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WHERE'S VESPRINI?: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Thursday January 09, 2014
Once January rolls around I always feel I’ve turned the corner, maybe its only psychological but until the year changes the new season seems an age away.
Once those numbers 2014 register on the clock though its now all systems go! The lads are shortly off for their annual skiing trip which hopefully will see young Norman abandoning the straight down the piste style that scared the life out of everyone last year. Spare a thought for Simon though as while the lads will be living it up in the Alps he’ll be stuck back here enjoying our wonderful winter as his ankle heals. Hats off to the lad for another wise decision and with 3 teams to ride for this season I’m sure it’ll pay off in the long run. January is also the time when people start to look at the line ups that are forming and decide who they think will scoop the honours. An early look at the British Speedway forum shows a couple of people mentioning the Rockets in the running but the majority seem unimpressed with our seven. Then again talking to John Sampford last season thats just the way we like it, no expectation = no pressure plus there’s always that little bit that inspires you to prove the doubters wrong. It still amazes me how insistent about their choices some people are in a sport where your whole season can be wiped out in a couple of bends. We should know we’ve been that team more times than I care to remember. Best method I’ve found when the Star coming knocking and ask me to put together my prediction for the season is to get the trusty pin I use for the Grand National out close my eyes and hope. Well it worked last year not that I’m building myself up as a super pundit or anything.
So Tuesday 18th March is a date we’ve all put in our diaries as not only is it the first time the team take to the track it will also be my first visit to the East of England Showground for over 20 years. It was the 13th August 1993 and like many visits to watch our lads take on the Panthers it was a nightmare, a 72-36 nightmare to be precise! Our last win there came in July 1980 and having missed that I can remember few days that brought a smile to the face apart from the year Glen Baxter scored a 15 point maximum. We may have lost the meeting but that stands out as one of the best individual performances by a Rocket I’ve ever seen. Despite all the heartache they’ve put me through its good to have the Panthers back on the scene and I’m sure I’ll travel up the A1 in buoyant mood on the 18th, quite whether the return journey will be as chirpy remains to be seen!
Up The Rockets
Pete
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