This years Press and Practice was
the first since the creation of PottersPower.com and so gave us a good
look behind the scenes on the day.
Hopefully what follows will give those unable to attend for one reason
or another, a good insight into the day.
The day was due
to start at 12 midday at the track, with the public following on at
around 12:45.
I arrived and headed straight for the pits area to see who had made it
there early. The pits had a few bikes and mechanics taking their places
in the pit births allocated to them by the riders first name on the wall
in each bay, with Lee at the far end and Jason nearest the ramp.
Andy getting Wizzers kit ready.
This was a good
time for me to take a good look around as there were still a few to turn
up. Time to take a few snaps for use on the site and also to have a chat
to a few that were already there.
I did notice that the place had been put through a spruce up with a
fresh lick of paint here and there ready for next week.
I walked down the ramp and was greeted on the centre green with a very
new looking speedway bike, positioned for all to see. It was the new
bike of Sam Ward, the mascot. I was later talking to Sam and it turns
out today was his first time out on his new 250cc. It only seems like 2
minutes ago he was tootling about on a toddlers bike!
Mascot Sams new bike.
At around
12:20ish the riders were requested to go to the bar area and any press
not already in the bar were requested to go there also.
Inside there were around 50 or so people, mainly press, club officials
or riders and their relatives. There were press representatives of local
press, radio and regional T.V.
The bar was open for refreshments and there was a temporary stage made
up opposite where Dave's merchandise stand would normally be where
events were to unfold.
Whilst waiting I took a few minutes to have a quick chat to a few of the
riders already there and the general opinion was that they were happy to
be here and were looking forward to having such a good racers track as
their home.
At about 12:30 Howard Jones, who was to be the compare for the
announcements took to the stage with Dave Tattum and John Woolridge.
Howard welcomed all to Loomer Road and proceeded to welcome John as team
manager for the coming season, John said a few words then it was on to
the riders.
Each rider was announced in turn, went up to have their picture taken,
collect their 2009 race bib and say a few words.
Last up was our number one, Lee Complin, who was one reason behind the
late start as he got held up on the way down here.
Howard, during the chat with Lee asked "and is the crash well and truly
behind you now?", to which Lee Replied with a rye smile "what crash?", a
sign that he is feeling good about the start of this season.
A nice touch to the proceedings was when Sam Ward, the young mascot that
we have seen grow up over the years was named as this seasons mascot and
presented with his own race bib.
Lee, being announced as No.1
Once the riders
had all been announced it was time for them to shoot off and get changed
into their new kevlars and get ready for the trackside photo shoots.
This was the time for the final adjustments to the bikes before taking
to the track.
Jesper applying a little gentle "persuasion" to his bike.
Working on Tom P's machine.
It was also the time that the press began to interview riders and jotted
around the place there were riders speaking into microphones during
interviews. We were now at the business end of the day.
At around 1:30 the riders took to the track with the press and
officials. Normally at this point the public would also be allowed to
enter the track, but, as Dave Tattum explained, this year was a little
different. " Normally we have the fans go onto the track at the same
time as the riders and press and everyone mingles in, however, this year
I was asked by the professional photographers if I would hold the fans
back for 15 or 20 minutes while the pictures were taken. I hope the fans
didn't mind too much".
Once on the track the riders were interviewed by various sources and
there were little pockets of activity all around the 4th bend.
Wizzer, Jason and Glen taking questions.
When the
interviews had werd done it was time for the photographs and the riders
started to assemble midtrack on turns 3-4.
The riders start to assemble for the main photo.
The main team shots were first then it was onto the individuals.
And the photos go on.
Once all the
pictures and interviews were done it was finally time, at around 2
o'clock, for the riders to take to the track, 3 at a time.
On summarising the day Dave Tattum said "I thought the day went
fantastically well. It is always a relief once the building and
preparation to a new season is done. Now it is all about the racing and
we can now concentrate on getting ready for the opener against
Birmingham on Saturday.
I think the lads were looking sharp and that was on a dry looking track.
We had watered the track to give the best conditions once the team got
onto it, but a combination of the day running a little behind schedule
and the very warm conditions played against us. Once the lads took to
the track I didn't feel it wise to add further water for fear of making
the track suddenly slick for them".
I know this is
no masterpiece of journalism but, as I said earlier, I just wanted to
give an insight of what Press and Practise day was all about for those
that cannot normally get there due to other commitments.
