Poole 2026

[Arthur54]

2 hours ago, geoff100 said:

I hope he never does again🤣

So do we 

[STEVEHOLS54]

38 minutes ago, Paddy The Rebel said:

You could have Bowes,Hellstrom Bangs and Bailey I’m pretty sure think we would be nearly a point under the limit but that would be one hell of an exciting team alongside Rushen and cairns.

Be even better if it was Lawson/Rowe/Morris/Hellstrom Bangs/Bailey/Cairns/Rushen and still 0.37 below the 40 point limit.

Morris is on a bargain GSA and assuming Cook served reasonable notice of his intention to move up/on, you would have thought the Fords would have made a big effort to bring in a third H/L on a crazy low GSA.

We/They all knew the limit would be kept at 40 as it was already agreed last season for 2026 and with Promotors in regular contact as well, many would be well advanced in seeking out the best top end combinations for 2026.

For me the likes of Bowes is not an upwardly thinking possible signing. Done nothing really in 4 years in POL/SWE and if anything in POL has gone backwards. Add in cannot qualify for the POL U24 anymore and unlikely anyone wants him there after his performances in POL EXL2 and open criticism from his POL Team  Manager. He was also one of the lowest point av riders in both POL EXL U24 and EXL2 last season. All of that after 4 years of riding and basing himself there.

No thanks not a fan of Bowes. If tapped up and accepted to me its because he will not get a job in POL so will probably be desperate to probably get a UK slot.

Edited yesterday at 04:34 PM by STEVEHOLS54
typo

[Paddy The Rebel]

1 minute ago, STEVEHOLS54 said:

Be even better if it was Lawson/Rowe/Morris/Hellstrom Bangs/Bailey/Cairns/Rushen and still 0.37 below the 40 point limit.

Morris is on a bargain GSA and assuming Cook served reasonable notice of his intention to move up/on, you would have thought the Fords would have made a big effort to bring in a third H/L on a crazy low GSA.

We/They all knew the limit would be kept at 450 as it was already agreed last season for 2026 and with Promotors in regular contact as well, many would be well advanced in seeking out the best top end combinations for 2026.

For me the likes of Bowes is not an upwardly thinking possible signing. Done nothing really in 4 years in POL/SWE and if anything in POL has gone backwards. Add in cannot qualify for the POL U24 anymore and unlikely anyone wants him there after his performances in POL EXL2 and open criticism from his POL Team  Manager. He was also one of the lowest point av riders in both POL EXL U24 and EXL2 last season. All of that after 4 years of riding and basing himself there.

No thanks not a fan of Bowes. If tapped up and accepted to me its because he will not get a job in POL so will probably be desperate to probably get a UK slot.

Agreed much prefer that line up without Bowes but it seems like he will be in the team,if it was that team easily favourites for the title miles better than the team this year.

[STEVEHOLS54]

2 minutes ago, Paddy The Rebel said:

Agreed much prefer that line up without Bowes but it seems like he will be in the team,if it was that team easily favourites for the title miles better than the team this year.

I also hope they don't take the easy route and sign Kerr again. Too inconsistent for me as we witnessed last season (especially that last match).

[SteveLyric2]

4 minutes ago, STEVEHOLS54 said:

I also hope they don't take the easy route and sign Kerr again. Too inconsistent for me as we witnessed last season (especially that last match).

I think there's every chance Kerr will be at Redcar?!

[daz9100]

1 hour ago, SteveLyric2 said:

I think there's every chance Kerr will be at Redcar?!

I reckon so too, he does seem to love it there. 

[STEVEHOLS54]

1 hour ago, SteveLyric2 said:

I think there's every chance Kerr will be at Redcar?!

Probably a sensible signing if true.

They are faced with having to lose one of their 8 plus point riders (Wright or King) on top of having to shed 4.07 off team total to get to 40 points and find a replacement for Riss. He also did well there in 21 & 22 where his AV ranged from 7.51 to 8.46 plus BP. For them it would be a sensible signing probably.

