CardinalSin

Thats a powerhouse top 5 and Dryml will outgate most in this league. Can also see Bjerre having his best season yet as the showground suits his style better than either Foxhall (where he was excellent to be fair) and Leicester. The reserves look one of the weaker pairings on paper and it remains to be seen how Blackbird will cope over a season in the 1-5. I don't think the bottom 3 will have to chip in too many big points though for Peterbrough to be winning meetings.

I agree regarding the racing. But I personally think there isn't the same characters and rivalries around today that there was, particularly in the 80's when the Americans were a force. That could simply be though because that was an era in which I grew up and things always seem more exciting when you're young. The big rivalry between Kenny Carter and the Amercians still lives fresh in my memory 30 years on. I'm not sure in 30 years time if I'm still here, that anything from today will be remembered too much. Again maybe that's just a childhood thing. I'm sure we've all got special memories from our childhood not just speedway, but life in general.

Just having a read back through this thread, and I have to beg to differ with you here. When we first dropped down none of us on here had a clue about the PL and what to expect in this league and were quite reserved in our expectations. I can though, vividly remember numerous fans of other clubs saying we were going to run away with the lot when our first PL team was announced.

Hand on heart is the PL your preferred league of choice? If the promotion take us back in to the EL in 2015, would you be disappointed?

I can't speak for others obviously, but one of the main reasons I miss the EL is the clubs in that division. I've said many times since we dropped a division that we just don't seem to have fitted in. There are rivalries all over the place here in the PL, and we seem to be left out of all that and have none, zero. Maybe now Peterborough have joined us we can enjoy some local rivalry. Also having an EL side with only "one or two" top line riders, is still better than none for me.

I'd add Hawkins to that too. Took an age to get going last year as he wasn't planning on riding and clearly wasn't ready. But slowly got better and finished the season very well. A sub 4 point average will be comfortably improved on IMO.

On the official website it states "the new team race suits will be unveiled!" At the meet the riders event on the 19th. But press and practice is two days earlier on the 17th so surely they'll be "unveiled" then?

I agree with Baldy in that Tungate needs a big season this year to show he's really capable of not only being a number 1 in the PL, but capable of progressing to being a good EL rider too. He does seem to have a bit of a stamina issue which he needs to get on top of.

On the refreshment takings, I'd expect them to go up nicely now that there's more choice and IMO better food than previously. I've not really been one to eat at Foxhall as quite frankly, and again IMO, it's been poor for years. But the new fish and chips on the second bend were fabulous!

It seems we were right to be concerned about Cam's hand injury after a below par performance in the Aussie 21's.. http://www.ipswichwitches.co/

5 weeks and 5 days

No probs.

I think it's highly unlikely they'll be sold full stop but if EL clubs sign them up next season and they double up in the PL, the EL may wish to buy them to avoid losing them in the event of fixture clashes. Where did I say 5 more years for Ipswich in the PL?

What makes you think that? The only thing he mentioned in the press regarding the EL is that if Ipswich had moved up, he may have stayed on as manager as it would involve far less travelling. Chris Louis actually said pre-AGM that he was going there with an open mind when quizzed about which league Ipswich would like to be in. I think the fact that at the time of the AGM, the future of Sky's financial involvement was at best uncertain with strong rumours that they wouldn't be renewing, made any decision a little easier. I'm the first to admit I don't like Ipswich being in the PL and I would dearly love to see the club back in the top flight, as long as we were competitive. But, I also don't think it was the right time to make that jump THIS season when Sky's continued financial input was unknown. Maybe now that a new 5 year contract has been secured, albeit allegedly on reduced terms, perhaps the promotion will make an application to rejoin the EL again next winter.

Disagree. When I look at the current standard of the lower end of the EL 1-5's, I don't think they're too far away already. Got to be honest I haven't really paid much attention to the EL team building this winter, but having had a good look yesterday I was shocked at just how poor most teams look and I mean the 1-5's, not including the youngsters at reserve.

Go ahead, because other than Nicholls many moons ago and King recently, I'm struggling to think of any. Whether those two will be at Foxhall in three years is open to debate as many things could happen between now and then. They may not progress as hoped and therefore find themselves out of the team. The riders themselves may decide that to further their career, a move to a different (larger?) home track may be beneficial for a season or two. But what I will say, is I'll be hugely surprised if either or both are sold and lost as club assets.

That's the spirit!!

Good to hear. With talented club assets like Heeps, Tungate and now Manzares to watch progress at Foxhall, hopefully more will follow your lead.

I've seen many posts on this thread mentioning riders from the golden age of the 70's and 80's. Yet surprisingly I haven't seen one mention of the "cowboy" John Cook! Easily one of the most entertaining riders of the 80's.

Maybe it will piddle down all night in rainy Manchester and get an early call off, whilst staying dry in Suffolk. Problem solved

Ahh yes good spot Badge.

I was thinking more Josh Grajawotsit or doesn't his average fit?

Think it was more than that, it was league meetings on Sky too but there you go, we'll see. And I think the managers role is a bit more complex than you've just described. If it was easy, fans up and down the country wouldn't keep moaning that their team manager has made wrong decisions or "missed a trick" regarding tactical moves.

Didn't he miss several Ipswich meetings through his Sky commitments though? Or is he now giving that up?

Then that is definitely a concern..