thebaron

Jake is very difficult if not impossible to replace. In this league in this season he would have been a 9pt rider imo. I do not see many riders out there that could come in and cover for that ?. Dane Rene Bach is one I have thought could be on the radar. I think he last rode here in 2018 and topped the averages for League Champions Workington. I have always rated the "Bachman", hes just over 7 on his old average so would fit in. He generally goes well round Scunny from recollection. In this league he might well be a rider who can add to his starting average ?. Rides for Polish League 2 side Bydgoszca which I believe would allow him to ride in the British Leagues. So yeah we could be in the "turn on overdrive with the Bachman" You aint seen nothing yet ?

What a start !, Crumpie at the EWR ! It just seems unreal from where we are and have been. No hanging around with the delayed fixtures and I should think not either. Lets have a great Summer of Speedway.

Fixtures out !, we kick off at Berwick Sat 1st May and then its Leicester for the EWR opener in Fri 7th May. Just looking at all the fixtures is making me dizzy ! Right now it looks unreal after all this time; and still not 100% convinced its going to happen as planned. But it is something to look forward to If we can travel Berwick here we come !

Harsh as that seems I fear you might be right?. Scunny minus Jake Allens scoring at Leicester is 20pt defeat at least. While Leicesters EWR specialists Dougie; Morris, Howarth, Procter & Bates might not be far off repeating the dose at Scunny !. There are lots of unknowns about the 2021 season not least if it will start ?. But one real unknown is how riders will return after a year off ?. I reckon the Aussies will steal a march here because they have had the most of limited world wide track time. So we are likely to be starting a bit off the back grid when and if this all gets underway ?

I think a "major rebuild" is out the question. As its clear this season is more about us actually seeing league racing re-open again and "getting through". Robs already nailed his colours to the mast of the 2020 septet minus Jake so I dont see him changing. A lot of emphisis is on Jordan Palins progress and seeing him develop. I really dont think winning the league is our goal this season. Its just having our speedway back. With the team as it stands home matches will be tight run affairs. While away matches will be struggles. We do need another capable rider to make up the team. But as much as we would all like to see a bone fide No1 to come in and cover Jakes absence. I think we should be realistic now and accept thats if the Management are happy to allow the final make up of the team to meander into May we're picking up the left overs. Probably harsh but just the reality of that policy.

Told you ..even if Crumpy & Pedersen are both 40+ at this level surely thats some serious artillary and a real statement of intent by Gladiators ? As they say "Gladiators are you ready" ? YES ! "Scorpions are you ready" eeerrrr am not so sure ?

Bjarne Pedersen to Plymouth and rumour has it Jason Crump is next !. Without question we have to address the loss of our Jake Allen No1 Rider while options are still available ?. Leaving it to April and whats the betting we'll end up running Rider Replacement to fill the void.

I agree we should be looking for a rider as close as we can to Jakes average. But reading Robs comments it doesnt look likely ? He seems committed to the 2020 team in principal and the heat leaders Josh; Tommy and Tero. Trouble is with respect they will not have the "whip hand" with many other top threes ? and thats where meetings will be lost. It also overlooks a years lost track time so no one knows quite how riders will comeback ? Yes I know its the same for everyone else. I do get it though that its a "truncated season" with no one quite knowing how things will play out. We have argubly the best Rising Star in the league in Jordan Palin and maybe we are anticipating him coming up with some good returns ? 2021 really is a "take us as you find us" affair. Theres no real appetite for going out and winning things; its a case of getting through to 2022 and regrouping. For this season (and is by no means just us ) teams seem to be relying on a mix of "older hands"; returnees and the youngsters. It was very similar in 1968 when the old British League Div 2 was born. Would be good to see the likes of BWD and Zaine Kennedy come in if we reshuffled the pack. But I do not see it having read Robs words in The Star this week. I expect they might be more likely to join the new Plymouth Promotion who are already claiming to be in talks with "international riders" and will be looking to make an impression. No matter I reckon we will all be just glad to get back to the EWR and some fairly regular Championship racing. To be honest if it turns out a repeat of "Saints 1972 Season like batterings home and away" I think we'll take it just to see some Speedway wont we ?

Pooles declaration of intent with Schlein, Worrall and King has title written all over it. If meetings come down to Heat15 then they have it covered. Scorpions certainly look underpower by comparison without Jake Allen. No one jumps out that is likely to match his scoring he is after all our No1. I know this season is probably a "take whatevers on offer" affair. We will afterall just be glad to see Speedway without bothering too much about winning anything ? Perhaps our sights will just be set on seeing Jordan Palin develop in the team and then look to 2022 when the club can reset the team to be challenging ?