I think that IF we do get/have  Bailey/Cairns/Rushen as our bottom 3 then we have more scope to sign a better mix/team also depending upon how determined the Fords are to invest in a really good top 4. Knowing we will have Lawsom/Rowe would give us 13.23 for 2 decent riders. That even includes possibilities from places like the POL EXL who have never ridden in UK like Hellstrom Bangs and others as well as those who have ridden in POL EXL2/POL National LGE (Div2) POL EXL U24 and SWE. I excluded DK only because of the WED race day clash.

To be honest I am struggling to come up with riders from the last GSA who would fit that would have scope to improve except for the likes of Morris (obvious massive improver on his current GSA) Joe Thompson (who probably will get similar or worse GSA next season), Edwards (who I don't think will improve much), Zichke (lots of potential) but the Worky Fans are confident he will be back, Mcdiarmid (lots of potential) but maybe happy at Oxford), Luke Harrison (lots of potential) but think Scunny will do everything to keep him.

As for Bowes - After what he has achieved (not much in POL)and the Worky end of season saga, I honestly couldnt have seen many fighting to sign him up but who knows ?

[foreverblue]

5 hours ago, geoff100 said:

I hope he never does again🤣

So do I

 

[SteelShoe]

3 hours ago, STEVEHOLS54 said:

I also hope they don't take the easy route and sign Kerr again. Too inconsistent for me as we witnessed last season (especially that last match).

Apart from the home time against Redcar in the BSN Final when he looked down on mechanical power I thought Lewi Kerr played an instrumental role in semi finals and finals for you guys.

[Pirates Of Poole]

I wonder if there is any newcomers who would be available on a 7.50 average new to the league

[YeOldPitGate]

4 hours ago, STEVEHOLS54 said:

Be even better if it was Lawson/Rowe/Morris/Hellstrom Bangs/Bailey/Cairns/Rushen and still 0.37 below the 40 point limit.

Morris is on a bargain GSA and assuming Cook served reasonable notice of his intention to move up/on, you would have thought the Fords would have made a big effort to bring in a third H/L on a crazy low GSA.

We/They all knew the limit would be kept at 40 as it was already agreed last season for 2026 and with Promotors in regular contact as well, many would be well advanced in seeking out the best top end combinations for 2026.

For me the likes of Bowes is not an upwardly thinking possible signing. Done nothing really in 4 years in POL/SWE and if anything in POL has gone backwards. Add in cannot qualify for the POL U24 anymore and unlikely anyone wants him there after his performances in POL EXL2 and open criticism from his POL Team  Manager. He was also one of the lowest point av riders in both POL EXL U24 and EXL2 last season. All of that after 4 years of riding and basing himself there.

No thanks not a fan of Bowes. If tapped up and accepted to me its because he will not get a job in POL so will probably be desperate to probably get a UK slot.

That would be one hell of a side four really exciting youngsters.

[YeOldPitGate]

2 hours ago, STEVEHOLS54 said:

Probably a sensible signing if true.

They are faced with having to lose one of their 8 plus point riders (Wright or King) on top of having to shed 4.07 off team total to get to 40 points and find a replacement for Riss. He also did well there in 21 & 22 where his AV ranged from 7.51 to 8.46 plus BP. For them it would be a sensible signing probably.

I think that IF we do get/have  Bailey/Cairns/Rushen as our bottom 3 then we have more scope to sign a better mix/team also depending upon how determined the Fords are to invest in a really good top 4. Knowing we will have Lawsom/Rowe would give us 13.23 for 2 decent riders. That even includes possibilities from places like the POL EXL who have never ridden in UK like Hellstrom Bangs and others as well as those who have ridden in POL EXL2/POL National LGE (Div2) POL EXL U24 and SWE. I excluded DK only because of the WED race day clash.

To be honest I am struggling to come up with riders from the last GSA who would fit that would have scope to improve except for the likes of Morris (obvious massive improver on his current GSA) Joe Thompson (who probably will get similar or worse GSA next season), Edwards (who I don't think will improve much), Zichke (lots of potential) but the Worky Fans are confident he will be back, Mcdiarmid (lots of potential) but maybe happy at Oxford), Luke Harrison (lots of potential) but think Scunny will do everything to keep him.

