beesknees

This doesn't add up. No mention of negotiations with Brandon Estates to make the stadium available to Sandhu to reinstate the fixtures to enable the Bees to return to Brandon during the season ... No incentive for Sandhu to spend the money to reinstate the fixtures at Brandon unless he stands to gain through a resulting deal on planning permission which would then show he has an interest in Brandon Estates, be that personal or through the extended family ... Only other explanation is he gets a deal on another piece of land to build a stadium of his own in the future. As for what Horton gains from this, beyond being able to hold on to a Promoters Licence and the assets he bought from Sandhu, what else is there to be gained? Especially as he could achieve both of the former by taking up promotion rights at somewhere like Leicester Lions anyway ... Don't think the truth will ever be revealed, stay of execution for the Bees of sorts, but for how long, who knows, and at what cost ...

Perhaps Coventry's assets have now reverted to the BSPA and as such Ipswich have priority over any new promotion, or new club, for which Danny signs?

I was led to believe that the stock car dates belong to the promoter and not the track so nothing stopping the stock car promoters from taking the show on the road to protect the dates whilst they look for a suitable location somewhere in the GB to re-establish their own operation at their own track, and thus benefit from the food and drink takings that I am sure add significantly to the gate receipts ... perhaps I'm misinformed though? If not, then the current Stox promoters don't need Brandon so no incentive to spend £000s to reinstate the stadium, plus £000s to maintain the stadium to run stox only. Probably make more by renting stadiums elsewhere and taking gate receipts without any of the overheads for an "idle" stadium ...

Well that about does it for me, just when you thought the sport couldn't get any more ridiculous ... If this is true it really does beggar belief. The people running the sport are running it into the ground and it won't be long now before the sport is dead and buried in the UK as a professional sport. If only the BSPA had been strong enough to grasp the Independent Body in the winter of discontent we might have been moving forwards by now rather that sliding backwards into oblivion, encumbered by a set of rules which are unfathomable and lack any transparency. Nice job ... RIP UK Professional Speedway.

Clearly you're trying to score points, prove a point or perhaps just behaving irrationally. No whinging whatsoever in my post and you're out of order for stating as such. Suggest you go back and re-read my post. I was looking for information not rhetoric and flawed opinion. At no point did I ask for my money back in my post, you're trying to pick an argument where there is none to pick and doing the forum no good whatsoever. I'm over it, time to move on.

Thanks for the "positive" feedback, perhaps you can try constructive rather than destructive in future rather than taking cheap shots. Without the fans on board there is no future, looking after the fans first is, in my opinion, the way to try and salvage some credibility and ensure fans return to what is a fantastic venue when the track is fit for purpose. The first step in this is informing us what the process is for readmissions or refunds. I don't think this is an unreasonable ask. Thanks for this, I hadn't seen that one announced.

Does anyone know if the refund process has been released by Belle Vue as yet please and if so where I might find it? All I can see on the Belle Vue website are press releases pointing the finger of blame elsewhere rather than looking after the fans who paid good money for no show, hopefully it's me who has missed the announcement rather than those in charge showing contempt for the fans. Thanks in advance.

Unless it's in the best interests of the sport of course

Surely the answer is 2 (or 4) guest bookings for Fredrik Lindgren (6.55) for Joonas (6.80) ...

Walasek = 5.96 ... Scott Nicholls = 5.96 ... hmmm

With Kylmakorpi out for the season, I'd think there is a limited chance of enticing anyone over to the UK now Surely it would be sensible to secure Fredrik Lindgren as a guest for the semi final and, if the Bees progress, the final. Would provide continuity for the play-offs at least and secure the Bees someone who has been riding in a heat leader berth pretty much all season and is capable of scoring as well as Joonas ... feels like a no brainer to me, move quickly and give the team and fans some certainty. Clearly assumes Freddie wants the guest bookings and 8-day rule (if it's still in place) doesn't come into play ...

Hans 7.47 from 1st June so plenty of scope to bring him back. No rolling average for greg as doesn't have any 2014 matches so would presumably stay on 8.77 throughout June and Hans average won't change.

I think Bees at 33.21 have 0.79 to play with ... Andersen at 8.17 + 0.79 means 8.96 ... Hancock 2013 GSA of 8.77 ...

Simple if unrealistic answer ... redeclare Hancock for Andersen, Before June 1 then redeclare Andersen once fit. Practice in UK for Greg one week ahead of the WC match for USA at KL and gives Bees a full team for the match vs Poole ... Should get some people through the gate was well (weather permitting) ...

