MD

Looking at the pictures of how much the track is being taken in on Twitter, are Ashfield Juniors moving out?

Thats the issue, you pay in varying amounts as long as they reach a minimum amount each year and only get a flat rate the same as everyone else back out. IMO the state pension should be a government administered scheme that reflects what you have paid in i.e. if you dont contribute you cant take out.

In many cases it is the pension contributions of those workers that are paying for retirees pensions however this is the fault of neither group. Also pensioners currently can draw their state pension at 65, ive seen some reports that for my age group it could be 71. Times have definitely changed, attitudes take longer to catch up.

Thats the crucial question though i would suspect very few. In reality we are talking about the price of a programme here. All paying punters have to make a value judgment of whether it is worth it or not. Last season Concessions would have paid in to 18 league meetings, this year there are fewer meaning the true cost of the collective season March to October will be less than the previous year. The Concession is a legacy privilege thats continued from yesteryear however nothing stays the same forever. I recall reading in the 2015 programme notes that the Concession rate was being abused and some sort of age verification was being brought in. Perhaps its not changed.

So looks like the Tigeratti arent overly impressed with another season of a 2 pointer and what effectively becomes a six man team.

Makes you think that we had done a deal with said 2 pointer long before the season ended, then the AGM removed the requirement to have one. In that scenario Vissing is the one that makes up the final numbers. The logic otherwise is lost on me.

Other than one match with Edinburgh in 2013 I cant agree. There is a bit of the maniac about him. Whilst he can be covered for in the 1-5, I think our points would have been better spent on a strong reserve and a weaker No2. Looks like we are again fielding an untried 2 pointer, likely to be Bickley. That puts the pressure on Sarjeant who is twitchy at the best of times. should he get injured we are stumped. A strong reserve can take seven rides and replace any of their team mates, a weak reserve can't meaning there are fewer opportunities on the racecard to gain advantages in the heats they are in. Thats a huge part of what stuffed us this season.

Superb middle order rider in Starke, absolutely solid, unless the travelling gets to him!

Remember seeing he couldn't ride Ashfield or most of the small tracks we visited. He will do it in time but is at least a year too early for our league. He is much more comfortable on bigger tracks. The benefits you mention certainly werent in points and i dont see 2018 as his breakthrough year.

Signing Lewis Kerr is where we should have been this year i.e dropping one of the top 3, bringing in a 6 pointer and using those two points at the bottom of the order. We benefitted from signing Worrall in the same way in 2016.

Likewise, we have persevered with him from a raw novice to a 6 point rider. He's had a few injuries but the inexperienced do. The best is yet to come from him IMO. Looks like a complete clean sweep other than Worrall. Dont think we can do this every season, a team needs a bit of continuity.

Thats why i said 'might'.

The problem there is discretion. It should be automatic and beyond the influence of the key promoters IMO.

Everything goes in cycles. Back in the early 2000's Glasgow and most others couldnt compete with Worky in the same vein as they underwent a renaissance. We ended up selling you Rusty Harrison, Aidan Collins, and Les I think. You won the bidding war for Simon Stead and money seemed no object. However nothing lasts forever and we will enjoy our time now just as you did then.

If a rider hands in a sick note for one or two days I believe they should automatically be stood down from racing for seven days. That'll largely make the piss takers think twice but unfortunately will be to the detriment of the odd genuine one. However something needs to be done.

We know, hence he is not expected to be retained. Turned up at Workingtons' end of season dinner allegedly which might hint at his next Championship destination.

Still nothing about whether the July signing deadline continues and what mechanisms have been brought in to stop riders piss taking in September & October with dubious sick tickets when they dont fancy it.

Thats not a surprise, im sure not even for Aaron himself. I think we helped move him up a level in 2015 and likewise him for us but this year that progress reversed itself. He moves on with our sincerest thanks and best wishes. He wont have trouble finding a new team though hopefully not the dark side. A decent signing as long as he actually scores points and doesnt get excluded. Richie needs to have a word.

Glasgow were Bewleys' third priority in 2017. He knows where his bread is buttered and its not in our league.

So much for Berge. Cracking line up so far. This will probably bring the best out in Auty who won't have the pressure to ride at 1 or 5.

Aye, in all 3 leagues.

Everyone was signing for Glasgow in October!! The one that got away was Steve Worrall, what a signing for Scunthorpe.

That Berwick match was in the middle of July. Thats half a season he was pretty woeful for. We got the full repertoire of clutch, setups, tuner etc but nothing changed. A change of scene would be refreshing for all. The points limit of 42.5 may have increased his choice of clubs.

We will have to find an alternate raceday when we visit the already established Friday teams. Most likely this would be a Saturday or Sunday. Lakeside rejoining may also be a Friday club.

If being the word. Think we are all beyond the belief that the offspring of former riders will all be like their Dads. Proof will be in the pudding along with the small matter of a work permit.