As for Bowes - After what he has achieved (not much in POL)and the Worky end of season saga, I honestly couldnt have seen many fighting to sign him up but who knows ?

The only drawback if they get Cairns, Rushden and Bailey is one of them will have to start in the main body of the team and whilst I see all three having massive careers ideally you want to start at reserve to build confidence and not struggle in the main body from the get go and lose confidence.

[SteveLyric2]

11 hours ago, YeOldPitGate said:

The only drawback if they get Cairns, Rushden and Bailey is one of them will have to start in the main body of the team and whilst I see all three having massive careers ideally you want to start at reserve to build confidence and not struggle in the main body from the get go and lose confidence.

Presumably Bailey as I doubt he'll be in as a 2 pointer?!

[Pirates Of Poole]

51 minutes ago, SteveLyric2 said:

Presumably Bailey as I doubt he'll be in as a 2 pointer?!

Unless he has a British Passport - he will be a 4.00

[mac101]

I think Bailey will need to qualify for a visa through Aussie titles other problem is if one gets injured it’s a hard ave to cover 

[Pirates Of Poole]

18 minutes ago, mac101 said:

I think Bailey will need to qualify for a visa through Aussie titles other problem is if one gets injured it’s a hard ave to cover 

That is correct.

[Pirates Of Poole]

Bowes would be a surprise if he turned up at Poole, I don't think his off track antics at the end of the season would have helped. A rider that would increase his average in a weaker league certainly. 

[STEVEHOLS54]

58 minutes ago, Pirates Of Poole said:

Bowes would be a surprise if he turned up at Poole, I don't think his off track antics at the end of the season would have helped. A rider that would increase his average in a weaker league certainly. 

Maybe the Fords see something in Bowes that I am missing.

His POL stats are poor for 2025. In POL EXL 2 (so 2nd POL Lge) he was 55th of 59 regular riders with 4 ride av of 3.4 and won only 2 of 47 rides.

In POL EXL (U24) he was 38th of 59 regular riders with 4 ride av of 5.64 - won 16 of his 74 rides.

Will turn 24 in NOV and has ridden POL for about 4 years. A lot of his opposition in POL U24 was against riders a lot younger than him with less experience. Yes there are talented young rider in that Lge but he doesn't seem to have gone forward to any real degree.

My personal view of this is based on his stats and time spent in POL (4 years) considering he was also based there.

Maybe that one performance of 13 from 6 rides (incl one retirement) at Poole on 23rd July showed them something.  Although his 2 from 4 rides guesting for Glasgow late August was not good.

[Youhave2minutes]

2 hours ago, Pirates Of Poole said:

Bowes would be a surprise if he turned up at Poole, I don't think his off track antics at the end of the season would have helped. A rider that would increase his average in a weaker league certainly. 

Another Craig Cook character 

[SteveLyric2]

57 minutes ago, STEVEHOLS54 said:

Maybe the Fords see something in Bowes that I am missing.

His POL stats are poor for 2025. In POL EXL 2 (so 2nd POL Lge) he was 55th of 59 regular riders with 4 ride av of 3.4 and won only 2 of 47 rides.

In POL EXL (U24) he was 38th of 59 regular riders with 4 ride av of 5.64 - won 16 of his 74 rides.

Will turn 24 in NOV and has ridden POL for about 4 years. A lot of his opposition in POL U24 was against riders a lot younger than him with less experience. Yes there are talented young rider in that Lge but he doesn't seem to have gone forward to any real degree.

My personal view of this is based on his stats and time spent in POL (4 years) considering he was also based there.

Maybe that one performance of 13 from 6 rides (incl one retirement) at Poole on 23rd July showed them something.  Although his 2 from 4 rides guesting for Glasgow late August was not good.

Maybe someone had a word in his ear beforehand??😉