STEVEHOLS54

How about young 19 year old Dan Gilkes who won't have Kent in 2022 and to my knowledge not signed elsewhere and was a 1 star Rising Star. Finished with a NL GSA of 10.24 up from a starting 8. Best GSA in the NL. If he was given the same rising star av that would we hope leave plenty of points further up. Also not 20 until next May plus only ridden 2 seasons as lost 2020 like the rest due to Covid lockdowns. Could be a potential Brennan/Flint/Palin maybe ?? riding on a 1 star (point av ??). Factor in he is a Dorset born lad. Would help if we knew the new points limit and situ on rising stars and if one or two will be required under any new rules.

Does anyone know if the AGM took place yet as saw a comment elsewhere on the forum that maybe it did last week but via Zoom. If not taken place anyone know when it is. Signings announced so far elsewhere would indicate maybe still Prem & Championship leagues but who knows. A 6 team Prem def not good for the sport as it is. Plus the POL new U23 league in 2022 may have a big bearing on young Brits, especially if they go for our top youngsters and race mainly on their usual Sundays thus damaging the Champ even more. That's without the money the Poles can throw at the new U23 league set up. The points limit and Brit rising star situation sure will have an impact on what direction the Pirates go. Personally would like to see if Matt/Danny can pull off both Ben & Zach Cook together at Poole especially the way Zach rode as guest on several occasions. Zach is 2 years younger than Ben and at 22 in his first season fully in UK. A 4.40 GSA is a mockery of what his true worth is based on his Poole performances. Could be a true rising star on a heavily false low average which could be a BIG bonus if they could pull it off. Could also help big time in building team points. Also think both lodging in one of the Middlo accommodations helped, as makes Poole a real home track plus gives stability on home front for both riders just as with other young Aussies over the years.

Was it 6 rides of 5 Skidder ? I only ask as the POL site I use, Speedway News gave his score from 5 rides which makes the 13 points look even better Results (from DMU.RS) Team Fjelsted: 39 9. Frederik Jakobsen (W, 0, -, -, -) 0 10. Benjamin Basso (2,3,2,3,3) 13 11. Peter Kildemand (3, 2,3,0,2,2) 12 12. Dimitri Berge (1,0,3,2 *, 2,1) 9 + 1 12. Patryk Wojdyło (D, 0,1,3,0,1,0) 5 Slangerup Speedway: 45 1. Mikkel Michelsen (3,3,2,3,3,3) 17 2. Jonas Seifert-Salk (1 , 2,3,1 *, 1,1) 9 + 1 3. Andreas Lyager (2,1,2,2,1,2 *) 10 + 1 4. Daniel Jeleniewski (0,1,0, D, 2 , 3) 6 5. Silas Neergaard Hoegh (1.1 *, 1, W) 3 + 1

Must admit I have concerns over this Poole team and the club in general. Can't help thinking 1) Poole won't make the top 4 and will miss out on play offs 2) This could be the last season we see Poole Speedway at the stadium. The dice don't seem rolled in their favour. We lost Ellis before season start only to have it rubbed in as he came back to UK in Champ. His replacement has been more on his backside then scoring near max points in what little he has rode. Ellis has impressed scoring high double figures near enough wherever he has ridden. Keleher proved the flop I feared but sods law he will do well with Plymouth. Our replacement may not even ride here so the Ford's left scratching their head as what little else available at 5. Team has an annoying habit of snatching defeat/draw from victory away and seems to have been that way a few times last few seasons. Let's not forget Plymouth are joint bottom and expect them to be in that area most of the season. Not as if they are are top 4/5 team and once again Poole blew it. Ok a draw but really ????. Those are matches where you would expect the good teams to get 4 points. I don't think current lease holders don't Poole Speedway there and don't want to invest in even staffing the stadium or restaurants etc. Would not surprise me if it all closes after season ends, especially if Poole don't get close to winning anything. Public interest will drop hence attendances plus I think there will be an unwillingness from an already unwilling lease holder to extend it. Think they prefer to have empty and rake in the car parking money and hope the owners and local authority try to buy them out of the lease for the obvious housing development that will come eventually.

