Poole 2026

[allthegearbutnaeidea]

2 hours ago, ASpeedwayfan said:

Bit dramatic I think, Lawson was the best rider in the league last year, and certainly can do that again, Kerr improved as the year went on, if he picks up where he left off his average will certainly go up. 
Cairns has potential to be one of the best reserves in the league, so does the rumoured other reserve for the pirates. 
I can’t comment on Bowes other than he looked lightning quick in a few of his races round Poole last year. 
Gilkes will relish riding with Lawson and if he stays fit he could hit a GSA of 5. 
 

If Zach signs he will probably be the best number 5 in the league, so Poole would have the Best 1 and 5 and potentially the best reserves. And then 3 riders I expect averages to go up 

Ok I’ll bite.

Lawson wasn’t the best rider in the league last season, Sam Masters was, hence his higher average. Definitely second best, and a top top number 1.

Zach Cook definitely won’t be the best number 5 in the league, Howarth, Nicholls are better, and Palovaara/Morris, and Riss/Rowe are all similar to him, I’d take a bet that one of Morris or Riss has a better season on a lower average than Cook, if he is indeed the number 5.

Bowes is no where near as good as you think he is, although he did have a good meeting at Poole, and if he keeps that up then I’m sure he’ll have a fine season, but has a terrible attitude, which normally doesn’t end well at Poole with Middlo does it (a strange signing for him I’d say). 

I agree on Kerr, Cairns, and if Rushen is the number 7 Poole certainly have the reserves with the most potential.

Poole will certainly be in the playoffs, but I think you’re over estimating how good the team is, could be league winners, but it isn’t a foregone conclusion like some previous years, and I agree with others who have said it’s the poorest starting 7 they’ve had possibly since the start of their Championship days.

[ASpeedwayfan]

I know a fair few people who have given up on the forum because of what’s written above. 
 

Speedway has enough problems, it doesn’t need all us fighting each other. 
We should ALL be doing our best to bring people to the sport, not name calling and insulting each other. 

As a Poole fan who’s attended for as long as I can remember, I enjoy being able to post on various pages, it’s what makes the forum enjoyable, enlightening and most importantly SPEEDWAY! 

 

[Neila]

God how privileged do you Poole fans think you are ? People come on here with genuine debate or questions, but you don't like it and call people names 😗 fair enough maybe, but it's not clever, and to make matters worse you are all over other threads saying the same tings. Let's keep it all speedway orientated and stop the stupid name calling.

[ASpeedwayfan]

5 minutes ago, allthegearbutnaeidea said:

Ok I’ll bite.

Lawson wasn’t the best rider in the league last season, Sam Masters was, hence his higher average. Definitely second best, and a top top number 1.

Zach Cook definitely won’t be the best number 5 in the league, Howarth, Nicholls are better, and Palovaara/Morris, and Riss/Rowe are all similar to him, I’d take a bet that one of Morris or Riss has a better season on a lower average than Cook, if he is indeed the number 5.

Bowes is no where near as good as you think he is, although he did have a good meeting at Poole, and if he keeps that up then I’m sure he’ll have a fine season, but has a terrible attitude, which normally doesn’t end well at Poole with Middlo does it (a strange signing for him I’d say). 

I agree on Kerr, Cairns, and if Rushen is the number 7 Poole certainly have the reserves with the most potential.

Poole will certainly be in the playoffs, but I think you’re over estimating how good the team is, could be league winners, but it isn’t a foregone conclusion like some previous years, and I agree with others who have said it’s the poorest starting 7 they’ve had possibly since the start of their Championship days.

Lawson’s average would be higher if he didn’t pullover to let Thompson pass him. 
masters on paper is a better points scorer yes, but Lawson interms of team riding I’d say is better. I certainly prefer Lawson but then I’m Bias, but Masters is a good argument. 

 I disagree that Howarth is better, would take Zach all day long over him, Rowe and Palovaar. Morris is a little unknown for me, did look good on his comeback, but then he’s capable of being the best rider in the league. Riss has had some horrible meetings round Poole. And Nichols is a great number 5 but again, I think Zach has passed Nichols now. 

If Morris hits the form he can then I’ll give you that!

[Bojangles]

9 minutes ago, allthegearbutnaeidea said:

Ok I’ll bite.

