So Far, So Good…Sort Of

We’re back again, and now the dust has somewhat settled on the start to the season, there are a number of things to address…

First of all, this one’s for you Mr Barrie, I said I would, and I have.

Now to Bandits business, it has been a very eventful start to the season to say the least and for the first time in a long time I can say that we are currently unbeaten in 2024, albeit only just.

Fair play to Edinburgh, they came and made us work for it on Saturday and showed us all why you can never ever count them out, and so it proved. Sure, they may have had a bit of luck with some “questionable” refereeing decisions and while that perhaps remains another debate for another day what I will say is that when it counted, they took advantage and if the roles were reversed, I dare say the Bandits would’ve done the same.

However, what I will say, and I have said this in the past is what I don’t understand is that when the technology of replays is available to the referee why isn’t it used? I realise that I am perhaps in a somewhat fortunate position where I get to see the replays, but I’ve lost count of the number of times I have seen an incident occur in real time, form a decision or opinion based on that only to see a replay and realise that I was perhaps wrong in the first instance.

Anyway, what’s done is done and ultimately the Bandits did prevail over the Monarchs, and many would say that we perhaps got out of jail on the night. But what a performance from Rory Schlein and our guest Richard Lawson who absorbed every blow that the sensational Josh Pickering threw at them in order to get the job done and over the line.

It truly was a night that had just a little bit of everything, and a little bit of spice is sometimes exactly what’s required in these sorts of meetings.

While it was obviously nice to get the win, I think perhaps what’s been most pleasing from a Bandits perspective is the nature in which the team has dealt with the pressure when the thumbscrews have been applied. In the past we’ve seen Bandits teams crumble under the pressure and fall away in the latter stages of meetings, but something is just a little bit different about the class of 2024.

Now before anyone get’s carried away I’m not making any bold predictions that the Bandits are going to conquer all before them, go through the season undefeated and win the league, although that would be nice. What I’m saying is that we can’t base our season on three or four meetings, the major challenges are yet to come and from a team perspective, those challenges have already become prevalent.

I’m talking about injuries of course and how sad it was to see Lewis Kerr picking up a broken ankle at a time when his form had been nothing short of sensational. Taking nothing away from Richard Lawson, who did an admirable job in filling the (steel) shoes of Lewis Kerr, but it somehow seemed like we missed the presence of our number one on Saturday, such has been his impact since his arrival.

The good news seems to be that he wont be out of action for too long and with a little bit of luck he’ll hit the ground running and get back to the sort of form he was showing prior. Fair to say that any critics who said in the ore season that he wasn’t a number one, were firmly silenced early doors.

Of course, Lewis Kerr sadly isn’t the only injured part for the Bandits as Bastian Borke, who himself has been nothing short of breath-taking at times, has also been in the wars following an alarming spill on Saturday night. Luckily, it would seem that Bastian has escaped serious injury and is nothing more than battered and bruised which all things considered is rather lucky.

Despite  few bumps in the road though, there have been plenty of positive and encouraging signs so far and plenty of reasons to be cheerful as a Bandits fan, and as we all know that has felt like a long time coming.

Drew Kemp has been steady, plugging away and scoring some vital points.

Jye Etheridge, while perhaps not having the best of nights on Saturday has been proving a few of his doubters wrong whilst Rory Schlein has rolled back the years and been nothing short of excellent more often than not. Freddy Hodder has stepped up and made a few folks take notice with some of his performances and as is often the case with young riders, his efforts compared to his points haven’t always translated but rest assured he will take some big scalps in 2024.

In the early going of the season, it has to be said that the form of Danyon Hume has perhaps been the most pleasant surprise, with many “experts” saying he would be the weak link of the side, and that really hasn’t been the case at all.

Saturday night was a real stand out performance from Danyon, who was taken out of his second ride so a tactical move could be made. Now I’m sure Danyon would’ve fully understood that decision and took it on the chin, but to follow that with two wins, and two 5-1’s to boot was something pretty special and something I’m almost certain didn’t go unnoticed.

So Danyon, take a bow the lad seems to have the exact right attitude and just gets it, other riders out there could learn an awful lot from that.

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