Last Updated on Monday 19th January 2004.
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Sunday 11th January 2004.
MOVERS AND STAYERS.
With the news that next season's SL points limit has been set at 47 the lull which has engulfed Pirates over the festive period is set to break with the club announcing that they have fixed up both of the riders they wished to loan out.
Jamie Jackson, continuing his rehabilitation from a string of injuries between December 2002 and May 2003, will go to Division 1 side Bexwell Braves while Seth Latimer, who upped his 2.00 figure to 5.86 last season, will join an as yet undisclosed side. Both deals are open ended loans.
Kevin Tantrum said, 'We intend for the riders to be out on loan all season but if we went over the limit and had to reshape we could recall one or both of them. If we did that Bexwell and the other club would be offered a replacement and they would receive plenty of notice.'
'On the team building front we have still to secure a few signatures on contracts before we have our final line up although we still plan to go with the seven we previously listed.'
When asked about the news that Lee Jarman is available Tantrum said, 'A rider of Lee's class will always interest us. However, our interest would be dependant on Jan Kirsten's decision over his future. There have been persistant rumours of a move to WWLS for JK for some considerable time now although there has been nothing concrete. JK knows we want him in the side next year and we are planning that he will be back next season but he will not be signing anything until the close season no matter who he signs for.'
'It would be accurate to say that we have our line up in mind but our plans are subject to change if, for instance, a rider demanded a transfer, reject a contract offer or JK decided to go to WWLS. Having said that we can confirm Mark Parmar, Jamie Harrison and Karl Sweeney for next season.'
'On the YDL front we can say that we have an agreement with London which sees Martyn Palmer and Dean Hart move south with Scotsman Peter Stowell returning North of the Border. Peter will join Nik Mills, Karl Sweeney and Ally Borland as the basis of the Bucks next season although we are looking to add another couple to the squad.'
Monday 12th January 2004.
SHOCK WIN.
The second round of the SL KOC awaits the Pirates after they shocked Boston at their New Hammond Beck Road circuit with a 46-44 scoreline.
The notoriously rough track caught Pirates out in the league when they went down 35-54 but it didn't catch them out this time as they dominated from the off. An 8 point lead was established by heat 5 and despite a succession of tactical substitutions which whittled the lead down to 2 by the last race Pirates had the confidence to take the win despite Jan Kirsten sliding off in heat 15 when on a 5-1 with Rickard Reiner.
A superb 13 point return by Rickard Reiner, including that vital heat 15 win, spearheaded the victory with Magnus Karlsson contributing a solid 8. Jan Kirsten rattled in yet another double figure score (10+1) and his budding partnership with Jamie Harrison (6+1) looked good as they partnered each other to a 5-1, a 4-2 and a 3-3 that would have been a 4-2 if Harrison hadn't overcooked it in heat 11.
Mark Villegas scored 4+1 with Ally Borland still struggling to adapt or score any points. Shane Slavko notched a very decent 5+1 which included a superb ride to keep tactical substitute Dean Fox at the back in heat 8.
Kevin Tantrum said, 'We are surprised to have won here. Delighted but surprised.'
'Hats off to the entire team tonight with JK and Junior looking like a good pairing. We can't wait to see who we get in the next round and we hope for a home tie. In the last 3 season we've been involved in 7 ties and have only been at home once.'
Meanwhile, the deal which would have seen Seth Latimer join Tipton has fallen through. The rider has been advertised as available but all Kevin Tantrum would say on the subject was, 'this issue will be dealt with on either Wednesday or Thursday this week.'
Friday 16th January 2004.
LATIMER MOVES ON.
The club have today announced the sale of Seth Latimer to Coalville for a club record fee of £62,500.
The promising youngster had been due to join SL new boys Tipton but that deal fell through earlier in the week. Coalville were quick to enquire about his availability and were keen to sign him as an asset.
The fee of £62,500 reflects the promise he displayed last season when he went from 2.00 to over 6 as a reserve in SL. He dropped to the 5.8's but maintained that figure for most of the season while on loan to Cardiff and then Aisha's Motor. 'Our plans for next season meant there was no place for the rider and a substantial cash offer is always difficult to turn down', said promoter George Seymour.
'We wish Slatty the best of luck in Division 1 with the Demons.'
This move makes Latimer the 6th Pirate from last season to be leaving permanently when the transfer window re-opens. Mark Villegas and Shane Slavko will both move to Witham as part of the deal that sees Mark Parmar join the Pirates while Lee Rough has lost his work permit. YDL moves see Dean Hart and Martyn Palmer join London with Peter Stowell making the trip home to Scotland.
Monday 19th January 2004.
PIRATES CRASH OUT.
Pirates saw their inaugural SL season end with a heavy defeat at Waltham Abbey tonight in the SL Cup second round.
Hoods triumphed by 52 to 37 after making a quick start to the match and although Pirates mounted a mid match fightback the home side stretched away in the final 3 races to secure a deserved win.
The match hinged on poor performances by Shane Slavko (3 from 3) and Ally Borland (0 from 3) at reserve and a disasterous end to his Pirates career for Mark Villegas who failed to finish in 3 of his 4 outings and failed to score in the one he did complete. Hoods, in contrast, were aided by a superb display by Ian Parris who raced to 10+2 from 5 and that should have been more but for a fall in heat 8 when dicing for the lead with Magnus Karlsson.
Jan Kirsten, Rickard Reiner, Karlsson and Jamie Harrison all returned solid scores but when a team can only score 3 points from a third of their rides it will always be very difficult to win.
Team manager Kevin Tantrum said,'It was a dissapointing end to the season but Hoods were the better team.'
'We can't fault the four who did their job but the other 3 were woeful. Fortunately for us the 4 that scored are in the team next season, the 3 who didn't score won't be. We now look forward to the SLRC where we will give our utmost support to JK.'