Lawson wasn’t the best rider in the league last season, Sam Masters was, hence his higher average. Definitely second best, and a top top number 1.

That's not true. Masters has a higher GSA, but Lawson had a better average on 2025 meetings alone.

Lawson = 10.33
Masters = 10.21

[SteveLyric2]

19 minutes ago, allthegearbutnaeidea said:

Ok I’ll bite.

Lawson wasn’t the best rider in the league last season, Sam Masters was, hence his higher average. Definitely second best, and a top top number 1.

Zach Cook definitely won’t be the best number 5 in the league, Howarth, Nicholls are better, and Palovaara/Morris, and Riss/Rowe are all similar to him, I’d take a bet that one of Morris or Riss has a better season on a lower average than Cook, if he is indeed the number 5.

Bowes is no where near as good as you think he is, although he did have a good meeting at Poole, and if he keeps that up then I’m sure he’ll have a fine season, but has a terrible attitude, which normally doesn’t end well at Poole with Middlo does it (a strange signing for him I’d say). 

I agree on Kerr, Cairns, and if Rushen is the number 7 Poole certainly have the reserves with the most potential.

Poole will certainly be in the playoffs, but I think you’re over estimating how good the team is, could be league winners, but it isn’t a foregone conclusion like some previous years, and I agree with others who have said it’s the poorest starting 7 they’ve had possibly since the start of their Championship days.

What is it some people say? It's not where you start it's where you finish!

Also being the 'best' rider in the league could apply to the top points scorer from ALL meetings, not just those that form the GSA. That would be Lawson.

Anyway Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you all at Wimborne Road in 2026.

Edited 6 hours ago by SteveLyric2

[TheWellBehavedWorrall]

9 minutes ago, ASpeedwayfan said:

I know a fair few people who have given up on the forum because of what’s written above. 
 

Speedway has enough problems, it doesn’t need all us fighting each other. 
We should ALL be doing our best to bring people to the sport, not name calling and insulting each other. 

As a Poole fan who’s attended for as long as I can remember, I enjoy being able to post on various pages, it’s what makes the forum enjoyable, enlightening and most importantly SPEEDWAY! 

 

Well said.

[foreverblue]

18 minutes ago, Neila said:

God how privileged do you Poole fans think you are ? People come on here with genuine debate or questions, but you don't like it and call people names 😗 fair enough maybe, but it's not clever, and to make matters worse you are all over other threads saying the same tings. Let's keep it all speedway orientated and stop the stupid name calling.

Not sure any Poole fans have called anyone else names, quite the reverse.

[TTT]

43 minutes ago, SteveLyric2 said:

Rattled???? About what exactly?

My opinion in regards to Poole's current signings as well as Pinny's opinion of you as a person.

[JC81]

 pirates fans do let  themselfs down sometimes

[TTT]

Poole fans keep mentioning the Bowes double figure score at Wimborne on his 1st visit but he also scored 2 Points from 4 Rides on his second visit to Wimborne this year.

I think Poole are the strongest team at reserve assuming Rushen is the No.7 but the confirmed / rumoured 1-5 is weaker than Glasgow and Oxford's confirmed / rumoured 1-5.

 

Edited 5 hours ago by TTT

[Bagpuss]

33 minutes ago, ASpeedwayfan said:

Lawson’s average would be higher if he didn’t pullover to let Thompson pass him. 
masters on paper is a better points scorer yes, but Lawson interms of team riding I’d say is better. I certainly prefer Lawson but then I’m Bias, but Masters is a good argument. 

 I disagree that Howarth is better, would take Zach all day long over him, Rowe and Palovaar. Morris is a little unknown for me, did look good on his comeback, but then he’s capable of being the best rider in the league. Riss has had some horrible meetings round Poole. And Nichols is a great number 5 but again, I think Zach has passed Nichols now. 

If Morris hits the form he can then I’ll give you that!

Howarth averaged considerably more than Cook from a more difficult riding position.

[foreverblue]

4 minutes ago, TTT said:

Poole fans keep mentioning the Bowes double figure score at Wimborne on his 1st visit but he also scored 2 Points from 4 Rides on his second visit to Wimborne this year.

I think Poole are the strongest team at reserve assuming Rushen is the No.7 but the confirmed / rumoured 1-5 is weaker than Glasgow and Oxford's confirmed / rumoured 1-5.

