Teromaafan

Howarth was solid too!

I was impressed with Gilles today and am looking forward to watching him at Leicester. He looks like a proper racer. Can’t get too carried away though as Oxford is the track he’s most likely used to and was racing against a team that looks like it will struggle all season. Was shocked at how poor Tungate was.

There’s a real incentive for the Lions reserve pair on Monday. This lad Gusts (whom I’ve yet to see) sounds exciting. So if he gets out in front and stays there, you wouldn’t want Dickson in your ear saying you couldn’t pass wind 😂

Unfortunately I’ve never seen Hagon pass anyone in Lion’s colours! It’s definitely the right call for Leicester (what’s to lose?). Whilst I’ve been critical of Hagon, he comes across as a very likeable and upbeat person. I really hope that this hasn’t deterred him and that he continues to race and reach whatever level he can reach. The sport needs him!

Ah, my bad, thanks for that!

I have a lot of respect for Magic who is very professional and ‘polish golden helmet’ is a perfectly good reason for being unavailable. It’s the riders that ‘polish purple helmet’ rather than show up for their team that annoy me 😠

The progression of the likes of Brennan and Dan Thompson is down to their ability and not down to the RS system. The system doesn’t even have an age restriction? We’re talking about the top flight of the sport in this country and we’re throwing riders into the lion’s den and then coming up with race formulas in matches to ‘protect’ them. It’s a professional sport with paying customers and the participants have to be good enough. That’s the real world. You can’t say the RS riders need to be given a chance because they are all riding in the second tier. As/when/if they are ready, they can step up.

The result and winning margin was as most of us predicted. As Lions fan, what frustrates me is that we prevented the Witches from a heat advantage in heats 13 & 15 (which I doubt Ipswich will experience again this season) but couldn’t capitalise on this elsewhere. Fair play to the Witches as they are proving that they do not have to rely on their top two hitting double figures to win matches. Whilst I’am not a believer that a team’s riding order influences the outcome of a result, I think that Dickson has to move Becker perhaps to No.4 to provide a better balance to pairings…….And so to the reserves, which is where the Lions appear to be at sixes and sevens. Kemp is unreliable but poor Sam Hagon is simply out of his depth at this level. I’m not judging Sam on this season alone. His confidence and Dickson’s patience can only be going in one direction. For those of you that have plenty of time, perhaps you could research how many points Sam has scored when four riders have finished a race?

The result went the way many of us expected. Lynn might argue that the margin should have been greater, but that’s down to their rider’s errors, which is not bad luck. I still think that a decent (8 point plus) second heat leader is required for the Lions to make the play offs. Points from reserve continue to be a problem. We can’t read anything into Hagon’s 3 paid 6 return as all his points were from races where only three riders finished. Kemp will have better nights but what Hagon does to justify his chance at this level is beyond me. I would expect Dickson will be looking imminently for a replacement. Who’s better? Don’t know, but who’s worse and doesn’t deserve a chance?

Looking at the line ups, Lions have the best and worst rider in the two teams. Looks pretty even over all. I think the Stars will win narrowly and expect the Lions to claim the bonus point in the return fixture.

His average is even smaller still!

Think that will take care of itself when the next averages are out!

Me too and I was watching the stream at home! Track conditions aside, the meeting was close which in itself keeps it interesting. The Aces were fortunate to take it to the last heat in my opinion. Masters retiring was unlucky for the Lions but then there were two borderline refereeing decisions that went against them in my opinion. Each time, the decision went in favour of the rider going down, with the outcome of the re-runs favouring the Aces, Becker excluded when Blodorn went down and ‘first bend bunching’ when Kurtz went down when behind everyone else. All four back after any first bend incident is a cop out and clever riders can manipulate this. Anyway, well done Lions for holding out and hats off to Fricke for his muscle in heat 15.

Hope you're right, but can't see it. For the Lions to win, Fricke has to get the better of both Kurtz & Bewley. If its close going into the last three heats, The Aces top end fire power is likely to see them through. (Ditto these comments for the visit of the Witches next week as well). The performance of Kemp will also be key as it is highly likely that he will need to have five rides as I'm expecting the usual return from our number seven.

Must admit, he does come across very well and will hopefully become a good ambassador for British speedway for years to come.

There is nothing sarcastic or bitter in my previous post. It seems that I have upset you on previous posts and it appears that you can’t let go. I’ll move on, but can’t promise that your feathers won’t be ruffled again. All of my comments are tongue in cheek and it’s quite sad that you find this so upsetting.

The point I was making was that your number one has to do far better than that at home. He is theoretically your best/most reliable rider. Riss scoring 20 is irrelevant because on any other night those points would be more evenly distributed across the team. To have a chance in this league an out and out No.1 is essential. Fact. If you have two 8 point plus riders, you have a chance in the play offs.

No one has said it outright. Just picking up on the general vibe on the forum. I actually think that the Witches have a superb team at this present moment (April) but so much can happen between now and September….. Satisfied?

Didn’t watch the stream but followed the Updates website. Oxford’s No.1 fails to beat an opponent on his home track. If he were to chip in with just five points, his team beats the mighty Witches (who have already won the league apparently). Now I know why Oxford are predicted to be battling with Brum for the wooden spoon.

I get invited to lots of parties where people enjoy a laugh, a bit of banter and light hearted pee taking…..I guess we’ll never meet!

Fair comment. B*gger, what do we do then? I’m too old to be a RS, how are you fixed? I’ll buy you a bike 😂

To my knowledge the season runs until September and the league hasn’t even started yet, but you are perfectly entitled to be cocky as nothing can possibly go wrong for the Witches who will undoubtably not concede a heat advantage because everting is a dead certainty over a speedway season.

I didn’t say that Joe would be any better, but when Hagon struggles to score anything, you cannot just do nothing and watch the lad’s confidence evaporate.

Can only assume that he didn’t have the confidence in his second bike? Must admit, I thought the guy previously had an attitude problem with the Lions track but he well and truly put that to bed tonight. I thought he was superb. Change of subject, but how long will Dickson persevere with Hagon? The RS priority is to outscore your opposite number at home. When he gates he’s easily passed. If he doesn’t, he’s not capable of passing. Was Dickson put under pressure to retain him from last year? Regardless of any politics, the lad must be on borrowed time. There might not be obvious better replacements out there, but when you struggle to score anything, who else would be worse? The likes of Craig Cook and Drew Kemp have had more than one chance under Dickson, so why couldn’t Joe Thompson have another shot, unless those bridges have been burnt.

Very possible that they could go unbeaten subject to any serious rider injuries. Very early days, but I guess that will not deter a lot of the cocky Witches fans out there!