greyhoundp

Looking outside right now, if Coventry has had the same weather that we have had since mid afternoon yesterday, there appears little chance of this taking place... ridiculous british weather.

I doubt considering the importance of this fixture Storm will want to go in with RR, if anyone gets injured, they will be up the creek without a paddle. So without looking at PL fixtures Im thinking Ash Morris, Lewis Blackbird, Paul Starke, Charles Wright, Lewis Kerr, Steve Worrall, someone of that ilk.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I don't understand why Liam Carr wasn't re-signed, there were to many gambles taken ie could Lee Smart regain his old form?, could Luke Chessell a reserve at best do a job at No2?, and could Kyle Hughes keep his equipment up to scratch? non have come off, which is unfortunate. Somehow Stoke have to find riders who WILL do a job for them in the current situation, Jake Knight is a possible, but after that Im not sure where they can find anyone.

What on earth has happened up at Stoke ? there results over the past week, have been nothing short of disasterous, and appear downright embarrassing, the nights result against IOW, who were just shy of 70 points just about topped it off, Malcolm Vasey there much respected, and knowledgable Team manager appears to be unable to halt the slide, I don't know what the crowds are like up there but something needs to be done, otherwise I fear for the future of the potteries Team, 2 years ago they were up there challenging for NL honours, at the IOW they won 1 race, the last one and that was by there guest and Top scorer Lewis Rose. I don't know whats wrong in the camp, but its pretty obvious all is not well..

Just to give you guys down in Kent a heads up, Just seen a very much improved Michael Neale ride as a guest for Mildenhall at Dudley, he must be one if not the best unattached rider around at the moment, 2 good 2nd places, in his other race he was lying in a comfortable 3rd, when he lost it on the 2nd bend 3rd lap, he would undoutably improve your bottom end, and he is only 16 or 17..Appologies for posting this twice, but I wanted someone from Kent to read it.

Just to give you guys down in Kent a heads up, seen Michael Neale ride tonight as a guest for Mildenhall against Dudley, he had two good 2nd places, was in a comfortable 3rd place when he lost it on the 2nd bend 3rd lap, he has improved tremendously, and is without doubt one of the best unattached young riders around, I have NO doubts he would improve your bottom end, and I think he is either 16 or 17, get him on board Nikko, you wont regret it.

Tom Perry 2-1-2-2 = 7. Whats gone wrong with Tom, I know he has never been able to gate, but usually he can get away with it in the NL except for Ht 15, but here again as a No1 just 7 points away from home, this follows on from 4 points away against Mildenhall, and he hasn't been doing great at Somerset, has he reached his level, or is it an equipment issue ??., as it stands at the moment, I don't see IOW winning the NL, because with AE at reserve this is papering over a few cracks, and Tom is one of them.

Why don't promoters realise supporters don't have bottomless pockets, an extra quid doesn't sound much, but here we are discussing reducing admission, and here are promoters putting prices up, even more. Simply if EL/PL cant support professional racing, then it has to go Semi Proffesional again, but REDUCED admission has to come with it.

Im sure it must be... unless IOW are riding on Tuesday.. Iv just checked, and IOW are at home to Stoke, so they will have to look elsewhere.

Looking at your location your connection maybe a lot closer than some of us suspect and therein lies a further clue. Will we see him at Dudley on Tuesday ?. he is going to be a good un, injuries permitting.

And this is one of the short sighted decisions made by the Stoke promotion, they feel that is money that could be spent in the Bar or café rather than towards riders help funds, there cannot be any other reason behind such a move.

Hmmm Starkey was in our declared Team from the start of the season, lets see when did Buxton Sign Liam ?? errrrrm 2 weeks ago, they must have known of this fixture clash when they signed Liam, Ohhh whose asset is Liam? Berwicks I do believe. So stitched up wouldn't have been my choice of words, win at all costs ?? well im thinking we will do well to win anything this season, IOW for the League, and possibly KL for the KO cup, throw in an improving Coventry Team and its heading for an interesting end of season, and that's without even mentioning last seasons treble winners.

If Adam could guarantee to be injury free, there would be a line of PL promoters after him, that's the only reason he is a free agent, and Sheffield well its a match made in heaven almost, and how badly they need a rider of Adams calibre, even if only 75% match fit.

