thebaron

Blooming heck ! I think Broadsider has some excellent points in his epistle. Not hard or costly to implement most of it either; aside maybe the race suits. Although on the latter I agree a uniform image is easier to identify with. Not for old speedway sages like yours truly mind but for the newbie helpful for sure. Because most of us on here 'get speedway' we forget that to some one entirely new; they may not see what we see. To us we recognise the Scorpions instantly but to the new guy; do they actually look like a team representing Scunthorpe?. Basically a new supporter will be following the helmet colours. The race jackets cannot easily be made out; especially if mud splattered. I once saw a meeting where each rider had his helmet colour on a 'day glow' arm sleeve that was easy to see from the terraces. Is that a helpful little idea if race suits are too expensive. Again very much looking forward to the new season. Hope everyone else is too.

Absolutely no chance of Rob switching to regular Sunday racing; the track performs differently during the afternoon than it does on an evening. Evening race tracks hold their moisture; so the dirt holds together meaning it stays the right side of the fence to allow the riders to use it to race on. This coming season we have some reet fence scrapers in the team; Howe, Douglas, Auty, Wilko and Lunna, so I suggest Robs stocks up on air bags; as I can see a few going bang! ENTERTAINMENT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE THE ORDER OF THE DAY AT THE EWR IN 2015. Personally as I have already pointed out on this thread and PWT kindly quotes again above; I would rather see close; exciting racing and a tight final score; that's the sort of meeting that will bring you back for more and sticks in the memory. Not the 30 point white washes. I am sticking with my belief that the management have put together an entertaining; affordable and very supportable 1-7. We need to get right behind them; from the off and keep faith with them. There will be some tough nights for sure, but as long as we stay competitive; keep safe and entertain what more can we ask. We want speedway to have a future at Scunthorpe; its a brilliant track and everyone involved deserves our backing and support for making it happen. One things certain we will miss it if its is lost. Lets make sure we never have to look back and long for the days when it was there. Trust me coming from Halifax/Bradford; I know all too well what it is like for speedway to be lost to the area and no hope in hell of it returning to these parts any time soon. So yeah Barncoose lad; .. its dead alright; deceased; gone to meet its maker an ex-speedway to coin "Python phraseology" Hope everyone's having a great Holiday season coz I can't wait for Spring to come around. Come on you Scorps!

I believe Julie Reading's post now answers your question. Regards

Very hard to watch; but as other posters have said humbling and inspiring at the same time. It is a long road back; but look how far he has come; and there's more to come I am sure of that. Absolute credit to the dedication; care and support of medical staff and his family. For me they can send the tractors round all night; at the Testimonial Meeting; it is not about the line up or quality of racing; although I am certain it will be a great night of speedway. No; its about everyone doing there best to be there and giving as much as they can to Ricky's Fund for all he has given to speedway. I suggest if your going through the turnstile "Double Up For Ricky" so if it's £20 in; pay £40 -if you can. If you cannot make it; then as other posters have suggested just pay your admission to the Fund anyway. The Sheffield promotion will I am sure have the best interests of Ricky at the centre of everything. The whole 'Speedway Family' needs to come together on this, and ensure Ricky has all he needs to aid his continued recovery. Stay strong Ricky; maximum respect.

Mods: think thats worth a ban!.. Could it be owt to do with that track you got up in teddy bear land? . Wilkos a racer and he will be happy to be back home on a proper speedway track. From my vantage point the STMP aint a racers track. Total trick track in my opinion.

Reading the Bullets appraisal and others I see folks are getting on board and realising that we can look forward to the new season. Plenty to enthuse over in this line up. Its not all about winning matches out of sight..the quality of racing and excitment has to come into it as well and we have some racers in the team. My hope is that injuries permitting we show some faith in the riders and give them time to come good. Especially Lunna & Perks. Personally I can take a defeat or two if we're competing and good to watch. I feel sure Rob will stick by his selection judgement and give everyone management riders and support the chance to get behind the Scorpions and build up the interest and support at the EWR in 2015. For sure we have a track that will allow everyone to showcase the skill and daring in speedway.

We not going to win the league but we will entertain. Its great to be all conquering but that can be a bit of a bore in itself. Some of the best racing I have seen has not always been from the winning teams. It is important to compete even if you loose and I think we can. It will interesting to see how the team develops. The management will have had an eye on costs and for me given the choice of expensive No1s and Euro hopping riders v a budget conscious team and speedway surviving I take the latter every day. One thing I would like to see barring injuries and complete loss of form: is us sticking with this 1-7 and keeping faith. Again its a pretty much a UK based line up. To me a regular line up is important to supporters getting to know the team and backing them. Someone said they bet that the line up would not look anything like at the end of the season. It may well not; but we set out hoping it will surely?.

