STEVEHOLS54

If anything Doyle has gone the opposite long term. He seems like a fine wine who has matured/improved with age. Not many in this sport have improved over 30 like he has. Unless you are Hancock of course Can't believe the rider he was at 22/25 would become what he is today. Always had the asset of quick out of the gate but got overtaken far to easily. Now he is one of the hardest riders on the circuit and not many can overtake this guy once he is in front. All down to his earlier experience at Poole of course

Uk get priority over Swe on a Thur just as Swe gets priority on a Tue. That's what the Authorities agreed who control the Sport.

Could be. Must profess it seems a maze to me how they do it when the UK fixtures have not be advertised or to my knowledge even agreed yet other than we know UK has Mon/Thur and both Swin/Poole have agreed Thur with MAYBE the odd Wed fixture when fixtures clash i.e Poole V Swindon and the repeat fixure x 2.

There are a couple of possible answers to that. 1) Swindon v Poole for example may switch in some instances to a Wed to suit one another ??. Maybe the odd other switch. I am sure Doyley would have had discussions already with Rosco on that score before signing on the dotted line 2) Tough anyway on SWE as the authoririties that be already deemed UK had priority over SWE on Thur as SWE have their allocated day on a Tue. I am sure its been planned to work out for Club/s and rider. Same applies to any other rider should they ride for a Thur UK club where the Swedes deem to want the odd Thur night. Also remember the Swedes tend to have a squad system should the odd meeting clash.

I can see you are in the keep him camp Ray, As I said my mind is kind of split on it. Suppose we have to just wait and keep playing with rider ideas as for sure changes have to be made due to the 2.64 points over the limit.

Honestly Starman riding for Poole nothing to do with it. Unfortunately Chris Harris has become a victim of the way the system is. Similar with Brady who was 6.75 on the new 1/10 GSA's but then became 7.05 on the final. So 2 Poole riders who's GSA's increased yet Morris dropped from 6.91 to 6.60. Was this due to Rye House scores all being deleted ??. No idea personally but for sure doesn't help Matt's team building with having to get rid of 2.64 points. Personally think its a difficult one and you are damned if you sign him and damned if you don't. You will always get good days from Chris as he was rider of the night several times last season (but not in the 2 meeting play off final). It's a difficult one for me but having to shed 2.64 points of the final team av and having Chris start on such a high GSA does concern me as we need arguably 2 riders on lower AV at the expense of 2 others which arguably makes the team weaker. Maybe relying too much on the younger riders such as Kurtz/Wory/Jakobsen really stepping up. If you throw Morris into the mix I would be interested of course and Holder/s. Suppose all we can do is keep playing the name the team game until Matt enlightens us a bit more ;-)

Don't disagree Gavan. I think Ford has a difficult juggling act on his hands with the points limit alone and MAYBE if the Holders are available (maybe even only one of them) on lower GSA's then maybe they are a better option for team building limit.Won't argue with you over Snrs GSA as know your opinion on it but that isn't known just as we don't even know if he is an option for racing UK in 2019. I am edging more towards team balance and maximising the team strength based on points limit and the team having to shed 2.64 points from last season

Yes and I have heard it before which is another reason for my concern. Can't say i have noticed it before but then I wasn't studying him as a rider of another team. Have heard before that he takes time to sort set ups - get proper fitness etc. After last seasons early disasters really don't want another playing catch up from the bottom situation. Maybe we have been spoiled at Poole over most years but bottom of the league was a bit scary putting it mildly. Also remember that Poole only won twice in 2018 and both at Leicester who are not there in 2019. Have my doubts Peterborough and Ipswich will provide such cannon fodder. You need wins from somewhere away to get into the top 4, even if you keep some matches to within 6 or the odd draw. Doyle proved being a proven number 1 he helped both Swindon and Somerset into the play offs. He helped win it with Swindon - was VERY unlucky with Somerset with the Holder injury and one should not be too hard on him for that Harris race which was a one off we probably won't see easliy repeated. His performances against Poole and poins scored were still good in the matches between the sides in the League and play offs.

I think opinion may well be split. Hell even I am on the subject. Just find it a worry that Matt has to shed that 2.64 which just makes things more tricky with Harris being elevated 0.69 points since the 1st Oct GSA list. Maybe how the rest of the team looks may have a bearing. I have thrown in riders such as Sundstrom and Pickering who would help drag the team GSA down a bit with perhaps scope for improvement if you also factor in Brady/Woryna/Jakobsen which gives you for those 6 a 36.85 limit leaving only 5.65 being too low for either Holder or even Nick Morris. Of course Shanes and Morris would fit. A team of potential but could it struggle without a proven out and out number one ?? No doubt Matt is working hard on it but is a bit of a conundrum.

