As Lakeside Hammers prepare for their first home fixture of the season against Leicester on Friday, team manager Neil Vatcher tells reporter Jack Giordmaina that he is hopeful that his side can make the play-offs this season…
Lakeside Hammers manager Neil Vatcher is confident that his outfit are capable of reaching the British Elite League Speedway play-offs this year – despite missing out in both of the last two seasons
Unsurprisingly, Vatcher is determined to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself this year.
“The minimum target has to be playoffs,” he said. “Our aim at this time of the year is to make the top four. We are very disappointed that we have missed out in the last two years, as we believe that we are one of the bigger clubs and should be making play-offs every year.”
Vatcher is delighted to have strengthened his squad this year with the re-signing of 2003 and 2004 World Cup winner Andreas Jonsson, as well as Kim Nilsson – who starts his first full season with the Purfleet-based side after putting in some solid performances last year as a substitute rider.
But it is the return of Jonsson that Vatcher hopes will give the team the extra push they have missed in recent times.
“Bringing in Andreas (Jonsson) as an ultimate number one addresses something we have been lacking in the last two years. That is through no fault of the riders that have been here before, but with injures I think we have missed that leadership.”
Jonsson himself concurs with the ambitions of his manager and is hoping to help guide Lakeside towards a playoff push, though he first aims to make sure that he is riding at the best of his ability.
“I just want to do my best. Sometimes I can’t perform as well as I would like, but I have set myself very high expectations and I would really like to do well here,” explained the Swede.
Fellow Swedish compatriot Nilsson will also be of importance, as he strives to replicate the form he has displayed in his native land now that he has signed permanently with the Hammers.
“My goal is to reach the level of performance I have shown in Sweden lately, and I think I can find it. I have been working hard in the winter and hopefully I can reach it very soon,” he noted.
The Hammers have also brought in two other new riders in Edward Kennett and Ashley Birks to try and improve the team’s away form, which according to Vatcher was their achilles heel last season.
“Our away form was our biggest downfall last year. We have added Kennett, who has plenty of experience away from home, while we’ve also brought in Ashley (Birks), who is a great track rider, which means he is experienced away from home on tracks that we do not normally go well on, like Swindon and Coventry,” said Vatcher.
But despite plenty of groundwork in place the experienced Vatcher is aware of the old adage train of thought of approaching each race meeting as it comes this season in order to try and give the team the best possible preparation.
“We will be taking it one race at a time and see how we go, but we are really looking forward to the first fixture next week.”