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Post by coombes on Nov 5, 2019 22:09:05 GMT 1
Kyle not in our plans for next year. kylebickley.com/news/150/bickley-not-part-of-tigers-plans-in-2020Not completely surprised but a little disappointed. I think we expected more from him and in some ways he was overtaken by Connor, but he is still young and next year could be his break through year. Are we going for Connor and Sam at reserve? That would meet the need for a strong reserve pairing, something we have missed quite badly in recent years.
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2020 Team
Nov 5, 2019 23:37:25 GMT 1
via mobile
Post by md on Nov 5, 2019 23:37:25 GMT 1
Keeping young riders for a second season is something we arent good at. Frustrating when we brought back Sarjeant two years in a row. We really should try where possible to develop riders from the bottom up, hopefully Bailey breaks that pattern.
Perhaps the owners dont see KB as an improver on his average or may have a stronger No6 lined up.
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Post by drosser on Nov 6, 2019 2:03:18 GMT 1
I see Kyle as developing into a good journeyman rather than a spectacular prospect for world championship contender. However nice it would be to have such a prospect, the fact is that what we need is riders at all levels who can add to their average. I think that he will develop into a reasonable second string next season - unfortunately, not with us. Connor looks like a class act in the making provided he sticks in and avoids injury. Sam seems a raw talent who should develop with experience - hopefully they will both be retained.
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Post by manse on Nov 6, 2019 9:12:27 GMT 1
I would assume it will be Craig at 1 Sam and Connor at 6 and 7 plus 4 others
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Post by coombes on Nov 6, 2019 9:27:57 GMT 1
I agree with Dresser's assessment of Kyle's potential and feel we've missed out by not keeping him next year but presumably the seven we are lining up will give us a better balanced team than this year. So who will we have? Craig, Claus, Sam and Connor surely. They would come to about 26, leaving 16 and change for the remaining three. Ricky Wells is being suggested in some quarters, while Paul must be a contender too, possibly a young 5.00 rider with some potential, while Sheffield's Broc Nicol and Zaine Kennedy will be looking for Championship berths, the latter having an average broadly similar to Kyle's and possibly being considered a better bet. Wells, a 5.00 rider and Kennedy probably come to just over 16, ditto Wells/Nicol/Kennedy. Similarly Paul, Nicol and a 5.00 rider...... or may be its none of these Steve Worrall or Kyle Howarth?
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Post by benbulben on Nov 14, 2019 19:57:58 GMT 1
First signing is......Broc Nicol.....welcome to the Tigers, man.
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Post by drosser on Nov 14, 2019 21:05:16 GMT 1
Nice one! He was one of the most improved performers in British speedway in 2019 - a class act who should continue to improve at a fast pace. He has a high profile and should get us good publicity - particularly with the Greg Hancock connection.
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Post by coombes on Nov 15, 2019 9:04:12 GMT 1
Interestingly his away average is higher than his home figure, making him a very useful signing. Looks like he will be handed the difficult number two slot, riding with Craig so his "maximum" is nine points. MBA and James Sarjeant found the going tough but it he looks able to handle it.
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Post by manse on Nov 18, 2019 19:21:54 GMT 1
No 4 NICOL No 7 BAILEY
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Post by benbulben on Nov 18, 2019 19:58:20 GMT 1
I have been looking at our planning in the Facenna era which began in 2015. I have only looked at the seven riders signed at the star of the season and excluded changes due to injury etc. 2016 saw only Summers and Lawson retained and 5 new rider in Lunna , Barker, Worrall,Garcia,Ayres. 2017 and in came 3 newcomers in Bewley, Perry ,Smith 2018 brought a whole herd of newbies in Kerr,Starke, Vissing, Harris (sigh), Thomas 2019 we introduced Jensen, Chessell, Lawlor. Therefore, In an attempt to find a magic formula since the end of 2015 we have tried 16 different riders and have won the Cup once. Time for a bit more continuity ?
