Steve Irving

Actually looking forward to this! Quite enjoy my visits to worky.

No that's fair enough and like you rightly say, each to their own. I was just a little confused at your post that seemingly started off anti EL and pro PL, (because you don't want to watch has beens like Nicholls), and then in the very same post seemed to become anti PL by naming journeyman riders who ride PL (Risager and Covatti) who are no longer good enough to be wanted in the EL. The PL has seen plenty of riders use it as a retirement home who can no longer cut it in the EL. We could even see in a year or 2, the rider you don't want to watch, drop down a league and become predominantly a PL rider for his closing years.. The argument of preferring being competitive in the PL rather than struggle in the EL is a valid one, and one I'm sure is shared by plenty of others. But I don't think Chris Louis would risk ailing crowds by moving up and not being competitive. Things got pretty hairy last time if I remember rightly? and I'm sure he wouldn't risk Ipswich' future if he wasn't confident of at least being competitive.

You're contradicting yourself there Baldy. On one hand you don't want to see the club join the EL to watch has been riders like Nicholls, and then make the point that Risager and Covatti are journeyman has beens that don't get a sniff of EL racing and are PL riders only, the league you want to remain in? That doesn't make an awful lot of sense to me.

Nicholls has had a good year to be fair.

I'll be coming to this one too. My last chance to see Redcar until we visit Ipswich next season as I'm moving down south in a few weeks. Seeing less of Redcar might not actually be a bad thing mind!

I think Louis will look to move Ipswich up whether they win the play offs or not IF there is anything concrete in the current rumour. Rumour is just the two leagues next season with the PL a weaker product than it currently is to accommodate the NL teams and riders. Can't see Louis sticking around for that personally but we'll see.

Depends which league Ipswich are in regarding Jacobs I'd have thought. If they stay Premier then he's almost certain to return after impressing this season. He's one of the main reasons Ipswich fought their way back in to a play off spot and still has an average that could fit him in at reserve next year. On Garrity, as exciting as he may be, he's one rider I wouldn't want anywhere near my team. Ideally you want a happy camp with good team spirit to help be successful as a team, and for that reason Garrity wouldn't get a look in for me.

Hopefully it produces good racing. I'll be moving down to Bury St Edmunds in a few weeks so Foxhall it will be for my Speedway fix next year. One concern though if they take the inside line in again is that it will in effect shorten the track further. The first alterations took the length from 305 meters to 285, so any further reductions will take it in to Lakeside territory..

No 2017 Witches thread yet which there shouldn't be with this season far from over, but very interesting tweets from Chris Louis today.. "Agreed, it'll be wider, rounder, perfect camber and smoother in 2017. Lots of work planned for the winter. ..👍" That in reply to Sam Masters who was having a whinge about the grippy Foxhall track. When then asked whether it was track shape or surface that was changing, Louis replied "both". So after those extensive alterations a few years back to widen the track, it seems as though he's not entirely satisfied and will work on it again this winter. Interesting.

As expected really. Edinburgh outclassed on the night.

Or more likely the new promotion not realising that they had a talented asset on their hands. I believe it was Danny King who saw the potential in the lad and recommended to Chris Louis that he signed him. Fair play to the Rye promotion for donating half the fee to the Ben Fund though that was a great gesture.

Letting Hume join Ipswich last winter for what I believe was buttons, looks more and more a faux pas by Rye that they surely must now be regretting. The progress the boy has made in 12 months has been outstanding.

Eh? Sargeant was injured on Friday, Hume has broken his collarbone and Jacobs is ill. What are "The Louis clan" supposed to do?

R/R for Sargeant. Good job this is a meaningless fixture as its all gone a bit Pete Tong for the Witches.

Strange one NBJ as most of the Rockets fans on here were genuinely disappointed he was let go last winter. Been a real flop it has to be said and I'd be surprised if there's too many takers this winter.

Think where King rides next year will depend on what league Ipswich ride in. If Ipswich move up as has been mooted, he'll more than likely be at Foxhall.

macca, if you're going to throw an insult at somebody, at least have the decency to quote them rather than bury it deep in the middle of a post.

T B, Ipswich will once again be dining at the top table again in 2017, and they won't be there just to make up the numbers either. Big plans..

And unbelievably a couple of "likes" for this post. Some right miserable sods on here these days.

Well I don't know, anyone want to tell me??

Crikey that's a bit OTT! He hasn't "performed very well" at all, not even close. Nobody should be expecting miracles from some of these guys, but you have to be beating your opposite number at home regularly and he isn't even doing that. To be fair, the lad has himself admitted as much. Which makes his scoring (or non scoring) for Ipswich even worse. As I say miracles not expected obviously, but he HAS been underperforming in the PL so far lets not kid ourselves.

Upset me? LOL don't be daft. Did you not see the smilie? I just find it genuinely strange how one can find the thought of black pudding containing pigs blood "yuk", but will happily eat something containing Sheeps offal (heart, liver and lungs). Certainly no upset here that you don't like black pudding that would be absurd!

There's more blood in your fillet steak as there is in your slice of black pudding before it's cooked! Strange how some folk think, "yuk" at the thought of black pudding but you've "enjoyed" haggis that contains sheep's pluck?

Mr Ellis, this is a speedway forum for the fans to give their opinion. If you're going to be precious about some fans' opinions then I suggest you don't come on here. You also shouldn't insult the intelligence of the paying customer who go to the meetings. Some have been going for 40 years and know a good track when they see one, they don't actually need to be an actual "trackman" to see that. I'll give my opinion on the track too as I've been to both meetings this season. It's looked utter crap!

Lakeside ride on Saturday too so I assume Lewis Kerr will be missing for this?