thebaron

Am I correct that there was a meeting a couple of days back. Wondered if anyone heard what came out of it?. Gone a bit quiet on here lately. Still the seasons just around the corner.

SCB; sincerely like the "need to stop blowing things out of proportion" bit; sure like me all you want is to get back to the racing with EVERYONE we are looking forward to seeing back here and ON TRACK!

That would nigh on close British Speedway down today.

Is it me or is there an anti Aussie agend simmering here? Look Anzacs & Yanks have been the staple of British Speedway down the years just think for minute about the bigger picture. The real reason some Brits get overlooked is because promoters dont rate them as high. It has been that way down the decades; just consider all the Aussue,NZ and USA legends that you would never have graced our sport if we had been haggling over a bloody entry Visa. It really doesnt bear thinking about the state Speedway might have been in without them and will be if we dont get this sorted.

I think you just made my point perfectly cannot see anyone on your attempt at a list man for man better than those under threat. If thats it Speedways in big trouble this season. Come on Benji ? Halsey ? Wilson v Douglas! Holder! Masters yer having a laugh or never see these guys race.

Well not so hard that would prevent my niece (now in a third yr) working in what amounts to a BUPA call centre and my colleagues son bumming around farm to farm picking fruit for over a year! I agree I thought you needed profession. That cafe Jiahdi how the hell were he in Oz? As for 22 Aussie riders doing 22 Brits out of work alright then list me the 22 riders man for man who have equal ability to those under threat. No restoring to Bent Handlebar out the EU-seless either. You cannot do it because they are not there not in those numbers. British Speedway needs these riders without them it devalues a struggling sport further still. If the admin has been poorly supervised by the promoters then they have to take some blame. But is it so unsurmountable to put right. It affects all of the business of Speedway.For me this admin needs to be handled by a supervisory body and removed from individual promoters.

You know what can I be really honest. I am sick of all this; I want to watch Professional Speedway Riders (no matter where they come from) on the race track a highly skilled occupation that ONLY A MINUTE NUMBER OF PEOPLE in the entire world can perfect to the required standard. Try it if you don't believe me; its not something anyone can just turn up and do. This is ruining it for me and everyone in Speedway; and not least people like Rob who's business it is. I think this does have serious implications for the Business of Scunthorpe Speedway. A lot of money; time and consideration has been invested in Ryan Douglas who (if here) will be one of THE break out riders in World Speedway in 2015. We cannot just sideline such a valuable club asset like this and then spend more money bringing in an EU based rider who WILL COST US a whole lot more. Its just plain crazy. We cannot just go out and sign a couple of up and coming Brits and bang them in. Not with standing their lack of ability alongside Ryan and Alex; I would contend that such a practice is actually dangerous. These idiots at the UKVI know nothing about Speedway; they probably think its cycle speedway (no disrespect) or like riding out on a trail bike. Such is the impact on the Business; that I would not blame Rob & Management if they just said "sod it" and pulled the team out of the Premier League rather than field a "make shift" team in 2015 and the season already effectively over for us before it started. All this Visa nonsense going on when we are all just looking forward to an exciting Scorpions team and getting back to the Speedway in a few weeks. Aaaaaargh!!!

Humphrey I could not put it better myself.

Way I read it some on here dont give a hoot for the Aussies being here or not?. Look guys this is BAD news for Speedway here we just dont have the riders to replace them and it devalues the whole thing in my opinion. Theres no one we can bring in at Scunny that will adequately replace Ryan Douglas for whom 2015 is a breakout season. Not interested in tailenders like Bent Handlebar only here because he's from the EU-seless!. Likes of Ryan and Alex D are real riders and here for the full season.

Are them dim wits on the UKVI Border control "sleep eazy" looking at the code for Visa's = IS for International Speedway rider - "G'day welcome to the UK don't let me delay you a moment longer; what a fine profession Speedway is Sir" Have a great summer. And getting it mixed up with IS = Warning!!!!! Islamic State UK based terrorist - see the door marked EXIT!.

Plainly ridiculous Dooley Man must nigh on be classed permanent UK resident! he's been riding over here for a least a decade surely. What the hell does he need to prove?. Also his average 6.93 so its not 7.00. For 0.07 of point and he's shown the door for Christ's sake. This is just becoming nasty.

