4thbender

The Championship form-guide is as follows: Sheffield + 24 (M23 - 10H/13A) Glasgow + 22 (M22 - 10H/12A) Ipswich + 11 (M26 - 14H/12A) Edinburgh + 9 (M24 - 14H/10A) Redcar + 6 (M25 - 13H/12A) Workington + 1 (M17 - 9H/8A) Peterborough 0 (M22 - 12H/10A) Newcastle - 5 (M22 - 11H/11A) Scunthorpe - 12 (M25 - 12H/13A) Berwick - 25 (M28 - 12H/16A) This is the point at which Sheffield's season has fallen apart for the past 3 years: August is the month when injuries have started to take their toll. I think it's vital for the league run-in that we keep a fit 1 - 7, and if we can do so the title is ours for the taking. It's worrying that Lasse is already carrying a knee injury. Steady should be wrapping his riders in cotton wool for the next few weeks.

Sheffield + 24 (M23 - 10H/13A) Glasgow + 22 (M22 - 10H/12A) Ipswich + 11 (M26 - 14H/12A) Edinburgh + 9 (M24 - 14H/10A) Redcar + 6 (M25 - 13H/12A) Workington + 1 (M17 - 9H/8A) Peterborough 0 (M22 - 12H/10A) Newcastle - 5 (M22 - 11H/11A) Scunthorpe - 12 (M25 - 12H/13A) Berwick - 25 (M28 - 12H/16A)

I'd feel much more confident of taking points off the Moanarchs if we had Josh G. at no.1. Every visiting team this season has arrived at Armadale with a patched-up team. It gives them at least a 5-point 'start' in every home match, and this one's no different. I still reckon we'll come away with at least a point though.

It's 10.45am and it's a bit cloudy. Expect a rain-off announcement any minute.

Heard it on the grapevine that all the pubs up West Street put together a petition to STOP Sheffield offering student concessions because it would cost them too much in lost trade on a Thursday night. (Only joking!)

Match called off this morning due to "adverse weather conditions". It's now 3.45pm, the weather's fine and dry, the sun is out and there's a brisk drying wind. Looks like perfect weather for speedway and the Met Office forecast is not predicting rain. Does anyone agree with me that the policy of making early decisions about match abandonments is wrong more often than it's right? I had hoped for an evening away from the wall-to-wall election coverage, but it looks as if I'll be stuck in front of the telly.

Really sad about this. Adam is the unluckiest rider in the league with injuries but has a great heart for speedway. Had every respect for him at Sheffield. Hope he is not lost to the sport altogether.

This was a spot-on call by the management. I am 4 miles from the stadium and at 6.45pm - my normal time to leave for the speedway - the sun was shining out of a blue sky. The rain started at 7.30 on the nail, and within minutes was bucketing down. If they'd not made the early decision the match would have been called off before heat 3 and a lot of people would have been heading for home with re-admission tickets.

Is Bates fit to take part? (Rumours he has a hand injury sustained whilst guesting for Ipswich at Newcastle.)

Did I detect a bit more muck on the track tonight, or was it my imagination? There was certainly much more competitive racing than of late and there appeared to be an inside line opening up on the third and fourth bends which offered more passing options (which should silence some of the moaners from recent weeks).

One match in and the team's already being propped up with guests. The Owlerton jinx strikes again - before the season's even started. How often in the last 3 years have we seen Sheffield lose heat leaders to injuries whilst riding for other teams?

