Roger Jacobs

All due respect to Boxall, not a direct replacement for Nelson (not on current form anyway). Because Bunyan is also missing, the Rockets will be able to use R/R & a guest. Maybe name Boxall at #8?

Ah well, there you go - just proves how observant I am! I did spend a very pleasant few minutes chatting with Emma from KL, who I had previously only "spoken" to as part of the Live Updates team and on Twitter. No doubt the aljackal was deep in conversation with his many friends .

I do know that the interval took much longer than expected, but no idea why the crop sprayer didn't come out. There's an option on the Witches website to ask questions, so you could always try that - you don't have to use your real name . Shouldn't be a shock to see CL workiing on the track. Bob would have been there early doors, and the old boy needs a break

A report and some photos here: http://www.lovespeedway24.co.uk/home/gallery_fans_flock_to_sittingbourne_for_kent_kings_opening_race_1_2182587 Click on the link to the right of the article for the gallery of photographs. I think this is him: http://www.speedwaybikes.com/rw/uJamison_Dilkey.htm Sims is a New Zealander: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Simmo-Racing-10i-Hayden-Sims/391628540852262

Remarkable ride by Barker and Hawkins in Heat 10 - I think Hawkins deserves just as much credit for being in the thick of the action, and taking advantage of the gaps. I still can't work out how they got past Doolan. Barker didn't look like he could catch Bjerre, and his pass just put the icing on a superb four laps. You can argue that Leicester were weakened by the loss of Nieminen, simply because R/R reduces the options for Heat 15. Amazingly, the Lions scored 9 from the programmed rides, so overall they didn't really miss him - and the match points were lost before Heat 15. Apart from Bjerre, there wasn't much else for the travelling fans to get excited about. Karlsson looked sharp in his first ride, and certainly smoother on track than most of the other riders - but after the "missed heartbeat" events of Hawkins chicane along the home straight in Heat 6, the veteran Swede looked out of it. Doolan also started well, and also tailed off alarmingly - he has tweeted that he thinks he may have a virus. Maybe it's the same one that saw him get 7 from 5 for the Witches on too many occaisions. No hard feelings for Doolan, who we all know is a jolly decent chap, but as Louis said at the pre-season event, Doolan was brought to Ipswich to be a #1 and he never really delivered. I can understand why Branford felt hard done by in Heat 2, but there was no contact at all. Ellis simply locked-up, and Branford did the same behind him - but fell. The Ref obviously saw it as a racing incident (assuming he saw it). I couldn't see when the red lights came on, but it was a hairy moment when Ellis hit the first bend full tilt next time round and Brandford and bike were still on the track. I think Branford is a competitive rider, and hopefully he will be given not just the chance to settle in, but also as much time as Nielsen, who seems to have a charmed life. The Dane is clearly tidy and capable, but surely the time he has been given could be better invested in more young Brits? I can't believe they've released Blackbird, but kept Nielsen. As for Graversen - what an incredibly awkward and ungainly rider - nothing else to say. A thoroughly good all round performance from the Witches - the jury is still out whether they can mount a serious challenge for the PL (especially after the thrashing at Workington), but they will definitely be in the mix. I had a chat with Adam Ellis after the meeting, for Rerun Productions, and as well as being a very talented rider, the impression I got was of a level-headed and articulate young man. Definitely one DVD I would recommend is worth a purchase .

Apparently Jock is a strapping lad, and very protective of Dick. Could be those two if they take the Mick.

There Their They're

No wonder they missed it if they went there. Their bus was leaving from somewhere else

Humble Pie? As I see it, a lot of Ipswich fans were happy with their team's performance on Thursday night, including myself, and thought the Witches had given themselves a good chance of progress. By the same token, Workington fans weren't wholly impressed with the Comets away showing, and knew it would take one heck of an effort to pull back 20 points. On Saturday, the reverse, with a much better outcome for Workington. For some reason, the world and his boyfriend jumps on the bandwagon to rip into Ipswich and to defend a Texter who had limited time & vocabulary. Aljackal is an Ipswich enigma who you all should have learned to ignore. If you don't "get" IpswichJules, then the one thing that any of this proves Is that us softy southerners have a much more subtle sense of humour than you hard-nosed northerners. To quote Mr Snackette: "Pip Pip!".

