aljack

Even if Somerset dont want or dont sign North, in my opinion as they have a very strong top end and good back up they are strong favourites to win everything going in 2012 if they all stay fit. What a marvellous top 2 they have and they can pencil in many 5 - 1s in heats 13 and 15 whereas Witches have as their top 2 Doolan 7.19 and probably Poole 6.90 who will seldom get any home or away. North did fantastic at foxhall while at reserve but his form tailed off after going into the team.

Yes I understand what you are saying but which rider would be left out to let this happen? Also where is this genuine rider no1 rider, can't say I can think of one apart from an elite rider dropping down. Also remember Tungate will go straight into the team not at reserve if Louis brought Hart in and certainly weaken the reserve line-up while putting alot of strain on young Tungate. No I can see Louis signing a solid team with no genuine no1 there was a few around but not now as all have been signed up and that will mean no success yet again. Suppose whatever league Witches are in, us fans have got used to that over the last 12 years.

Yes my sentiments also, it would be nice just once to have a team capable of winning the league. Its great to have entertainers but Witches if without a genuine no1 will win nothing and it will be the 13th year on the trot with not achieving any success. I thought the idea the Louis dropped down into an inferior league was to leave more options for better riders and success with more money available, apparently not.

I think you are spot on about there seems to only be one rider left in question and who that is, is the talking point. Hart by his own admission has not got a place in the Witches team phew!!! So thats not an option, so perhaps theres a young Dane or Swede out there who's not been thought of by our very knowledgeable co-subscribers.

Too much should not be expected of our 2 super young aussie reserves. Im a great admirer of them both but to expect them to get 6 point averages in their first season on tracks they have never seen is a bit much. And it seems most fans think thats whats needed to have a successful season for the Witches in 2012. All this pressure is surely unfair on them and if the Witches had got a genuine no1 signed this pressure would decrease somewhat. There seems no rider around left to fit this catagory and this is very disappointing from Chris Louis who so many thought was building a championship winning side.

Halsey is certainly a good start and obviously Cameron Heeps will be at no1 and then also theres Lewis Blackbird, so things are moving along nicely at mo. The Mildenhall track produces some of the most exciting speedway around, why is that? easy, its never slick like most others are but grippy. Now they have a safety fence its even better and it will be a great place to watch super national league speedway in 2012, bring it on!!!

Although Im a huge fan of our 2 super young reserves, its alot to expect them to make the Witches team successful in 2012 all on their own. A number 1 was essential in my book and now it looks as though thats not going to happen and its now going to be Doolan with a pathetic 7.19. Whoever the final rider is if all predictions are right with the other 6, wont make that much difference as there will be a huge weakness in heats 13 and 15 especially in away meetings, just like 2011. These regular 2 - 10 or 3 - 9 are a killer when trying to get those extra points that make all the difference.

Many meetings were lost and points dropped due to no number 1 in heats 13 and 15 in 2011 and if no number 1 is signed to partner Doolan, the same will happen next season. Its no good having a solid side that will win nothing as has been proven many times over the years. With all these riders who Witches might have been interested in signing for other teams its getting a little worrying to say the least. I agree baldyman Somerset look awesome and they have the top end strength to win silverware.

No Im not saying Witches did rubbish in finishing 3rd but just commenting on the team put forward as its very much like last seasons team apart from 2 very exciting reserves. My worry as Ive stated before is heats 13 and 15 where the Witches have dipped out many a time during 2011. Yes "if" doolan ups his average to 8.5 he will be a genuine no1 but will he? I must admit I wanted Masters but now see he has signed for Somerset again, so who now fits the bill of a genuine no1 for the Witches?

This team apart from much better reserves looks very much like the one in 2011 that did not win anything apart from the 4s which is only second rate anyway, is that the way we want to go again? Still a big weakness in those vital heats 13 and 15 and that needs addressing in my book.

I see Chris Louis is releasing details in the middle of next week of exciting news regarding a new signing or 2 for next season. Lets hope that includes a no.1 who is capable of winning heats 13 and 15 on a regular basis and give support to Doolan.

Spot on there that Mr Muppet my sentiments exactly, cant beat the top riders riding every week at foxhall.

Sam Masters I hope

Its a shame young Bjerre wont be riding for the Witches next season but quite honestly did not expect him to. But good luck to the lad whoever he rides for, a real 100% trier but needs to learn how to gate more often.

The Witches reserves certainly look exciting prospects, now we need a genuine no.1 how about Sam Masters he would fit the bill perfectly in my eyes. Should think Taylor Poole and Morten Risager will be signing soon, so that would leave one place to fill.

My selection for a Witches team is as follows - 1. MASTERS 7.52 2. POOLE 6.90 3. RISAGER 6.36 4. MORRIS 6.94 5. DOOLAN 7.19 6. ROYNAN 4.54 7. HEEPS 3.00 TOTAL 42.45

What no Sam Masters ok then neither

Post removed - see http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showannouncement=7&f=4

Ha ha ha lol you have made my day, please keep it up I enjoy a good laugh oh! my aching sides

Yes lets hope his new engines he is ordering do the trick for Kevin and he gets his old form back. There was signs of it returning in October and he is certainly a good captain and agree with other posts that he is the best captain for many a long year. Wonder who the 3rd rider to be signed is? My guess Morten Risager because he is a Witches asset and hope very soon afterwards Masters and Morris follow suit, or is that just wishful thinking.

Yes good news or not that is the question? Doolan let the team down on many occasions this last season particually in heats 13 and 15 when used. Just because his average has dropped alarmingly that is no reason to sign him again and expect him to up it considerably. But having said that I think he is a good captain but just hope he can inspire the other riders in the team with his own riding, that remains to be seen.

Thank you cardinalsin for your post of Mikes review having not read it myself. How true his words are, a real realist like myself. Now please you "rose coloured glasses" fans who post on here read a true speedway journalists words who actually is a Witches fan. Say no more whos right the "rose brigade" or a top journalist Mike Bacon, aljack and cardinalsin ???

I 100% agree with this part of your post. The only way forward is to sign their own assets and rejoin the star studied elite league. But its essential that the Louis put together a competitive team and not all on the cheap as in the past 10 years.

No Im not a snob in any sense of the word but completely the opposite. I admit I do enjoy the national league speedway at Mildenhall a great deal more than at foxhall, especially now an elite league team (Witches) are now in the premier league. What if John Berry was still promoter, do you think for one minute he would have dropped an elite league team into the inferior premier league? Did not the Louis sell Scott Nicholls to Coventry then??? One thing I do agree on is young assets being signed on full terms but for what use if the Witches stay in the premier league? If successful they will all just move on up into the elite league so be lost to the fans at foxhall due to being in the premier league. If the rent was 75k a year, that would be payed off with 3 - 4 meetings of £25,000 each correct, so leaving the other (lets say 18 meetings) for running the team in the elite league. The one thing I will also applaud Chris Louis for like you is, for helping to bring speedway back to Mildenhall along with Jolly and Lee.

At least the elite league has 20 star riders, whereas the premier league have a big 00. Say no more my point has been confirmed more or less by 'Racin jason'