YeOldPitGate

We must be down to about ten of us rattling around in here now I wonder who the bookies have as the favorite to turn out the lights when the time comes.

Hopefully when Zagar is back ideally for Batch they will win most home meetings he might be getting on but should still be a 6-7 point man in this league which should get them over the line assuming at least one of Lidsey or Klindt fancy it in the remaining home matches

I seem to remember prior to the current bunch stepping in Flagrag mentioned polish connections so it could be something was afoot similar to what's happening at Ipswich. (Correct me if the old memory is off Flagrag). Re the old big promise of help we all knew it wouldn't be coming when the crunch came , Doyle is probably the only world class rider who could have been persuaded back this year given based in the UK and he's been loyal to British speedway for years. They really need someone in the Anders Thompson mould he's never going to be world champ but should be a 9-10 point man in UK league and equally doesn't seem to be a rider who only fancies it 50% of the time. Its a shame Tolley isn't involved as there does look to be a fan base to build on at Northampton which wasn't the case at Brum and he clearly has the kind of deep pockets needed to get a top liner over who would probably want 5-7k per meeting.

Would be better just taking a chance on a new face four pointer, Simon is a tryer but an end of career and Fredricksen seems to always be in crashes and can't really see any improvement in him far better to try and get a young dane or swede in if the budget allows.

Hopefully swap out for Batch

When is Zagar due back ?

I think a lot will depend on who owns Fox's in 2027 if its the current promoters I would expect things to look similar to 2026 but Flagrag did also hint there was another interested party with serious resources if they came in the whole outlook would shift. The one positive is there does seem to be a hardcore crowd already established and the track is the right shape if someone sorts it out and clears the house bricks off it.

Spot on the legendary help that we knew wouldn't be coming unless the other promoters are willing to bung in an extra £5-£7k per meeting to get Anders Thompson or Dudek over.

Has he had a good one on his new home circuit yet ?

Or Loram and Henka up against the Moran brothers.

I think its the case with new/possible replacement riders being rarer than hen's teeth these days they are stronger continuing with rider replacement and keeping him on the sidelines for as long as possible, same situation at Lynn with Castanga. Oh for the days when you could take a chance on an overseas rider who quickly turned into a gem like Chris Holder and Jimmy Nilson etc. Maybe if something comes of this Ipswich, Polish club link up some under 24's might be sent the UK's way with any luck.

Shame as the three british youngsters are probably all exceeding expectations and they probably have the best reserve pairing apart from Poole.

Real shame as the lad was showing promise early on in his Plymouth days.

Textbook

To be fair Mike I think even 50k first prize would get things moving to a high degree, maybe Harry is working on something to that effect.

He is getting on now though not going to be the same rider as he was a decade ago.

To be fair he is the ultimate big fish in a small pond in the championship, and he's played the game like a finally tuned fiddle, knows he's too old now to make it into the gp , rides for two of the best clubs in the UK so knows he will get paid on time. At championship level he can win most rides in his sleep and at top level he's still a 7 point man without too much bother. Also self employed so he has winter earnings covered and can fit work around speedway. If you're one of the 90% of riders who won't make it to the top level he is the blue print to follow for decent earnings without the cost of a gp team.

Maybe Rob and Linda are there also

Were the old bikes and boots washed in the pits Phil ?

Yep the first choice Scott Nichols was already riding

Spot on we have to accept we are no longer top of the pile and if we could be a feeder league for the poles that would be a far better outcome than we have currently, the poles recognize that the UK, Sweden and US need building back up so things don't become boring with them steam rolling everything. Wouldn't it be great if something was done with Steve Evans and say Hancock and Hamill to find the next generation of Herbie and Bullet, Moran Brothers, Cowboy Cook, Penhall, King etc the Americans brought so much to the UK scene in the 80's and 90's there must be 10-15 riders somewhere in a population of 300 million who if some effort was put into them could make the stars and stripes a force again. Same with Sweden lets find the next generation of T.Ricks, Henka's, Lindgrens etc get them over here whilst young and hungry and ideally send some of our best youngsters over to Swedish league to broaden their learning/track craft. I really hope all this isn't crushed as I'm feeling a very small bit of optimism for the first time in over a decade.

Spot on there's probably ten or so riders that have that attitude I would rather have a tryer in at who got 4-5 points a meeting than a fella who could get 13-15 one week and then blatantly show zero interest the next meeting. KK was another case when riding, unbeatable when in the mood and then looked like he had never been on a bike when he didn't fancy it.

This all sounds positive and the kind of path the sport in the UK desperately needs , I'm not taking the p-ss here but was there any mention of if Harry and co have actually achieved anything yet ?

Who's Donc ? Jeremy Doncaster ?

But you know Laguta is another one who doesn't fancy it half the time in the UK Mike.