You must publish the NHS injured speedway riders website - would be very useful. Barker had an x-ray on Friday which indicated no break, was strapped up and declared himself fit. After Saturday's result, I'm glad he made the effort! Absolutely agree. No thanks, I have already rushed out and found a much more interesting prior engagement.

Or maybe it was a conspiracy to stop Bridger getting one of the seeded places ...

Considering the way the Witches rode at DP on Saturday night, the last thing that Ipswich fans will be doing on 29th June is hanging on every woop, woop from Live Updates .

Suspected broken wrist, which was x-rayed on Friday, and found not to be so. Heavily strapped and declared himself fit. By the same token, are you asking how did Stead withdraw from a meeting (indeed, not even take part) 48 hours earlier with shoulder injuries, but return to action and score very well?! Troll. Ipswich rejected the not-very-Eite League. Workington definitely looked strong with Cook and a superbly in form Dyer . However, no excuses on behalf of the Witches, they were dire - and the Comets got some revenge for that controversial aggregate defeat last season. Added link to IpswichStar: http://www.lovespeedway24.co.uk/teams/ipswich-witches/woeful_witches_crash_out_of_the_ko_cup_1_2171189

I completely missed the comment that Goopin was working at the track, and have sent a pm acknowledging how much tougher it is to work and text - I know, I did it on Thursday. It does show what a fantastic service Live Updates has become, when expectations are so high. #bythefansforthefans and in my humble opinion it puts the BSPA to shame. But then, my humble opinion often seems to get me labelled as a trouble maker, LOL.

Tweets by Pete Simmons: "Well that was embarrassing-to let slip 20pts lead & then lose @cameronheeps to injury mid meeting.We tried but were just not good enough!" "Cam went off to hospital, CL gone off to see him ... after match. Hopefully just precautionary check over at hospital."

X-rayed on Friday and not broken - heavily strapped and declared himself fit. Blinkin good job too, based on the result! Incidentally, Stead has made an amazing recovery from his shoulder injury ...

Agree. I personally don't count most of the "passes" on the first two bends of a race, because it's part of the race unfolding - but there were moments of classy riding by the Witches on the first two bends to get into good positions. It was definitely not a classic from a passing perspective, but for Ipswich fans who have not seen that sort of dominance very often, it was very satisfying.

Someone highjackaled his account .