In the landmark ‘Vnuk’ case, the European Court of Justice ruled in 2014 that the EU’s 2009 Motor Insurance Directive required insurance policies to cover all possible third-party accidents in all places and at all times. In some countries, including the United Kingdom and Ireland, governments had interpreted the law as meaning that it only applies to vehicles driven on public roads, however it is now clear that the judgment means that national laws must be changed to ensure that all mechanically propelled vehicles are insured for third-party losses regardless of type of use, in all places, at any time. This applies to everything from Formula One racing cars, to speedway bikes, to mobility scooters, to antique trams and everything in-between. Industry experts have already claimed that the risks associated with providing insurance cover to all motorised vehicles mean that they would be prohibitively expensive to insure, thus effectively outlawing all motorsport activities across the United Kingdom. HM Government opened a consultation on Wednesday 21st December with two clear options. First, to pursue the “Comprehensive option” which would involve changing UK motor insurance law to comply with the Motor Insurance Directive as interpreted in the Vnuk judgement. Second, the Government’s preferred “Amended Directive option” which would involve changing UK law on motor insurance to implement the Motor Insurance Directive as amended, should the European Commission pursue its proposal to amend it. While the United Kingdom remains a member of the European Union, the UK is obligated to make this change. We, the undersigned petition HM Government through the Secretary of State for Transport, The Rt. Hon. Chris Grayling, M.P., asking that HM Government under no circumstances implements the 'Vnuk' judgement in a way that encompasses vehicles involved in motor and motorcycle sport activities. SIGN THE PETITION HERE

In the landmark ‘Vnuk’ case, the European Court of Justice ruled in 2014 that the EU’s 2009 Motor Insurance Directive required insurance policies to cover all possible third-party accidents in all places and at all times. In some countries, including the United Kingdom and Ireland, governments had interpreted the law as meaning that it only applies to vehicles driven on public roads, however it is now clear that the judgment means that national laws must be changed to ensure that all mechanically propelled vehicles are insured for third-party losses regardless of type of use, in all places, at any time. This applies to everything from Formula One racing cars, to speedway bikes, to mobility scooters, to antique trams and everything in-between. Industry experts have already claimed that the risks associated with providing insurance cover to all motorised vehicles mean that they would be prohibitively expensive to insure, thus effectively outlawing all motorsport activities across the United Kingdom. HM Government opened a consultation on Wednesday 21st December with two clear options. First, to pursue the “Comprehensive option” which would involve changing UK motor insurance law to comply with the Motor Insurance Directive as interpreted in the Vnuk judgement. Second, the Government’s preferred “Amended Directive option” which would involve changing UK law on motor insurance to implement the Motor Insurance Directive as amended, should the European Commission pursue its proposal to amend it. While the United Kingdom remains a member of the European Union, the UK is obligated to make this change. We, the undersigned petition HM Government through the Secretary of State for Transport, The Rt. Hon. Chris Grayling, M.P., asking that HM Government under no circumstances implements the 'Vnuk' judgement in a way that encompasses vehicles involved in motor and motorcycle sport activities. SIGN THE PETITION HERE

In the landmark ‘Vnuk’ case, the European Court of Justice ruled in 2014 that the EU’s 2009 Motor Insurance Directive required insurance policies to cover all possible third-party accidents in all places and at all times. In some countries, including the United Kingdom and Ireland, governments had interpreted the law as meaning that it only applies to vehicles driven on public roads, however it is now clear that the judgment means that national laws must be changed to ensure that all mechanically propelled vehicles are insured for third-party losses regardless of type of use, in all places, at any time. This applies to everything from Formula One racing cars, to speedway bikes, to mobility scooters, to antique trams and everything in-between. Industry experts have already claimed that the risks associated with providing insurance cover to all motorised vehicles mean that they would be prohibitively expensive to insure, thus effectively outlawing all motorsport activities across the United Kingdom. HM Government opened a consultation on Wednesday 21st December with two clear options. First, to pursue the “Comprehensive option” which would involve changing UK motor insurance law to comply with the Motor Insurance Directive as interpreted in the Vnuk judgement. Second, the Government’s preferred “Amended Directive option” which would involve changing UK law on motor insurance to implement the Motor Insurance Directive as amended, should the European Commission pursue its proposal to amend it. While the United Kingdom remains a member of the European Union, the UK is obligated to make this change. We, the undersigned petition HM Government through the Secretary of State for Transport, The Rt. Hon. Chris Grayling, M.P., asking that HM Government under no circumstances implements the 'Vnuk' judgement in a way that encompasses vehicles involved in motor and motorcycle sport activities. SIGN THE PETITION HERE

The lads look remarkably reminiscent of Blue T*ts in those new race suits (no, honestly - check it out for yourself!). Who paid for those? I hope they're not made to look like t*ts when they visit Ipswich tomorrow night.

