thebaron

I thinks its petty to be fair, keeping Dan Thompson sat on the side line, when he could be earning and learning in the Championship. Lets be honest is Dan Thompson a better rider than Zaine Kennedy irrespective of his measily 1pt average advantage. No disrespect but a fit Zaine is a notch up on Dan and would score more points at reserve. So we would not be strengthening by including Dan regardless of the 1pt on paper. The like of Dan Thompson, Max Clegg, Alfie Bowtell are above NDL standard or should be ? , and riding where possible in the Championship. It makes no common sense at all hold back these riders where there's an opportunity for them to race in competitive British Speedway. But of course when did Speedway ever make sense of itself ? Expect us now to try and run the averages down to fit Dan in; which will not be easy given that Jake, Conor and MPT are already on 2022 false averages and will soon exceeding them. Running averages down is a bit of a manipulation to be fair, and if its to happen usually means you have to be prepared to conceed certain scoring situations..

Good to see the team back at the EWR and going through their paces at Practice yesterday. Lovely sunny but chilly early evening. All "the talk" was how we might cover for Zaines absence. Hearing we are employing a 28 day guest reserve facility is a bit of a sticking plaster to it. Yet there alongside new Scorpion Joe Thompson was brother Dan. Such an obvious longer term solution to our problem spot. How utterley ridiculous is it that one of British Speedways "rising stars". The very kind that are the future of our leagues is sat out of the Championship riding third tier National League only. And why ? because he has a 1pt more on his 2022 average more than Zaine. Come on someone use some common sense. Please.

Its a real kick in the teeth is this so late on and very little leeway to bring in anyone that could be expected to do the job Zaine would do. We just seem jinxed to me, always something that upsets the apple cart and has us making up the numbers. Completely mucks up the team, as we will be weaker at reserve. Whole idea was with Zaine at reserve he would be able to get into the 1-5 and then we would still end up with a strong reserve if say Lambo dropped into reserve for a spell. Now having a reserve likely to challenge the 1-5 looks unlikely. I think Rob needs to be entirely honest with himself and us about this. IF Zaine is going to be 100% fit in the next 8 weeks he might be worth waiting for. But if not much as it pains me to say it we need to find a replacement that is up to the job and not just someone to make up the numbers. Seems few options out there with a 4.39 average that could offer what Zaine could do. I rate another Aussie Zain Kelleher who had a stint with Poole & Plymouth in 2021. Very dedicated motorcyclist, I think Plymouth approached him for this season. Might be worth a phone call even at this late stage. Any which way its a real downer and throws a damper on things just when we looked set up good and proper for a real go this season.

Superb to have Dougy back for 2023 he is the No1 at Scunny and arguably the Leagues top rider imo. Given the constraints of the 40pt the Management had done a great job. I had every rider on my sheet 1-7. Theres "improvement" right down the order and looking around rival 1-7s this has to be the most justified I have felt in saying we must be real challengers for top spot !. MPT is a key signing; if he can stay clear of knocks theres an 8pt + rider there. Jakes return likewise. We havent seen the best of Jake since pre 2020. But given a winter back home in Oz plus him securing a Prem place with Leicester. I really think we could be seeing the best of Shakey again. Theres a lot to be optimistic about in the the middle order too. Conor Mountain is one of the up and coming British racers. He comes in on the back of a great 2022 at Leicester & Prem Sheffield. Really unfortunate not to keep his place with Sheffield this season. Hes a bit of an EWR specialist and it will be interesting to see if he can put pressure on MPT-Jake for a heat leader spot. Lambo is Lambo; great clubman and skipper. Hes capable of big returns around Scunny. Ok the away scores may sometimes let him down. But gives nothing less than 100% and a really important part of the team. Zaine; its great to have him back after that shocking crash last season. He was finding good form when that happened and ended his season. From the reports in Oz hes going well and recently ran Dougy close in the Brisbane Open meeting. No pressure; I do expect Zaine to up his average this season and starts as reserve ! Finally Joe Thompson another up and coming British racer. Put in some great scores for Leicester last season. At times he was out scoring twin brother Dan who had looked the one developing the faster. JT knows the right way around Scunny haven ridden countless times at Development, National & Champ levels. He could be a real trump card at reserve. So like I say, we must be up there with a line up like this. If not something will have gone badly wrong. Lets look forward to a great 2023 I honestly think it can be our time. Merry Christmas & Happy NY one and all. Þ

Thats as near as you get to 40pts. Relies on Tofty really upping it to back Ryan. Hes very able to do that. I might take Conor Mountain over Anders Rowe. Thing I notice is that AR can start the season well then dip a bit or even end up released by his club ? Suppose now is the time for him to push on similar to Mountain. Lambos a popular rider committed and Scunny through and through. On his EWR prowess yes, but on his away scores maybe not ? I think neither of us are a million miles off points limit depending.

