Speedball

I make it 22 weeks from the start of November until the first week in April before the first meeting of the 2019 season. That's plenty of time to get at least 30 decent news stories into the local media. I'm no comms expert but came up with this in 15 minutes, took me longer to type it out than think of it. If this was my job, it should be even easier. Now I'm sure some of this has been done but to be honest, the whole build up to this season has been so non-existent, speedway has hardly featured in my thoughts (and that off the back of a decent season). Might be off on some dates/timings but this is back of the fag packet stuff on a dull afternoon at work Not all of this is for the media but for things such as social media, keeping fans engaged and wanting more. Week 1: Determined to build on disappointment of last season, defiant message, we'll be back blah blah Week 2: Build up to the conference Week 3: Conference news, team manager thoughts, confirm pricing, season tickets etc. Ex-Young Stars and our assets getting rides in the Championship Week 4: Many team building options, looking at different riders blah blah. Hope to have signing news soon Week 5: Announce rider 1, thank Tru7 group for their sponsorship. Looking for new team sponsors/appeal to businesses to get involved etc etc Week 6: Announce rider 2 Week 7: Just before Xmas, push season tickets, merchandise etc as last minute gifts. Christmas present for fans with announcing rider 3 Week 8/9: Christmas period so lots of other stuff, taking people's attention. Do short sharp stuff. 12 days of Xmas (great old riders, race highlights, famous meetings, build up to announcing rider 4) Week 10: Announce rider 4, Week 11: Update from either rider 1, 2 or 3 on pre-season prep. Built up about training camps, equipment builds, hopes for the season. Ex-Young Star Josh Bailey being in Australia (future Star etc) Week 12: Announce rider 5. Have video footage from training camp (showing one or all of the 5 announced riders rather than p*****g most fans off by saying the team was there but we won't tell you who it is yet) Week 13: Update from rider 1, 2, 3 or 4 (not same one from Week 11) with the same kind of pre-season update. Week 14 (this week): Announce new team sponsor giving them full coverage for that week Week 15: Announce riders 6+7 (maybe reserve duo). All team announced and done now. Details of a fans forum/meet the team night before start of the season Week 16: Training camp update showing all the riders present Week 17: Team manager thoughts on pre-season prep. Got the team I really wanted, looking at team riding order, partners blah blah Week 18: New team logo with new sponsor, hint at racesuit design (if having them) Week 19: Announce team & vice captain/team bonding session update Week 20: Final pre-season round up, start to build the local derby meetings. We've been top dogs in East Anglia last few seasons etc etc, want that to continue (all good natured stuff but get people talking) Week 21: Press practice, fans and sponsors meet the team evening and then coverage and sound bites after the event Week 22: Build up to first meeting Tie in things like competitions for maybe a season ticket in conjunction with local media (KLFM, Free Paper, Lynn News) and should get you plenty of coverage. Team announced by mid Feb. Plenty of build up, bit of variety but mainly a speedway story of some sort every week from the end of the season to the start of the next.

Nail. Head. Hit. All this talk of maximising exposure yet they name a rider and a team sponsor at the same time. That's two good news stories that would get good coverage but one will get less coverage than the other. That will probably the sponsor story as more people would be interested in the team. If you were a sponsor, you'd want maximum exposure for your £ rather than being relegated to a sub-story. This is just basics

I don't see a lot of improvement in this season's (anticipated) side and don't see us challenging at all, which is very disappointing after last season. Robert would have to go great guns to put a big increase on his average again. Went from 7.38 to 9.13. Sure he'll be between 9.00 to 9.50 but he won't have a lot of support this year. Despite Niels having a poor season by his standards, they still chalked up several match winning 5-1's. Ty put 1.17 on his average last season (5.50 to 6.67) and I can't see him doing that again, in fact would be surprised if he even matched his average with having to be 2nd heat leader. Thomas only added 0.12 (5.93 to 6.05). MPT's average actually dropped by 0.21 (5.57 to 5.36) despite some headline performances. Lewis added 0.44 (5.06 to 5.50) and will do well at reserve, especially at home. Kasper was nowhere near his 4.00 average despite there obviously being some talent there as shown with some of his performances for Sheffield. Erik came in on 6.10 and finished on 6.08. Became very good at the AFA but his away performances tailed off after a promising start. I could maybe see increases for Robert, Thomas, Erik and maybe MPT but that would be about it and certainly not by a point or so, more like the odd 0.10/0.20. I see Lewis probably being in around the same but think he'll struggle in the main body of team away from home. Be surprised if Kasper reaches over 4.00 and think Ty's will fall if no one else steps up into the second heat leader role. To me, the side looks like the cheap, easy option. Would love to be proved wrong but expecting a battle to avoid the wooden spoon. I actually like all the riders, I just don't like the balance of the team and think we'll really be lacking in heats 13 & 15. Might get away with it at home but see some right hammerings on the road. At £18 a meeting. I'll be picking and choosing my matches from now on rather than being the die hard I once considered myself.

As far as I'm aware Lynn's team was sorted months ago so none of this will make any difference to our intended line-up. If Harris goes anywhere, I imagine it will be Ipswich.

Kasper Andersen confirmed.

As we’ve seen previously, it’s the team that finishes the season that counts rather than start it.