Berge might be an option had a 4+ ave with Belle Vue in 2019 so whats that = in the Champ ? Looking through the 2019 Averages that formed the basis for the 2020 Line Ups. The nearest rider to Jakes ave is current at Her Majesties pleasure !. So I do think we there need to be two changes to accomodate a rider with a higher ave than Jake ? That means that Pijper's( who I am sure "retired" in 2020 ? ) or Lambert's place could be in doubt ? and a nearer 4pt rider to come in.

With the news that Jake has withdrawn from UK racing in 2021 it seems to me we likely need to make two changes to the proposed line up ? Maybe switching one of the 5pt riders for a 4pt rider and try for Rory Schlien ? or Bradley Wilson-Dean ? who are freed following Somersets withdrawl ? Bottom line is the season IF it gets underway ? Is only ever going be a truncated affair. Likely a June start and Sept finish. So Jakes position is entirely understandable. But the options around his average are limited around UK based riders so we may have consider an 8+ rider to get near Jakes scoring. Not many of those about. BWD even if he rides in the UK might be a good option. That said hes been out a year - but so has everyone else !. For a 4pt rider one Aussie thats prepared to race a "shortened UK season" is Zane Kennedy. With his previous experience at Sheffield he might be a useful option. As much as I dont like going back on agreements with riders from 2020 I think we might have to ? SCUNTHORPE SCORPIONS AVE -2.50% 1 Josh Auty 7.78 7.41 2 0.00 0.00 3 Tero Aarnio 6.85 6.85 4 Thomas Jorgensen 6.47 6.47 5 Theo Pijper 5.49 5.49 6 Simon Lambert 5.28 5.03 7 Jordan Palin 2.00 RSx2* 2.00 Actual Total: 33.87 1 to 6 Total:  31.25 Rising Star 39.00 2.00 Remaining: 7.75 Team Total 33.25   41.00

Eurosport streaming meetings where fans cannot attend ?

Well if someone can come along and put the investment into re-instating a multi-use track for both Stock Cars and Speedway how realistic does it need to be ?. Note the clear intent from StarTrax is for Stock Cars and Speedway so then British Speedway as a collective body is well an truly up rubbish Creek without a paddle. So the track will be there if someone shows a modicum of enterprise for British Speedway ?; but afraid not ? Not sure where you have your information from; but the track as far as I am aware will meet the requirements for Stock Cars and Speedway. That is the whole point of re-opening Odsal !; it does not work unless Rugby, Stock Cars and Speedway are on board. Star Trax may yet decide to operate the Speedway as the promotion, but the preference is for a partner to come on board to run the Speedway. Bradford is very much a realistic option and failure to recognise that does Speedway a great disservice.

That says absolutely nothing to me ?; and just maintains the status quo. The idea that the Premiership with six teams and no real top riders massively underscores the broadcaster in my opinion. Yet I cannot see how the two leagues could have merged given the shortage of riders ?. British Speedway has missed an opportunity to use 2021 to reset and re-invent. Not just ploughing on with the usual format ?. In these circumstances supporters, sponsors, riders would forgive our custodians pretty much anything for the chance to see some Speedway. A real chance to trial things; some might work some not; but we would forgive them. But we will not forgive them for sticking their heads in the sand and thinking that all will suddenly be well in 2022 because all that will have happened is that British Speedway will have marked time for two years.

I realise its "a shot" but in this time of all times; for one of British Speedways all time historic tracks to just drop from the sky seems an almighty opportunity for the sport ?. We will never know; but if the sport was really serious about going anywhere toward reclaiming a foothold in the psyche of its supporters now and in future; Odsal back on the calendar is massive for Speedway. I think they owe it to themselves; the riders, the supporters, the sponsors and the broadcast partners to a least be prepared to make a collective attempt to make Odsal happen for Speedway. Otherwise in all honesty I do not think the sport is going anywhere with its present custodians. It is like an "open goal" and it comes to No9 Speedway an "oh my god he's put it wide" !

Might be a case of Speedway wanting it on the cheap; think StarTrax who are putting in all the ground work might just have a bit of licence to get a fair rate for it. But; the Stox people are all about "working together" to make Odsal happen that includes Rugby and the Speedway and it only works as whole if all three are on board. I would definitely say whoever is "talking" on behalf of Speedway may be missing that point ?

