Arch Stanton

I never get around much anymore, but I hear from close friends that do that Workington are not the only ones trying to get by on those sort of figures. Worrying times it really is.

Lots of finger pointing and blame at the people in charge written here, but is there seriously less than 500 supporters attending meetings? If that is accurate, I'm sorry but that just isn't enough to sustain speedway anywhere.

Did he really say that? bloody cheek considering he completely stank the gaff out all season! Should have been axed earlier.

From what I gather, the outlay to purchase the contracts of both Doolan and Risager for that matter, were minimal. Those fees could in theory be comfortably regained through loan fees in the coming years.

Agree with the post above. Poole is the better rider and has more potential. But he won't get it over Risager for non speedway reasons. In my opinion.

Lanham and Ipswich officials in extensive discussion after the meeting at Rye last night. Lets hope a deal was reached.

Very much liking the sound of Chris Louis' plan. Expect more young assets signed over the next 12 months in readiness for an assault on the Elite league. For now, enjoy the premier league ride.

I was being flippant. These signings haven't been popular in certain quarters.

Heeps on a 3.00 and Tungate on 5.00 are clearly bargains.....

That i'm led to believe is Chris Louis' plan from what I've been told. He's looking to move both clubs up a division in 2014, with the slight possibility of it happening in 2013 if certain things fall in to place. The relationships between the two clubs will remain.

Interesting stuff thanks Halifax. Hope to have a look sometime in the near future.

I've seen a few comments now on the healthy crowds at Plymouth. Having never been, roughly what sort of numbers do they attract down there?

Lewis Blackbird named as captain and becomes a full club asset along with Josh Bates, Daniel Halsey, and Aaron Baseby http://www.lovespeedway24.co.uk/teams/mildenhall-fen-tigers/lewis_blackbird_gets_mildenhall_honour_1_1213778

He'll average 7+. He averaged nearly 6 and a half last season during which he severed part of his finger in a horrific crash. It took him an awful long time to get his confidence back but improved as the season went on. Injury free, he'll put at least a point on his starting average.

Is it that difficult to arrange the odd Saturday here and there? We know how vital the Good Friday and Bank Holiday Monday crowds are to the club and we've seen in the past that a Saturday meeting matches those attendances. The crowd For a Saturday night meeting against Swindon a few seasons ago was massive. Surely even one bumper Saturday meeting a year to go with the bank holidays would swell the coffers and be a bonus to the club?

Hart had a bad injury in 2010 and gave his word to Chris Louis that he was over it and fully fit to ride last season. Chris Louis has since revealed he wasn't and shouldn't have ridden last season at least the beginning of the season but he was so excited about the prospect of riding for Ipswich, he put his heart before his head. Despite all his bravado, his confidence on track had been affected a little.

Tungate getting all the attention at the moment, which is good news for Cameron Heeps. Hopefully Tungate performs as hoped as that will ease the pressure on Heeps and he can develop at his on pace and flourish too. What a reserve pairing though. Exciting times.

I know from reading your posts in the past Mr Snackette that the asset system here is a thorny issue, and i actually agree with everything you say. But while it still exists, i think its important to the club(s) to get these guys signed up and on the retained list. You're quite right, regardless of which club a rider is on the retained list of, he will ultimately decide where he rides. However, taking Cameron Heeps for example, getting the lad signed up as a full "asset", could very well be very financially beneficial to Ipswich when/If he decides to ride elsewhere in the top flight.

Wrong. Both Rohan Tungate and Cameron Heeps are both Ipswich assets after signing club contracts. Or more accurately, both riders are now on Ipswich' retained list.

Not just at West Row either. I bet he alone swelled the numbers at just about every track he visited this year with supporters keen to take a look at what all the fuss is about and they wouldn't have been disappointed either.

Of course he was riding at number 1!! Where else would he be riding the season following those averages??

In the three previous season's, he's averaged 10.32, 8.87 and 8.90. An average over 10 and two averages very close to 9 surely qualifies as an "out and out number 1" doesn't it?

A 6 times Aussie dirt bike champion proves the lad is a talented motorcyclist. Beating the likes of Watt, and Ryan Fisher and Ty Proctor from the back shows what the lad is made of. And he'll be a Premier league reserve. The good thing from an Ipswich perspective, is that when he inevitably moves up, Dakota North or Morten Risager will probably drop to reserve. And with Cameron Heeps down there as well the potential is frightening. Somerset set the pace last year with North rattling up cricket scores at reserve but as soon as he moved up, Somerset looked a lot less potent. Ipswich won't have that problem. Kevin Doolan is a vital cog to any potential silverware for me. If his new machines fire and he gets back to being the out and out number one he has in the past, then with the strength of the rest of the side below him, Ipswich will go very very close.

I think you need to look at season finishing averages rather than how riders performed directly against each other. I don't think anyone will deny that Lasse Bjerre is a class above Dakota North and that's no criticism of North who is a talented rider in his own right. But the fact is before his injury he was struggling a little in the main body of the side after scoring heavily in a reserve berth. So the 1-5 are obviously a little weaker than last year. But the reserves look capable of making that difference up and some. Particularly away from home where both Mills and Hart were both generally poor. I think its handy that there are some warm up fixtures before the League campaign gets under way. That will enable the two reserves to settle in nicely before hopefully hitting the ground running in the League fixtures.

I agree it's time both of them really stepped it up a gear and they are both talented enough to do so. I've a sneaky feeling that at least one of the reserves will overtake them.