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Post by admin on Oct 28, 2007 11:50:42 GMT
Well, 2007 saw an encouraging start for the Che Douglas revolution down at the Essex Arena, with an expansion of the asset base and the club easily avoiding the wooden spoon and securing fifth place in the Elite League table. But what will the Hammers look like in 2008? And I'm talking about the team, since if 2007 is anything to go by, they'll certainly be looking stylish and suave. Andreas Jonsson seems to be the No 1 target for Che Douglas, after joining the club mid-season and impressing - he'll be a genuine No 1 for the club, if he has proper guidance and commitment. The fans seem to want to see Joonas Kylmakorpi and Adam Shields remain. After that, Ricky Kling, another mid-season signing should surely be destined for one of the reserve berths. But what about Krzysztof Kasprzak, who made a good early impression, but somewhat blotted his copybook towards the end of the season? A twin spearhead of Jonsson and Kasprzak would be a thrilling prospect, but would probably rule out the return of one of Kylmakorpi or Shields, which I think is unlikely. Lubos Tomicek is another possibility for a reserve position, which if you count Jonsson, Kylmakorpi, Shields and Kling as certainties (no such word in the crazy world of the Elite League, I know), leaves only a couple of places to be filled and good continuity. And as Coventry showed this season, continuity is good. Anyway, here's the place for your thoughts and hard facts on the Lakeside team for 2008.
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Post by admin on Oct 28, 2007 14:14:11 GMT
-- CONFIRMED SIGNINGS -- 1..Ricky Kling 2..Andreas Jonsson 3..Adam Shields 4..Joonas Kylmakorpi 5..Jonas Davidsson 6..Leigh Lanham 7..Lubos Tomicek 8..Chris Mills Note: Not in riding order.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2007 17:50:10 GMT
I have to agree with you Sub, that continuity is definitely a plus point for all teams, and this team looks like it might be a good one. AJ,Shieldsy, Kling and JK (if he can stay fit) looks good to me. As a matter of interest what happened to Tomicek??, is he a Lakeside asset or not?
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Post by admin on Oct 28, 2007 17:57:45 GMT
Yes, I believe Lubos Tomicek is a Lakeside asset, having been purchased from the BSPA after Oxford went breasts up. He might get a place at Lakeside for 2008, or he may be loaned out to the Premier League outfit - Oxford, perhaps?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2007 20:12:54 GMT
Yes, I believe Lubos Tomicek is a Lakeside asset, having been purchased from the BSPA after Oxford went breasts up. He might get a place at Lakeside for 2008, or he may be loaned out to the Premier League outfit - Oxford, perhaps? As you say, Lubos is indeed a Lakeside asset. During the final weeks of the season, his continental commitments meant he would have been unavailable for the majority of meetings, so we redeclared our team with Andreas Messing replacing Lubos.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2007 21:46:39 GMT
Thanks Kev, such a simple explanation
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Post by schumi on Oct 31, 2007 14:00:50 GMT
There's a very thoughtful piece from Stuart Douglas on the Lakeside website, that's well worth a read, where he talks about the season past and ideas for the future. www.lakesidehammers.com
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2007 17:45:31 GMT
There's a very thoughtful piece from Stuart Douglas on the Lakeside website, that's well worth a read, where he talks about the season past and ideas for the future. www.lakesidehammers.comI am a great admirer of what Stuart is trying to do at Lakeside.Much of what he's aspiring to is very much in action already at Coventry & seeing Stuart aiming for those sort of goals can only be good for the club, the riders, & the fans. There is a fantastic,1 big happy family feel at Brandon that all clubs should aspire to,& this is where Stuart & Cookie are going. It is no coincidence that these virtues have brought success.The same success will come to Lakeside should Stuart reach the goals he aims for.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 31, 2007 19:54:34 GMT
There's a very thoughtful piece from Stuart Douglas on the Lakeside website, that's well worth a read, where he talks about the season past and ideas for the future. www.lakesidehammers.comI am a great admirer of what Stuart is trying to do at Lakeside.Much of what he's aspiring to is very much in action already at Coventry & seeing Stuart aiming for those sort of goals can only be good for the club, the riders, & the fans. There is a fantastic,1 big happy family feel at Brandon that all clubs should aspire to,& this is where Stuart & Cookie are going. It is no coincidence that these virtues have brought success.The same success will come to Lakeside should Stuart reach the goals he aims for. Stanley has gone on record saying how much he admires the way Coventry is run, and along with Cookie was a guest of Sandhu at the EL P/O Final. Stuart however, is very much his own man, he has his own ideas about how he's going to make Lakeside one of the best clubs in the country, and making them a carbon copy of Coventry isn't one of them. I have no doubt, given an even slice of luck, that Stuart will achieve his goals in his own unique style, and his programme notes at the time will quite correctly start with......."I Did It My Way", and then no doubt go on to give credit to each and everyone who helped him along the way.
