DOING THE BUNNY HOP

My fears were confirmed….. Roo-Boy has retired….. Oh woe and thrice woe…..

What, at this late stage, could Bandits do to shore up this great Schein-sized hole in the line-up?

I mean, I’ve seen all the forums — they told me there was no-one left who could come and bail us out…….

Oh dear, oh dear. We’re doooomed, Captain Mainwaring…….……..

Except, we have a Jamie, and a Stewart and they have a knack of pulling rabbits out of hats…………..

And you know how rabbits multiply, dontcha?

Not one, not two – but THREE brand-new Berwick bunnies complete the 2025 Bandits!

To replace Rory, we have Peter Kildemand – 33 Grands Prix on his CV, including two top-rostrum places! Yes, a double Grand Prix winner! Plus World Cup wins with both Denmark’s U-21 squad and their big team, too.

Now I’ve known Roo-Boy as a good friend for over twenty years, and I know he’ll be the first to admit that, as a replacement, PK’s quite an upgrade!

Of course, using eight-and-a-half points to bring him in at #1 means there aren’t too many points left for two more riders to keep the team total under 40, eh?

True – but once again, the rabbit-pulling has been eyebrow-raisingly successful and we also now have the reigning British U-21 Champion in black-and-gold as well. Yowser!

When Sam Hagon stood on the top step of the Ashfield podium with that U-21 trophy, he could look to either side and see no less that Leon Flint as his runner-up and Ashton Boughen on the other step. He’s that good.

He was also more or less responsible for Poole’s 2-point win at Shielfield last season, netting 11+1 from reserve to help the Pirates on their way to winning the league. So he can get around the Berwick track OK, I guess.

He also brings a truly impressive back-up team with him, as his dad Martin raced for Hackney, Sheffield and Ipswich before going on to be a two-time World Long-Track World Finalist — while uncle Martin Dugard was a long-time star for Eastbourne and Oxford – and, of course, winner of the British Grand Prix in 2000. Both Martins will be in his pit-crew at Shielfield on Saturday nights.

You need more? Well, BOTH his grandfathers (Alf and Bobby) had long and distinguished speedway careers as well……

Which means, I’d venture, that our first reserve rider will be a powerhouse from the off, come Easter. A time of year when rabbits come to mind, I suppose……….

What else? Well, signing Peter and Sam did use up a fair chunk of our remaining points, meaning we require a two-point man to complete the squad.

Who, following last season’s spectacular failure, would hopefully be able to at least exceed the piss-poor returns we got from Freddy, despite his every effort (and our keeping faith in the lad).

Still, when the name of Dayle Wood was announced, all hell seemed to break loose across the forums – or, as I think they should be called, fora….

Although wiser minds have also highlighted the good sense of such a move, there has been a bit of a shitstorm from a gang of forum-folk accusing Dayle of being ‘hopeless’ ‘useless and a ‘waste of space’.

All, incidentally, coming without a single suggestion of who was available on two points, willing to travel and accept Berwick’s payment budget in return…

Me? I think we could be pleasantly surprised….

Why? Let’s see……

Dayle Wood, admittedly a late beginner, only started speedway in Oz in 2022.

Where he had precisely five full meetings before coming to the UK in 2023, a very raw rookie, raced NJL for Edinburgh and averaged 4.50.

In 2024 he continued at Armadale, improving his average to 7.76. Now that’s a really big jump at any level……

With bonus points, that’s a better CMA than (for instance) Freddy Hodder, Ace Pijper, Max Perry, Luke Harrison or the much-vaunted Vinnie Foord. All of whom have been racing speedway bikes for a lot longer than Dayle Wood.

Were he younger, people would be praising his progress, signalling him as one of the best 2-pointers available to Championship clubs….

And maybe, with no pressure and our proud supporters to back his efforts, that’s what he will be……..

So the stall is set out. The bunnies are out the hat and we now have to wait four long months to see they hop.

Me? I’m hopeful. 2025 could, finally, be a season in the sun………………

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Want to disagree with Dick (as so many do)? He is always happy to hear from interesting people at dick@crystalfm.co.uk