I had Joe T down in my permutations so pleased with his signing. He did have some good shows round Leicester last season. He knows the way round Scunny , so a 3.00 average leaves room to up it in 2023. I have heard that a former Scunny rider could be back. MPT would be a steal on 6.76 at this level. While Jake is also very handy on 6.30. Ryans is a must to "the business" of Scunthorpe Speedway. Hes an outstanding No1 and close to being the leagues top man. I will not be alone in hoping to see Zaine Kennedy back again. He was just showing good form, then the "big off". Great to watch round Scunny and on 4.27 room for more. I would be tempted to go for Conor Mountain with Leicester going Prem. 4.84 is value and hes another that goes well at the EWR. A developing talent. So Ryan 9.38, Jake 6.30, MPT 6.76, Zaine 4.27, Conor M 4.84, Joe T 3.00 = 34.55. That would leave 7.45 if we are working to a 42 limit ? Thats a decent number to bring in a "biggish hitter" at this level to back Ryan. I do think we have to bring in a rider who can be a big scorer particularly away to support Ryan. Kyle Howarth would be perfect for me but on 8.88 would tip us over a 42 limit. Lets see.

Happy as a little lad opening his Xmas prezzies this morning ! Wow Ryan & Jake coming home ! we cannot ask for better certainly around the EWR then throw in the "Aussie spirit" with Zaine as well and we can look forward to a cracking 2022 season ahead imo. Simon Lambert should have a beeeze of a job as skipper of this team; Aussies always bring it on track and they will bring Tero; Jordan and Ryan II along too. Always think the team have to relate the fans and this one defintely has that factor about it. Thanks to Rob & the Management for delivering ! Excited ? Absolutely am ! Merry Christmas all !

Has Zane Keleher signed for Oxford ? He does seem to "like" a Cheethas tweet. If so your getting a dedicated Aussie racer who can make further strides in the UK in 2022.

I'll just say this ...if we havent made a change by the time the first CMA green sheet averages are out. It will be a blooming miracle !

I dont think streaming of Home meetings would be as popular as streaming Away meetings ? Most of us will make it a date Fridays at the EWR come what may. But a trek down to Plymouth or Poole mid week is a bit more of a commitment. Thats where streaming comes in. I streamed the Away meetimg at Edinburgh last season and it was decent quality as a production. Albeit the racing itself was not the greatest. So if we are offering Scorpions TV in 2022 then take up is likely to be more the Away fans than Scunny fans and vice versa when we are on our travels.

0.16 of a point .keeps us from including Tommy ? Bloody ridiculous whats 0.16 of a point really ? Surely the sport is about entertainment and excitment and in all fairness I would much prefer to watch Tommy Gun flying round Scunny than (and no disrespect) Tero Aarnio. This is where Speedway starts to look silly. 0.16 of a point I ask you ?arrrgh

Redcar naming their 1-7 including Kasper Andersen who I had hoped might be on our radar ?. He really has the potential to add to points to his average in my opinion. Wright- Riss-Kerr-Andersen is as good a top four as any. Leaves me wondering where Thomas Jorgensen will head for if hes not back with us ? A return to Berwick possibly ? Wondering if a returning Josh Auty might make a return to one of his former tracks Birmingham ? But back to us. Thursdays 5th rider is going to tell us much about our aspirations in 2022. We need a rider that not only scores well at home but also away. Consistency is key; Tero Aarnio seems to be rumoured for a return ? If so its hard to see how last season won him a recall ?. A stuttering start when he always seemed to be 2-3 poor scores from the axe. Then the fiasco over him not having a visa that ended his 2021. Dont get me wrong I'm not wholly anti Aarnio but just looking at how things went last season for him it would need to go a lot better this time around if he was to be given such a crucial part in the 2022 team ? I would be hoping for a new face who has potential to improve; Aarnio might have his pluses round Scunny but I dont think theres much room for improvement from him overall. Of course we do not know for sure who we have at the top of the team ? It seems its two from three of Jake Allen - Ryan Douglas or British Champion Adam Ellis. I think we are stronger with Ryan & Jake not least at Scunny where both would out score Adam Ellis who didnt always look entirely at home there last season. As it stands I am pleased with how things are shaping up. In Zaine Kennedy and Jordan Palin we have two riders very capable of upping their averages in 2022. Simon Lambert back as skipper was to be expected and Ryan Kinsley if can pick up on where he was going in his last spell at Scunny can be a handy reserve. I am just left hoping the Management have been able to make the right calls with the top three riders ?.

