Aces v Witches 20th April 7:30

[YeOldPitGate]

2 hours ago, IainB said:

Nicholls? The guy's a legend and it was so sad to see him a mile off the pace at the back, don't know if he's still feeling the effects of his shoulder (?) injury the season before last? But I personally I don't think turning up with the mindset of "I'm crap round here" helps. He's always excelled on the smaller tracks due to his technical ability never so much on the larger "throttle jockey" tracks, maybe why he never really made it in Poland or the GP series.

I think as riders also get older they seem to struggle on larger tracks Hans Anderson was a top table rider but his last two seasons after a lot of knocks also he really lost his edge but could still chip in with some good scores around the smaller circuits.

[IainB]

1 hour ago, Badge said:

It'll be interesting to see who covers for Phillip next month,  when I gather,  he will miss 3 meetings due to his ban. I suspect he will be more on the pace after that as he will be riding more meetings. 

I saw him on socials the other day and he said "if" this is my last season... one thing's for sure, there can't be too many left for him. 

[bellevueace]

6 hours ago, Gavan said:

A track that time after time Bewley admits he loves riding 

Granted Ipswich isn’t a great track certainly not on the class of Belle Vue….. but like all tracks some riders rode better than others…. That’s why last season we struggled against kings Lynn at home as their riders can ride out place 

Belle Vue fans get very touchy when you mention they can’t ride Foxhall … but that’s speedway 

I remember Peter Collins not turning up at Newport for a league meeting as Somerton Park was notorious for being rough, a breakdown was the reason given but later he admitted it was because of the track. We lost i think 45-33 or similar top scorers Phil Crump and Alan Wilkinson two riders who would ride anything. I remember Ivan Mauger replying when asked whats your favourite type of track " i have no favourites they all have to be ridden" spot on that.

[Aries]

2 hours ago, IainB said:

I fear you're right, maybe he should have done an Ivan Mauger this season and just ridden at home. I assume he's just building up a nest egg this season in the PL

The warning signs were there in the very first meeting at Foxhall. His gating is usually poor but he popped out in good positions a couple of times but was immediately looking behind him and riding in defensive mode and was inevitably passed. And this was at Foxhall!

[TTT]

1 hour ago, Badge said:

It'll be interesting to see who covers for Phillip next month,  when I gather,  he will miss 3 meetings due to his ban. I suspect he will be more on the pace after that as he will be riding more meetings. 

I'm honestly not sure if he'll even be here tbh.

Jeppesen's average goes up to 5.65 in May, So it's a decision that has to be made over the next week.

[Aries]

4 minutes ago, TTT said:

I'm honestly not sure if he'll even be here tbh.

Jeppesen's average goes up to 5.65 in May, So it's a decision that has to be made over the next week.

I can’t see them axing him this quickly but we have to be honest it’s been a very disappointing start from him. Wouldn’t mind so much if we’re seeing the effort without getting the results, but where is the entertaining fence scraper busting a gut to reel people in? It’s bizarre how far away from that type of rider he’s looked.

[YeOldPitGate]

48 minutes ago, Aries said:

I can’t see them axing him this quickly but we have to be honest it’s been a very disappointing start from him. Wouldn’t mind so much if we’re seeing the effort without getting the results, but where is the entertaining fence scraper busting a gut to reel people in? It’s bizarre how far away from that type of rider he’s looked.

Its strange isn't a few years back he looked an up and coming gem at SON could be similar story to Gusts looked promising when racing abroad but comes to UK and bang average at best.

[TTT]

29 minutes ago, Aries said:

I can’t see them axing him this quickly but we have to be honest it’s been a very disappointing start from him. Wouldn’t mind so much if we’re seeing the effort without getting the results, but where is the entertaining fence scraper busting a gut to reel people in? It’s bizarre how far away from that type of rider he’s looked.

My concern is that he's been riding at reserve against very inexperienced riders and he's still only managed to get 1 x 2nd Place from 7 Rides Away from Home and that's on tracks that should be more favourable to his style of riding.

3+2 combined vs. Rushen/Scott and Zischke/Cairns is very poor and Jeppesen would easily improve on that by a sizeable margin every week at reserve but that option is only available for another 8 days after tonight.

[Aries]

1 minute ago, TTT said:

My concern is that he's been riding at reserve against very inexperienced riders and he's still only managed to get 1 x 2nd Place from 7 Rides Away from Home and that's on tracks that should be more favourable to his style of riding.

3+2 combined vs. Rushen/Scott and Zischke/Cairns is very poor and Jeppesen would easily improve on that by a sizeable margin every week at reserve but that option is only available for another 8 days after tonight.

He’ll get Thursday for sure so let’s see if there’s any improvement then.

[SPEEDY69]

5 hours ago, IainB said:

Nicholls? The guy's a legend and it was so sad to see him a mile off the pace at the back, don't know if he's still feeling the effects of his shoulder (?) injury the season before last? But I personally I don't think turning up with the mindset of "I'm crap round here" helps. He's always excelled on the smaller tracks due to his technical ability never so much on the larger "throttle jockey" tracks, maybe why he never really made it in Poland or the GP series.

Yes. His record at NSS is not as bad as some think. Has just collected two more engines I think so we'll see what pans out but I don't agree that he'd ever go into a meeting with a defeatest attitude. Had to smile at his April Fool joke though about the weight of riders😁

I agree wIth others that away from home he should be riding at No.2.

Edited April 21 by SPEEDY69

[ouch]

Brady’s performance on Monday really highlighted the big miss he was in our KO Cup campaign. These things happen but it would be easier to take if we had missed out as a full team rather than the usual, it is what it is. 

