TheWellBehavedWorrall

Big business needed for the final three riders. This is a credit to Poole‘s team building ability over the years, but it isn’t a stand-out team so far. Kerr is a strange one. I really like him and rate him, but he’s gone from Oxford’s third heat leader to Berwick’s number one and now Poole’s second heat leader over the past three seasons; it plays into the statement that you never know what Lewis Kerr you’re getting. I saw him smoke Chris Harris two or three times at Shielfield Park last season, but I also saw Lee Complin absolutely bully and out-ride him at Ashfield in the Play-Off semi-final in 2023. It’s Poole though, so it’s almost a nailed-on guarantee that he’ll have a good season.

Buzzing for this. I was underwhelmed by last season’s starting line-up, even more so following Complin’s ban, so hopefully this year will see a strong side kick-off the campaign. Harris is essential and seems inevitable, but Boughen will be a huge addition. His potential is huge.

Gutted for Nicholls. There are so few clubs left that the probability of a heat leader spot becoming available mid-season is low. I’m hopeful he has a few years left in him.

In April of 2016, I watched a 16 year-old Dan Bewley ride for Edinburgh at Ashfield. He scored zero from four rides and in three of those races, he wasn’t far off being lapped. In the other, he fell. In April of 2024, I watched a 16 year-old Ashton Boughen ride for Oxford at Ashfield. He scored six points, including a heat win. In September of 2024, five months later, I watched the same Ashton Boughen score 13+1 at Ashfield, involving four heat wins and a victory over Chris Harris. Let’s not allow reality to get in the way of a good criticism, eh?

Announce Boughen.

The 4TT used to be great and emphasised the variety we were exposed to “back in the day”. Am I remembering correctly; teams would begin the completion in sections (Glasgow were in with Edinburgh, Berwick and Newcastle, typically) and after all teams had a home meeting, the side with the most points would be seeded to the 4TT final at Peterborough? I seem to recall a different scenario, where eight sides across semi-finals would fight for a place in the grand final on the same date, also at Peterborough. I’d welcome its return. I think it would be a great addition to the British speedway calendar.

Any ideas for speedway-related Christmas gifts? It’s my grandfather’s birthday in December as well as, of course, Christmas, so I’m looking for ideas, having previously bought him autobiographies (Nicholls, Tatum, Woffinden, etc.), Glasgow Tigers clothing, mugs, programme boards, etc. Also, does anyone know if there are any plans for Nicki Pedersen’s book to be released in English?

I’m amazed by the disservice Thomsen is getting here. It wasn’t his greatest ever season, but 10+2, 11+1 and 8+3, including a win over Masters (the highest averaging home rider in the league) at Oxford across the final three cup final meetings of the season is remarkable from reserve. Being British and possessing potential is one thing, but if I’m a Poole fan, I’m delighted with Thomsen’s return.

A decent signing for Scunthorpe. Whether or not he’s capable of being an out-and-out number one, having spent the past two seasons in bridesmaid capacity to Lawson and Harris, is anyone’s guess. I thought he did okay for us. His season was obviously very disrupted, but even until that point, I often felt he failed to deliver when the chips were down in heats thirteen and fifteen, aside from the second meeting at Berwick.

I’m amazed that Glasgow didn’t sign him, given his dad’s legendary status up here. All the best to him. Workington are putting together somewhat of an exciting side.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Foord’s conduct during the Oxford meeting played a part in his exit. To be clear, his erratic racing and villain-like character that evening were great for the BSN cameras, so this is just an observation. Either way, he’s a huge talent with a big future and I believe Poole’s “loss” is Workington’s gain. I also understand his girlfriend is associated with Glasgow, so location-wise, it’s much more convenient.

Our opinions obviously differ and I suppose that’s the beauty of sport; healthy debate. I’ve already said I was impressed by Pearson’s form at Ashfield, but I was also in attendance at Berwick, Redcar and Edinburgh where he scored three points across three meetings. He also scored two at Oxford, Scunthorpe and Plymouth. This isn’t an anti-James Pearson campaign, but we surrendered our title, he found himself relegated to reserve and in at least half-a-dozen fixtures, under-performed. I reiterate: this is a differing in standards. This just isn’t accurate, is it? Ivacic - the clown you’re referring to - had no impact on Pearson’s status in the team. Jack Smith joined at reserve and was promoted to the main body of the team at the expense of Pearson. Regardless, if you sat the Tigers’ stakeholders and Pearson down in March and told them he’d end the season at reserve, all parties would be disappointed and there isn’t a single doubt about that.

The constant topic policing around this forum is utter brain damage. It is incomprehensible for me to process that a grown adult would look at this topic and think ”the subject of discussion has deviated, I must intervene”. It’s genuinely the behavioural characteristics of someone who has a spectrum disorder.

I appreciate where you’re coming from and Pearson’s impressive average at Ashfield didn’t go unnoticed, but I believe the famous quote of ”There are three kinds of lies; lies, damned lies and statistics” is very much applicable. I don’t care if you end the season with average of beyond ten; if you start the season in the main body of the team, but find yourself relegated to the reserve berth, it hasn’t been a great season. The relegation to reserve came with the inevitable improvement in scores because he should be riding in heat two.

Last week in November? Is Flint coming back? I’ll be surprised if he is and I don’t mean pleasantly. With all due respect, to compete for trophies, you rely on one or two big improvements and in 2024, Glasgow were likely looking at Flint and Pearson for that. Sadly, they didn’t and Flint’s final centre green interview highlighted that even he would be surprised by a return. Having said that, if he’s wearing a red and white race suit in April, he’ll have my backing.