thebaron

Great interview with BWD on Speedway Memories with Lee Ashby. All Lee's shows are really interesting and this was no exception. BWD gave gave us great insight into his thinking, motivation and commitment. Not just to his own career but his hopes to help other NZ racers make the step up to UK racing. What a together guy Brad is and would be just the answer for us trying to plug the gapping hole thats Jakes absence.? He is on his way to the UK arriving 26/4 so he intends racing here for somebody at some point ? Think initially his focus is on the GP Qualifier at Glasgow on 29/5 thereafter he must be aiming for a team slot ! Playing devils advocate what say we run rider replacement to see May out run down the averages (its likely to happen naturally) then bring in BWD in June ? That might just be the solution and we get a 110% committed racer and No1.

On Monday night Lee Ashby who has been doing a great series of Lockdown interviews with Speedway greats including Darcy Ward; Bruce Penhall; Greg Hancock, Chris Holder, Joe Screen et al. Will be chatting to New Zealands Bradley Wilson Dean !. Might be interesting what he has to say about doing the UK season in 2021 ? With options now almost down to zero if he does say he is making the trip then his destination might well be the EWR ? Tune in on Lee's You Tube Channel to find out ?

Birmingham have just added Erik Riss to their line up. Riss & Harris two No1s ! add Brummies to the list of teams we are going to struggle to contain this season unless Rob pulls a rabbit out a hat ?

Theres a bit more "commitment" on both sides if its either JMac or ZK. Both need to upsticks and come to the UK and they are here for the duration. Not saying that CM would not have the commitment but the club have more invested in an Aussie coming over than filling the slot with an available Brit ? With the latter knowing our form for "changing riders" I reckon CM would not get the time that JMac or ZK would. Harsh but true. That said we flew Jedd List half way round the world only to bin him after a couple of matches ! ?. This season being truncated as it is irrespective of how the Scorpions turn out I would like to see us stick with the plan if injuries allow. We arent going to have an out and out No1 and I think we can accept that and just make best of it come what may ?. Its more about just getting through and having regular racing on the card. Rather than getting too down if we get walloped here there and everywhere with this line up. I think the management are 100% behind the Rising Star programme and for us thats Jordan Palin who should be one of "the Stars" of that. It does add more expectation on his young shoulders but we are pinning are hopes on him being our "trump card" from the protected heats and scoring in the "open heats" then the absence of a No1 problem is maybe less of one ? There simply is not a rider out there that would get near to Jake Allens scoring ? Add in the uncertainty around travel and the virus into and out of Europe and it limits us further. It is what it is I'm afraid ? making us bottom two candidates as much as it pains me. All the Homes will be close run and all the Aways will be hidings !. Infact Id go as far as to say we will not pick up a single match point away from home this season looking at how the rest of the teams are set up. Clearly I hope Im wrong because 100% support the club but you cant go to places like Poole, Glasgow. Eastbourne, Edinburgh even Plymouth ! and face off against two No1s when you havent got and out and one No1 in your line up ? Harsh I know but thats the reality.

Certainly would ; I have no idea what average BWD would come in on. But there must be some reduction due to his not riding here since 2018 ? He has gone well at Scunny and would strengthen that line up !

Regards Bridger ? thats not a bad shout ? albeit I thought I read he didnt want a Championship club and was content to ease his way back at Kings Lynn ?. That said with Stars Thurs and Scorps Friday is it too much out of his way to do 4 more rides at Scunny the next night ? Certainly the more rides the better for his comeback. Ok he wont be like for like for Jake but we'd get one of British Speedways once highly rated prospects on around a 6pt average who has the ability to be a top rider in this league ? Might add some further interest to the season watching him make a comeback. ? He would make us that bit stronger on paper its a fact. Auty; Pijper, Tommy, Aarnio Bridger Palin & Lambo.