The problem as I see it is that to get rid of 2.64 whole points from the 2018 finishing team it would mean Harris having to go in at number 1 ?? I am not convinced he is a number 1. As said I have split minds on the guy but do have BIG reservations at 7.78. For sure we know he wants back in as he can do Somerset Wed and Poole Thur so can stay overnight down South rather than driving home to Telford late Wed and all the way back less that 24 hours later. I wish someone somewhere had some clarity on the Chris Holder situation. For me if Chris was an option on say 7.16 (which again nobody knows if its that or he would go back to 8 as a GP rider for 2018 but not a GP rider in 2019 - who knows what his av will be). Would Chris be a better option on 7.16 than Harris and would that also help swing the younger Holder who is also a Poole asset. Would have been nice if Chris could have maybe made a few comments on twitter as to if he thinks he might be available to race UK in 2019 rather than the gossip about him having sold up STC and is moving to Andorra. Even if he is moving does that mean he won't be riding UK as believe Fricke who has also allegedly moved there probably will do UK. All I keep hearing on the Forum when I raise Holder Sr is forget him. He won't be returning to Poole but is that fact or again just rumour/some peoples opinion.

Matt has a possible problem anyway as the current team is 2.64 over the limit. Not helped by Harris & Brady's GSA's being hiked. Something has to give. As Lisa commented would like to see Morris come in as on as arguably false low GSA of 6.60 he arguably has maybe 2 points improvement in him. BUT maybe he feels Doyle returning to Swindon would help elevate him back to that at Swindon. For sure he would fit Poole's requirements of an improver and helping to keep the Poole team limit down. As another thought provoker further down. What about Josh Pickering ??? was menioned by Matt briefly last season. Would come in on around 4.50 mark after 2 seasons at Edinburgh. Turns 22 in 3 days. An idea for points saving in reserve slot ?? Went from 4.65 in 2017 to 6.11 in 2018 so seems to be improving. Yes he is also another young Aussie

Thought provoking comment. If Matt has to lose 2.64 from the team that won the league to get within the 42.50 limit and IF as some think Worrall may not be part of the 2019 plans (and he is only on 5.60) would Linus Sundstrom possibly be a consideration on his new GSA of only 6.04 ??? Yes it is higher than Worrall but would he be considered a better quality rider capable of improving his GSA having started 2018 on 7.17. Yes Matt would still need to change elsewhere but he is faced with changes whatever happens as he is 2.64 over the limit anyway with last years team. Also Sundstrom now riding Swe Exl next season so Tuesday and has signed for a POL Nice 1 team for 2019 so will get regular Sunday rides. Will also improve his confidence hopefully as didnt work out at Gorzow in POL Exl As said a thought provoking idea. Worth another try ??

I have a split opinion on Harris. Part of me says good team man but another part of me says will he be too up and down ?? Complicated further by his revised GSA up from 7.09 as per GSA 1/10 to a final av of 7.78 a whole 0.69 higher I assume based on deleting his Rye scores as though play offs didn't count ?? Suddenly doesn't look so good. Doyle for example is 9.80 but you know you will get 10/15 points per meeting from him which we know with Poole riders last year you could get anything from 0 to 10/12 (if you were lucky). For me Matt has to give some serious thought to the 2019 team. Yes 2018 started badly but honestly I am not yet convinced the likes of Kurtz/Josh G/Woryna/Fredrikson will improve their av big time and Klindt had a good season (sometimes) and again not 100% convinced he would improve. Having so called strength in depth is good on the one hand but for me they had a good slice of luck and good fortune in 2018 to win the League whatever some Poole die hard's may think. Yes they did the job but asking lightning to strike twice with most of the same team ??. I can't see it PLUS the team has to shed a massive 2.64 points anyway to get back to 42.5 for season start. Would you tie up Harris at a whole 7.78 out of that will he even achieve that knowing realistically he is nearer a 7 IMO. Maybe you can get a proven 8 pointer which would be better but again can the club afford such expense with no confirmed team sponsor. I think Matt is going to have plenty on his plate trying to find a decent combination for 2019 plus if he can even do it early enough IF he doesn't have a main sponsor on board. Hope it does not become a case of "Oh Well" we achieved what I wanted and that was the League Champions in 2018 out 70th year so in what may be my last year at the Club let's just go for consolidation without a large expense.

Was thinking similar Skidder while I was out last 2 hours. My other thinking was is Matt even able to sign any so called Star or high class riders until he knows IF and when a Main Sponser is going to agree a deal. Not being negative on this point but knowing the lack of finance in the sport and the fact major companies seem reluctant to get involved, one has to raise the question is anyone going to come forward with major sponsorship of the level Matt wants and to a degree got especially with Ready Power until 2 seasons ago when he had to go for the lower Volve deal which has also ended. Are we to assume Volvo were not interested in extending the deal ??. Hope they do get a decent sponsor but could it have an adverse affect on signings unless one is secured ??

