thebaron

Did you see Tofty ride for Kings Lynn at Poole on SKY last night ? What a performance he’s really put himself in the shop window for the Elite League in 2017. Just how much as he grown as a rider since he was first with us. What a quality signing he was mid season when Peterborough had their first “meltdown” and axed him. How bonkers was that; and Rob has been vindicated in turning to our “Nightwatchman” to turn our season around somewhat at the last. But; back to last night he really attacked the Poole track and was always in the race. Thing with Tofty is he is a “craftsman” on the bike. Knows where to ride; and safely to maximum effect. No matter if he’s last out the gate; he can effect the race from the back and you never rule him out. He looks to me to have strong engines and he can control a race from the front. Also a great rider to pair up with because you can trust him to be where you want him to be and not where you don’t !. Last night as I say has definitely put him on the radar for Kings Lynn at the very least and probably every other Elite track as well. Remember he also banged home 13+2 for Leicester out of 33 at Swindon not withstanding that Belle Vue know all about him. As far as I know he is a Scunthorpe asset ? correct me if I am wrong. Originally I remember he has a tie up with Kings Lynn but I thought that was ended in favour of a Scorpions contract. I would love to see MPT; back with us in 2017; but on the evidence it might be he has Elite ambitions. You would like to think we had a shout if the Leagues were merged in some way or he doubled up for us. If he is our asset; he would have a transfer or loan valuation. What I can say; without getting carried away; is that through a fairly turbulent 2016 campaign by quirk of fate we seem to have found our team. Lewis Kerr; was an excellent call to make; irrespective of whether he rides for us or not he warrants our respect and admiration coming back from such serious injuries in 2015. That he is actually riding for Scunthorpe and demonstrating his skill; bravery and hitting the big numbers is brilliant. We need to get the Kerr-minator back for 2017 and he would like to be back from what he has said. Fritz Wallner; no idea where the management came across “the Blitz” but what a late season find. Lets again not get carried away; but he has smashed it for an “unknown”. An almighty effort in Heat14 last week v Redcar blasting round flat out on the dirt line. He is thrilling to watch and skillful on the bike. A definite crowd pleaser. He has rapidly dialled into the EWR on good engines and considering his limited if any team racing experience has put down a marker for 2017. Josh Bailey/Jack Smith; no doubting that Lil'Josh has been superb this season and very unlucky to be out through injury. But I have been impressed with Jack Smith's inclusion and he might just have made himself a contender for 2017. There's not much between these two young racers ability wise; obviously their parent clubs will have a say in things too. Rob has said he would go with the same 1-7 in 2017; and I am all for getting our stall set out early. Josh Auty has already agreed in principal to next season I understand. We do not know at this stage how the Leagues will look in 2017; so its maybe too soon to make firm commitments. But certainly if the Premier League continues in its current format we have a team that could; be up for the prizes; things being equal. But we should not get too carried away; and let our heart rule our head; and be prepared to make a change if the right rider is available to add to the top end. Obviously depending on finances and over team averages. Just when its all getting exciting again; here we are tomorrow – end of season. But it’s a great thought to sustain us through the Winter knowing we’re back next season and plenty to look forward to at the Eddie Wright Raceway. Good and valid points here Iron; for me although it could make our journey from Bradford slightly more problematic; we think a return to Friday might be our preference. But clearly there are pro's and cons which ever way the management elect go.

Looking forward to the meeting after a week off. Reading in the Star that Lewis Kerr is enjoying his racing at the EWR and has an eye on a return in 2017 !. That's great news as I see it; no harm in getting your ducks in order early !. Rob is right; had we started with this 1-7 the season might have worked out better. But you make decisions for the right reasons at the time. If you take the long term view that we are building now for 2017 that makes the remainder of our season important for everyone. A team that had the Kerr-minator and MPT as its middle order would look strong. Then having invested the time in Josh Bailey you want to be getting the payback in 2017 and to be fair Fritz Wallner is worth persevering with. Then your looking at the heat leaders Josh Auty has already signed and Ryan's certain to. So it would leave one place and for me I would bring back Tommy Jorgensen. I reckon that line up has entertainment written right through it and can be challenging at the opposite and of the table next season. So I'm not writing off this season as I see at a springboard to the next. Let's see if we can put the Comets into orbit tomorrow and grab the points !

Welcome our new Austrian signing Fritz "der Blitz" Wallner - woah ......looking forward to this

Hi Scunny supporter here; I am up in the Borders next week and intend taking in the footballBerwick Rangers v Annan Athletic on 13/8 and then Bandidos v Pboro later. If you park in the car park can you leave your car there and rollover into the speedway or must you go out the car park and comeback in for the speedway ?. Minor detail but just wondered how it works if you do both. Reminds me of Halifax Speedway this; footie in the afternoon and back for the Dukes in the evening.