Well I was way out on that one with my Kennedy prediction. Been looking up his results on Speedway News.PL and he seems to have been doing ok to start with in Czech but has picked up well since season start in both Czech & more recently in a 2 meeting weekend in France. Not as good as Kvech (maybe) but at 25/26 hew is still young and his results are encouraging incl plenty of double figure scores. Looks like he could do a job in lower part of the team IF he takes to our more technical & smaller UK tracks. As always that's the big question. Has had plenty of meetings since April so hopefully can hit the ground running.

I think must be a good chance it will be Zaine Kennedy. He was my choice originally ahead of Kelleher (who I feared was more of his own media hype than actual ability to do well in UK- His Aussie results were not inspiring either imo)). Must admit I was wrong on young Ben C and pleased I was. He looks to have a future and can cost share some of the overheads in UK with his Bro. Plus believe staying with Middlo which helps. Also young so can step up over time. Zaine Kennedy had a good close season in Aussie also riding in the DW series. Further hints can be gleaned from reading some recent post on his twitter page where he has had the great DW helping him out giving advice etc recently. I also felt that at 21/22 he had more potential but it was Matt who wanted to go down the asset route and Zaine was not his asset. Shame as he had shown plenty of ability had unluckily missed out with an EF or fall in the Aussie U21 final 2/3 seasons back when I believe may have been leading. He was gutted he missed out this season as believe he had a base in UK already sorted after a decent first UK season in 2019 (2020 lost to covid), and thought he had done plenty enough in meetings to warrant a return to UK. I may be wrong but with what Poole have to play with points wise he finished dead on 4 (like Josh Mac) in 2019 and think he could be well above that with some of the weaker bottom ends elsewhere. Especially as he would probably come in at reserve if & when Ben moves up into the first team after first GSA's.

We could get into a long debate if I want to check back over the last few years but won't. Lets just leave it that we have a difference of opinion on the merits of Keleher/Cook snr against say Kennedy and perhaps Josh Mac. I repeat that I really hope I am wrong and both pile on the points for Poole in their respective roles of main team and reserve. As fro Zach Cook. Was not going to happen because Matt/Danny had already commited to the riders that he would keep the same team in 2021. It was only the Rising Star rule & POL rule changes that forced their hands. I say forced but they could have chosen Josh over Ben but chose the asset route. I hope Josh gets a berth in UK when we can hopefully then compare progress of one who had a maiden UK season against a completely untried rider on these shores. Keleher for me still has to live us to the hype that he may be a really good rider. On a 4 he should be a bargain signing but again having never ridden here we shall see.

Skidder - This is a forum where we can share opinion and not just sing the praises of the owners. I have expressed an opinion and made comments which all are free to respond to negative or positive. I have also followed the Aussie seasons for a number of years now when we are in our Winter hibernation mode. I follow regular the Aussie sites as well as Youtube and the main Polish Speedway news site which shows all the results/comments and some meeting highlights. I have openly said that I HOPE that both Keleher & Cook step up to the plate. If they can't do it against a lot of weaker/inexprerienced reserves in this weaker league then they are obviously not of the quality the so called experts make them out to be. Personally I prefer both Macdonald & Kennedy but they are other clubs assets (but both available to Poole). both of them have UK experience and both had their UK breakthrough initial season. I think both would have progressed and would have been good switching in and out of reserve at this even more watered down level in 2021. We could even have had Ben's younger brother Zack as no Somerset and he is arguably in many Aussie's eye a better rider than Ben. Based on both Aussie results from previous seasons and future ability. As mentioned I hope my observation is misplaced but based on studying reports/results of these guys my opinion is as it is. Would love to be proved wrong but let's see as the season unfolds. As for Matt's Aussie contacts - Let's not forget that most of the Aussie NON UK Club asset riders were already signed up & sorted when he signed our 2. Ben was coming with Zach so made sense and Keleher had been telling all of Europe how good he was for ages before he signed. Let's hope the ability and scoring matches his own hype.