An astute move to make Kyle captain. He responded well to the call for leadership in last season's play-offs and is maturing into a fine rider. I would guess he'll finish this season with an 8.5 average. I like the cut of his jib. He could become one of Sheffield's all-time greats if he gets a good run in the team.

Well, we can all be wrong!

Now that the Lions have completed their final 7, what's the betting on a Sheffield v Leicester season opener on 30th March?

You are very lucky to have got the right man at the right time. Damian Bates is a breath of fresh air in speedway and I hope that through his involvement in our two clubs his influence can grow with the ruling hierarchy of UK speedway. His energy and ideas could be the saving grace of our great sport.

As I've said before on this forum, who says Boocock's gone? See today's announcement: "Sheffield is a very well run club now. I have good people working alongside me in Julie Reading, Pete Mole, Marc Bates and of course Eric Boocock and it's great to have Simon Stead on board as team manager." Thoughts, anyone?

Steady has just tweeted that his retirement meeting will be the season opener in March 2018.

Should see the way my two-year-old grandson rides his bike on the footpath. Anyone who sees him would be well advised to keep out of his way. As for locking him up, I don't think the jail has yet been built that would contain him.

In the landmark ‘Vnuk’ case, the European Court of Justice ruled in 2014 that the EU’s 2009 Motor Insurance Directive required insurance policies to cover all possible third-party accidents in all places and at all times. In some countries, including the United Kingdom and Ireland, governments had interpreted the law as meaning that it only applies to vehicles driven on public roads, however it is now clear that the judgment means that national laws must be changed to ensure that all mechanically propelled vehicles are insured for third-party losses regardless of type of use, in all places, at any time. This applies to everything from Formula One racing cars, to mobility scooters, to antique trams and everything in-between. Industry experts have already claimed that the risks associated with providing insurance cover to all motorised vehicles mean that they would be prohibitively expensive to insure, thus effectively outlawing all motorsport activities across the United Kingdom. HM Government opened a consultation on Wednesday 21st December with two clear options. First, to pursue the “Comprehensive option” which would involve changing UK motor insurance law to comply with the Motor Insurance Directive as interpreted in the Vnuk judgement. Second, the Government’s preferred “Amended Directive option” which would involve changing UK law on motor insurance to implement the Motor Insurance Directive as amended, should the European Commission pursue its proposal to amend it. While the United Kingdom remains a member of the European Union, the UK is obligated to make this change. We, the undersigned petition HM Government through the Secretary of State for Transport, The Rt. Hon. Chris Grayling, M.P., asking that HM Government under no circumstances implements the 'Vnuk' judgement in a way that encompasses vehicles involved in motor and motorcycle sport activities. SIGN PETITION AT: www.fightvnuk.co.uk

Your memory is slipping. As well as dominating his team's performance in the first leg of the 2016 EL Grand Final (scoring 12 + 2), he also scored the bulk of the points that got Sheffield through the play-off quarter final against Newcastle (10 and 15 + 1) and semi final against Glasgow (14 + 1 and 9 + 2). He also scored 13 and 9 in Sheffield's losing final against Somerset. I'd say he's a team man through and through. A dooosh bag? I'd settle for a team full of dooosh bags if they all showed that level of commitment.

But he's one of the two Sheffield riders who (it is alleged on this forum) lost races to "manipulate" their average downwards at the back end of 2016 in order to secure a better berth in 2017. I would suggest these are not the actions of a good team man. Kyle Howarth, on the other hand, rode out of his skin to heroically win the EL play-off final for Wolverhampton. That's the kind of spirit I hope to see displayed by the Tigers in 2017 and I would suggest that Kyle is the man to lead by example.