Soundbites: 19th March 2005

"Bandits have a good look about them this season with solidity throughout the side and a very strong reserve pairing. We feel we should have enough at the top end to record a win and get our season off to a fine start at home."
Shane Parker looks ahead to tomorrow's Glasgow v Berwick clash

"I feel the young team Coventry have put together this year is one that can land some silverware, and I see my move away from Ipswich as a new lease of life. I may be the old man of the team at 26, but I haven't reached my peak yet and I am hoping the change of scenery will help me achieve my goals, both as an individual and as a member of the Coventry team."
Scott Nicholls

"I'm not complaining about the track, but it was a gater's paradise and we weren't gating. We've no excuses, but I'm very disappointed because I thought we'd sneak a win when we led 28-25 after nine races. No-one really stood out for us, but nobody had a bad night either. Ipswich certainly isn't my lucky track. I've been taking teams there for 35 years and haven't won yet."
Belle Vue boss Ian Thomas on the Aces defeat at Ipswich on Thursday

"I have no doubt Rusty will come to Workington fully fired up to prove a point, to me especially, but I stand by my view that he will come back to us a better rider."
Graham Drury who welcomes Rusty Harrison back to Derwent Park tonight as a visitor

"It's a new challenge for me in my first year in the Premier League and it looks like a really good side at Somerset. I can't wait to get it started. I am just one of the team and there are seven of us who are all looking forward to the season. Of course there's pressure on me to do well, but I'm used to the pressure - and I put pressure on myself to do well."
Magnus Zetterstrom - Looking forward to life as a Rebel

"The new lads may need a couple of meetings to help settle in, but we're confident that all seven riders can do a good job for us."
Pat Bliss on her Reading Racers side

"There is nothing wrong with the Monmore track, it's just that I haven't learned to ride it properly yet. I don't have a problem with small tracks because my best meeting last year was at Eastbourne and that's pretty small. Monmore got to my head a bit and I started to think about it too much. I had to think hard about what was best, but I felt that it would be best to stay with Wolverhampton. I like the other riders in the team and the club is well-organised. It's a good place to be."
Freddie Lindgren of Wolves

"It will be a good experience for me. I know it is going to be really tough but I am really looking forward to it. Hopefully, "I can pick up a couple of points or so in both meetings - and that would be really good. Being in with the big boys is a boost to my confidence."
Jamie Westacott on his temporary elevation to the Reading side

"It's far from ideal but it's one of those things, there is nothing we can do. Everyone knows that Paul is from a Grass Track background and he never wanted to pack that in just to do speedway. Benji will be keen to do a job. He wants to prove a point to people that he has what it takes to mix it with the Premier League boys."
Neil Machin - Paul Cooper misses Sheffield's trip to Newcastle because of Grass Track commitment. Benji Compton deputises.

"I am not getting too carried away after the home win, as the bottom line is that Poole are still a good team. The positives for us are that we can still improve on that first showing. Not many sides are going to win at Poole this year so I just hope we can stay close in the return. I would be happy with that and even happier if we win on aggregate."
Swindon manager Alun Rossiter after his side defeated Poole on Thursday

"We weren't happy with the track at all. It was like a sponge pudding on the second turn. After a lot of debate we reluctantly decided to ride as we'd have been fined if we'd pulled out. They ended up putting a white line round the bad bit - it looked like a chicane."
Hull promoter David Peet - unhappy with track conditions at Sheffield on Thursday

"There is no point in just telling people what you are going to do because there is a job to be done. You have simply got to get out on the track and do it. Hopefully by doing this, I will wipe away any of the doubts people might have. I still feel I can ride at this level otherwise I wouldn't be putting myself in this position. Ultimately, I will do my talking on the track because it is results that talk at the end of the day."
New Poole Pirate - Ray Morton

"I thought right from the start it was going to be tough for us tonight, especially looking at the strength of their team and with King at reserve where he could do damage."
King's Lynn boss Buster Chapman on their narrow home win over Rye House on Wednesday

"We will definitely be fired up for this one - but the crowd can give us the edge if they create an atmosphere and get behind the lads. It's been a tough start, but we are capable of turning things around providing everyone rides to their capabilities.
Dave Tattum looks forward to his Stoke team taking on Hull tonight

"He has been available to ride for about six months but previously hadn't shown an interest in returning before he came to us. James has come back a different guy. He has learnt from his mistakes. For us, it was an opportunity too good to miss."
Mildenhall manager Wayne Swales on James Horton - back from a drugs suspension

This article was first published on 19th March 2005

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