Your not wrong to flag concern; I agree that team definitely lacks a No1 and even a No2 compared to Poole; Glasgow; Eastbourne; Plymouth even !. But replacing Jake Allen is not going to happen. Whilst Rob is resolute in honouring the 2020 deals with the riders signed then. So unless there is a complete about turn Auty, Tommy & Aarnio are the "top three". I get your concerns but I think 2021 is more about working our way through the season; and "re-learning" what it takes to be promoters; riders, officials and supporters ?. Its not so much about being the best team in the League from the get go. We have one if not the best "Rising Star" in Jordan Palin so much (possibly too much ?) is anticipated of him. If he is winning his protected heats and chipping in points in the open heats then he can be a real plus in this team. Theres a bit of catching up for all the UK based racers. Thats why calling up one of the available Aussies for the one remaining team spot makes sense. They are the ones who have had the most bike time in the last year and can hit the ground running in May. Provided they can travel with certainty of the shortened season happening ?. Zaine Kennedy and Josh MacDonald the latter having missed out at Poole., have both been on the rostrum during the Aussie season. Both are Sheffield Tigers assets and a loan deal for one whilst no way replacing Jake. Gives us a commited rider; who would be here to race exclusively for the season ; know the tracks from 2019 and can potentially improve their average by a couple of points ? Its going to be a season unlike few others and its not going to be clear how things will pan out for clubs and riders. nigh on 18 months out is a fair strech for any speedway rider and most in the Championship are starting from that base. I reckon the Aussies are going to be leading the charge in the Championship not least Ryan Douglas at Leicester. I think we need at least one Aussie in our team; sadly it wont be Jake this season but I'd be confident Zaine Kennedy or Josh MacDonald would do themselves justice in the Scorpions colours this season.

Is that the case; the highest average has to be at No1 ? .For me he seems to perform better at 3 or 5.? Overall though thats going to be one of the concerns for....we wont have a No1 ?or come to that neither a No 1 or 2 compared to say Poole ? Eastbourne ? Plymouth ? least wise not on the Away tracks !?

Having said this guess what ? Dougy smashing the Darcy Ward Individual in Queensland last night ! But guess what ? Josh Pickering 2nd; Zaine Kennedy 3rd Josh McDonald 4th ..these Aussie lads are going to hit the ground running here in May !. Fast looking a no brainer to me either Kennedy or McDonald gets a shot at filling the vacant spot in the Scorpions line up !

Think its looking increasingly likely our three heat leaders are Auty; Tommy Aarnio and we wont get close to covering for Jakes absence ! ? Robs determined to honour the deals he did for 2020. Seems to me we will be gambling on a lower average rider coming up "Crumps" ? So it could be one of the Aussie Tiggers on loan ? Josh McDonald who lost his loan spot at Poole or Zaine Kennedy ? Could mean we line up ? 1.Jorgensen; 2. Lambert 3.Auty 4. Pijper 5. Arnio 6. Palin 7. McDonald (Kennedy) Theres certainly scope for adding to the averages but it will be all about how quickly riders dial back in to some kind of regular racing again ? I reckon if it was one of the Aussie boys they would not be here to hang around at reserve and we could actually come up "Crumps' ! pun excused ? .

Mighty quiet in these parts lately despite the excirment that we might actually have some Speedway this summer. With most 1-7s declared ! Options to cover Jakes absence are really diminished ? We need a 7pt rider all things equal but longer this drags on less likely thats going to happen ? Accepting we are probably not going to rip this league apart in 2021 ? Would there be any harm just saying sod it and get Aussie Zaine Kennedy on loan from the Tiggers ? Ok hes on a 4pt average but he can easy add two points to that ! Knows the tracks; would be based here all season and unlike UK based riders has actually been "turning circles" these past weeks as opposed to UK and EU riders sat around twiddling thumbs for 18 months ! I would be fine with that; ok puts Lambo back up at 2. But reckon it would not be long before ZK was pushing top 5 ! I reckon those teams with 1-2 Aussies have the advantage. Circa Flyin Ryan who looks to me like he will pretty much smash the Championship to bits this season at Leicester. ! Infact hes just the sort of rider we are looking for ! and is our asset ! Come on Management lets sort this out.

Rather than worrying over whos going to win what I reckon most of us are just hugely grateful to get back to the tracks again come what may ? But as you press me on it I cannot see past. 1 Poole 2. Leicester 3. Glasgow 4. Eastbourne 5. Edinburgh 6.Redcar 7. Berwick 8.Birmingham 9. Plymouth 10 Kent 11 Scunthorpe 12 Newcastle Pains me to dump Scunny second bottom but unless we sign a bone fide No1 ? Its going to be close run at the EWR every match and wallopings away. I think Plymouth might suprise a few if Crump & Pedersen get into gear and say Ruuml steps up. Of course it all hinges on who stays fit and finds form ? Another factor is the best part of 18 months enforced "suspension" for the British base riders. Whilst the Aussie based riders ie: Ryan Douglas !, should hit the season running against UK based race rusty racers. Then again the "rising stars" might spring a suprise ? A lot is anticipated from Jordan Palin at Scunny and he could be "the rising star" if too much pressure is not heaped on him ? As, I say its not so much about winning titles because having Speedway back on some sort of regular basis is a win in itself for all of us !

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.