Have a sneaky feeling we may be relying quite a bit on Hume & Cook to score points against weaker/less inexperienced reserve riders. There are plenty of these young guys finding their way in these reserve slots. Cook is not a newbie and has held his own against some mid order Aussie riders and Hume is a proven N/L H/L with scope to improve. Still fairly young and missed some time with injury. Incredible to think a rider younger than Cook i.e Zaine Kennedy who has regularly scored well in Aussie and just missed out on their U21 title some seasons back (as well as scoring so well at the weekend) has missed out (so far) on a UK slot. I wanted him for a while to be at Poole but the Fords seem all about trying to sign new assets. As Kennedy is not as asset it seems they don't want such riders. I assume also about saving money as no loan fees to pay. Who would I rather have at 4 points -Cook/keleher or Kennedy. On ability and age I would go for the latter but let's hope I'm wrong.

Indeed it was an E Final which puts into perspective how bad his performance was. Lets hope there is more substance to this guy than just flashy social media sites and a snazzy website. I was not impressed with him even in the 2020 Aussie finals before his injury and think we have signed him more on maybe hype than perhaps ability. But suppose he is a club asset which is the most important thing for Poole it seems similar to the totally untried Ben Cook in UK. I worry how we will stack up against the likes of Leicester who look a really strong top 5. maybe we will be relying heavily on our 2 reserves to outscore heavily against riders such as the Thompson twins. Leicester top 5 of Douglas (almost unbeatable so far in every Aussie meeting) Morris (surely will get back to being the 8 plus PREM rider he was 2 seasons ago), Howarth - Proctor & Bates looks strong. Our top 3 look ok but below that will be interesting.

Was a bit surprised Keleher didnt post on social media re his performance in the Darcy Ward meeting on Saturday. Hardly inspring - 3 points from 4 rides - a win in a B final against 4 nobody's and then disqualified. He beat not one rider of any note in those 3 points beore the B final where he rode against riders all below him and none of any stature. When you look at the decent riders scores including young riders with potential like Jedd List it does make you wonder. He is not a youngster (27 plus) has been riding bikes for years in one shape or another. I do hope his riding for Poole turns out half as good as his media sites portray both himself and his website. But suppose with the promotion its all about asset building. Below is the scorecard it took days to get. Before the diehards say its only one meeting, please look at ALL the decent riders scores as well as those with little to no experience like Jedd List. 1. Ryan Douglas (3,3,3,2) 11 + 32. Zaine Kennedy (3,2,3,3) 11 + 23. Jason Crump (3,3,3,3) 12 + 14. Nick Morris (2,2,3,2) 9 + 3 + W5. Jordan Stewart (2,2,3,3) 10 + 26. Justin Sedgmen (3,1,2,3) 9 + 17. Rohan Tungate (2,3,2,1) 8 + 3 + 08. Declan Kennedy (3,1,3,1) 8 + 29. Kye Thomson (2,3,1,2) 8 + 110. Jedd List (3,1, W, 3) 7 + 3 + D11. Jacob Hook (0,2,2,1) 5 + 3 + 212. Mitch Cluff (1,3,0,2) 6 +113. Jake Allen (1,2,2,3) 8 + D14. Connor Bailey (2,0,2,2) 6 + 215. Cooper Riordan (0,3,0,1) 4 + 116. Zane Keleher (0, W, 1,2) 3 + 3 + D17. Cordell Rogerson (2,1,1,0) 4 + 218. Kane Lawrence (1,2,1,0) 4 + 119. Flynn Nicol (1, W, 2,0) 3 + 020. Joel Coyne (1, W, 1,1) 3 + 221. Moz Brown (0,0,1,0) 1 + 122. Broc Hall (0,1,0, U) 1 + 3 + 023. Aaron Jackson (1, U, 0, D) 1 + 224. Bailey Viner (0,0,0,1) 1 + D25. Josh Coyne (1) 1

Sounds to me like the kind of thing which could drag on for years. In the meantime let's just hope that Poole can continue to use the stadium, plus the stadium facilities for a few years yet. I suppose Matt/Danny will come forth via the Echo and Social media if there is anything worth mentioning in the near future. Hopefully we go forward even if it is one season at a time.

Yes I know. However would you be keen as a high end purchaser really be happy to have the noise on your door step. Will be intrigued to see how this develops (if at all). The development is mightily impressive, but the speedway track. Let's see.