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Post by admin on Nov 5, 2007 14:34:02 GMT
And Ricky Kling becomes the first Hammer for 2008: Young Swedish rider Ricky Kling signed up for the 2008 season with the Lakeside Hammers last Thursday evening during the Speedway Riders Association Presentation evening, which took place at the Hilton Hotel, Coventry.
Kling, who joined the Hammers midway through the 2007 season, proved to be a popular addition to the side and resulted him winning the 'Young Rider of the Year' award, which was presented to him by Track Manager Gerald Richter at the recent Hammers Dinner and Dance.
The Hammers Co-Promoter and Team Manager Jon Cook was pleased to have agreed terms with Kling for next season and commented after the paperwork was signed at the SRA evening stating: "Ricky is definitely a rider to look out for in the future and I am pleased that he has pledged his future in this Country to be with the Hammers. In the relatively short time he has been with us he has shown his potential with some very impressive rides against far more established riders. He has become a firm favourite with our supporters and it was great to get his signature for next season at the SRA event".
He continued "The SRA event was a good evening where riders, promoters, sponsors and guests were able to celebrate the end of the season. Although we did not win an award it was pleasing for us to be the only Elite League club to have been nominated for the 'Promotion of the Year' award. It was the first time that the Hammers had a table at the event with four our of our final 2007 squad members present."
Ricky Kling stated after the signing: "I am delighted to have got things sorted out for next season before I leave for Sweden. Joining the Hammers towards the end of the season was the best thing that happened to me and that was only made possible when Oxford dropped out of the League. I enjoyed my time with the Hammers and am already looking forward to next year. I have been made very welcome at the Club and their fantastic fans have really got behind me."
Stuart Douglas and Jon Cook the Hammers promoters are busy preparing for next season and have in mind the nucleus of the team they wish to represent the Club in 2008. However, they are waiting for the outcome from the BSPA annual conference, which is due to take place later this month, before they are able to finalise their plans.Taken from: www.lakesidehammers.com
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Post by braveheart on Nov 5, 2007 22:22:25 GMT
Great signing for the Hammers. Ricky improved alot during the season and will definately be a great prospect for the future.
Crossing my fingers about the other reserves. Reserves are important in the sport of speedway and unfortunately riders have to be told thanks, 'but not this year/ for all your services' or something like that.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2007 21:47:21 GMT
Reserves are important in the sport of speedway and unfortunately riders have to be told thanks, 'but not this year/ for all your services' or something like that. Fair comment..........assuming you can replace them with someone of equal (assuming they are younger) or better ability....... the jury is out on this one.
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Post by donsking on Nov 6, 2007 22:13:48 GMT
Showing my ignorance (nothing new there), but have there always been reserves, and have they always featured in heats during the main part of the meeting?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2007 22:40:32 GMT
Showing my ignorance (nothing new there), but have there always been reserves, and have they always featured in heats during the main part of the meeting? Yes, numbers six and seven (or in the case of six man teams - five and six) have always been refered to as reserves. They have always been allowed to replace out of form 'team' riders (within the rules of any specific year) and have always met 'team' riders during the course of a meeting.
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Post by schumi on Nov 11, 2007 22:13:42 GMT
Adam Shields confirms for us he'll be back next year. See our latest interview for details.
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