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Post by coombes on Nov 18, 2019 22:27:40 GMT 1
If Nicol is at 4, will Sedgmen be at 2, reuniting his pairing with Craig Cook which was very productive for "them" a few years ago. Bailey will alternate between 6 and 7 surely.
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Post by coombes on Nov 19, 2019 10:10:22 GMT 1
I have been looking at our planning in the Facenna era which began in 2015. I have only looked at the seven riders signed at the star of the season and excluded changes due to injury etc. 2016 saw only Summers and Lawson retained and 5 new rider in Lunna , Barker, Worrall,Garcia,Ayres. 2017 and in came 3 newcomers in Bewley, Perry ,Smith 2018 brought a whole herd of newbies in Kerr,Starke, Vissing, Harris (sigh), Thomas 2019 we introduced Jensen, Chessell, Lawlor. Therefore, In an attempt to find a magic formula since the end of 2015 we have tried 16 different riders and have won the Cup once. Time for a bit more continuity ? Interesting stuff Benbulben. How many riders have managed two consecutive seasons in the last five years? Our tail end seems like Job Experience. They get a season with us and then go elsewhere, Bickley being the most recent example. Richard Lawson gets the long service award for three seasons.
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Post by benbulben on Nov 19, 2019 11:37:24 GMT 1
Since 2015 only Summers, Lawson , Worrall have been kept on for 3 consecutive seasons though presumably Cook will join them.That is from a total of 29 riders. Steve Lawson rode for 15 seasons in a row. Grieves totalled 15 though not consecutively. You have to go back to 2013 to find the last 5 in a row (Grieves) a feat also managed by Grajczonek and Dicken while the mighty Parker achieved 6. Since moving to Ashfield in 1999 Tigers have used 132 riders ( hard to tell at times which were officially signed or just filled in) according to Star's track reviews. If you dont believe me, i can bore you by providing a list.
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Post by citytiger on Nov 19, 2019 14:02:31 GMT 1
I have been looking at our planning in the Facenna era which began in 2015. I have only looked at the seven riders signed at the star of the season and excluded changes due to injury etc. 2016 saw only Summers and Lawson retained and 5 new rider in Lunna , Barker, Worrall,Garcia,Ayres. 2017 and in came 3 newcomers in Bewley, Perry ,Smith 2018 brought a whole herd of newbies in Kerr,Starke, Vissing, Harris (sigh), Thomas 2019 we introduced Jensen, Chessell, Lawlor. Therefore, In an attempt to find a magic formula since the end of 2015 we have tried 16 different riders and have won the Cup once. Time for a bit more continuity ? I would also like a bit of continuity BUT sadly the way speedway is run currently, this is unlikely to happen. The team building limit seems to change each year which means virtually all teams need to make changes. The method for calculating averages for team building have changed over the years which adds another problem for owners/team managers to solve in order to put out a competitive team. Doubling up, which I am totally against and wish it was phased out, resulted in problems until fixed race nights were brought in. Fixed race nights have led to other problems with teams being 'forced' to race on days that are not the best for maximising attendance by supporters e.g. the experience of Belle Vue and Poole. Thankfully Connor has signed up for another season and will hopefully be followed by Sam Jensen and Craig Cook. Sad that Claus has not been retained. He tries his guts out for the team, increases his average and will probably be 'rewarded' by having to take the no.1 jacket at another team where things will be a bit tougher. On the other hand, riders like Chris Harris, great rider, seems to be able to keep his average at a level that makes him attractive to other teams - yet another move this year - and also allows him to pick up lots of guest bookings. We sure have a great model for a professional sport!
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Post by coombes on Nov 19, 2019 15:26:59 GMT 1
We could probably have kept six of last year's team if we had really wanted to....and they had wanted to come back again. Craig, Claus, Paul, Sam, Kyle and Connor being the six and, when Broc is added, our total still comes below 41 once the Brits reductions have been applied. A team of seven Brits could be built to just over 42 as once the reduction is applied it takes it below the magic 41 level.
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