Come on lets try and be positive; it is Covid secure mind; I can assure everyone of that

Obviously we wait with baited breath for what if anything can come from todays AGM ? I am down the avenue of thinking that the Leagues just will not work and should be put on ice for 2021 ?. The Premiership is an issue with just 6 teams; how does that add up to what Eurosport bought the rights for ?. Yet merging the two leagues does not seem practical because of doubling up ? The loss of Somerset and Swindon are further blows to British Speedway and it all is very much driven by the pandemic and how that plays out. There maybe further fall by the wayside before "the season" gets underway ?. To me once we have a roll call of which promotions are definitely committed; it may be helpful not to commit to league racing in 2021 and rather that tracks stage "event meetings". These could be; Individual, Handicap, Best Pairs. Team - 2 team-3-team-4 team, with tracks committing to hold at least two home meetings within the month. This way; supporters (who will be just glad to see Speedway) will get a varied programme, it overcomes the rider shortage that crops up because of the need to staff League teams; whilst affording a fair amount of racing for UK based riders across the multiple tracks. At this stage we have no idea if overseas riders will be able to travel to race in the UK squeezing the rider numbers further. So suspending league racing is not as radical as it may sound. It would not be the first time that League racing was effectively suspended; this of course happened in the War Years and also last season. In respect of the loss of Somerset and Swindon; and needing to support the broadcast partner Eurosport. How about thinking outside the box ? this might seem a real shot but Bradford will be home to a ready made Speedway track in April ! Odsal is being restored even as I type and will open for stock cars April 2. Why not offer Eurosport a "sweetner" of the return of one of Speedways greatest tracks and stage a number of meetings under an "allied banner" to showcase the sport even in these difficult days. All the graft is being done by the excellent Steve Rees and StarTrax Promotions and they are openly inviting a Speedway promoter to come on board. It may not be something one promoter would be able to do on his/her own but as "a collective" this may be a chance to boost the sport in Britain despite difficult days ?. Bradford could stage 3-4 trial events to showcase the track and the sport. In terms of crowds there would be more than enough space to accomodate social distancing and it would just be a real shot in the arm to see a World Class track back on the calendar. Stock Cars are certainly making the most of it; selling out the initial 2000 tickets for the opener on April 2 with hopefully more tickets available if restrictions lift. Indeed Swindon and Somerset may be able to lease out some of their track fixtures and fittings to Odsal for the 2021 campaign ?. I think the start gate at the Oak Tree Arena might still be the one aquired from Odsal !? In summary; I believe that suspending the leagues and find a more nuanced approach to the racing in 2021; plus adding Odsal to the rosta would be a chance to reset and create postives for the Sport; for the committed TV Partner Eurosport and the fans. I commend it to the house.

Tad harsh ?; but this signing was a suprise. TP has been absent from British racing for 12 months; having posted a 6.23 average at Berwick in 2018. So there must be some reduction on that average, as we only had 5.44 to play with ? Sure there was a bit of "miss understanding" with TP at the end of his last stint in 2015. Where he was injured but still rode abroad when he had a commitment at Scunny could be wrong ? My man was Todd Kurtz he had the perfect average and just down the road at Sheffield with no Championship club. Would have made an outstanding signing paired at 2. with Jake Allen. I think we would have been unstoppable. Coupled with that Todd Kurtz would have been there in his own right. Not sure TP completely does that for me ? So TP is probably on a bit of a hiding to nothing replacing Danny and what he brought to the table. Must say notwithinstanding the tragic circmstances it appears a bit like Friends Reunited" at the EWR in 2020 and lets hope it works out as if they have never been apart ?. Clearly the motivating mantra is "doing it for Danny" and we have to hope that it will give us the"bit extra"when we need it. All this said come what may; we must have the strongest reserve in the league in Simon Lambert so we can always throw him in. Ultimately we will end up with a strong rider at reserve which as always the plan.

This is very difficult. How do we start to replace "The Greatest Showman" ? Yet somehow we must. I have one rider and one rider only in mind for this job. He would be there on his terms. He's a great guy, experienced and would carry the burden well. He would leave us with 0.01 to spare.

Jesus Christ ! ?? .have I missed summat ? Danny Ayres not exciting ?? I give up I really do .

Seem to have gone for our own assets. As much as this team should take care of things at the EWR. Not sure theres the level of consistency there to do well away and thats the difference ? One, two or three ? marks to start the season in there as well ? Certainly hope I am wrong ?

So all will be revealed tomorrow with the last 4 Scorpions in 2020 being officially handed their race jackets. Fairly sure that Josh Auty and Danny Ayres will be two of them. I cannot see any "suprise" if we bring back Tero Aarnio with due respect to Tero who would be a points scorer for sure. But the fact that Rob promised "suprise" to me implies a new face. Kyle Howarth would make us strong at home where its crucial we make the EWR a fortress. That leads me to think Stefan will get a recall. However I see he is linked with Poole in 2020 ?. But if Howarth was not to be ? How about US rider Ricky Wells ? not in Edinburghs plans and a big scorer in Championship circles. Always goes well at Scunny and a well prepared and professional racer. His average is lower than KH on 7.05 as well. ? Would be a starting line up of Allen, Auty, Wells, Jorgensen, Ayres, Lambert, Palin that stacks up at 41.06 can we get reduction on any of the averages to bring that in at 41.00 ?