Quiz Mike Bacon on the Witches

Steven Baxter:

Can the Witches gain any points from their next three meetings at Eastbourne, Wolves or Poole?

Reply:

Hi Steven Well, let's hope so for sure and I see no reason why not. I think the best chance is at Eastbourne tomorrow night because once you get dialled into starting there, you can push the home side close. At reserve I think the Eagles are weak. It will only need Bridger or Kennett to have an off-night and the points are there for the taking. And of course the Witches have Freddie Lindgren as a guest. He goes well at Arlington. Wolves will be tricky not because they are especially strong, but they have a big home track advantage. But I would suggest that is our second best chance. As for Poole . . . I'll be hugely surprised if we win there. So I would like to see an away win by this time next week Steve What about you guys. Do you think Eastbourne, Wolves or Poole?

Heather Robinson:

Afternoon Mike. Love is certainly all around - you love the Witches, I love the Witches, we all love the Witches!! (And I got my name in the programme last night, love that too!). Seriously now, do you think the last three (big) wins at Foxhall have helped steady the team and give them confidence for the rest of the season?

Reply:

Hello Heather. And there was me thinking no-one read my programme notes. Yes love is all around Foxhall right now. Certainly the big home wins have been a huge boost and none more so than last night when the boys started slowly, but ended up with a powerhouse performance. It doesn't need saying that Robert's return to form is one of the major reasons. Speedway, like many other sports, is all about confidence. The Witches clearly have it now and if they can't see the play-offs are well within their grasp, then they flippin' well ought to take a closer look. PS: I've updated my blog today take a look . . . even more love all around!!!

Heather Robinson:

Is Freddie Lindgren confirmed as a guest?

Reply:

I believe he is Heather. I'm sure Pete Simmons will doubly guarantee if he is reading. And I think Edward Kennett is guest at Wolverhampton, with R/R likely to be used at Poole.

Debbie Weinhold:

Scott Nicholls got caught out last night by someone shining a red light. Why was the race not re-run due to the guy in the stand interferring?

Reply:

Debbie. You would have to ask the referee that question. My thoughts on it are that if another rider in that race had stopped, the ref would have had little alternative but to re-run it. If you remember when Scott stopped in the World Cup Final at Poole because of someone's video red light, the ref never re-ran that. I suppose that was the precedent. You could get a rider use it as an excuse to try to get a race re-run. I know Scott would never do that, but others perhaps might. It was bad luck on Scottie but I never felt the ref would re-run it.

Sheila Broom:

Do you think Tobi will do ok at No 3 or will he struggle?

Reply:

Hi Sheila. Quite honestly he should do ok. I don't think we can expect 11s and 12s as he was getting at reserve, but he must aim for 7 and 8 points minimum. He's good enough and has excellent equipment. The ball is in his court. He showed last night in his last two rides what he can do, he just had a bad start to the meeting. Tobi has beaten many of the riders he will now come up against when he was at reserve. He simply needs to believe . . .

David Smith:

Having seen Poole solve their loss of one of their heat leaders by bringing in one of their assets, do you think that we should does the same and expand our asset base. it would mean that we could bring in a rider than keep using r/r. someone like Emil Saifutdinov would be an astute signing but would this be possible?

Reply:

Yes, I think any forward-thinking club should expand their asset base. Look how useful it has been to have Jarek as our asset, even when he has been out of speedway in England. He was only ever going to come back to the Witches. And the likes of Wolves and Poole have been busy snapping up young stars this season like Woffiden and Holder. I think Poole are fortunate no-one went for Kasprazak this season, so he was available. That was more luck than judgement on their part. Looks great to the Poole fans, but wouldn't have been so easy to solve if KK wasn't available. As regards Emil Saifutdinov, I had enough trouble learning to spell Protasiewicz. But seriously I think it would be a gamble. Does anyone know out there any top riders at any age we should go for?

