Reading vs Somerset (Ch) 17/03/08

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Looks like we may finally get our season underway tonight with Mark Legg & Mad Wellie beginning their new dawn as the Racers start their 40th season.

Personally I can't wait. Bring on the egg & chips! ;D

Confirmed line ups for tonight:-

Racers

1. Mark Lemon
2. Tomas Suchanek
3. Ulrich Ostergaard
4. Chris Mills
5. Tom P Madsen
6. Jamie Smith
7. Danny Warwick

Rebels

1. Jason Doyle
2. Simon Walker
3. Emil Kramer
4. Henning Loof
5. Brent Werner
6. Stephan Katt
7. Jordan Frampton

Historically Reading always take a while to warm up at the start of each season, but I'm starting the season with renewed optimism for the Racers so will go for a 48-42 home win.

[nobbyclark]

wacks said:

Looks like we may finally get our season underway tonight with Mark Legg & Mad Wellie beginning their new dawn as the Racers start their 40th season.

Personally I can't wait. Bring on the egg & chips! ;D

Confirmed line ups for tonight:-

Racers

1. Mark Lemon
2. Tomas Suchanek
3. Ulrich Ostergaard
4. Chris Mills
5. Tom P Madsen
6. Jamie Smith
7. Danny Warwick

Rebels

1. Jason Doyle
2. Simon Walker
3. Emil Kramer
4. Henning Loof
5. Brent Werner
6. Stephan Katt
7. Jordan Frampton

Historically Reading always take a while to warm up at the start of each season, but I'm starting the season with renewed optimism for the Racers so will go for a 48-42 home win.

Especially good luck to Henning... Go show them young man!

[Deleted]

Utter dross. Questioning why I bothered to go along to this and I certainly won't be hurrying along to Smallmead when I can put my feet up in front of the telly on a Monday night. Slick as buggery track and a lot of gating tarts on display. Chris Mills provided the only entertainment passing someone in one race and (accidentally) causing a nasty looking crash in heat 14 with Stephan Katt. Thankfully both riders got up, but Katt was unable to take his place in the rerun.

Sorry to report that the nice Loof chap didn't look on the pace whatsoever and was struggling to even turn the bike at times. I do hope it was mechanical otherwise I fear his spell in UK speedway could be very short lived.

Rico

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On the flip side, I quite enjoyed it Rico

Track looked to have a bit of dirt on it early on, and Millsy made that swooping move not once, not twice but three times thanks to a couple of stoppages caused by Jason "rollin rollin rollin" Doyle.

It did slicken off towards the end of the meeting and probably could have done with a bit more water on it to begin with, but with the rain we had over the weekend & the possibility of showers today too, it's not surprising Douggie & Eric didn't drench it again today.

Just good to actually see some speedway again, shame Somerset couldn't put up a bit more competion which did lead to most of the races being won from the gate.

Lemo & Ostergaard look like they'll do a good job as PL heat leaders.

Millsy you can't fault for effort, that was a nasty fall he took in ht 14. He did look a bit dazed & confused in the press conference.

Jamie Smith was up & down, but admitted to be trying out different set ups. Still a paid 12 score on his Racers debut should give him some confidence.

The two Tom's looked good if they gated, but didn't make a pass if they missed the gate. Was it the track or do we have a couple of gating tarts??

Danny Warwick in the wars already. Fell in a first bend bunching incident in ht 2 & sustained whats thought to be ligament damage to his right ankle.

Somerset did disappoint. Kramer normally flies around Smallmead, but didn't really seem to come to life until heat 12. Doyle has obviously been taught well by Boycey and was rolling at the starts all night. Excluded in his 2nd race after 2 stoppages due to his rolling at the start & officially warned in ht 13 for rollin again & causing another re-start!

Katt will be a trump card at reserve for Somerset, but won't be there after the first set of green sheets.

Poor ol' Herman didn't exactly have an auspicious start to his UK season. Looked to be suffering mechanical problems, and tailed off before retiring in the 3 rides he took. Not to worry though Herman, I'm sure it'll all click into place sooner or later. Not before Friday tho eh! ;D

On the whole, egg & chips ok. Did I miss the GP superstars??? No not really, we didn't get to see them that often when we were EL last season. Actually watching a meeting with 14 riders lining up at the same time was quite a novelty.

[Deleted]

Forgot to add.... nice to see Ritchie Hawkins in attendance tonight & looking relatively well all things considered.

[Deleted]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree then Wacks.

I'm sure from a Racer's fan perspective it was nice to get a thumping home win in, but as a neutral I didn't feel entertained on the night.

I'm hoping a trip home at the weekend will rekindle my enthusiasm that I had hoped to ignite last night. Mmmm Berwick at Armadale anyone !

Rico

[Deleted]

After last season Rico it was nice just to get a win, let alone a thumping one

I guess as a neutral last night may have not been a thriller to watch, but how many season opening meetings generally have been over the years.

The whole feel about the club is different now for us die hard fans Wellie & Mark might have their faults (both come from Swindon being their biggest!) but I honestly feel that they aren't just in it for the fame & glory, unlike the big white chief who dumped us in the halfway part way through last season.

Having the "Racers" back on track and seemingly back in a more financially stable environment with a decent side to boot is a huge relief, especially when you think about the position our neighbours just up the A34 in Oxford are in.