YeOldPitGate

Bonkers isn't it what a way to have to run a business.

Agreed I do think to be a multiple world champion you need to avoid to many big knocks, Hancock other than that one where he ended up with his arm in another riders mudguard (which was horrific) has mostly stayed out of trouble. Hans Nielson didn't have to many bad knocks either but as you say Doyley and Freddie although awesome riders have had some pretty bad knocks over the years, sadly Tai who generally stayed out of trouble has had a torrid time last three years also. And as you say older you get the more these knocks must start to catch up mentally and physically, Chris Holder another example.

Agreed in the early days in my opinion he was better than T Rick and more of a natural on a bike, but Tony had the extra dedication that propelled him to the absolute top level, but those days with Loram and Henka at Lynn were the best times ever in my period following the sport. You also had brilliant entertainment on the second bend with the hard as nails fan Nutter bellowing Richard Knight at 20 thousand decibels on the ride round pre race then disappearing back into the bar for the whole meeting, knocking back 10-15 pints of flat beer and have a look on his face that said I will chin anyone looking in my direction.

Is that you Richard ?

Probably one of the most skilful fellas to ever sling his leg over the saddle Mike (I await the puns).

My 1 - 7 Henka Gustaffson Mark Loram Darcy Ward Kelly Moran Jan O Pederson Chris Morton Bobby Ott

Did any of them apart from the poles look decent future prospects that we might be able to get over to the UK ?

GP 2027 maybe

Darcy Ward, Henka Gustaffson, Mark Loram, Chris Morton there's four gems for starters.

But we all know they were left with the scraps and as a result have a team where 50% of the time you have three possible riders who don't fancy it. You could carry 1 but you can't carry 3 with that mindset, if Zagar comes back and is 50% interested he could still do a job in this standard of league but they need to get rid of another one of the disinterested gang but its that same old question who would come if anyone.

Another blast from the past if I remember correctly big things were expected of the boy but he was thrown into an already seriously weak Lynn team from the off had blue leathers if I remember correctly ?

Pete was the other end of the scale zero empathy and always looked permanently miserable but as you say he knew how to run a team I can remember years ago when Wolves just about held Cradley in an away match and somehow Pete had Sam or Ronnie Correy out in every other heat and both were on fire that night.

Those were the days when on paper Lynn looked unbeatable Bo Peterson went from supreme around Lynn to terrible and dear old John Davis only knew the outside line and always left a gap on the inside you could have stuck the titanic through. King started like the heir to Penhall but a couple of bad bangs then held him back.

20 users at best where dying out at a faster rate than the tracks.

Don't give them ideas

That's Fox's big problem three riders who at different times won't fancy it so the odds are every match you are going to have one or two of them getting 0-3 when which makes it incredibly difficult to get a result. At the end of the day we know they were left with the absolute scraps, but Kye Thompson has been outstanding and Iverson despite his years always puts a shift in so at least they aren't getting battered every week.

What does the crowd look like ? according to Speedway updates the local morgue is busier on Christmas day

Can someone check the pit gate.

Personal opinion Kevin Brice to the first bend he was unbeatable exiting the first bend he was terrible.

Agreed you would think that would be part of their plan when they took over, how much can Ipswich stadium hold ? I can remember going on bank hol mondays in the late 90's when Lynn were visiting and they would regularly get north of 5k turn up.

Fair point despite what a few Witches fan's have been saying I don't think their 1-7 is that bad it's pretty solid throughout , if they can get Bangs going he's the key, all be it he's been poor so far, yes Kennet wasn't the greatest message of ambition to send out either, its a real shame they couldn't get Throssell over the line.

Thanks Mike but I was thinking more if he made himself available to come back now, why as others have suggested Ipswich didn't push to get him back given how much he's loved in Suffolk.

I'm not privey to any inside info but I thought Ipswich were profitable last year and backed by a wealthy sponsor ,given no Emil to fund this year I would have thought if they wanted Doyle back in theory if crowd numbers have held up and main sponsors are still there they could have afforded him without breaking the bank ? what am I missing ?

I think most cities are an avoid these days my nearest big city Norwich is a shadow of what it was 20 plus years ago, maybe Cambridge, Oxford, Bath and City of London but most others I can't say I'm in a hurry to go to.

Quite possibly and you also have less experienced riders on uber powerful bikes, I've never been a fan of the old swearer but can't deny his grit and determination even prior to that awful last big crash he was no longer at the very top table. Equally when riding for Sheffield he could beat 99% of the UK riders in his sleep like he was going round the track in an arm chair with a cigar on the go. He probably is the kind of fella if given total power could make a go of turning the sport round but equally you could see him getting frustrated very early doors with the current caretakers letting out a war cry of two words beginning with f and followed by c and walking out the door.