Kevin Long:

I see you were busy with your webcam in the pits last night. Younger viewers might not remember that you used to be the main anchor for ReRun Productions (formerly Video). I the time that you interviewed the riders for Video, who would you say was the most difficult rider to question/interview (Home and/or Away riders)

Reply:

Younger viewers . . . . you are a card! The most difficult on a regular basis to interview was Ben Howe. I liked Ben a lot, but yes and no answers were his forte. I remember the two Stefans at Eastbourne used to give me a headache. I could never tell them apart. I once introduced Stefan Ekberg as Stefan Andersson and he went on for three minutes before he said: "You do know I'm Stefan Andersson don't you?" Cut . . . . As for difficult riders, there weren't too many, although Crump and Adams and have both politely told me "not today thanks", but the Yanks were a complete delight to interview. Only the Donk (Jeremy Doncaster) could out-talk the whole lot of them!!

Gavin Whitehouse:

Was great to see Chris come up with a good score, and look so much more comfortable on the track, hope he can continue it over the next week

Reply:

Well me too Gavin Chris had a spin round after the meeting last week and I think his dad pointed out a few home truths, the main one being he looks so smooth when on his own. Chris Louis has helped with a few bits and pieces on the equipment side and last night we saw the result. Apart from anything else Gavin, Chris' scoring is absolutely crucial.

Steven Baxter:

Mike, you have been reporting on the Witches for a few years now, do you have any funny/memorable stories of your trips with the Witches.

Reply:

That's a good question Steven. I remember going to Belle Vue back in 2000 when John Perrin was promoter. John was a no-nonsence bloke (to put it mildly). I went into his office and said: "Hello John, I'm Mike Bacon from the Evening Star in Ipswich, can I have a programme please?" He looked at me, then his mate, looked back at me and said: "You can ***** Off" But i stood my ground and said I'd like a programme. I think he was so astounded by my cheek he gave me one. When Hans Andersen was a Witch a spent a weekend with him and his pit crew, doing the Polish GP, a league meeting in Czechoschova and a 13-hour drive back from there to Hamburg for a flight home. That was an experience. As regards Witches meetings, I was gutted 8 miles from Belle Vue waving to Jesper Jensen as he went in the other direction - rained off meeting. I'll could think of so many more Steven, perhaps I'll write a book!!

Pat Webb:

How about Chris Schramm's performance last night, it was great to see wasn't it!!! So pleased for him, and hopefully this will be the start of some consistant night's racing for him.

Reply:

Same here as Gavin's answer really Pat. Chris is a really genuine bloke as well. Take a look at my latest blog on the Star website. It's called "I love Chris Schramm . . . " Hope you like it.

John Barber:

Do you know if Ipswich Witches will be represented at The 2008 Suffolk Show(Trinity Park ..28th/29th may).....Ps..Kevin did mean Anchor didn't he

Reply:

Yes John, he did mean Anchor I think Kevin mentioned that the Witches are represented at the Suffolk Show on May 28 and 29 at Trinity Park. And quite right they should be too. Trinity Park - Best for all big events!!! Hang on, my answers are being infiltrated.

Kevin Long:

Now that the Witches have seemingly "got into the groove", do you think that they will, come the end of the season, rue some of the meetings that they have quite simply "thrown away". It is easy to play "If only" speedway, but we all do it. Should we just be looking forward now, and hope some of the leading lights lose their way down the line. . .

Reply:

I hope we don't look back on some of these meetings that have been thrown away. It is still early and there are load of points available. I don't think Swindon will keep their momentum up and I think Eastbourne looked a little out of sorts. But we must look forward. The secret to the Witches season still lies ahead . . . who are we getting in for Chris? A couple of seasons ago, Coventry went from bottom at around this time of year to champions. It can be done.

Pat Webb:

Following on about Poole's ability to replace Bjarne etc through their asset base, it was just luck as you said, because on the other side of the coin Perborough can't seem to get any of their "assets" to come in and strengthen their team. Whilst I agree we should be looking at young riders not too sure about "buying" or transferring older supposedly "top" riders though. At the end of the day asset or not, if a rider doesn't want to ride for his parent club ala £Danny King" for example, their is not a lot can be done, as I am sure promoters are not allowed to prevent a rider earning a living, even if it is not for the parent club. Sorry this is quite long isn't it!!

