Baldy

They had a break in a few weeks back and some elecrical/plumbing work needed to be done; which by the sounds of it hasn't been done. Strange as there has been matches since. Be good if someone in with the club could comment as I may have my wires crossed...or even a pipe burst. Poor show by Stoke after all the recent problems they have had. Looks like a trip to Leicester; wonder if Tim is riding?.

I bang my drum for the last time on this subject. The time sclae used to calc these "rolling averages" is way too long, it makes no sense at all and is totally unfair because riders who lose form are going to be left high and dry on averages that promoters will not take a chance on. Boy do speedway make it hard for themselves!! Between 8-12 meetings should be used. How hard is this.

Interesting and true thoughts. On Sat just past, Gareth kept Robert Branford, a very good rider at this level behind for the whole race; even battled side by side to make sure he got the lead. Not sure if Branford was upset that Isherwood had done him wrong or that he kept him at bay for the race. Think Gareth will always have a problem with gating which will keep his scoring potential down. Put a fair bit of money into new machinery and with that I take he wants to do well. Good meeting at BV tomorrow if the weather holds out; working in the other direction Wednesday but with a good wind may get there.

Just in from the meeting and if Jamie Pickard does not have the biggest increase from start average this year I'd love to see the lad who does ride. Ok Buxton were not the biggest challenge tonight but had Jason Garrity, Robert Branford and Luke Priest who are decent riders and he still got a full max. The lad has really blossomed this year. Track didn't give up too much tonight but thought Branford rode the track well and looked quicker than most of the others. Not sure how Adam Allott has been riding the rest of the season but looked a shadow of the rider I have seen in the past. Jon was a welcome guest as always and the rest of the boys did well. Good to see Ben get some points that his efforts this year have deserved but hadn't got. Gareth emerged from nowhere and beat Robert in one race, don't think Branford was too happy with Isherwood as they tangled on the back straight. Looked like a racing knock to me. Tim continued his impressive form and he and Jamie must get a few premier rides soon. I hope all the hype about Jason hasn't affected him as he did ok tonight but never looked like setting any races alight, prehaps the track was to blame for that. James to me looks like a little Jon Armstrong...that is if there is such a thing, well done. Good to get through the meeting with all the lads out the other end, injury free. well done to all fourteen for giving a go.

I want him to turn himself around and not get replaced at all. The lad has taken an awful lot of bad press for his riding, some would say justified. He is not the best gater but should have the track craft in his locker by now to get himself up some places in races but seems to be lacking in speed which is worrying. The only points at present he is picking up are when others make mistakes. Gareth is better than that but can only go on so long for the best of the team and the paying supporters. Like you say only Cal on a similar average is about at present, but though James Mcbain looked worth a look at the practice. It is a competitive sport, so all riders in teams should be as competitive as possible. Come on Gareth get yourself together.!!

Agree with you with Ben, just if the promotion feel the same. Hope so. He seems to have a good shape on a bike and at times really attacks the track, I like the young man. With Gareth..em..he has along with his family done an awful lot for Stoke speedway over the years and must be hard for the promotion having brought him in, to now think to leave him out. From a team point of view, if/when he drops to reserve we look very weak. This lad was on an eight average a few years back so can do it....just needs to do it and soon.

Main issues for me are. First. What is wrong with that third bend. It seems to straighten up some riders. Every time Tony went into it I closed my eyes as he was all over the place, same with Simon early on. Also caused one of the Sheff lads to go straight into the fence. Yet other riders had no problem at all.Anybody cast any light on the problem?. Felt really for Paul; always been a fan of him but he is ethier still suffering from his injuries from last year or machinery problems or....??.Never at the races yesterday. Sheff/Scun deserved a point from the match; although thought we deserved a point at Sheff; so they cancel each other out. Very impressed with Irvine,Birks and the Worralls, exciting to watch and great pass on Tim by Gary in heat 15. Simon started a little slow and then went that step up from the others and Tony hated that bend three, then steeled...a little. Tim excellent; what a rider he is turning out to be. Jamie and James are a joy to watch. Unfortuately; and I hope I'm wrong; time seems to be running out for Gareth and Ben. Both have for me talent but are struggling at present. Enjoyed the racing... when we got it. Well done all.

Suppose I should be doing this after I've seen Sheff/Scunthorpe ride tonight. Impressed with them away and have at least one good reserve...not seen the other lad ride....think he might have an injury for tonight. Think the only thing that could go against Sheff/Sc topping the league is the double up riders( amount of) BV look good too. Like my Potters. Two lads struggling at present but have not enjoyed my speedway as much for years.

I only saw the lad ride once and he did look a little short of the standard required, BUT the way that the situation was handled(or the way it looked like it was)very poor indeed. Confidence plays a massive part in all that we do, once broken it can be very difficult to gain back.

