Arch Stanton

I don’t possess a vast array of contacts like an ex rider and current promoter SHOULD have, but even a quick look on updates throws out a number of interesting looking names. Under 21 qualifiers https://speedwayupdates.proboards.com/thread/20856/qualifiers-07-05-2022 Kevin Juhl Pedersen? Daniel Kilma? Maeusz Cierniak, Jan Kvech, Casper Henriksson, Jonas Knudsen, Petr Chlupac, Francis Gusts, etc etc. Why not roll the dice and see if you can unearth a diamond? We never seem to do this anymore. I’m not saying any of these would immediately come in and set the world alight, but there’s clearly talented young riders out there who haven’t all yet got the big gigs in Poland. Surely one could be found that is up for it? I wasn’t totally against Krystian Pieszczek as some were on here either. I thought he was pretty useful in the middle order and was pretty harshly axed imo.

Lovey? Got to be..

Never understood this kind of question and it often pops up on this forum. Obviously I have no idea, how could I possibly know that? Daft question that’s absolutely impossible to answer.

We didn’t need someone of Klindts scoring ability though, we just needed a half decent middle order rider to replace Heeps who was contributing nothing. With over 7 points available, was there seriously no rider throughout the whole of Europe who could have come in and been a better bet than Heeps or journeyman Ben Barker?

My gripe is with Chris Louis’ statement in the press release. He “ briefly“ looked in to the European market for one particular rider but he was too expensive so quickly looked closer to home and Barker was the “obvious choice”. Why briefly? Why not have an extensive look around Europe and try and find some talent or was that too much effort? I don’t think for one minute it’s easy finding a suitable rider but at least make the effort. Barker was such a lazy lazy signing. Louis was right about one thing, he was definitely the “obvious choice” and that’s my issue with the signing. People on here were putting Barker’s name forward for weeks before he signed.

7.06 available and we came up with Ben Barker. Terrific stuff.

Yes think you’re correct actually, although I’m unsure of Barker’s exact average. If Starke is fit enough, I’d expect him to get 7 rides anyway as he’s a much better bet than Barker who has looked pants at Foxhall quite frankly. I know he’s only had a couple of meetings, but he needs to do much more than he’s currently doing otherwise the swap with Heeps was pretty pointless.

Witches in all sorts of trouble here. Riss riding in the Long track of nations so R/R for him. That’s a huge blow because he’s clearly far far better than his 5 point starting average so because of that average, only Batch and the two reserves can take his rides. They’re “hoping” Starke is fit enough to come back in at reserve so he probably won’t be 100% even if he rides, and I understand both Batchelor AND King will ride even though they’re suffering with back and wrist injuries respectively. We could do with a rain off here! Or maybe the light bulbs need replacing this week? Wolves will smell blood and they have a handful of riders who go very well at Foxhall. Away win for me.

Correct. That response from Louis was in direct response to someone asking that very question. Unless using R/R, the number 8 would have to be named in the 1-7 for the meeting to get rides.

No.

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.