Reply:

Pat, no it is not quite long and you make a good point. You can have 1,000 assets, but if they don't want to ride for you, that's it basically. That's why I do think Poole are fortunate while the Panthers can't attract some of their asset riders back as you say. But the likes of Tai Woffiden, Chris Holder and others are out there and waiting to be snapped up. Yes, it might cost in the short term, but could be worth it.

Heather Robinson:

Mike, do you keep your eye on the Premier League? I went over to Mildenhall on Sunday to see my one of my old teams, Edinburgh. Who were fantastic by the way! Who from the PL do you think could be in the playoffs and looking towards possible promotion to the EL next season?

Reply:

Yes I do keep an eye on the Premier League and another competitive one it looks this season. I think Rye House and Workington will be up there. And do you know who I think will challenge for promotion? The team who are currently top and have a super little line up . . . Somerset.

Mr.Andrew Giles:

Sorry I wont be around for the Suffolk show or the next few meetings as i'm off to Cuba on holiday, So you can have a relaxing next few weeks and before you ask Mike, no I wont bring you back any cigars.

Reply:

Mr Giles and Generosity . . . never did go together. A bit like never sharing his inside gate positions when we rode cycle speedway! You can take gate 4 Bacon.

John Barber:

who is the best rider you have seen at Foxhall this year...

Reply:

This year? I would say Piotr Swiderski, bearing in mind he had hardly ridden here before this season. As for visitors, Scottie Nicholls still takes some beating. You would think last night he didn't have a great night . . . but look what he ended up with 15+1

Andrew Knights:

We have the British GP at Cardiff, what do you think the chances are of also having an English GP at Wembly?

Reply:

Andrew. I was at Wembley last weekend for the FA Vase final between Lowestoft and Kirkham. It really would not surprise me if the British GP ended up back there. Its a fantastic stadium that can cater for anything. I don't think it will ever be an English GP though and I don't think there would be two - one at Cardiff and one at Wembley in the same season

Kevin Long:

In the last couple of weeks, I have taken to wandering out on the terraces (as suggested from this very webchat) and noticed that there is a great atmosphere out there between the fans. In particular I noticed last night that there is a high percedntage of younger supporters there to watch the Witches. Obviosuly they can spend their "pocket money" at the best rack shop in the League (or save to buy Steve Waller's new book). But, the question (knew it was there somewhere), should the promotion be doing more on a race night to hold on to these fans (I'm thinking that the Bank Holiday meeting was such a great PR exercise, should they repeat this more often, or try to think of other fan inducing initiatives.

Reply:

You are right Kevin there is a big number of youngsters out there and the management need to realise that. Meeting the riders is the BIGGEST SINGLE thing that will encourage and promote the sport. I keep banging on about this, but at professional football now, you have no chance to meet the players before or after the game. So, 6.45pm for 20 minutes, ALL riders available for chat and autographs. Perhaps near the pit entrance. Come on it wouldn't take that much.

Jeff Higgott:

Hi Mike. Last week you were asking who was out there that we should look at signing. Well from what I've seen amongst the up and coming riders in the Premier League I've been very impressed with Andrew Tully, Aaron Summers, Robert Mear, and of course Ty Proctor who we saw guesting for Peterborough at Foxhall. Any thoughts on these and do you have any names to add to the list?

Reply:

I don't know if Ben Barker is signed up with anyone, or Mr Tully as you rightly suggest. Those two guys I have heard good stories of. Yes, I thought Ty Proctor did well here last week, but I don't know much about Robert Mear or Aaron Summers to comment. Ipswich have good people on board now like JL, Jeremy Doncaster, Chris L and Mark Loram about to give advice. Now would be a good time to get a young up and coming rider signed up.

Jeff Higgott:

I'd love to see Speedway getting more prominence on the Star website, Mike. It's currently a bit of a nightmare to find old stories (and videos!). "Equestrian" is important enough to demand its own page under "Buy & Sell", so why not "Speedway" and "Football" given their own links from the main page under the "Sport" banner?

Reply:

Hi Jeff The speedway has its own Evening Star Witches section and I know it is being looked at because stories are archiving too quickly. So thanks for your note and the techno people (which isn't me!!) are aware of it.