thebaron

Just seen Paul Crutes tweet from the Scunthorpe Telegraph; on our second signing Paul writes "you may be suprised". To me I am now begining to think we might be off the mark on this one.

I reckon your on to something here NBT; good call. Franc's done GP's; and knows the tracks in the PL. Also could keep a watching brief over Czech mate Zednek during his first PL season. Fits perfect; the French references point to Bellego; but that would be just lazy tweeting; Franc as in Pepe not as in French franc. Zoot alors !

Apparently the Draft 3ptr has never ridden PL before; so would rule out Ellis; but I would have liked Ellis to get another chance; which he never really got last time. The French Connection could be a red herring; Robs got previous form for winding us up; and then it turns out different; so it might not be Jingle Bell-ego for Christmas when it comes to it. Looking forward to Thursday; its fun this isn't it?- a Scorpion delivered every week.

Not if they stay fit we won't ! You can't tell me a fully fit Josh Auty and Ryan Douglas won't score points home and away. Alex Davies took best part of the season getting back to what he was afore he had a year out!. Carlos had a good year ; circa his BFinal exploits and EL guest call ups and is competitive everywhere ?. Zed Holub is a real talent at this level trust me. Leaving the last two slots; which are key; but in Rob we trust. We will be challenging if we stay in one piece. If we do pick up a knock we also have rider(s) we can bring in that can do a job Lyager and Lunna are in our "squad".

Delighted to sign Zedi;the clue was at "the do". I spoke to him; and he wanted to race Premier League in 2016. You dont come all the way from Czecho for "pie n peas" !

This is going to be classic !

Don't see why not; he is a NL rider regardless of his being a New Zealander; and never had PL experience which I think is the criteria. But just watch the powers tie him up in red tape and say he should be 5.00. Think he has British family connections though. Suffice to say whoever gets BWD or Adam Ellis has to be nailed on for a tilt at the silverware. Both are head and shoulders above the rest of the NL picks; without any disrespect to the other draft lads.

So we're all sorted for 2016; thinking this through and not totally dismissing Zedi; we all would agree we have needed a big hitter. But with Carlos at reserve we appear not to be able to accommodate one. Well; you might be wrong; how about a potential No1 rider on a what appears to be a false final average. How about this Josh 8.00; Ryan 6.68; Alex 6.26; Carlos 5.33 and our new signings Bellego 5.98; Wilson-Dean 3.00 AND Ritchie Worrall 6.84 = 42.09 what a team; lots of scoring there. Fine if it is Zedi; but I just think that Ritchie Worrall can provide the big scores in the big heats and add 2pts to that average racing back at Scunny. Someone is going to land BWD so why not Scunny? and Bellego is right racer round the EWR; think Rob likes him. I can see Ritchie wanting to move from Somerset; not had the best of seasons and a move back to where it all began; could be a win win.

What your saying is that Theo was not discouraged from keeping his Longtrack commitment. Which meant we could have a proper guest for him and not just an NL rider. Fair enough then well done Rob and cheers to Theo for taking the rap. Trust we did the decent thing by him and helped with any fine. Like I said rider of the year for me and would welcome him back; but dont see that. Not with you that we are poor team without him. Wont be many with a rider like Wilko at No6.

Would not disagree all things being equal. But you get the impression that his missing our final match due to an overseas commitment burnt a bridge but Rob said there was no hard feelings. For me Theo was superb all season and Rider of the Year no disrespect to Carlos who lifted that pot last week. I would have Theo back; he is a safe and accomplished motorcyclist always racing with his head. I saw him guest up at Berwick late season and he did well alongside Thomas and both could be resident up in Bandit country in 2016.

Rob said Carlos starts as reserve so Josh has to be the highest average in the team. There must be sufficient reason to believe Ryan will be ok. I think we have elected to go 1-6 in strength rather than an out n out No1 Anders Mellgren has unfinishd business with us; and can be a 7-8 point rider. Whilst Zdnecks inclusion means we take something from this season and put it into next. He definitely could be a success in this league in 2016. Good machinery and commitment. Theres a lot of points in a team of: Auty;Holoub;Douglas;:Davies; Mellgren; Wilko and NL rider. I would not go for Perry by the way; he was nowhere when he came in for Matty last year.

