thebaron

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 ?

Just revisting my thoughts here ..got to say if Rob got the chance to sign Kyle Howarth would he ? I think he would ! A real EWR exponent ; giving us a great top four with Jake, Josh and Tommy. With Danny back and Jordan already declared thats 36.00 so 5.00 for the last place. Simon Lambert on 5.16 would push us over the 41.00 limit. Tough on SL who pressed his case at the end of last season with big numbers. However we do have a rider who fits !...Stefan Nielsen who just needs a bit more luck to stay clear of injury. He could defo nurse Jordan at reserve while being every bit as much capable as Lambert at putting in big scores from reserve. Jake Allen, Josh Auty, Kyle Howarth, Tommy Jorgensen, Danny Ayres, Stefan Nielsen & Jordan Palin. Thats a team of contenders !

With a confirmed 41 point limit leaving 6.99 to play with I now cannot see beyond Aarnio ? Thing is he is a Scunny asset and a scorer home and away. I think Robs looking at "track specialists" to hopefully defend the EWR. Then looking for them to gel at least some of the time on their travels. Certainly Tommy and Tero have it in their locker to get big numbers. Bit will depend on fitness ? Tommy and Danny coming back from injury. We need to get condistancy from Jake and better from Josh away from home for sure. Jordan Palin needs some support in his debut season and Simon Lambert gives that. I can see that Stefan Nielsen also offers that. But Lamberts heavy scoring from reserve v Nielsens battle against injury and inconsistancy from that edges it for Lambert. All in all with a 41 point limit a team with Scunthorpe in its DNA on 40.85 should please "the homers" and gurantee more great action at the EWR in 2020. We might not win the league but we can certainly give it our best shot !

Personally would love to see Ryan back hes made great strides in 2019. But I can't see Rob not giving Jordan a more experienced partner at reserve and that would be Simon Lambert for me.? I think we should keep the rest of our powder dry until after the AGM as things may change team build wise ? That said sure the management have their favoured line up already ?

Workington man apparently he can solve Brexit ? But can''t bring Speedway back to town ?come on Comets if you can solve Brexit you can get Speedway back in Worky no bloody problem !

Sorry but I beg to differ on the proposed team ? Last time Tero was in our line up he had a real beef with the track !. He is generally a dark horse in most meetings though ? But not sure Tommy is a forward move ? and I have stated the concern about Auty away from home ? If Danny gets back to where he was ? and Jake comes through to be the No1 he can be thats a bit more encouraging ? Lambert will be a scorer at reserve but will be tough for Jordan Palin. I dont see the that team finding the sort of consistancy -especially away from Scunny to be a play off let alone Championship contenders ? Hope I am wrong obviously.

Where are the "suprises" there ? Tommy and Tero are Scunny riders as far as I am aware. So just more of the same really ?. My team is better with Howarth and we still would have a sizeable margin to bring in a quality rider as well ?. One thing we must realise is that for all Josh Auty is Mr Scunthorpe round the EWR hes not that away from home anywhere near as often as he should be ?. So we need two scorers home and away. To me Howarth and Barker would be good calls. So long as Barker doesnt "pick up" when the Gladiators call him ?

With Sheffield elevated to the Premiership would that allow us to bring in Kyle Howarth ?. A team on the lines of Allen-.7.26, Auty-7.61, Howarth-7.15, Ayres-5.51, Lambert-5.16, Palin-2.00 = 34.69 leaving (assume 42.5 limit) = 7.81 to fill ?. That leaves quite a decent margin to fit in a quality 7th man -Ben Barker ? Although he may be in Plymouth sights for a return now they have stepped up ?. But I do think Howarth who is a Scunthorpe track "specialist" doubling up with us and Sheffield is now a distinct possibility.