 

Glasgow have to be favourites. It remains to be seen how Bowes will fare, personally I have my doubts about him.

[foreverblue]

3 minutes ago, Bagpuss said:

Howarth averaged considerably more than Cook from a more difficult riding position.

Yes that is true but when it comes to the play offs Zach outperformed Kyle so Howarth was more consistent over the season, he did have one of his best seasons.

[ASpeedwayfan]

8 minutes ago, foreverblue said:

Yes that is true but when it comes to the play offs Zach outperformed Kyle so Howarth was more consistent over the season, he did have one of his best seasons.

Yep was just about to say this, when lt mattered last year Zach beat Howarth 2 times in a row on his own track, and would’ve been 3 had Howarth not rode through him earlier on in the meeting. 

 

it’s tough to compare Pooles team to Glasgows as 2 or their riders I’ve never seen. I fancy us over Redcarr and also over Oxford, although we don’t know Oxfords reserves yet so it is too early to say. 
I agree that Glasgows have certainly laid down a marker, but we will be there come the business end which is when the medals are up for grabs 

[allthegearbutnaeidea]

31 minutes ago, Bojangles said:

That's not true. Masters has a higher GSA, but Lawson had a better average on 2025 meetings alone.

Lawson = 10.33
Masters = 10.21

Where are those averages available? 

43 minutes ago, ASpeedwayfan said:

Lawson’s average would be higher if he didn’t pullover to let Thompson pass him. 
masters on paper is a better points scorer yes, but Lawson interms of team riding I’d say is better. I certainly prefer Lawson but then I’m Bias, but Masters is a good argument. 

 I disagree that Howarth is better, would take Zach all day long over him, Rowe and Palovaar. Morris is a little unknown for me, did look good on his comeback, but then he’s capable of being the best rider in the league. Riss has had some horrible meetings round Poole. And Nichols is a great number 5 but again, I think Zach has passed Nichols now. 

If Morris hits the form he can then I’ll give you that!

You’re looking at it from a Poole pov, I’m a neutral, Kyle Howarth and Scott Nicholls are  better than Zach Cook, both average wise, and just from watching them.

Zach Cook scored 5pts at Plymouth three times, 4 at Edinburgh, 4 at Berwick last season, those 3 teams weren’t amongst the best in the league (slightly harsh on Edinburgh from myself, but it was a 3 horse race last year really). He was at Berwick before the signings of Morris and Jeppesen and only managed to beat Smith, his 4 other points came from falls and retirements. At Edinburgh he beat Grahn and Starke, his other two points were from retirements. This was all whilst riding at the considerably easier number 4 position. Compare his scores to Kyle Howarth, who’s lowest score was 6, at Poole, and a bunch of 7’s, but ultimately far more consistent around the tracks, at number 5. Scott Nicholls scored 7+3 away to Edinburgh on his comeback meeting, a poor score of 3 on his home debut then managed at least 9 thereafter.

[Pinny]

2 hours ago, SteveLyric2 said:

So a Prem club fan makes disparaging comments about the Poole team building  on the Poole thread and I get all the personal insults and name-calling for responding?!

I shall really have to watch my p's and q's in future.T**t!   (You can fill in the gaps while you get another tinny.)

No, he was posting constructive opinions on Pooles team as he is entitled to and you hit back with a sarcastic comment about the goings on at his club. Sums you up. Complete knob head. 
 

 

[TigerIain]

1 hour ago, Bojangles said:

That's not true. Masters has a higher GSA, but Lawson had a better average on 2025 meetings alone.

Lawson = 10.33
Masters = 10.21

Lawson's scoring dropped off after he missed the KO Cup semi at Glasgow when they were doing engine testing. I presume his back injury hindered him for the rest of the year

[TigerIain]

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Edited 5 hours ago by TigerIain
Duplicate post

[TigerIain]

6 hours ago, TheWellBehavedWorrall said:

I don’t know his average, but Cairns at reserve will be massive for not only Poole, but the rider himself; it affords him time to develop at his own pace.

To find a riders average: If you go into the British Speedway website, click on the 3 lines at the top left to open the menu, click on Championship and then 2025 declarations, and then click on issue 27 amended at the bottom of that list. That gives you ask the rider averages (by team) using column A. Multiply any Brit by 97.5% to get their reduced average for team building