Thanks Iron; time was when the old Div2/New National League would carry on through "international schedules" throughout the summer, but now there is a lot of cross over between the leagues due to the scarcity of riders. Then if you throw in domestic shared events; its easy to close your local speedway for month in June-July. But no good for continuity and keeping the punters engaged.

Anyone else brassed off with another blank week at the EWR ?. All that fantastic racing v Edinburgh two weeks back. Somehow all the excitment and enthusiasm that generated is in danger of being lost. Your almost starting again v Somerset a week on Sunday. Any news on if we have a replacement for Alex ?

Sounds like we should have won this ! There was I thinking 40-49 was a decent result at Barmadale ! Is there anything we could lodge protest about ?

Two days on and reflecting on Sundays brilliant racing and every bit as good as I thought it was !. Infact it's better than I thought. You will never see a non passing race as good as that one, Even if you turned up at a track every night at a speedway for the next 100 years.! All four riders were almost in unison going round and it was blanket stuff all the way. Look beyond the final result 44-45 (subject to stewards enquiry-Mitch Davey?). There were no losers at Scunny on Sunday only winners if you were there. Scunthorpe Speedway the track that just KEEPS ON GIVING !

Lewis Kerr was the opposite of you last Sunday at Scunny ..alltheideabutnaegear !

Not going to agree that our riders don't have the skill; but going to agree that for some reason they rarely do well there. Wilko clearly laying the myth then; when he has had great meeting there. Those riders you note; different class they could ride any track with relative ease.

No; honest I'm not; the Scorpions are capable of far better than their results have been; and granted again Monday we showed our frailties again at Rough Park (where we rarely do well). But I'll stick by my belief we can push on and still have a say in the outcome of this league. But obviously your fully entitled to your own opinion.

Absolutely brilliant Scunny; we really have the bit between our teeth and sense there is a galvanising of the team spirit and wanting to turn the season around. Panthers have really made a mullocks of their team; rewind to the League Cup tie at the start of the season; when they walloped us out of site. They looked polished and a real force. Could not look much beyond them for the eventual League winners. But; tearing up that 1-7 to get Cook in on such a high average has weakened them no end. Great for us because we got our "night watchman" MPT back and clearly he had a point or 15 to prove last night. Off the bottom now and three points off mid table; so there is all to ride for. If we get our in match; in race management right; and the evidence is we can; then by no means discount Scunny squeezing into to those play-offs. Edinburgh- Home Sunday; and there's a really good vibe about the Scorpions now.

I think my point is to take both Lambert and Davies's averages out of the match all together. No R/R and you promote your No8 rider as we would have done back in the day. That way there is still "advantage" to Newcastle on higher CMA's and on home track; so I am not looking for a favour for Scunthorpe that would be daft again.

Talk about tying ourselves up in knots ? ..Lambert versus Davies is not like for like on this seasons form; and also if you consider the averages of the two riders related to the R/R facility Lambert can be replaced by; (the rider above him in the CMA's - ie; No1 Steve Worrall and everyone below that includes No3 Lindgren 7.27). Meanwhile for Scunthorpe application of the same rule for Davies; (brings in the rider above Lewis Kerr 6.28 and everyone below; none including Kerr can match Lindgren in the averages). So definite disadvantage to Scunthorpe there. Thinking this through the only fair way to balance this up; would be to turn back the clock to the 1970's and promote the No8 for each track to be one of the reserves. Promote the highest average reserve (MPT for Scunthorpe and guest Garica (Rose) for Diamonds to the main body of the team). Then I think you end up with a better balanced and common sense scenario. Of course things are never going to be equal are they; but is that not the nature of any sporting contest ?. By trying so desperately to limit team strengths and even everything up; you just end up in knots which is where I came in.

This meeting generated a lot of positivity around the club; after weeks being in the doldrums looking for clues. Josh Auty was on fire; unbeaten in his last two EWR meetings; posting two successive 5 ride maximum scores. He has definitely benefited from handing the No1 jacket to Ryan; who so often has been the one rider we can look to this season. But now it would seem we have two bone fide top riders who can take the fight to the opposition main men. Got to salute Lewis Kerr; had to double take him on the parade; looking every bit Andrea's Lyager from a distance. This was only because he had borrowed Andrea's bike and race suit; having parted ways with his previous backers Revolution Speedway; meaning he was minus a bike and gear before the match. On borrowed stuff; he manages to play a big part in the taming of the table topping Tigers and survived a nasty Ht9 spill that saw Alex off in the ambulance with a back injury. Lewis has always looked competitive around the EWR as a visitor and here was reason to think; that provided he sorts his machinery out going forward then he can play a big part in the remaining weeks of the season. Polished show too from MPT a great reserve; looking safe and assured on the bike. Tofty has definitely developed his racing whilst away in the Elite League with Belle Vue and more recently in the PL. Great trump card to bring in for first Little Josh as a reserve replacement and then for Alex. He could be busy in the matches to come. I thought that the staff and riders managed the meeting very well; responding on and off track to the tactical switches and changing track conditions to get the most out of it. You will not see a better high speed swoop from last to first than Josh going around Summers on turn two to join Ryan for the 5-1. Just awesome speedway that and had the support really getting behind the team. Worth noting that with Alex sidelined and Little Josh failing to score it was a 5 man team to all intents; so to run out 51-39 against the league leaders and big spenders was no mean feat. Hearing Alex has two crushed vertebrae so; wishing him all the best for a full and timely recovery; which will influence whether the management look to bring in a replacement. But there was much to enthuse over yesterday; and Rob was clearly buzzing; as he categorically stated that "we are definitely running in 2017" But right now the focus has to be on harnessing the positivity around the EWR; after two successive home wins and edging our way away from the wrong end of the league table.