You can see that going down a wow with the apartment owners on top of the stadium. Speedway noise travels. Much as I as a speedway fan would enjoy a free ringside seat from my balcony, heaven help what the rest of the residents would think of it. The redevelopment idea/plan is very impressive and in line with what I would expect on prime Dorset land. A speedway track in a high end residential area I would be very surprised to see. Love to be proved wrong. I lived in a 13th floor high riser overlooking Hackney Marshes when I first got married in 1975. I used to go to the track regular as only one mile away. I can assure you it could be loud enough back then even from there so lord knows how much noise these residents would have to put up with.

That's what I was saying. Only made the point about Latvia as its an even worse drive if driving from DK and for what - a dozen meetings over Lat/POL maybe which restricts him to 3 leagues. He cld do 4 if he combined the 2 UK Lges plus DK/SWE. Keeping say 2 bikes based in UK would surely make a lot of sense with potential income from lots of meetings over both and with a good sponsorship presence. Also thinking long term he can still squeeze a food few seasons over the 2 UK Leagues as he is still well thought of (and supported by sponsors) and the quality short term is still going to be within his scoring range to be a force. I still think long term a number of the top riders will avoid UK. POL rules will imo still continue to allow maybe a max 3 leagues and riders like the Danes will always go down the POL/DK/SWE route for a combo of financial and geographical resons. Swe on a Tue and then drive accross to DK for the Wed makes sense as not having to fly in and out of UK. Danes need DK due to sponsors and allowing them to qualify for their own national Champ as well as SGP & SEC qualifiers. I think Hans case is he is getting older so he can maximise meetings and income over 4 lges without having to go to Latvia/POL. He has dropped from POL EXL to POL 1 and now POL 2 so his light is fading in POL. Looking at the riders in his new team Dauv to be honest I see it being a struggle for them (just my opinion).

I think in Poole's case don't think it matters much. If Schlein no issue as he has his Champ av - Hans A again as he arguably has a low 5.78 Prem GSA after his injuries in 2019 so arguably a bargain at 9.26 if 1.6 or 8.67 if 1.5. Bjarne P would be 10.48 at 1.6 or 9.83 at 1.5 (unless any further reduction for not riding here for over 5 years). If it's Schlein then arguably they could go for a 4 star rider as just squeezes in. Other than Perks who has stopped for 2021 & Bates nothing inspiring left on the 4 star.

That last H/L spot is the interesting one. Schlien easily fits. Have to broaden thinking to come up with anyone else currently riding (or who will ride UK) in 2021. Other interesting thoughts mentioned by a speedway friend are Bjarne P and Hans Andersen. Hans could be interesting - Why ??. He has a family and is getting older. Wants to ride as many leagues as poss at his age to maximise revenue. Now only signed in POL 2nd Div with Dauv who are in Latvia not POL. Not so many meetings in this Lge and does he at his age want to be tied to a max of 3 Lges. He could base bikes in UK and ride both Prem and Champ and still do his commitments in both DK & Swe where he has signed contracts. So 4 Lges. Has good sponsor support in Poole area so maybe they cold help in supporting him. Would only get a 9.26 converted Champ av so easily fits.Who go all the way to Latvia for say max 6 home and then 6 away in POl in a very weak looking team so doubt will make play offs, when he can get plenty of meetings in UK over Prem/Champ and use the equip two fold so base it here. Bjarne an option but would be 10.48 on a 1.6 conversion pushing Poole to the 2 star route. There is of course the possible DK fixture clash issue with both as they normally ride Wed. Anyway just thoughts even if maybe wild ones LOL.

Also think Keleher will be in main team as announced last year and Josh Mac at reserve with the rising star.

Damn it. Just announced by Redcar on their FB page and on now live. Thinking caps on again

Rory was on 8.69 last full season at Somerset. If you were (just for this exercise) to take out Cook and work on Rory/Steve W/Danny K/Josh Mac/Steffan Niel / Zane Kell you get 36.92 (after deducting the 2.5% Brit reduction). We can build to 38 plus a 3 point rising star or 39 plus a 2 point rising star. Then comes down to who do we get as that rising star ??. A number already signed up from 2020 but we went down the strength in depth Aussie route. Anders rowe I would lovew to have seen as geographically right area IF he was assessed as a 3 pointer (why not as he is only 18). Or even a 4 but rules say has to be a 2 or 3 pointer rising star. Others on the forum indicate he has already signed elsewhere but not seen any announcements. Would help if us the poor paying public who keep this sport afloat (as it cant run without supporters in UK) could be allowed to see what looks like a top secret rising stars list. Like what harm could it do us seeing it ???

