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Last Updated: Nov 28th, 2010 - 10:22:29 |
Lakeside Hammers Co Promoters Stuart Douglas and Jon Cook surveyed the wreckage of their Club’s League season this morning following a collapse in the last seven days of the League campaign, which saw the team drop from third to fifth in the table and, therefore, miss out on Play Off qualification.
"Congratulations to the four teams concerned, the facts show them to be the best over a season.'' said Team owner, Stuart Douglas. “Speedway has a habit of biting you when you don't expect it and I am very disappointed not to be fighting the Play Offs for the third year in succession."
"I feel sorry for the fans for the alarming drop in form of the team over the last week. We will put our all into the successful defence of the KO Cup, and then we will learn from this year's events now we have fallen short of expectations." he added, before looking ahead to next season. "We already have some good news for 2011, so another Cup win and some smart thinking over the winter will see us back fighting as the Hammers fans expect us to".
Team Manager Jon Cook was equally disappointed although he too was keen to rally riders and fans alike for the KO Cup defence, which starts in a fortnight, saying: "It’s hurt all the riders to drop out this late and the fact that two of them, who have been crucial to earlier wins, have had such a dramatic loss of form is beyond explanation to the individuals concerned and to me as a Team Manager, especially when new arrivals Peter Ljung and Chris Neath have performed so admirably".
Turning to the KO Cup Cook was already making his plans and revealed that Peter Ljung would move into a heat leader position and that star rider Lee Richardson would take over as Captain immediately.
Cook explained: "We need Adam (Shields) back to form without any other distractions and this will help. Lee (Richardson) is a more natural Captain and is keen to play a bigger role at the Club, while Peter(Ljung) has been a revelation and we all feel that a move away from Lee will be beneficial as, on a couple of occasions, they have got in one another's way, which is a clear sign that Peter is well on the pace. I am very keen for him to commit to a full season and this will give a better view of his capabilities as he has aspirations to return but only if he can meet his own high expectations of points scoring."
Cook was protective of his off form riders and revealed that the Club had switched Jonas Davidsson's pit crew to help out Stuart Robson in a final effort to solve his dramatic loss of form. Cook stated: "Robbo is at a complete loss to explain his performances and even the full time help of an experienced mechanic has failed to turn things around. We have a fortnight to work with him to solve these problems and his engines are again off for another retune. Fans need to understand that however frustrating it is for them and us as a Management this is also Robbo's only form of income so nobody wants to turn things around quicker than him." On Shields Cook commented: "Adam needs to get over his illness bug and take some time away to clear his head and get back to enjoying his racing, He’s the only rider who has been with us for the last four years team wise and it’s important his commitment to the Club over that time is recognised and hope our fans will get behind him and the rest of the team one last time as we try to salvage the season in the KO Cup".
The Hammers return to action at the Arena-Essex Raceway a week on Friday, 24th September, for the second leg of the KO Cup Quarter Final against Eastbourne with the winners going on to meet either Coventry or Wolverhampton.
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