Hi I've just found my copy of Speedway Promoter on floppy disk. Only problem now no floppy disk drive. Has anyone managed to transfer the floppy disk files to a laptop running Win XP. If so I presume you used a Floppy Disk Reader can anyone recommend a FDR that would do the job. Would be great if I could play Speedway Promoter after all these years. Remember it being about the best Speedway management game then or since. Thanks.

Cant be either it distinctley says "a new signing" like it did last week for Zaine. Its a new rider ?...Kasper Andersen ? or maybe Jason Crump ?

Kasper Andersen was superb round Scunny last season and theres room for him to up his 5.87 average for sure. He can be the third heat leader we need. Whereas Tero has flat lined for me and I dont think he can better his 6.61 average. As I have said he always seems 2-3 poor meeting from the axe. But I do accept hes very capable of putting in a big score. Inconsistent is the word I think. For me Douglas 7.74, Allen 7.72, Lambert 5.98, Andersen 5.87, Palin 5.69, Kennedy 5.00, Kinsley 3.00 = 41 Leaves us one point under but not just Andersen can improve his average. Jordan & Zaine can up their numbers and I reckon both Ryan & Jake can push on with some big returns around the EWR. Certainly this line up would set us up nicely for the 2022 season.

Tell who we could get for that ? JASON CRUMP 6.93 !! Bloody hell Douglas, Allen, Crump, Kennedy, Lambert, Palin, Kinsley ..little Australia. Ok Jasons had a few knocks last season but if we could keep him fit what a "marquee signing" he can still be. If he did one league with us. Wow ! Would Jason Crump score as well as if not better than Tero Aarnio..me thinks he would on balance.

Cant be a rider with a higher average than Jordan Palin 5.69 ? he is going to partner Ryan at reserve and from "abroad" ? So Kasper Andersen on 5.87 much as I rate him would not seem to fit ? I dont think many if any visiting reserves did better than Zaine Kennedy did for Leicester. Hes a proper force around Scunny so my money is on him. Can up his 5.00 average for sure and would be a great signing.

Just seen the tweet by Josh Auty who seems a tad put out hes not in Scunnys plans for 2022. Dont think he need fret British Speedway needs riders of his calibre. A new challenge could just be the boost he needs to reboot his racing career. But back to us ? Ryan Douglas I read wants a mid week track to fit in with his weekend Polish commitments. He already has Prem Wolves - Mon and wants a Champ club ? He might be pushed to get mid week as that would limit him to Poole Oxford Plymouth and I dont see him going that way. Edinburgh might fit the bill for him as he can team up with fellow Aussies Josh Pickering & Sam Masters who are also doing Poland weekends. Got to say if Monarchs land Ryan and have Pickers & Masters thats some top three ! But we'll see. Kinda hope Robs managed to talk Ryan back to Scunny because ihe would be a great top two with Jake Allen. At the moment having pfaffed around with these averages and looking whats already been rumoured on here and gut feeling I am left with Douglas 7.74 or( Ellis 7.66) Allen 7.72 Aarnio 6.61 ? Lambert 5.98, Palin 5.69, Kennedy 5.00, Kinsley 3.00 Total 41.74(41.66) Plenty of room for optimism there as you expect Jordan to push on in 2022 and Kennedy can be a match winner home or away. We would have a strong reserve come what may. Prefer Douglas over Ellis because hes better round Scunny of the two. Aarnio fits points wise in this team; he needs to convince though. Took a few meetings to get going last season ; then it was inconsistent; then the visa issue. Always concerns me he ends up two-three meetings from the axe ! Seems like we have to wait for Santa to know what hes leaving "under the xmas airbag" for us in 2022. But Ive put me list in and hoping for the best.