Agree AJ; if he has to comeback via the State route (and believe me I don't think he should have to) but; if he has to; then he surely comes back on a 7.00pt average. As SCB points out; he did not make 7.00 in his official meetings and so that's why he might have to qualify for a Visa. But that does not make it right; its saying that despite serious injury wrecking his season; and ability to reach the required level, he returns as a "better and higher averaged rider"; as he has to be rated 7.00 in 2016; if we are saying he needs a new Visa. Riders who have suffered serious injury; would usually have downward adjustments to averages surely ? You cannot miss nigh on a whole season and be a better rider for it.

Swap you Mellgren for Simota; and we're talking assuming Holoub is out the equation mind. I like Bellego he flys round Scunny. Another point here; if Ryan has to qualify through the State Championship to get a Visa; presumably that's because he has to have a 7.00pt average to get back. Assuming he qualifies through top 4 in his State Champ; what average does he actually come in on in 2016? He is 6.68CMA in the final reckoning which is why he needs a Visa anyway and therefore must come back as 7.00pt rider. Or am I missing something ?; So Ryan's average actually inflates and... he's coming back from serious injury !. Ludicrous.

Ryan; How could he get 20 meetings in; when he was brought off by his team mate at Scunny and suffered a back injury and then broke his leg at Sheffield ? He's got to get fit to make the State Championships in the New Year; when he will not be at full fitness and could miss the cut because of it. That's just plain daft; the lad should have dispensation to return without qualifying through the State route; on the grounds he never had the opportunity to get his 7.00CMA which he would have but for all his rotten luck. We got to argue his case at very least.

What ?; including Bradley Wilson-Dean... anyone who cops for him; as a 3ptr virtually nailed on to be challenging.

I was thinking we were under 6 but your right assuming we have Zedi = Josh 8.00; Zedi 7.00; Alex 6.26; Carlos 5.33; Ryan 6.68; ANO 3.00 = 36.27 = 6.23. Assuming these are final CMA's. So those on your list would fit; assuming the final CMA's are correct. I reckon Zedi would be good for his average; we spoke to him and Tomas Topinka's mechanic who was with him on Friday. He wants to rider Premier League in 2016; and putting two and two together; his being there on Friday might be a give away. He was riding in the Czech Republic on Sunday so to turn up at Scunny's end of season bash shows admirable commitment from the lad. Rob; also referenced Lynn supremo Buster Chapman; so had me thinking that perhaps there had been contact with Kings Lynn; to whom Zedi is connected. I tell you; add Mellgren to that team for example; and its a fairly strong team team; particularly if our NL rider was Adam Ellis ? Someone said that Ryan might have to qualify for a Visa through a top 4 place in a State Championship !. For gods sake the lads battered from here to kingdom come; hardly rides at all and then gets told he has qualify for a Visa. Ryan surely is a special case how the blazes is he supposed to get his proper average if he is out injured. Some common sense please.

What the hell; bamboozled totally; are you ?

The fact that no one on here can fathom it; tells you all you need to know. And don't ask me because I am clueless on who's eligible and who is not. I reckon they are as well. If this is all we have to talk about post AGM; we are in big trouble. Seems this 3pt rider is the only thing that's come of this AGM and it actually waters down the racing quality in my view. If the likes of Adam Ellis is a 3pt rider; then who ever gets him will win the league; because he's that much ahead of his contemporaries in the NL. What about Bradley Wilson-Dean ? what is his PL average; suppose they will tell you he's a 7pt rider. Crackers; when all we want to see is the best riders on track. I don't give a monkeys if another track has seven 10pt riders and Scunny have two 8's and five 6's I just want to see the best racing. Averages are anti-speedway.

Have to agree with Broadsiders suggestion of a window before which you can only change your team due to injury or unforseen circumstance. 1st June would be fair enough. I agree on Nike Lunna not likely to figure from the off. Hes a talent; and one we nutured through a tough 2015 campaign.If he ended up loaned out someone will profit on a 4.5 average! I included MPT in my 1-7; but Leigh Lanham would be a good call on 5.71. Bags of know how on all tracks; capable of posting double figure scores. The draft rider; finishing third bottom we presumably get an early pick. Cannot see Adam Ellis coming our way; but if we brought back our own find; MattyO we would be getting a rider in great NL form and ready to step up to PL. Could see some decent scores for him from reserve. Expect him to be one of the picks in an NL rider draft.