I cant see The Young Stars reserves dropping points against there opposite numbers. I just don't know whats happened with Shane Hazelden, 2 years ago he came to Monmore Wood, and he had just got to No1 for Rye House, and he rode well, now here he is dropping back to reserve, I saw him earlier in the season at Monmore, there didn't look a lot wrong with him, except for not making the gate, and if anything over riding or trying to hard, and Im never going to criticise anyone for trying to hard.

This result is by no means certain, in that i fully expect The Young Stars to run out convincing winners, but the question is going to be, by how many? can the margin be by 25 points or more, for Stoke then they have to settle for running no last places, and every point is going to count as i expect it to go down to the wire, who will win overall, i am going to put my neck on the block, and say Stoke, and the reasoning behind that is, Stoke have a 25 point advantage in the bag, its The Young Stars who have to do the chasing.

I am pretty sure MM or someone from Storm will clarify it for you, and any average in the NL becomes effective 7 days after they have ridden 4 NL meetings, so Im thinking that Brendans wont be 5.25.

No thats true the Speedway management dont own the Stadium, but Dave Tatum has a pretty much free hand, if you want to put on Stock Car racing, or any event there it has to go through Dave Tatum, so i am pretty sure he pays a flat rate for the rental from Corbetts the local Bookmakers who ARE the owners of the Track, but Dave Tatum it is who does changes to the Track, so its his "baby" to improve the facilities.

Hmmm, I believe Brendan Johnson has been released by Coventry Storm, his current average is 6.20 NL and 7.20 cma, now i dont know when Kent have new averages coming into effect, but it has to be worthwhile considering Brendan for a team spot, he is a genuine second string, who can knock in the odd double point meeting, when he gets it all right.

Pickard at Stoke last year had an average of and Im guessing here 7+, he rode in i think 5 of the required 6 meetings, but his form was poor probably 4+, so you had what was effectively a 4+ rider on a 7+ average, Brendans situation is opposite i would have thought in that you have last years 5.25, now on this years 7+. Well Coventry are really strengthening up as the season goes along, now i havent seen who has been released, but Im guessing its Brendan Johnson, and if they have replaced like for like, by recalling the fit again Oliver Greenwood, the Storm are really going to be in with a shout come Play Off time, They will have Sarj, JJ, Rob, and Olly, that top 4 really is comparable with any Top four in the league, and backing those four up will be three really progressive newcomers in Martin Knuckey, Luke Crang, and now James Shane, Storms Team is now beginning to take on a real title challenging look, remember guys, nowt is won in june with regards play offs.

I for one am surprised NO one has used young Liam up until now.

Greyhound racing could be comparable in many ways to Speedway, dwindling crowds, run down Stadia, but a few years ago, they came up with the 6 Pack for a Tenner idea, admission, a drink, fast food meal, a bet, program, and re admission to another meeting all for a TENNER, now normal admission is £5 on average. Greyhound racing is comparable with Speedway, and its fighting for the same leisure pound. Speedway admission prices, its NOT what WE as supporters see Speedway as, its what NON Speedway fans see us as, and i am pretty sure, they see us as a £10 sport, promoters HAVE got to get it DOWN to that or see it die as WE know it. For years now promoters have paid lip service to supporters, and taken us for granted, the time has come where either they listen, and react, or they will get bitten in the bum, especially if sky pull out.

Well i hope hope they both get well soon.

Looking at the updates, i dont really know where Kent go from here, yes Storm have a good Team, especially at home, but i can think of at least 3 Teams who are stronger. You know if Kent cannot beat Buxton at home, you have to ask, just who can they beat ?.

Yes there will be a few supporters up there, but you have to consider 1. Its only a challenge match, 2. Its a heck of a long way up there. 3 the weather is going through one of its dodgey spells right now. So yes probably Nigel would be correct were it to be a competitive meeting, but taking the 3 facts above i would be surprised if they reached the figures Nigel mentioned.

Yes fully aggree with your observation about RTD being up at No2 and MK being down at reserve, Martin is the more likeley to be scoring in that position, How long are Brendans performances going to be subject to these other factors ? granted i dont think Monmore is his favourite Track, but he was under 18 champion back in what 2010 ?, but he has not really progressed on from that as could have reasonably have been expected. Oh and one final word, i was tremendously impressed with Rob Branfords efforts throughout the meeting, and especially in the last Heat when nothing was riding on it, the match was well and truly lost, yet he still got up to deny The Beast from the East <Lewis Blackbird> his paid maximum, well done Rob.