There’s Talk On The Street…It Sounds So Familiar

You know I have spoken at length on many occasions over the last couple of years about often staring at a blank screen with no direction, inspiration, or motivation to speak of and subsequently nothing of note to write about.

Now, that’s not easy on anyone and it can lead to frustration, and you begin to question whether you can still do the things you used to, or if it has passed you by. You begin to wonder if it is gone, never to return and perhaps somewhat strangely, you feel almost betrayed by the very thing you love.

I know that may sound weird but it’s a difficult one to explain and there will be those among you who will get exactly what I’m talking about and there will be those of you who just want me to get to the bloody point and that’s fine, stick with it, we are getting there!

Every now and then though the stars align, things just click into place, and you find yourself in a bit of a rhythm, in a bit of a groove if you will and that is exactly where I’m at just now. The opening gambit of my last blog entry here read something along the lines of “They say you only get one chance to make a first impression and after Saturday night I’m getting the impression that 2022 could be a hell of a season!”

If you’re wondering if I’m getting to that point any time soon, I am…patience my friends, patience!

From time to time there are things that happen in the speedway world which make my job, if you can call it that, just a little bit easier. If the team are doing well, it becomes a lot easier to have the glass half full than it does to remain optimistic when things perhaps aren’t going so well. But then, on occasion things happen that make it even easier, and the inspiration just comes to you and as a result, the words just flow.

It can be the simplest of things and in this instance, it was a certain song on a Spotify playlist that inspired me if you want to call it that.

That’s all fine and well I hear you say, but what does that have to do with first impressions? Well, I’m glad you asked my friends!

Step forward Mr Ace Pijper.

Prior to him signing for the Bullets in his debut season, I’ll admit outside of him being “Theo’s laddie” I didn’t know a lot about the lad and my gut feeling was that maybe a season in the National Development League might have come a little soon. However, with that being said, the entire ethos of the Bullets set up isn’t so much about results, it’s more about the development of the riders and what better place for the young lad to learn?

In all honesty I had an open mind about the lad, and he would have my support purely because he was wearing the right colours.

Did I think he might be out if his depth? Perhaps a little.

Did I think he would struggle for points? Possibly?

Am I willing to be proved wrong? Absolutely.

Fast forward to Friday night past there and I sat down to watch the stream of the Bullets first meeting against Armadale and heat two rolls around and Ace flies from the tapes like a rocket and takes a commanding win in his first ever race at league level.

First impression? Christ, that laddie looked good there, good on him.

Heat eight rolled around and he was at it again. An electric start and what impressed me the most about it was the way in which he attacked the Armadale track and actually looked far more accomplished on it than guys who have been going there for 15 years or so. It probably shouldn’t come as a surprise given his dad is an Armadale specialist but even still, you couldn’t help but be impressed.

Fast forward to Saturday night in his home debut and while he ended up on the deck in heat two, he made up for it and only dropped one point in his remaining three outings. Paid 18 points in his first two league meetings is amazing stuff and while tough meetings will come for him, he will only get better and that bodes well for the Bullets in 2022 and beyond.

Not only that but it bodes very well for the Bandits too and further backs up the theory that our very own pathway for home grown talent from Duns to Academy to Bullets to Bandits is starting to bear some fruit and a new star is born.

But Mythman you haven’t told us what the song was on Spotify! The Eagles, thanks for the reminder.

Now everybody’s talking ‘bout the new kid in town.

Of course if you wish to agree, or disagree with the Mythman, have an idea for a feature, or you simply wish to chew the fat over all things speedway, you can email me jbspeedwaymedia@hotmail.com or get in touch via the JB Speedway Media Facebook page. If your compliments, or indeed gripes can be contained to limited characters you can tweet @Mythman666.

Until next time…and there will be a next time.

Right, I’ll hae’tae gan.

Mythman