Arch Stanton

And doesn’t the Witch suit him?

No. The best RS available was Drew Kemp, plain and simple. But, at the end of the day it’s Louis’ choice. He’s decided Kemp or Rowe for that matter, isn’t who he wants in his team this year. He’ll have his reasons for that and we have to accept that we don’t know exactly what they are. I’d rule out a monetary issue, the club are backed heavily and if Louis wanted Kemp they’d pay the dollar.

Bet365 Belle Vue 11/8 Ipswich 3/1 Sheffield 4/1 Peterborough 13/2 Leicester 12/1 Wolves 12/1 Kings Lynn 20/1 They’re way off with Lynn there IMO. absolute bankers for a play off spot and happy to be vaulted on that come the end of the season.

I don’t buy the theory he doesn’t want to ride for Ipswich, why wouldn’t he? He hasn’t got a ride anywhere, even if Ipswich wasn’t his first choice he’d take it now if offered no doubt about it. Louis clearly doesn’t want to use him. Even Hawkins today in the Speedway star says they wanted to move away from what they’ve tried before and freshen up the rising star position. Yes press and practice day today, although whether the track is ok for practice after all the rain lately and overnight last night who knows.

I also have Wolves bottom as it stands.

Can’t judge really from a pre-season individual meeting, but I’m looking forward to watching those two in particular next Monday at Belle Vue.

https://britishspeedway.co.uk/2022-rider-statistics/ If you look at their 2022 GSA’s, Kemp wasn’t a million miles away from Flint who everyone is saying is far and away the strongest rising star. Also factor in that Kemp was riding as the senior reserve despite being on the rising star list himself. Kemp IMO was one of if not THE plum pick, and nobody has picked him..

I think we’ll be one of those that can strengthen early doors. Rew for example is now an assessed 5 instead of 4 which the club initially thought, you could expect him to start slowly and drop at least a point off that while he settles especially if he’s stuck at number 2. Doyle’s average is also hefty, that could drop early, and so could Emil and Riss who for different reasons may take time to get up to speed. That chance could disappear quite quickly though because all those averages bar maybe Doyle, I’d expect to only go one way once the season progresses and riders visit tracks for the second time, and fitness improves for those still carrying injury. Will be interesting to see whether a change is made when the opportunity comes.

It’s not a good look for them that’s for sure, especially Kemp who is a club asset. With all due respect to Joe, Kemp would have been the stronger rider, but Louis clearly just doesn’t want to use him for whatever reason.

Was 12.00pm today the cut off.

Add Riss to the serious question mark. Not fully fit “til May/June” after ACL surgery in December that takes around 6 months to recover from. Rew never seen Foxhall, inexperienced and very little if any track time since a pretty scary crash in January. Emil is an experienced rider of genuine quality so you’d expect him to get back in to groove fairly quickly, although possibly not first meeting! This isn’t a case of “getting excuses in early” as some will probably claim, just genuine concerns at a lack of fitness and sharpness. Certainly a better chance of getting something here than in the second fixture in June.

Head over to the Poole thread Badge, the last post on there has a link to an interview with Jack giving all the latest

This popped up on my timeline. Some of this will do nicely

I hope so, personally.. Typical isn’t it. Been one of the driest winters on record here and with the season now in sight, here it all comes!

No, Hume isn’t on the rising Star list, Rowe is however and could take the rising star role if he’s made himself available Rew is an assessed 5, not 4. Press and Practice is on the 16th March, same day as the meet the riders event that evening.

Correct although that seems to have been relaxed in the last couple of years. They did say if they let people in they would have to count it as an official fixture but the last couple of years I’ve known a few who have been let in without any issue so who knows what the official line is these days. Maybe presenter will know

Agree, small track compared to others but “rides big” according to Louis since the alterations. Much more rounded shape than the old circuit and plenty of room to race with the wider bends.

Has looked pretty ropey at Foxhall to be fair, but he’s a young rider who is improving all the time. No doubt he’s a better rider now than the one that last came to Foxhall in 2021. He’ll be an obvious threat but Masters will still be the biggest threat at Foxhall for me as an away rider. Loves Foxhall and lowered Doyle’s colours twice in one meeting last year.

Wouldn’t be a like for like as Doyle would be impossible to replace so would have to be a few changes to completely restructure the team in our case.

Think I’ve added more to the ignore list last few months than I ever have. Is it me or does there seem to be a lot more short tempered and prickly people around this winter than usual? Season can’t come quick enough!

Wouldn’t rule it out at all, although Pedersen himself may take a bit of time to hit top gear also after his injury.

The best time to catch us (Ipswich) will be early doors. Riss delayed his surgery on his ACL until the new year so he could go on holiday, will he be 100% fit? Footballers can take over a year recovery time from an ACL and although sitting on a bike is nowhere the same as running around a football pitch, you still wouldn’t wanna fall off and land on it would ya. Rew is coming back from a broken bone in his neck and back, hasn’t ridden any of the tracks and if he’s stuck at 2, will come up against Doyle Pedersen and Andersen in his first heat here so it’ll be tough to put it mildly. Then you’ve got Emil who has been out of action for a year and may take a few meetings to get in to top gear. We might just get caught cold first few meetings and if we do we shouldn’t hit the panic button. The team will undoubtedly get stronger as the weeks and months tick by.

Bit blurry, but that’s front cover of this weeks Star. Worth a pick up