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Post by aberavongems on Jun 1, 2017 20:08:59 GMT
Team building again, following a poor season and nearly suffering a second relegation it's important the club gets it right, following long talks with coach and sim legand Carl Hopper it was decided he would concentrate on coaching but Carl wanted at least one more season and to enjoy his riding without the team pressure also.
It has been agreed and ratified by NSSPA that Carl can have his swan song being Abertillery numberv1 and lead the team to a second promotion.
Back to the Gems our riders have agreed to resign our number Otto Juttke who did score well but has something to prove. Likewise Darren Moore who still has fulfill his potential. One of the success was Rudolf Schuyler and Klaus Hermansen did well these have also signed.
Finding three new riders is proving difficult for JC and coach Edwards the club has already pulled the plug on one deal itself .
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Post by aberavongems on Jun 19, 2017 11:05:40 GMT
The Gems will try again after the disaster of last season and just staving of relegation for a second consecutive season after being tipped by many to bounce straight back. Otto did well as number 1 and the club had some individual success with both Schulyer and Hermansen but upping their averages. Moore struggled to push on when we all though in a lower league the New Zealander International would score heavily.
JC and Coach Carl Hooper decided Carl didn't need the added pressure of PL racing and the desire to return to the top flight needed the Coach to concentrate on the team, Although Carl wanted to continue to ride and enjoy it in his final years of putting on the kelvars a compromise was sought with NSSPA approval for Carl to ride in th EL. He has joined the Dragons as there number 1 following winning the AL.
The end result is good news for both the Gems and the Dragons. So who will be lining up in the Gems colours this season, pleasing for Gems fans is Otto Juttke is staying and again lines up as number 1 and Captian. Otto was regularly in the top 3 of the leagues averages last season and its hoped he can maintain this and lead the side as captain.
Darren Moore is also back and it's hoped with better starting he can up his average which his ability needs to be justified. He starts on a 7.08 average, and lines up as our second heat leader it's a big season for the 24 year old as he needs to stamp his authority on this league he has the skill and machines to do it.
Rudolf Schulyer we also resigned and we're happy to do so he upped his average and finished on a 7.0 again at 24 years old we feel Rudolf can continue his rise up the averages and become a vital part of the side.
Klaus Hermansen our Danish youngster joined mid season and quickly became a supporters favourite, it's hard coming into a side struggling but last season he quickly adapted to his new home and team mates and we found him a great landlady close to the stadium which helped him settle in. Welcome back home Klaus.
Jacob Carlsson has signed from Ipswich on a full transfer and we are more than happy to get our man, we thank Ipswich and the powers that be for the ease and quickness of negotiations. The popular Swede is still only 25 and comes in on a 6.69 average. Clearly Jacob will be looking to become an 8 point rider with his new club and for fill his undoubted skill his riding style suits our grippy track and our supporters will love his performance on the track. He will also lodge with Klaus at his digs.
Our first Italian is newcomer and also our asset now Carlo Rastagna also in his early 20's he will start at reserve on a 4.71 average. Carlo aggressive style will go down well and his never give up attitude was in the end a telling factor as we searched for a positive addition to ride at reserve.
The final piece of the jigsaw took us sometime to resolve due to points left but we kept going back to one rider and JC quick chat to his other Coach Allan Edwards sealed the deal to bring back an old favourite, I say old as he seems to have been around for years but is still only 26 years old Heath Chattan on a just over a 4 point average joins his first club again as a reserve rider. Heath joined JC other club mid season and was an instant success and really helped the side seal promotion and the title on the last weekend. You know what you get with Heath dependability.
Are we happy with this line up YES was it our first on paper no but sometimes it's all about team spirit as JC seen from the Dragons side last term.
GOOD RACING GEMS
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Post by aberavongems on Aug 2, 2017 20:37:58 GMT
JC has made a change already and pushed it through before week meetings. Not wanting a season like time. JC and Coach spoke at length and following a meeting with Carlo Rastanga it was agreed to drop the Italian.
The club asked for reports on various riders and a shortlist was arrived at and following further meetings the club went with Mauro Onega from Argentina at only 20 years old the report listed he has loads of potential and his riding style would suit are grippy track.
On on paper he looks a promising acquisition and should settle in quickly and at least hold his average. His first meeting at home he managed a second place in his third ride after trying to hard in his opening ride and trying to ride around the safety fence, it knocked him a bit and he was last in his next outing but wasn't to far of the pace. His third ride as stated a second place behind Darren Moore so a bonus point also.
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Post by aberavongems on Aug 13, 2017 19:32:35 GMT
No news is good news or is it ? As the West Coast Arena is surrounded by quite in the season break following the first GSA changes.
With the sides average over the minimum you would expect all to be great, but they have yet to click all at once hence the current league position. Five of the seven have up'ed their average and Hamish has only ridden two meetings, Otto has slipped to an 8.5 average but then scores a 15 point maximum ?
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Post by aberavongems on Sept 24, 2017 19:54:20 GMT
Aberavon Gems, West Coast Arena will host the UL 3TT this week, it's great for the former UL with an UL stadium to host a major event like this. We thank the NSSPA for selecting Aberavon to host a event this season.
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Post by aberavongems on Oct 13, 2017 21:56:13 GMT
Gems are in the process of making changes reports suggest Number 1 Juttke and one other could be leaving. Juttke averages have slipped twice this season and Moore in this update this week would have been the gems new number one.
JC has agreed to let Gomozov join UL side Teesside with promising youngster Burkes rumoured to moving on loan to the Gems. Carlsson and Onega have both been called in to meetings with JC and Coach Hooper.
if the rumours are true who will come in to lead the Gems as number 1 for the rest of the season ? Could it be Petkovic or Stanyk both would be a good fit and currently sitting out racing or will the club go for a European unknown.
I think it's a case of watch this space or pits places.
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Post by aberavongems on Oct 19, 2017 21:06:35 GMT
The rumblings around the West Coast Arena were right a new number 1 and not through average changes. The very experienced Matija Petkovic joins the Gems from Wantage and the exciting young American Eugene Burkes joins on loan from UL title chasers Teesside with our own Denis (mad monk) Gomozov going the other way.
Darren Moore had just become our number 1 but is happy to ride at 5 with Matija coming in to secure our PL status. Burkes will set the track alight with his fast riding style.
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