I'm going out on a limb after Redcar last night ..the leagues upside down we'll beat Glasgee !

Thing is June;...we're better than this; No honest we are. Lewis Kerr has frequently proved himself a darn good rider and he posted some big scores for Ipswich earlier; Alex Davies I rate very highly; always have one of those riders who is never out the race; when he was at Somerset you looked at their top three and then thought "hang on" they've got a fourth top rider in Alex Davies. But he really has been playing catch up this season and then Wilko our 2015 Rider of the Year and another who can be a top scorer at this level; but this season something is not working for him. Your just left scratching your head; as the management are. You know what I was thinking coming home ?; is our in game management the best it can be ?; do we plot our way through the meeting as a team ?; surely we do ? or do we ?. For example Alex and MPT in races 10 and 12. Did they not agree before the tapes went up which one of them was taking which line ?. Reason; they both dived on the inside and actually mucked themselves up in my view. Surely one should have gone for the switch inside and the other attacked it from the outside. But is it that simple ? who knows ?. One thing I do know; there are too many question marks in this short rant.

Came away from this one last night; thinking that this was one we could and should have won !. There we are both Ryan & Big Josh pulling pukka top two rider scores; sticking two 5-1's at them as a pair; one to give us a shout at Ht13 35-42 down. But; the well used MPT and L'il Josh aside; where the hell was Wilko 4?- on a track he should know like the back of his hand !- to be fair L'il Josh actually looked smoother round the tricky Media Prima Arena ; Alex 3 ? and Lewis Kerr 0 ?. No middle order at all. As I say we could and should have won this meeting. On paper we did look better than the Teddies but for some reason ???. Alex and MPT together in Ht10 and Ht12 seemed to be intent on going for the same bit of track and opportunity was lost. Just when we got some momentum at home v Ipswich and guys are looking back on it; we're kind of back to base-ment for that Big One on Sunday v Glasgee.

Great show from Glasgow last night; riders and fans as one. Nothing wrong with Danny Ayres going OTT with the celebrations if that's what he wants to do. Reminded me of TV's Gladiators where you have hero's and villains remember Wolf and Cobra etc..certainly the crowd lapped it up; if you pardon the pun. If you had never seen Speedway before or had been away from it for a while; and tuned in; you might be forgiven for thinking "speedway seems to be in decent shape these days". Where can I see it where I live ?...

Seems ages since the last home meeting; and the forecast for Sunday does not seem all that great at the moment. Watched the Glasgow v Edinburgh derby on SKY last night; what a great crowd; and the fans and riders as clearly contributing to the atmosphere. Take a bow Danny Ayres for his showmanship and clearly a crowd favorite. There was some great racing especially from Edinburgh's Ryan Fisher and it put speedway in a good light. Glasgow and the new Belle Vue are showing that there might be a way forward for the sport. Looked at the PL table on SKY and there we were propping the whole thing up !..but we have only ridden 7 meetings; so in my view plenty of opportunity to make something of the rest of the season and see how far we can climb. Here's hoping for good weather and some great racing this Sunday.

Coming from Bradford so would not mind some updates from the club on Twitter ? Track more than likely fine hence no concerns at this stage; sure we will be kept in the picture.

Well I am going for a Scorpions win and some restoration of confidence in the team. Would be nice to see Lewis Kerr make a solid home debut - proving Ipswich wrong! and Alex Davies back amongst the points. Incidentally back to Ippo;see that score at Berwick last night? absolute drubbing. We are not the only team with problems it would seem.

Should have been capable of better than this and as much as I want to remain "the external optimist" results are beginning to make it look misplaced. One Ht winner against a weakened Comets and even NL guest Blacklock posts one of their 14. What the blazes happened with Alex and the Flag Marshall? WTF its not supposed to be WWF ! We most definitely need to get something out of tomorrows meeting and think thats a Win !

Looking at the line up's why can I see Scunny winning this ?

Premier League clubs are now inviting fans to be team manager for a meeting !. Fans of the club can be reassured that I have declined the clubs offer to stand in for Dave Peet at Workington on Saturday. I clearly need to get to grips with this blooming ridiculous rule book !.