I would say hold your horses; can see your point but Davies has always looked a racer to me and prepared to put himself about. Granted he has had a year off; so the jury is bound to be out. Wilko; well we know there will be no shortage of commitment and he will be up for a return 'home' - an entertainer for sure. Perks; well 18points on his first competitive meet around the EWR could not be overlooked; granted he has a bit of learning to do but if he could push his 3pts up to 4+ then he will be doing his job. Lunna's the real gamble here; and around whom; in my opinion the team is crafted. Add those four to our "three Musketeers" - David, Josh and Ryan and its a team I can get enthusiastic for and get behind. Goes without saying we will miss Ash and Tommy; but seems they wanted to try new pastures and we should wish them well. Josh needs a real good season; and his EL Draft at Leicester can be a springboard for this and an 8+ average. While Ryan can push on further and be No1. David's off the back of last seasons return of form and confidence. Rob's made it crystal; how important the management see 2015; in terms of the level of support and cost; so I support their judgement and lets get on with it. Roll on March as far as I am concerned. I reckon we have some entertainers in the team; so throw in the Scunny track and hey presto we have the "main event" and some "bums on seats". Got to get out there now and sell it - Nike Lunna; his name alone is really marketable!. Roll on March; and lets get behind the team.

One sleep to go how about Howe Douglas Auty Lunna Grajconek Palm-Toft Williamson.

Agree totally; why the heck was Matt riding for Cradley, when we had our own NL team? .Meetings at home for the Stags would have built confidence; and allowed him to try things that would have benefited the senior team and his own racing. So that said; for sure I would be happy to see Matty O given the chance to capitalise on all his hard work last season. After all doesn't Matt represent the essence of what Scunny is supposed to be about; ie; developing young British riders. He can step up another level in 2015. and in my opinion is very capable of adding a couple of points to his average. Ellis Perks would be a good alternative; but he has to do some of the learning that Matt has already done; so we may be coming from a lower base with Perks.

Looks like I am but those two are or can be the strongset reserve pair in the league. Having thrown a 5 on Lunna IF he proves a revelation and we had somewhere near the best of Mellgren. That could be as effective a use of the limited points available. I agree seems a bit mad but if Lunna was in the 1-5 we need to be coverimg in reserve not further exposing us with a 3pt rider as well. Surely to God! Bunyan and Lanham are capable of adding to their current modest averages from reserve. But its all conjecture I know. Or am I missing your point and there is some reason they cannot ride together ie: past history?.

Holder?? Robs already ruled that out. While Kindt was told publically by Rob he is too expensive. I reckon we wont have a 3pointer and that Lunna will be reserve on 5 with a more experienced partner. We are told we are bringing back an existing asset. How about Wilko on 5.24 to partner Lunna at reserve. That leaves 6.21 for the remaining rider. Either way I cannot help but rue seeing Tommy Gun and Birko out the door because I don't think we can possibly end up as strong or entertaining. However I gather they did want to leave so we have to move on. It seems to me that the team is being set up around Lunna. For me I would want him to come in at reserve with a seasoned rider with him. A rider like Wilko can do that job well. Others who might also be in mind for that role are Jason Bunyan 4.66 and Leigh Lanham 4 90 either of which may open the door for MPT to return. I might have liked to see Mellgren 6.57 given the chance to show us what we missed out on last season. But any which way I cannot see the 2015 starting 1-7 looking as strong as the 2014 1-7 on paper. Another scenario would be the return of Mellgren; who has the potential to be No1 and we bring in Bunyan and Lanham as the reserves. Lunna does start in the team. Hopefully he fires but if not we have two ultra experienced riders at reserve and Lunna drops in to reserve. So thats Auty Howe Douglas Mellgren Lunna Lanham Bunyan mmmmmm.

point taken.

Just a thought; young Nike might need some help settling in to British Speedway. How about Timo Lahti as chaperone; with Eastbourne standing down from the Elite; sure to be looking for a skid somewhere. 5.45 Elite CMA would that convert to 7.00ish PL?. Reckon Lahti could be a big hitter at PL level and we would still have about 6ish to another in. AND he helps bring on young Nike. As I say just a thought.

All due respect to TA; but sure anticipating a bit more form the LUNNA-tic ! Fun Boy Three - The Lunatics Have Taken Over the asylum http://youtu.be/7aItpjF5vXc

Iron; I agree with what you have said here. I am advocate of the grading system because it cuts through all the "hoop jumping" to find the rider that's going to fit in because of 0.01 of point! - clearly ridiculous. Last years CMA's were skewed and your right; it seems like they haven't actually known what to do bring things into line. That's about it really; as I have said on the Scorps thread when in doubt... B-est S-tick (w'it same) P-lan A-gain.

