Arch Stanton

Just one person with one camera but I’d actually prefer to watch the whole meeting with this set up than any of the camera angles we got on Monday! You can actually see Howarth and Riss passing and re-passing here far more clearly.

But he hasn’t been riding for his championship club either.

All that’s been publicly said about Rowe these last few weeks is “missing with illness”. Not sure even if fit he’ll get back in the side anytime soon if Hume rides like he did last night. Just like King, Rowe is another who has started the season pretty poorly.

Warning signs were there for King early in the season when he struggled in the opening weeks. But so far he’s continued in that vain and looks a shadow of the rider we saw last year. The team was built in the hope the riders on the perceived “false” average (Batch, Riss) would rediscover their former form and make us competitive. I think both will improve their averages, but we didn’t factor in others in the team then lowering theirs. We need King to rediscover last seasons form otherwise Doyle will have very little support at the top end. We’ve now got the best number 1 we’ve had for many years and arguably the best rider in the league currently, would be a shame to miss the opportunity to have a successful season while he’s here.

Still can’t believe we’ve put Riss at 2! Started the season as our best rider after Doyle but since being moved to 2 his form has dipped slightly. Winning races breeds confidence and you’re not gonna win too many when you’re in races with two number 1’s. Barker at 2 all day long for me. Put Riss back at 3 or 4 and strengthen the engine room again. On last night, Riss seemed to be having a few machinery issues so maybe that was a factor in not being in 15.

Echo this too. Seemed such an approachable and lovely lady. RIP.

He did exactly the same against Peterborough a few weeks back when it was clear the outside line wasn’t working. Everyone was getting passed by riders hugging the kerb including King in his first couple of rides, but he continued staying on that outside line for the rest of the meeting and continued to get passed every time! He doesn’t seem to know any other way and it’s incredibly frustrating to watch. Even Worrall picked up on it straight away last night and criticised him for it.

Just read also that Batch was suffering from illness last night, as well as struggling with his injury. Does beg the question why he was put in heat 15. Even if he put himself forward which would have been to his credit if he did, that should have been taken out of his hands.

Scored 10 to help us beat you last week. Batch was signed as a 5 pointer, he’s far from a problem.

If only! Them were the days..

We have a glaring problem in the 1-5 and it’s there for all to see. Heeps was rightly replaced, but we then had over 7 points to play with being over 2 under to start with, and we came up with Ben Barker. Very unimaginative from the promotion and pretty lazy. Nothing against Barker, he is what he is and he’ll chip in with a few now and again like he did with a valuable 6 at Wolves. But with over 7 points available we need to be taking a punt on unearthing something a bit better. We’ve only had our proper 1-7 available for two meetings and we’ve won them both. Starke is a big rider for us and so useful down at reserve and this is where the problem will crop up in the future. We needed to find a stronger rider with the points available to keep him down there because as we saw last season, when Starke moved in to the 1-5 his form dropped off a cliff. We’re going to see Barker and Starke swapping places all season when we really should have built the team in a way as to make sure Starke stays where he is.

Was pretty average I thought. The Belle Vue meeting last week was Comfortably better imo.

As I said in an earlier post, can only think it was because he trapped superbly only 2 heats earlier in heat 13 until Doyle really didn’t do him any favours team riding wise which ended up costing them the 5-1. Only other option was Riss but he wasn’t looking great either after his opening ride win and was having machinery issues. Not really an obvious choice.

Hume was riding anyway. It was Nicol who came in for Starke.

To be fair, Doyle aside there wasn’t really many options. Riss possibly. Think Batch gating very well in 13 and looking set for a 5-1 with Doyle before they stuffed up their team riding may have had an influence on his decision. King didn’t gate all night and looked pretty slow.

Fair play to Sheffield, good side. As feared, the loss of Starke cost us in the end. Stinkers from King and Batch didn’t help either.

Oh Sam LOL

Riss is 2 not Barker ffs

Amazing how different tracks can be.

He got 5+2 and 1 on his two visits to Foxhall last year. Not great.

Big blow losing Starke. Was the reserves that made me think we could sneak it. Not now.

I was gonna start the thread this morning but couldn’t be arsed. Got a season ticket but it’s in front of the telly for me as well with a curry. Close I reckon, maybe our reserves might just swing it our way. Looking forward to reading all the comments this time tomorrow on how crap our track is and what a shocking meeting it is

Yes Hume replaces Rowe on Monday against Sheffield.

Starke packing up whilst leading heat 2 was a shame. Would have given him a double figure score. He’s riding really well and makes a big difference at reserve.