12 points makes the bonus point interesting. I’m expecting things to get back to normal for us down at Foxhall after the witches fabulous championship season. Prior to that barnstorming year, Foxhall was our happiest of hunting grounds with The Aces going well there. The last ten fixtures at Foxhall prior to the witches title winning year were DLLLWWWLLW with one of those losses being a last heat decider. 50% success rate for the witches, so I’m hoping we get back to winning ways down there again. 

[89buttons]

1 hour ago, ouch said:

Brady’s performance on Monday really highlighted the big miss he was in our KO Cup campaign. These things happen but it would be easier to take if we had missed out as a full team rather than the usual, it is what it is. 

12 points makes the bonus point interesting. I’m expecting things to get back to normal for us down at Foxhall after the witches fabulous championship season. Prior to that barnstorming year, Foxhall was our happiest of hunting grounds with The Aces going well there. The last ten fixtures at Foxhall prior to the witches title winning year were DLLLWWWLLW with one of those losses being a last heat decider. 50% success rate for the witches, so I’m hoping we get back to winning ways down there again. 

12 points makes the bonus point interesting, but would be more interesting if the tac sub hadn’t interfered!

Especially if at some point you’re 6 behind at Foxhall and get a second one! Takes the biscuit 2 extra rides for either Brady or Dan over the aggregate!

Edited April 22 by 89buttons
Wanted to add more

[ouch]

On 4/20/2026 at 2:26 PM, Steve Irving said:

And you got four likes well done LOL. How many riders suffer injuries? The answer is ALL of them. Zischke returned on the bare minimum 3 average, what was the British rider sacrificed averaging before he was sent on the scrap heap? Kerr (another Brit) was also told to fu*k off. Ah good old Belle Vue. The hose wanderers who can flood a track to get meetings called off because a fixture doesn’t suit them. 

Someone mentioned this inane post from you.
Lots of riders get injured but I know of only one that has been referred to as a turd.

When Connor was replaced aside from a flash in the pan performance at Oxford, he was averaging around two points. You can look at his rolling average or use bigger picture thinking (please try it) and see the lad was struggling. He’s the only rider we have replaced in seasons yet you and others continually mention it whilst other clubs can drop riders with impunity. Biased or what. 

Kerr never rode for us so why lie to try and make us look bad, really why do it?

If you’re going to mention the hose incident from years ago (different promotion, different management, different bleeding stadium) then you might as well bring up when Alice Hart cancelled the meeting with New Cross due to her PMT.
It beggars belief the utter nonsense you and your crownies spout on here. Why??

[ouch]

1 hour ago, 89buttons said:

12 points makes the bonus point interesting, but would be more interesting if the tac sub hadn’t interfered!

Especially if at some point you’re 6 behind at Foxhall and get a second one! Takes the biscuit 2 extra rides for either Brady or Dan over the aggregate!

Agreed.

[SPEEDY69]

The effect of a tactical ride will not be lost on Lemon, he'll remember 2006!

Edited April 22 by SPEEDY69
accuracy

[Roger Jacobs]

On 4/21/2026 at 12:06 PM, SPEEDY69 said:

It's because it's not the racing which attracts the numbers, nor is it cost alone.  People need to feel they get value for money and have a good time when there.  Not stand around disengaged - it's engagement which is key.

Absolutely - I've been saying the same for years.  Noise, colour, fun, interviews, even spot prizes - so many things that could keep fans involved and engaged throughout.

[Gavan]

10 hours ago, ouch said:

Brady’s performance on Monday really highlighted the big miss he was in our KO Cup campaign. These things happen but it would be easier to take if we had missed out as a full team rather than the usual, it is what it is. 

12 points makes the bonus point interesting. I’m expecting things to get back to normal for us down at Foxhall after the witches fabulous championship season. Prior to that barnstorming year, Foxhall was our happiest of hunting grounds with The Aces going well there. The last ten fixtures at Foxhall prior to the witches title winning year were DLLLWWWLLW with one of those losses being a last heat decider. 50% success rate for the witches, so I’m hoping we get back to winning ways down there again. 

You needed Kurtz to have scored 12 to beat Sheffield in aggregate and considering last season he scored only 4 and 9 at Sheffield it might have been tough to have scored the 12 needed 

And yes you did ok at Foxhall when you had Brennan at reserve and riders like Wright who does ok at Foxhall which they got 19 between them when you won in 2023

You also had a good win when we had no Doyle and Emil both injured and Rew injured in his first race but hey that’s Speedway .

You then built a team that can’t ride Foxhall .. Blodorn Cook and Lidsey and the reserves although Mulford was ok…. Of course you don’t build a team to win at just one track but surely even with your biased eyes you must realise Foxhall is probably your worst away track 

You say forget the title winning season but we smashed you 4 times … ok I will admit Kurtz didn’t try that night but still you lost all 4 matches 

Easy to say Witches have a 50% win record if you leave a whole season out lol

This season we have no Doyle and Emil so we are much weaker 

Kurtz and Bewley need to dominate which they can do easily they have both gone well at Foxhall in the past. You still need someone else to step up like Cook or Kildemand and you will get the bonus point 

You won’t have a better chance to beat us over 2 legs 

[ouch]

I was only thinking of the bonus against the tigers, it was more about getting another win at Leicester. Brady scored 12 last year and our Tom’s 3 was disappointing despite his best efforts. Like you say, that’s speedway. 

I think Sheffield is our worst away track. I’d have loved a run of results there similar to what we’ve achieved at Foxhall. 

I think you’re correct about us having a better chance for the bonus. Since Covid and prior to your fabulous title winning season we managed nine out of the ten aggregate wins on offer. We just need Cook (10+3), Peter (9) or Norick (6+3) to go well, as they have done in the past and hope Brady (3) doesn’t have another early season stinker at Foxhall again.