My thoughts are also Ben Cook out if his younger bro also not coming with Somerset not riding. Some on here said no way Schlien coming when I mentioned on here recently (seemed obvious move with Somerset closing). You could have had Schlien/King/Worral/Nielsen/Kelleher/Josh Mac plus a 2 or 3 rising star. Problem is the top six only at 36.92 which is a full 1.08 or 2.08 below the 39 point top 6 limit. Depending on a 3 or 2 point rising star). I suppose that's where the Bjarne Pedersen idea might come into play IF they were able to get a reduction. on his last 6.55 (Elite or now Prem) GSA from his last UK season in 2015. Could be way out of course but cant think of any really good H/L out there and available riding UK in 2021 not already tied up. My only doubt on Pedersen is if he is keeping DK which is normally a Wednesday (same night as Poole) and even if DK is reduced meetings in 2021 would it still clash plenty with Poole ?? Assuming of course Poole were riding at Poole in 2021 and not perhaps having a plan B in place to race down at Plymouth for a season if the stadium discussions go ** up. Some think that would be highly unlikely but can't help thinking that after all this time why the delay in adding Plymouth when they expressed even last year they wanted to join Champ. Hope I am wrong but nothing would surprise me.

I'm not the only one then who has noticed the absence of any press releases from Danny or Matt on this subject. Am a bit surprised considering how Matt was at pains to point out in the Echo and online last year about negotiations would take place including at one stage maybe even a consortium trying to take over the stadium. Announcing the team is one thing, having a stadium to race in is something else. There were questions at one stage as to whether the main restaurant or any other food outlets would be open and even doubts if there would be staff to run the place after the greyhounds ceased and the whole operation was in effect closed. Maybe skidder or anyone else in the know may be able to enlighten us ??

So a few or at least some changes reading the article. The new young Brit rule would have meant one change, but he has himself (as I did) eluded to the POL rule. I only see one rider affected as neither King/Worrall ride POL. Surely has to be Ellis. If so going to be interesting where he conjours up a new heat leader. I calculate he uses 28.24 for 5 riders (King/Worrall/Nielsen/Kelleher/Josh Mac. That leaves 12.76. Meaning a heavy 10.76 plus a 2 rising star or 9.76 plus a 3 rising star. Thankless task imo at this late stage considering a lot of the top riders commited elsewhere as have most of the decent rising stars. This on top of those not returning. Bjarne P may not be the craziest of thoughts ?? His final Elite GSA in last season in UK in 2015 was 6.55 which at 1.6 = 10.48 less any reductions for not having ridden UK in 5 seasons. Maybe as a favour willing to help Poole out in his last season ??. Not an impossible thought even if unlikely to some. Not convinced he would be as good as having Ellis who is still on the up. We shall no doubt see in next week or so.

I think Ellis situation may be dictated by which overseas leagues he rides in. If he goes down the POL/SWE/DK route then as a POL 2nd Div rider he can't do UK. The POL rules are clear on that. Believe he has signed in all 3 of those leagues so to do UK he would need to drop one. Also if he were to get another Prem club now Swindon not riding in 2021 then he wont do Champ anyway as no way I see him dropping POL/SWE. Just my opinion. Maybe Ellis news being kept quiet while the Ford's try to resolve alternative arrangements ?? Hope not but would not surprise me. I chose Ben Cook as if his Bro not doing UK now Somerset not riding would he come over alone ??. Also Danny already advised that change/s are needed due to new rules so Ben was an easy target guest for me to choose as who makes way to meet the RS requirement. Let's hope the Fords clarify for us soon. Incredible to see how forward thinking teams like Eastbourne now look so attractive with their UK 1-7 and so many rising stars in the team. Let's hope Poole can give the fans something to look forward to.

By the way if Anders Rowe is not on the radar, then where does one think such a talent may end up as he has lost his Prem & Champ rides thru no fault of his own. Such a talent should surely be snapped up and I thought he was a Weymouth, Dorset lad so would make perfect sense to tie up with Poole. The guy has plenty of talent for sure at only 18