Yes brilliant news last night but you might not miss as many as you think. From what I deduced we are racing every other Sunday at the EWR. I guess that the fixtures are going to run more like football; Home one week and Away in the next. So Premier fixtures staged over 3 days end of week; Elite fixtures 3 days front of week So we may be home Sunday and following week away to Sheffield then back home week after. Its sense really and potentially eases clashes for double up riders like Josh. Also I think they will incentivise away travel with concessions on gate. On the team front No Tommy Gun alas looks like money. No hard feelings rightly Thomas sees himself No1 as he achieved at Berwick; and it may not fit in our 2016 plans. Still our go to rider though if we need a guest. So we wish him well all amicable. For us; Wilko is comfirmed at reserve! and a draft rider so this is my 1-7 Josh 8.00 Ryan 6.68 Alex 6.26 Carl 5.33 Matt 3.00 MPT 5.86 Zedi 7.00 Tot 42.13. Merry Christmas

Just to say I was one of 47 Guiseley FC fans who went Wrexham last night. If you bought your ticket online and picked it up at the club shop away fans got £3 concession on the gate. Paid for me programme. Speedway could do this.

AGM; we always go into to it hoping for something to improve things and help speedway forward. Invariably the outcome is disappointing as we see it as fans and promoters see it first and foremost as a business. Without knowing all the financials and the many in's and out's; for example the availability of riders to man teams then its like sending your letter to Santa as kid hoping against hope for Action Man and ending up with his cheaper stable mate Tommy Gun - excuse the pun. But here's some of the things I would ask Santa for (Rob you do the big jolly fella with the beard) 1. Speedway at Scunthorpe in 2016 would be a start for me. 2. Merge the Leagues; the Elite masquerades as an Elite competition when it is really a rerun of the Premier. 3. Split the League geographically North/West and South/East Conferences - reduces travel and costs for everyone. 4. Launch British Speedway 2016 at the New Belle Vue; all teams represented. 5. 7 Rider teams with 9 man squads; including a Marquee Rider and 2 British Juniors at 8&9 for all teams. 6. The Marquee Rider; centrally contracted with the BSPA and allocated as the No1 and promotions/poster rider at the club. 7. Scrap Averages and Grade riders so that we are not splitting hairs over 0.01pt to include a rider. Get riders out there ! 8 20 Heat meetings may include 15 Heat Team match + 5 Heat 2nd Half or 20 Heat Individual Meeting or 3 team/4 team event. 8. Consider opening the season with 3 teams in a meeting; call it the Spring Cup; local opposition; more fans attending at tracks. 9. Give concessions on the gate to fans who travel to away meetings. 10. Bring back the Golden Helmet match race for No1 riders. Holder defends at next meeting and so on. 11. Each track to stage an Individual Championship Meeting. 12. Regionalised League (as in 3.) but National Knock Out Cup Competition all teams in the hat; two legs. 13. Keep Play-Offs; top 4 from each Conference into Play-Off Qtr-Final; Semi-Final-Final. Grand Finale at Belle Vue. 14. Concrete start grids; so no gardening and no advantage off any gate. 15. All meetings to be filmed; officially to allow for racing incidents to be viewed again if necessary; fairly and consistently. 16. Take all the annoying anomalies out of the rule book; too many to list here. But make it simple; less red tape more racing. 17. As in the Grand Prix add the Helmet Colour to the back of the team race jacket. 18. Team race suits to be mandatory to present a uniform image at each club. 19. Sharpen up centre green presentations (not a problem at the EWR by the way); but make the presentation more professional. 20. Keep meetings moving where ever possible; think along the lines of the GP's; successive race be ready to roll. 21. GUESTS! of course; this is the one. If we merge the Leagues we can tidy up the guesting farce. With two Regional Conferences; a rider in the N/W can only guest in the S/E. Simple and very effective. That's just twenty one! off top of my head; sure there is much more. But realistically I am not holding my breath on anything radical.

Not prepared to criticise Theo who has been darned superb for us this season. Sorry he will not be there to take the applause that he so richly deserves for his unstinting efforts on the track for Scunthorpe. All the best Theo and thanks.

Not the best way to go out if we do with two Sheff riders and R/R. Would have been nice to have said so long and thanks to a full team of Scorpions. Will leave with a heavy heart and some reluctance to once again becoming a supporter of a defuncted track. Hoping that something can be worked out to keep the fantastic EWR open next season.

You might have a problem with Tommy Gun. If we run; he's coming back to Scunthorpe but good luck with keeping the Bandidos alive in 2016. My recent visit highlighted to me that Speedways Border outpost is not enjoying the best of times. But for speedway with an old school feel about it; I think it is hard to beat. All the best to the Bandits.