Blackadder

I don't know who it was, but someone drove a car towing a trailer with a bike on it, into the area behind the Pits at Sheffield last week, for the Sheffield v Cradley meeting. I said at the time that I haven't seen that for some years.

But as he is riding in a professional league he could be a Cat. 2, which IMO would be too high. I'm just trying to show how inflexible the UKVI are.

But wouldn't being classed as Cat 4 mean he is riding for expenses only? I suspect that UKVI are forcing their hand on this. They have already refused to listen to points raised by the BSPA and clubs.

According to another thread, Ben has a broken pelvis.

Ben was taken to hospital complaining about pains in a hip, dead leg and gravel rash. Not heard anything since.

I wasn't guessing, I was told, as I said, but I have given my word to SharpenRake that I will give up on this subject, so that's that.

I'm giving up now as I cannae prove that what I have been told is not nonsense.

It looks like the going rate for someone who has been asked to withhold his services.

Shudder.

Sheffield's team, on stand-by, is Simon Stead, Ty Proctor, Andre Compton and Ashley Birks.

I don't think it is as simple as Dimitri just asking to leave. We don't know what pressures have been put on him for things to reach the current state of affairs. We also don't know if the club has a replacement lined up, be it immediate or in the near future. If it was all clear cut, why has the club not been granted the normal 28 day facility for a guest?

See my "theory" in the Glasgow 2015 thread.

Steve Johnston was another. I think Paco just made a mistake in choosing the wrong line in to turn 3, and couldn't correct his error in time. He looked ok otherwise, but understandably, I don't expect him to match Ashley's recent scores to start with.

By doing it this way, there is a good chance of being granted a facility, which they have been, until they find a replacement and then redeclare.

Perhaps Dimitri was asked to withhold his services, and didn't take it too kindly, understandably.

Paco crashed in to the 4th bend air fence during free practice. Walked away limping. Hope he is ok.

Sheffield guests are Edward Kennett for Simon Stead, and Kevin Doolan for Andre Compton. R/R for Ashley Birks.

I can't see any mention of leathers on the web site. It just mentions equipment.

No, the PLRC has been allocated to someone else.

Regarding Arthur, I agree. Rene Aas, who spanners for Arthur, is always telling him to move further out, but it's not happening. Perhaps someone, say Andre or Jason, could have Arthur following them round during free practice after meetings. He would then have a better chance of using the right lines.

Not a great choice for a guest for Simon Stead then. Berwick, Newcastle or Rye House are the only teams not riding that day.

I would prefer Matt Tresarrieu. Better around Owlerton than Tero and would be company for David Bellego.

Well done to all concerned. I hope you get your own track before too long. On a similar matter, what happened with the proposed track at Bristol?

It should be fairly easy to control most of the freeloaders. Have 2 trustworthy people on the external pit gate. Have the Office Manager provide them with a list of those allowed free entry, the list to include staff, track staff, officials, medics, riders + 1 wife/girlfriend + 1 mechanic and expected guests. Each van's doors to be opened for a quick search for illegals. Job done.

Barker, Vissing, Howe, Heeps, Allen, Auty, Stead, Smith, Skidmore, Boxall, Douglas - lots of replacements required, so why not relax the qualifying criteria for non EU riders? It wouldn't solve every problem, but would help surely.