Surely Alex having attained +7 CMA in 2013 will be ok. In his last full season he reached the threashold. If push comes to shove Alex was born here!!. So we give right to stay to Somali criminals and such like and then haggle over pts threasholds and state titles for English born Aussie Speedway riders! who are actually here for all the right reasons.

Looks like I am answering my own questions here but; Ryan was second in the 2014 Australian U21 Championship and third in the Queensland State title in 2013; that covers the minimum 4th place or higher in the State Championship criteria. Alex Davies was actually born in the UK; although his parents are both Australian nationals. Alex was fourth in the Australian U21 Champions in 2013. Alex also had a 7.38 CMA with Somerset in 2013, So that surely boxes him off for us. Notwithstanding Rob has posted to allay concerns. Sorry but the Campton/Weathers outcome set the alarm bells ringing for me again. Pass me the tablets!!

Noting that both Mason Campton and Mathew Weathers have both been moved aside at Workington in favour of Rusty Harrison and Nathan Greaves. That's seems to indicate a while flag going up against the UKVI Visa problems from Comets. Mmmmmmm

Top man Rob; thanks for this because all this talk of Visas and Ryan just off crutches is giving us all sleepless nights. Roll on March and everyone home and hose.

Would'nt surprise me NBT; Nicolai is our "go too rider" and his average I think would fit in the scheme of things. It might look a bit hasty allowing Tommy Gun to go to Berwick if anything went Pete Tong with the Visa's for Ryan and Alex. But then sure Nicolai for me; but he don't come cheap as I read it.

Ryan tweeted yesterday that hes off crutches and building it back up to get back on the bike again.Thought he seemed quiet in Oz; and absent from the Aussie season. Have I missed something anyone know what the injury was and how? Told him to get fit sort out his Visa and get back over here for March.

I had a letter from a Professional Footballer its was all in crayon, in big writing and signed with a thumb print.! Alex Davies is a legend. Av' calmed darn a bit having read his eloquent words. Cheers Alex mate; see you at the EWR in March.

As daft as that sounds - you know its right!

You are having a laugh which two out of your list(possibly excepting Bunyan and that's debatable) are anywhere near capable of replacing Ryan Douglas and Alex Davies at Scunthorpe. For Gods (due reverence to Rob) sake do you watch these riders ?.

Apologies I was thinking more of the Crankie couple Salmon and "Jimmy" Sturgeon than Scots generally.

On that point what do your reckon the political landscape of speedway actually is; its authority; promoters, riders and supporters. What would speedway vote if it could vote in May. My educated guess is that speedway would vote UKIP or Conservative. No chance Liberal, not an earthly for Green, may be an odd left leaner (to be expected in this game) but not enough for a Liebore majority, not enough Scottish Nastis in it. So for me defo Speedway will vote Conservative or UKIP at the election.

Alex "The Thunder" Davies is a Scunny Legend for me already. Just have a read of that letter; super intelligent, well crafted words; clear understanding of his situation, thorough explanation. Clearing wanting to connect with the Scunny fans and looking forward to the new speedway season here. In fact just exactly the sort of person who we should be laying out the Red Carpet to. Never mind sending him and Ryan through a bureaucratic nightmare. Let me say this; there's nobody at the UKBA better qualified to decided who crosses these shores than ME! if I were on that watch trust me there's none of these terrorist looking types getting past me. But when Alex and Ryan stroll up all they have to say is "G'day mate I'm Ryan and I'm Alex were from Oz" ...so what you here for lads ? ..errr we're professional Speedway Riders ....right lads that's what they all say a couple of Track Terrorists if ever there were two! ....ONLY JOKING LADS NO NEED TO SAY OWT ELSE YER IN!.

What is a sponsorship licence? - is that some sort of authorisation to employ someone from another country in your business. Because there's a chap down the road from us runs a Pizza place and I bet he ain't got no sponsors licence for three dodgy looking characters round the back dishing up the pizzas.

WTF do the UKBA know about Speedway? have they any idea what a 7pt average is. I have this picture of some jobs worth tasked with researching what speedway is then coming up with some ludicrous notions as to how he see's it running. Get me back to the 40-50's when all the Aussies came over on boats for the season with their bikes and the carpet was rolled out at Passport Control. Or the 70's when Les Whaley brought Bradford with Brenton Langlois, Rob Maxfield and Mike Fullerton for the 73 season. The Aussies/New Zealanders ARE US for Christ's sake; half of them were sent out on boats as the £10 Pom's from the UK in the 60's or are related to someone who was. Angry! you bet I am.