This is the sort of Witches performance that was all too rare in the last two seasons, and it was good that they've maintained the momentum from the home win over Somerset and the draw at Scunthorpe. Not sure what to think about the track - it was grippy enough to produce some quick times, but as we know that often doesn't translate into classic passing speedway. For the Comets: Cook had a terible first heat, but was then very quick - until last heat when ambushed on the third bend by Doyle's move between him & Howarth. Aarnio - best performance at Foxhall and did a very solid job. Witches would have hoped for a heat advantage in 8, but Aarnio popped out of the start for a good win. Harrison - never made a start all night but looked generally slow. His only point came when Ellis fell early in Heat 7. Howarth - great young rider - I remember how he got stuck in when guesting for Ipswich at Sheffield in 2011, just before he was snapped-up by Edinburgh. Cracking win over Doyle - the Aussie's first competitive racing defeat at Foxhall in the PL era. Bach - such a smooth rider. An Ipswich fan I spoke to was not happy Bach was moving at starts - but was amazed when Barbara Horley excluded him in Heat 9, because he didn't think Bach had touched the tapes. Got squeezed out on first lap of Heat 13. Morris - I'm sure that was his first appearance at Foxhall, and was impressed that he got sorted out and scored a couple of good second places. Nielsen - Agent N strikes again! At least he finished the heats this time, but wasn't on the pace, and is going through a difficult patch. He came from nowhere last season and is still learning. Doyle - super smooth and consistent - and also showed genuine determination the last heat. Genuine appreciation from Witches fans after that one. Hawkins - proper job! Got stuck in, beat a Comet in every race and looked very at home. Will be tougher for him at Worky, but as Jaybea said afterwards, if he scores a couple of points and Ipswich get 36, then no-one can complain Tungate - almost didn't notice that he scored 14 - and rightly won the MotM award. Risager - waited until Heat 14 to do something really worthwhile, and somehow managed to get his wheels in line off the second bend, when it looked like he might fall, and then outpaced Howarth down the back straight. Such a frustrating rider, because you think maybe that there is 8 or 9 points in him, but it's still not happening ... Lanham - 7+2 and not a single Ipswich fan can complain about his contribution. Now settled into the sort of role that suits him. His third place in 13 was probably better than his win in 7. Ellis - so quick! Who does his bikes? Genuine talent and works really hard. Got in a tangle in 7 trying to cut back off gate four and fell, but jumped up and cleared the track. Put Aarnio under a bit of pressure in 11, and you can see the determination. Such a classy ride in 14 when the pressure was on - Howarth must have fancied his chances in that one. I have only just realised that Ellis had the only two non-scoring Ipswich rides from - but again no complaints from anyone! Heeps - quiet night in comparison, and he got 7+1. Doesn't panic and collects the points - a smart move in Heat 2 to work his way past Nielsen & Morris on third bend. A 20 point gap surely has to be enough, and the match at Derwent Park will be another test for the collective resolve of this Witches team that could become real challengers in the PL. Hopefully Barker can bounce back from his individual disaster at Sheffield, and crack on with some good points too. Edited after seeing the news about Barker's wrist injury .

After rain overnight, and spitting with rain when I cycled in this morning, the day has blossomed beautifully. It's the first day this year that people have been dining alfresco on site, amongst the trees and flowers. The sky is hazy looking across Martlesham & Foxhall towards Ipswich, and the air is bound to become more and more humid - rain is forecast for later tonight ... I checked the archive, and it didn't mention KOC-Up at all.

Anything to back up your assertion, or just more MJJ trolling? Thought you would be chanelling all your energy getting your hero back into British speedway so that he can challenge Dakota North for the #1 position at Peterborough. Actually, that's a joke - I meant third heat leader position.

So why do you keep interfering with Ipswich threads? Clearly nothing of interest for you. Thought you would be learning Danish, Swedish and Polish, so you can follow the leagues where your mercenary hero prefers to ride

He can't do it on his own.

After the Somerset match, only to himself really. Everyone knows he's a very capable and talented rider. I still don't understand why he wasn't included in the starting line-up - despite it meaning that Heeps would start in the team and it would be Nielsen & Ellis at reserve. I don't think that would have been any greater a risk than using Makinen (and I thought that even before the Finn had ridden).

Updated 25/04/13. The Sackers Witches take on the Comets in the KOC-Up over two nights, with the return at Derwent Park on Saturday (thanks Topaz325 ). Expected line-ups: Sackers Witches: Doyle (G), Hawkins, Tungate, Risager, Lanham, Heeps, Ellis Workington Comets: Cook (G), Aarnio, Harrison, Howarth, Bach, Morris, Stefan Nielsen (G). Jason Doyle guests in place of Ben Barker, who is riding in the 2nd British semi-final at Sheffield. Ritchie Hawkins is scheduled to make his season debut for the home team. For the Comets: Confirmed Stefan Nielsen as guest in place of former Witch Chris Mills, who broke his left wrist in a fall when practicing after their home win against Sheffield last weekend. Craig Cook replaces Richard Lawson, who was injured as the result of a fall at Birmingham on Wednesday night (racing for Lakeside at Perry Bar in the EL). Thankfully, the KOC-Up does not feature the articifical point gaining tactical joker rule.