But even though the parent club has first choice the rider could say no ?. So in Ryans case if he reverts to us as "an asset" is there now a transfer fee to pass if he wants to join say Leicester ?. You never here of transfer fees these days ?. At Bradford we paid a then world record fee - £35000 for Joe Screen and also large fees for over top riders Tatum; Thorp; Havelock; Smith etc...So fees were once very common. Nowadays which rider belongs to which club goodness knows ? At Scunny we had one rider in the team that is actually a contracted rider - Josh Auty. Who owns Danny Ayres ? Ben Barker ? Ryan Kinsley ? Jake Allen; Simon Lambert ?. We paid out to somebody to use those riders and we probably got fees for our contracted riders. I reckon its time for Speedways equivalent of the "merry go round" to stop let everyone get off and put on the record who owns who ? For me next season I would prefer to watch a Scunthorpe team made up in the main of our assets. The nature of the sport means that loaned riders will be. But to expect fans to buy into a team that sees riders come and go on a whim with no loyalty or need of it ? either way really undermines the commitment of the riders and fans for me. Contrast today with Halifax in the 80s. We regularly pleaded with Eric Boothroyd to make changes to the team that would strengthen it. Even Kenny Carter asked for a transfer at one stage to focus minds. But Eric stuck by his riders and now looking back I like that compared with todays hire and fire culture.

Absolutely no chance of Ryan back at Scunny I am sorry to say. Simply because he has made great strides at Leicester and Wolives this season. He needed to get away and develop as a rider and has benefited enormously from riding with a true speedway professional in Scott Nicholls. So it would be suprising if he was back at the EWR.

Sane ? - He's not getting a start at Man City these days !

Scorpions 2020 ? here's my take on it Auty will unquestionably be the first name on sheet but not for me !. I just cannot see Josh making any further progress with his racing at Scunthorpe. Just look at Ryan Douglas as a classic example; he has developed into a bone fide Premier League rider scoring an 18point maximum recently !. I would contend he would not have achieved all he has this season; grown as a rider without leaving Scunny . As harsh as that sounds ?; and for me Auty needs to do the same to get away from being a one track rider. It is controversial; probably will not go down well but it has to be in his best interests. Regretfully I reckon Jake could be looking elsewhere in 2020. My own opinion is that the two leagues should merge at least in the short term and if so then I would think he will favour a full time switch to Ipswich ? Garrity again; not for me can be thrilling to watch but equally frustrating caught up sometimes in racing situations with lesser riders at the back when he should be dominating heats. Too inconsistent. Steffan Nielsen; probably again needs a change of surroundings; really out of luck injury wise and although as has been said his current average might be attractive it may be best for us all to move on ? Ryan Kinsley has done a great job sticking to his task and coming up with a competent first full year of Championship racing. Really competitive and improving all the time. But I cannot see us bringing in Jordan Palin and keeping Ryan. We will surely need an experienced rider at reserve with JP to support him in the first stages at least ? First name for me would be Danny Ayres without any question the Rider of the Year in the Championship. We appear committed to Palin so that's two. I would definitely have a focused Ben Barker back who has the experience and ability to score well home and away. Something we have always missed. So too Simon Lambert who proved a superb bit of late season business and could be the one to back up Jordan Palin in the reserve berth. I would 1000% ! have Ryan Douglas back but alas he has gone beyond us in the two league structure. In a combined league is may be a possibility ?; but in the present structure I would see it as a potential step backwards to return after such a brilliant season with Leicester. So I think we have to accept it and wish Ryan well as he climbs the ladder. So as it stands for me; we need three riders in the current league set up. But some serious discussions need to take place before rubber stamping a another season like this one ?. Way too many gaps in the fixture list; way too many riders moving around the tracks; no team identity; little variation in the fixture card. Need I go on. i am not going to go into reams about how British Speedway needs fixing - it does ! I have two words for British Speedways power brokers at the next Annual "knees down" - BE BRAVE !.

They think its all over !??...Well errrrr NO ITS NOT !? ....Speedways off then its back on !. Mr Godfrey Sir what are you playing at ?...there am I my programme board and speedway carefully packed away for Christmas and then this ??? Seriously; this is a fantastic bonus and a great line up ! well worth blowing of the gathering Speedway-less winter doldrums for ! Get yourselves along and LAP IT UP !

Are we going to bother replacing Danny Ayres or are we just going with R/R to see the season out ?. Drew Kemp's just got the old "tick tack" at Tiggers might do a decent job at Scunny rest of season ?. Going to be tough v Ryan & the Lions !