If thats the team then 4/7 that were in my stab at the line-up are there. Douglas, Allen, Palin & Kennedy. Has anyone any idea what average Jordan Palin is on ? On the Green Sheets just says "fifth rider in the team" ? Does he have an official average for team purposes or does he keep Rising Star Ave from 2021 - but has to ride as the 5th rider (lets say his ave is 5.00+) I can see where Robs going with that team as Palin; Lambert & Kennedy could all interchange partner Kinsley at reserve. But to be fair I think it lacks a real third heat leader if Aarnio is back ? Lets assume Poole have King , Lawson & Steve Worrall . .I would not be confident we would win the big heats ? Even Oxford with Nicholls, Batch and Ellis (rumoured) would have the whip hand. Leicester set the bar for team construct in recent season and hate to say it but with this team Robs probably letting heart rule head again. Tommy Jorgensen would be far better bet than Tero Aarnio home or away. I always think Aarnio is 2-3 bad shows from us making a change ?. Then there was the visa issue last season ?. Great that we would have our own version of "the Turbo Twins" at the top end. Also great if the others can "step up" to back them but I'm thinking that theres too much inconsistency in these riders to make me think we will be pushing for the Championship medals in 2022.

Looks like Josh McDonald has'nt got a callback to Scunny in 2022. Just tweeted hes hoping for something to come up. Shame if so; despite the knocks he stuck at it last season and will be all the better for it next time around. On a 4.00pt ave would have been a useful inclusion. If were serious about making a real fist of it in 2022 we have to make sure we have three top riders plus a fourth capable of stepping up. On the lines of Leicester. For me Adam Ellis, Ryan Douglas & Jake Allen would give us a fantastic top three. Then if we went for Broc Nicol a proven EWR specialist on a 5.50pt ave. Hes capable of backing the top three home & away. It might mean no callback for Lambo this season as his 5.98pt ave seems a tad high. ? In Jordan Palin we have a rider who can really push on in 2022 and certainley capable of heat leader returns round the EWR. I would have no hesitation in bringing in Zaine Kennedy another EWR specialist having been released by Leicester/Sheffield. Fairly sure this all fits within the 42pt limit. Then we might be looking for a upcoming rider at reserve. So Ellis, Douglas, Allen, Nicol Palin, Kennedy & ANO ?. Not bad that if I say so myself.

For gods sake I hope your wrong ? Not this idea again ? Set up for the EWR and absolute no hope away when are we ever going to learn ? We need riders who are consistent home and away !

Hows this sound Douglas ; Allen; Jorgensen; Lambert ; Palin; Kennedy; MacDonald. Proper "Aussie connection" there.

Would be great to see Ryan back but I reckon his eyes are on Poland and another season with Wolves. Not sure that back to Scunny would not be a backward step ?. But if he did then he is coming back as a bone fide No1. Not sure if he is still a Scunny asset but if he is then is it not the time to start making use of our own riders rather than letting someone else have the benefit. It is not guranteed that Jake will be back even ? Despite buying his contract from Somerset ?. Would be brilliant to pair Ryan & Jake together '- "the new Turbo Twins" ? . I would not put it past Rob to bring Josh Auty back ?; its his delayed testimonial next year and he might still think he can get a tune out of him round Scunny ! Not sure of his average which may kibosh the idea if hes still stuck with last seasons starting average ? For me Lambo & Jordan are shoe-ins. So if it was Ryan & Jake; Tommy might be the third heat leader ? Adam Ellis might have got a return but I think hes more likely to show up back at Poole or new boys Oxford with Rosco ? I would have no hesitation picking up Zaine Kennedy following his release by Leicester/ Sheffield. A cracking rider around the EWR and pretty handy at most other places. Then we need a good young rider at the tail end and someone like Kents Dan Gilkes again one who goes well round the EWR. As I say theres ifs and buts about this but if we were lining up; Douglas, Allen, Jorgensen, (Auty) /ANO , Palin Lambert, Kennedy & Gilkes certainly those six names (less Auty for now) should put us in a good place to try to relive our 2012 Title winning success !

Yes an brilliant meeting so echo the sentiments of the previous poster But it arriving home I find I have dropped my Halifax Dukes programme board on the walk out and across to my car parked on Lysaghts Way next to the business on the right. Should anyone by chance have found it would appreciate it if you might hand it in next Friday ? So great win today; Uli great guest and Jordan getting a stunningly sweet 16 ! Great racing throughout topped off with that blanket Ht15 blanket race start to finish.

Nice to see all the Championship teams decked out in their new team kevs for the season. Cannot wait to see the Scunny set next week !