Didn’t he lose his father who supported him closely throughout his career? Remember him coming to Lynn in our PL days with Edinburgh and him being fantastic. Clearly talented but something went wrong. He had a couple of decent meetings for the Stars in 2017 but never looked especially comfortable on the track. One he’d looked so good at years before. He’d rode some interesting lines

I get what you mean but if you compare the team building to last season, you could obvious average increases in in Lambert, Proctor & Jorgensen for example. Not sure I see any big improvers for next season though. Love them or hate them, Poole are successful because they assemble sides with riders who are likely to increase their averages. Covatti a recent prime example. For me, the rider with the biggest scope to improve on last season is Niels if his shoulder is fully sorted, but as I said, I don’t see him being back.

If I was a betting man, I’d say that the 2019 team will be made up entirely of riders who rode for us in 2018. My concern there is I don’t see anyone on an especially bargain average with scope for adding a point or two onto it. Someone is going to need to step into the 2nd heatleader if as I suspect, Niels moves on.

Can’t see there being any new faces as such. Sure Robert will be back and I’d be very surprised if Erik, MPT and Kasper aren’t included.

Wouldn’t be surprised to see Iversen back at Peterborough. Told by someone who is usually spot on with these things that he won’t be at Lynn next year.

The last time we were both in the same league was in 2002. We moved down to the Premier League in 2003 but raced each other in the BSPA Cup or whatever it was called. That’s the last meetings between us I can remember. Edit - Think the competition might have been called the British League Cup.

Nico Covatti on 4.70 would be good signing considering his appearances with Somerset last season, but can't see him being anywhere other than Ipswich.

As much as I'd love to see Doyle and Lambert together, that would leave us far too weak elsewhere. I'd like us to try and build the team in the same way as we did last season. A strong number 1, a decent number 5 to provide support in heats 13 & 15, two dependable solid middle order (5.5 to 6.5 types) and a strong reserve. Lambert looks nailed on. Certainly more positive than things were this time last season with him. Lambert and Iversen would be a decent start though I wonder if Niels might head back to Peterborough. Don't think he looked confident at the AFA at all last season. Don't think many would be upset to see any of Proctor, Jorgensen, Palm Toft or Riss back but unlikely we'd be able to fit all in. Our final team average was 44.24 so we've got to lose 1.74 somewhere down the line. I imagine of the 4, Proctor would be most vulnerable as he has the highest average. Not done the maths, but with a British reduction of 2.5% for Lambert and Kerr, would the following fit? Lambert Palm Toft Riss Jorgensen Iversen Kerr Whatever is left? EDIT - In answer to my own question - NO That 6 come to 39.92 by my quick calculations so not enough for a 3.00 pointer at the bottom.

Always loved Erik Gundersen's white, gold and black trim suit and matching bike covers. Always looked so professional and immaculately turned out John Davis Coastal Windows white and pink leathers was quite catching as well.

Think he was spannering for Etheridge at Belle Vue so I'd be very surprised if he's at Lynn tonight.

Don’t think it will be an easy win by any means but think the Stars will get the job done tonight. Fancy it being something like 47-43. Aces certainly no pushovers but see no reason for the Stars to suddenly falter. As I’ve said previously, when one struggles another steps up. Been that way for most of the season and can’t see that changing. These are the kind of nights we want to be involved in. Understand the nerves from some but enjoy it and have faith in a team who have given us nothing less than 100% all season. Up the Stars

The Comical Ali of the Poole propaganda machine strikes again

Delighted to come away with any sort of lead after the first 7 heats. It would be a collapse of the highest order if we cock this up. Enjoyed my first trip to the NSS, great track and facilities (had a meal in the Peter Craven Suite before the meeting). MPT really was the saviour last night. One of the best thing about this Stars side is that someone always steps up when the chips are down. Much more character, resilience and bottle in this side compared to last season. Don’t think we’ve had a meeting when all 7 have really clicked at the same time yet. Would be good if that happened a couple of times over the next month. Also nice to go to a meeting with a bit of an atmosphere though a few peaked to soon with the “easy easy” chants early on. Plenty of stick for Lambert which he answered in perfect style in 13 & 15. All good fun though. Roll on Monday!

I guess by South Stand, that's the terracing on the back straight? Looking forward to my first trip the NSS but bloody nervous. Would be great to get a few together to cheer the boys on.

There’s a fine line between hard and dirty and in my opinion Batchelor went over that line. His only interest was to try and stop Robert by whatever means he could. Not saying he meant for Robert to fall but he knew the only way he could possibly beat him was by stuffing him. Other than the closeness of the aggregate score, actually thought it was a pretty dull meeting racing wise but heat 15 certainly livened the place up.

Lynn are at Swindon next Monday in the first leg of the KO Cup semi final

Glad it went well tonight. Season ticket for NCFC meant I missed the meetings. Up to 3rd in the table and with a trip to Leicester on Monday surely yielding something, it sets up Wednesday’s meeting with Poole nicely.

Think MrMungo being on the thread is a decent clue as to who the rider is. Long time no speak MrM. Hope you are well mate

Really sad news. Never knew Gerald personally though would probably have known him by sight. I always enjoyed his posts on here. Fair, balanced and like Trees mentioned, he said it how he saw it. Rest in peace StarFever