Courtesy of Coventry Bees website: POLISH prospect Jakub Jamrog has been named as the final piece in Coventry’s 2015 Elite League jigsaw. The 23-year-old has agreed a deal to join the Buildbase Bees with the new season days away, and he will slot into the second-string position originally earmarked for Cameron Woodward before the Australian was ruled out due to injury, on an assessed 5.50 average. Most of Jamrog’s league racing last year was spent in his home country with Lodz, for whom he recorded several high scores. And he has previous experience of the Coventry circuit as he raced in the 2013 Brandonapolis individual event – with the highlight being a race win over Bjarne Pedersen, Krzysztof Kasprzak and Scott Nicholls in a time of 58.9, which was by a distance the fastest of the night. Bees promoter Mick Horton said: “We’ve left no stone unturned over this last place, we’ve spoken to many riders who aren’t coming back or can’t do it, and we’ve now got to the point where we had to make a decision. “I’ve talked to several riders who have either ridden with Jakuk or seen him race, and they’ve all said he goes very well in Europe. “I’ve also spoken to the lad himself this weekend and he is really, really determined and enthusiastic, and is also all set up to race here with equipment, workshop and mechanic. “Havvy (Gary Havelock) has a good feeling about him, and we feel he is very much worth a shot. We’ve got faith in him and although there’s always a question over Polish riders on small tracks, he has been brought up on small tracks. “He knows what we’re looking for from him, and all I’d say to people is give the lad a chance, and let’s see what he can do.” Jamrog races in Sunday’s Ben Fund Bonanza event at Swindon and will be unveiled as a Coventry rider at press and practice on Friday.

Think we have 6.90 left ... Andersen 8.33 Harris 7.49 King 6.74 Robson 4.54 (PL converted) Total 27.1 Sundstrom's last average was about 7.22 from memory. Can't see any sense in going for Klindt (5.16), massively weakens the Bees. See that Andersen, Tatum and Louis are riding at Bomber's testimonial, perhaps one will come out of retirement to plug the gap

Not sure whether signed as full asset, in which case Coventry would have priority over fixtures, do wish the club gave this information for the fans!

Courtesy of coventrybees.co: KING FOR THE BEES Monday December 01, 2014 COVENTRY are pleased to announce the signing of Great Britain international Danny King for the 2015 Elite League season. King, who was close to a move to the Buildbase Bees last winter, joins the club after four years with local rivals Birmingham, the last of which ended in mid-season when the Brummies closed down. He then saw out the campaign with Lakeside. The 28-year-old is a seasoned Elite League performer and scored heavily for the Brummies when captaining them to the play-offs in 2012 and the Grand Final the following season. He also has an impressive record at Brandon and has often been called upon to make guest appearances for teams at the circuit, whilst earlier this year he was called up to race for Great Britain in their successful World Cup campaign. King joins the Bees on a 6.74 average and becomes the fifth confirmed member of the 2015 team – joining skipper Chris Harris, Cameron Woodward, Jason Garrity and James Sarjeant. He will also be racing in the Premier League for Ipswich. Promoter Mick Horton said: “I’m really pleased that in our discussions Danny made it clear he always wanted to ride for Coventry, because he had offers from three or four clubs. “He could have moved to us last winter but missed out because of the averages, but this year we’ve managed to do the deal and we’re really pleased, and so is he. “Danny is another heat-leader who is capable of beating anyone, and he’s a popular British rider who gives 100 per cent.”

Been a while since I posted on the forum, waning interest in a sport where it feels like the sport's administrators seem hell bent on running it into the ground to "prolong" their own businesses in the short term. For me, the issue of MJJ, illustrates the state of the sport in this country ...not sure we know the full facts of who said what to whom but that aside, the incident shows just how the sport in Britain now ranks way behind Poland and Sweden. The rider had a choice to make, no doubt under pressure from his Swedish club, between his integrity and his ambition, the promoter a difficult choice to make between his integrity and his ambition for the club. Appears that the rider chose ambition over integrity, the promotion integrity over ambition. Would two votes for "ambition" have righted the wrong? Would certainly have kept the Bees in with a chance of the League Title in 2014 and the fans would no doubt have forgiven MJJ his "no-show" and simply moved on to support their club. I do think it was a decision made in haste though, clearly no thought of the scenario which could develop in the event that Barker became injured, illustrating the absence of forethought or someone on the outside of the inner circle at the club that is trusted to ask the question "what if" ... an approach which has served previous promotions well in my view with the last great tactical move the club made in 2010 with the mid-season introduction of Bridger / Kasprzak / Pawlicki ... cue the winter of discontent. As for the Play Off Semi, let's just hope for two entertaining meetings that are fairly fought to showcase how great this sport can be when the politics are removed and the riders are given the tools to ply their trade to the best of their abilities ... ATB BK

My apologies Stevebrum, looking back at the thread I think the comparison was first made by Crazy Robin.

He signed on loan with an option to purchase which the Bees didn't exercise, so nothing like the Barker situation whatsoever in reality. Cheers.

I think it's quite simple really, can't see what the confusion is! 4 protected riders for 4 clubs 4 clubs declare first if they are invoking right to use protected asset If they aren't then the assets not selected go into the draft The draft commences with Coventry able to select first rider from the pool including any of the 4 riders released at the start Then the draft continues with the next club and so on ...

I should think the 4 clubs need to declare up front if they are taking their protected asset ... It's the only way it makes any sense!

4 protected riders, if not chosen by the 4 teams then they go back into the draft which then runs from position 10 to 1 ... So Poole don't get first pick, the 4 teams get equal chance to retain their protected rider, then first pick goes to Coventry ... It's quite simple really!

My view is that one of the Bees assets is most likely, followed by Summers (albeit I think I read somewhere that he tweeted he wasn't being offered a place at the Bees for 2014). Wolbert is a good shout as he has had some very good meetings at Brandon. Gustafsson could be a possibility, especially if a loan swap deal done with Kennett. Can't see any way that Michelsen would move away from Eastbourne though ... The 5th rider could well make or break the Bees 2014 chances though ...