So Luke Becker chose Wolves. One rider we can exclude from the name the Poole team for 2019 game. Doyle back at Swindon will definitely make them stronger which begs the question what of Morris and Batchelor ?? Let's hope Matt gives us something as a start in the near future. Sure spent plenty of time eulogising over the Abu Dhabi trip.

Nuh. This guy is arguably the next big thing we have to offer the World of Speedway after Lambert, so no way he won't be signed even if it takes a while for him to get back to full fitness. May take a while but even his POL Club jumped to make sure he is with them for 2019. Diamonds like this do not come along that often.

Yet and I bet Harris is probably pi**ed at that thought. Wonder if he knows as he was flying out today from Heathrow to Abu Dhabi for the Poole Formula one GP jolly up. Could well cost him at least in Poole (if he was even considered that is for 2019). Suddenly Morris looks the man to get as he has dropped and is a full 2 points below his 2017 finishing GSA. Who by the way is on the same jolly up thanks to Poole Sponsors etc who have paid all his expenses and was on same plane next to Kurtz and Graz. Those guys flew out of Aussie yesterday and were photographed on the plane and now also on a track walk all looking happy bunnies with the younger members of the Ford family.

Think we need to get a reality check. We all know chances are every season riders will play the situation to seek out the best deal possible irrespective of whom may own them as an asset in UK. However whether they get approval to ride elsewhere ultimately has to be down to the asset owners approval if said rider expresses a wish not to ride for his so called parent club. If for example Pawlicki said - I don't want to ride for a Monday Club because I want to ride POL Sunday - Swe Tue and then UK Thursday (mainly) as it suits my commitments and travel arrangements better, then maybe a case ??. Plus more meetings are likely to be on a Thur with Mondays limited to a few dates per season which I prefer ?? Only giving an example here as a possible argument not to ride for Wolves ??. A lot of the riders I think drive from POL and then use ferries for Swe so would not have to fly POL/UK - then UK to SWE and the Swe/POL and then POL/UK and then UK/POL. Just thinking aloud here.

As I said read the report although it was an interview. If that be the case how comes that Chris Holder who openly said he wanted to ride with young Jack at Somerset in 2018 was not allowed to unless Somerset paid for his full transfer. Matt Ford was not prepared to loan him out as he wanted him for Poole and he was their asset. Therefore Chris had to agree to ride for Poole or he would not have had a UK Team. I don't profess to be an expert on such things BUT if Matt Ford gives an interview near enough confirming that situation on a clubs rider assets, why would he be willing to go into print on it. You could argue the same for riders such as NKI/Charles Wright etc but I doubt he will want either meaning they a re free to sign for who they want in those circumstances. Of course the flip side is that IF he did want Morris (and we are jokingly commenting on it although wish it was the case) then it could be a hell of a job getting Swindon to allow it even if Morris wanted to ride for Poole. Assuming he is a Swindon asset. Similar if Swindon want Doyle back if he is their asset then surely they get first choice.

I would hope the lack of team suits would not be repeated in 2019 as don't think it looked good personally. Hopefully some deep pocketed kind sponsor will come forth next season ;-)

Maybe Matt had an idea he would end up using 13 riders in 2018 (14 if you include Chris Holder who was at the press day and practicing before fate intervened). Would have cost a small fortune in race suits ;-) Incredible how generous sponsors can be though on the back of such success. Maybe some had decent bets half way through the season with bookmakers on winning the play offs when they were nearer bottom than top and all hope looked lost ;-)

Tell me about it. Being Hackney born and bred followed the Hawks/Kestrels from 1970 until their demise. Had the pleasure of visiting all of the above incl West Ham's second attempt to try and run as well as White City which was eerie watching them win the league in a stadium almost empty. Factor also in Rayleigh and now 2 in one season in Lakeside and Rye House. Can't take away the memories but its so sad what has happened over the years. At least being in Chelmsford allows access to the 2 new clubs that have come up to Prem in Ipswich and Peterborough.

May be the one he allegedly had sponsorship and machinery all set up for 2018 down South before the one over 8 rule scuppered everything ?? Of course would not want to spread rumours as last time that happened there were alleged sighting of him in a well known South Coastal Town We may know if he were to turn up in Abu Dhabi all of a sudden but that would be pure conspiracy theory

Sorry my bad. Got caught up in the posting. Was supposed to say Sponsors rather than Promoters. (Although maybe they chipped in as well) Sorry Skidder an error as know you and many of your local biz colleagues do a great job in sponsoring the team and special treats like A.Dhabi in recognition of the teams efforts.

Depends on whether his asset owned club want him first. For those who think riders can insist on riding where they want I would point you to the Holder 2018 situation where Ford said he could be purchased for £25 k as he was not interested or prepared to loan him out as Poole wanted him that season. They could do similar with Bjerre who's a Ford Asset unless of course they don't want him for 2019 in which case he can ride where he want's to. Pls look at the latest Bournmouth Echo Speedway interview with Matt Ford on the subject of Clubs Riders Asset's, just released last day or two,