Promises to be a good meeting tonight. I know the draw of the Man U Barca game might be great but the weather is good in Stoke..at present and these lads, (of both sides) need our support.

Whilst I agree with the majority of your post, one very small gripe is how a team that had five of it's team flying could get a score that flattered them is hard to work out. Once the possible threat of Lewis getting seven good rides in(a real threat early on)was gone, there was only going to be one winner. Jamie has been a joy to watch this year and James is going in the right direction in his development. Jack was the rider I remember( good in some; followed by very average rides) and if he had come in on a 5 average; would of been a good shout for Stoke. Will think he will finish with an average a point or so below the one he has now. Brundle had a very strange meeting with his indifferent rides. Impressed with Halsey and Jacobs with loads of effort. Baseby did his average( his pre-meeting warm up routine was most impressive though) and Laurence is not quite ready yet. Ben for Stoke looked fast after the meeting when trying his bike out so not worried there. Gareth has yet to show the rider he can be. The rest of the boys we excellent and deserved their 57-36 win.

I really feel for people who are in the sharp end of trying to mantain a rider with all that goes with generating money to keep going. True, that the vast majority on people on the forum; including myself have no idea what it costs. If it's £10 per point then it looks impossible without major outside investment to keep a "high scoring" racer going; how the lads who are scraping a few points a meeting do it I will never know. I think that supporters of speedway are a dying breed as the amount of people I come across say, "I used to go, but not anymore". Why is the million dollar question. I encourge all of us to support all we can and drag along anybody who shows any interest. I really fear for the future of speedway at all levels. The cost of riding is massive by the looks of it and the crowds are shrinking. Not a equal equation!!

It doesn't look too promising here at Stoke at all with the weather. Rained most of the morning and looks like it will continue.

James was nearly in our starting 7 this year as he was the rider who was battling it out with Ben on practice day. Looked quicker out of the game than Ben but Ben seem to have move open speed. Good luck to James in the team and Ben on a recovery from his nasty fall. Luke isn't a number one but expect he will pick up enough points to get the team home. Be a very close and enteresting tussle.

I use rolling averages in the manufacturing world...yes our Isles still has a manufacuring industry.but only just. The way to get any value out of them is if your sample period is correct; too long or short and it losses track of the reason you use them; that is to get as close an idea as where you are in your current situation; or in speedway's case; as close to the true riding ability and scoring potential of the rider in question. So what is the right sample period?. I, in my humble work place use the 1/4 rule, that is 52 weeks in a year so the past 13 weeks are used. In speedways case if a rider has a potential 40 meetings a year then the last ten meetings used. I know you have the problem of home away fixtures and riders getting injured but looking at the two years they are using; it is way too long and will not work. A rolling average should change with every meeting rode, not wait until certain dates because then it no longer is a true rolling average.

Was all for coming down and today been hit that I have got to "entertain" some Chinese visitors on Sunday. Trip to Alton Towers on cards....only been there a 1000 times!!!. Tim has been riding very well early on for us; infact I have no complaints about any of our riders. Yet to see Simon in a Potters jacket but I expect with his Sheffield duties that he will be sharp. Should be a close match and hopefully an injury free day.

I'm laughing at the moment and I really don't know why. Last night I was just trying to help in the best way I could. I'm not professional and don't plan to train to be one. I was not and do not in the future expect a pat on the back for sending in any results. I laid out, not very well I'll agree, the riders and thought the Danish sounding names with the brits mingled would be taken for the Vikings and the other by exclusion ( or is it disclusion now?) would be taken as the Potters, sorry for any confusion. This is a forum right?.

You out of all people need not to apologise to me or anyone on here with the excellent job you do to keep the speedway world info on what is going on. As you can see I need some help if I need to relate in the future.

Sorry about the sloppy way of reporting the results. Just had a smartphone.....nobody told me the operator had to be smart!!!. very impresssed with quite a few riders tonight. Andersen, Sol and good to see Priesty back on the Stoke track. All riders had a go and although the racing got lined out at times I left satisfied with my weeekly Speedway fix. Good luck with the rest of the tour.

Stoke 51 Vikings 38. Garrity 8+1 Pickard 8+2 Ish 3 Atkin 9+1 Webster 10 Reade 5+4 Sarg 8+1 Edberg 5+2 Priest 7 Salo 10 Andersen 15 Geary 0 Lee 1

Final heat coming up. Stoke 48 Vikings 35.

Doesn't look like anyone is interested, so I'll stop

1 Sarg 2 Reade 3 Lee 64.3 Sarg looks good 3Rd ht Isher tapes. 1 Sarg 2 Atkin 3 Salo 64.3 Ftg 4th 1 Andersen 2 Webster 3 Reade 63.9 ftg.