if the comment I read some time ago that the Woodhull twins are not riding this year because of educational reasons proves true, then something like Holt and Mellish would bring Belle Vue back in line with one or two others.

In making my predictions I tried to be a bit more scientific. To make the play offs will require a team average of at least 44pts probably 45. Last year only 3 teams achieved the 44 level mainly because Birm (52.76) Kent (47.53) and East 48.08) were so far above it. With a seemingly more balanced league this year 45 is the most likely requirement. As teams were set up on 39 it means an improvement of 6 to make the play offs. Could also be a bit more as nobody seems to have used the full 39. This is where the top heavy teams suffer, How can Boxall or Bowen and possibly Morley make a significant contribution to the extra needed? Adam Ellis has been the stand out rider this last two years but he could not make 11.00. They will often have the occasional problem that drops a point or two and of course they will meet each other three tines in Heats 1,13&15 when the teams meet. This means that the rest of the team have all got to put a point on their average and makes the more balanced teams a better bet.

Belle Vue Eastbourne Mildenhall Cradley Birmingham IOW Kinks Lynn Buxton Stoke Kent Lakeside Plymouth

Many thanks the Home Straight it will have to be.

Well I will be giving it a try in August. As soon as the fixture list came out I booked a 5 day break at Warners, Bembridge so I can support the Eagles on the Thursday. Whilst I have passed by the Stadium before I have not been inside. Can you tell me if there is adequate seating for a couple of old codgers who cannot stand or must we bring our own?

Which means after 4 matches he wont be eligible anyway.

Not the best of fixture lists for us. Coles will miss 8 matches including both visits to his old home at Mildenhall so I hope we find a good guest.

A lot of Saturday away matches for Newcastle which means no Connor Coles, Am I right in thinking that you can have a guest for any heat leader if they are missing because of a doubling up commitment?

But don't forget that tiny 6 or 7 year old who toddled round on a small bike during the parade in the Elite League days. He is 13 this year and won the 150cc class with 45 wins in 45 rides last year. Nathan Ablitt will be our no 7 in 2019 for sure. If Lakeside are not in the NL next year then I would think the other second half rider from those days Jonathan Edwards will be No 7. He should be moving up to 500cc this year.

Disappointed to see there is no round of the British Youth championship scheduled this year at Arlington. Always enjoy watching the lads give it a go. Only hope is that it will be the final round still TBC but that is not traditionally so.