Not much to get your teeth into from the B-est S-tick (wi't same old) P-lan A-gain Conference. But seeing as thats all we're getting then best get on with it. So roll on March and lets get behind Speedway in 2015 and make most of it. On the Scorps front with 42.50 pts limit ratified; assuming Lunno on 5 + a 3pt rider-Matty O or Perks . Add Howe Douglas and Auty my calculator is saying 13.11 to fiddle around with. Anders Mellgren if? he is on 6.57 and Lewis Blackbird 6 30. That would be half decent. Or go for a top entertainer like Uli Ostergaard 8.00 and a 5pt rider..notice Leigh Lanham is on 4.90 or Jason Bunyan who is on 4.66.

Pick the bones outta that if you can? What it says is "If in doubt do nowt".

I have done a bit of research on Arthur Sissis and he is a 'cross over' MX/Moto3 rider who was an Aussie U16 Champion on speedway and runner up to Brady Kurtz in 2010 in a title meeting. Rides for Red Bull Moto3 team so not sure why he would be returning to speedway. If and it is a big IF he was Rob's "this rider would be a sensation in any league' then its a massive gamble. So where has this suddenly sprung from; can you expand. For me Mad Max Ruml ticks all the boxes as a rider who can hit the track 'full pelt' and will take em all on what ever league he is in. With Jack Holder ruled out the equation then I am scratching my head to think of a rider who has the potential to make a huge impact from the start. He has to be non EU because Rob wants to find him a permanent UK base, but with Rob's 'fanfare' end of season I am not expecting any old 'Crank Shafft' out the German league that's for sure.

Hold on.. we've been Rum-b-led! it ain't Woohaa .... Max-imum decoy throwing from Rob. It's Mad is speedway it really is.... roll on March.

Hells teeth that's one big call to leave out Birko and Tommy Gun hope Rob knows what he's doing here. Both sure to comeback to haunt us for sure. Two really exciting riders to watch on any track as well; who are going to be hard to replace in the entertainment stakes at the EWR. Sure to be no shortage of takers for either rider. If as the last poster says; it was Mellgren - that's a massive ask; and he is not our rider. Klindt fair enough we know what he can be. At this stage non of us know how the leagues will stack up; but I think there will still be Elite (may be on a designated one night per week) and Premier much as it is now. I can see one less 'fastrack rider' in the Elite in 2015 and riders like Ash, Tommy and Josh going back to doubling up, Ryan also. Maybe that's played a part in this decision (has there been a pre-AGM?- where proposals may have been knocked around) prior to the full AGM next month. Any which way its a big call from Rob; who is usually ultra loyal to his riders.

Big announcement from Rob on 2015 tomorrow in the Telegraph.Like sneaking a look at your Christmas prezzies early!.

I reckon that the overseas rider is Australian hence the need for someone being accommodated over a period without say return to Europe during the week. So who could come in and be expected to make a really big impression in (and I think Rob hinted he would in either league?) - JACK 'Woohaa' HOLDER! bro of ex-World Champ Chris - that's Woohaa!. Comes in on 5.00 assessed so instant big points at reserve and the sort of signing Somerset made in Brady Kurtz this year. Also there would be a link with Poole (which presumably will remain). Scorpions develop Jack 'Woohaa' for a season and Pirates get access to Ryan as double up rider?. Win win. So into a Scorpions 1-7 it would be; HOWE DOUGLAS BIRKS JORGENSEN AUTY HOLDER PERKS/WILLIAMSON A very exciting team to watch. Job done Rob.

Oh while I am on - Uli Ostergaard ...YES PLEASE !

Think EC RA has it there 'God knows what the AGM will come up with. One things for sure they got to come up with summat or Speedways off down a very slippery slope. A few interesting things came up in a chat I had and that was 1. The Elite survives with 8 teams and runs on one designated night in the week - say Wednesday. 2. The Elite adopts the Swedish system; and operates a squad system (say 9 riders); two top liners (one parked on the continent) and there is one Development rider in the squad. Riders like Ash and Josh can double up. 3. Premier as we are but Development riders who drop out the Elite (let say Max Clegg) join PL teams. 4. There is some form of regionalised competition that brings the two divisions together - lets say the Elite teams race the PL teams minus their top line riders to equalise the strengths somewhat. There are four little snippets but I could go into more detail. One things for certain - DOING NOTHING AIN'T AN OPTION.