thebaron

If your right I'm even more concerned !?

Steve Worrall & Stefan Nielsen

I suspect the two names will leave us just under three points to fill for the 7th man. Jake Allen was a great start to the 2019 team building; but having potentially three riders all quite some distance less able than the top 4 means we will get little on our travels and home meetings will be close run things. 10 out of 15 heats might offer us little more than 3-3 alls. I'm all for giving opportunities to young riders but this looks a real "leap of faith"

"Over the moon" to see Jake Allen back in 2019; once Somerset confirmed their switch to the Championship felt sure he would revert to the Rebs ?. Welcome Jedd List at 17 not one I have heard of. But right now there is a great crop of Aussie talent and I'll go with the recommendation of Jake and Ryan. Great start to our team but we will need to have a proper 2pt scorer alongside Jedd at Reserve. Drew Kemp would be my choice for that job. 38pts doesn't go far but how about this ? Josh Auty 8.36 Jake Allen 7.37 Ryan Douglas 6.12 Stefan Nielsen 5.66 Gino Manzeres 4.00 Jedd List 4.00 Drew Kemp 2.00 Total 37.51 As I say building to 38pts you'll be hard pressed to get better out of. Given that we must have 6pts in the Reserve positions. We only have 16pts across 3 riders as Josh & Jake take up almost 16pts themselves. In Ryan; Stefan & Gino we would have three riders who can up their averages with a clear run at it. Kemp would soon be in he main body of the team leaving one of the three as reserve. As I say given what we have to play with pts wise hard pressed to come up with better. Interesting that both "Jake & Ryan recommended" Jedd be good if both could be on hand to offer their experience in his debut season for the Scorpions. No one knows better about making it at Scunny than Ryan. Would be great to see him back "he's one of our own"

Somerset dropping down to the Championship and he is their rider and he cannot "double up" with two teams in the same League. Just cannot see Rebels giving way to us on a rider who has all it takes to be the top rider in the Championship ?

Agreed Josh is a guaranteed starter. I may not have said that twelve months ago but he's really shown his metal this season. Also isn't 2019 his testimonial year ?. We'll loose Jake as I have said and the deal we did on Garrity was cancelled so he reverts to being a Peterborough rider. I think he won't be back. If we could get Josh; Steve Worrall; and Stefan Nielsen back that would be a good start point. With Ipswich going Premier; Witches starlet Drew Kemp will be on a few wish lists so why not ours ?. Then how about going for a new Aussie rider ? Javon Lydsey is getting a lot of attention and rode in Poland last summer. Reading in the Star that experienced Aussie Justin Sedgeman is heading back to the UK in 2019 he could be one to consider with both Prem/Champ credentials.?

If we managed to bring in Pickers it would be a major suprise. Arguably one of the Championships most progressive riders in 2018; cannot see Edinburgh letting him slip they're grasp ?

With a 38pt limit (bonkers?!) Gino's an absolute "shoe in" surely !? Cannot see much better for that sort of average ?. It looks a varied fixture list but not much change at all really. Remains to be seen if this tinkering round he edges will be any short to medium term shot in the arm for British Speedway ?. Looks like Jakes out the equation now Zummerset are back at this level. I'd start with three names on my team sheet Josh; Stefan and Gino and build from their. If we need a NL rider at 7 let's give Anders Rowe a go !? (pardon the pun !) Then we need three ...A new Aussie rider ?; Stevie Worrall is a possibility ?; Ryan back ?Lets see what Santa brings ?

Anyone seen any white smoke puffing from a chimney in Chepstow yet ?

Do any of the Scorpions management or riders read this stuff Christ I hope not ? Must despair at times. I know its been tougher than tough for Danny Phillips but I'm giving hIm credit for sticking with it. Right now he's not up to Championship standard but I cannot fault his "professionalism" and commitment to his racling. I do think his "sacking" could have been handled better ? thereafter I dont think he posted another point for us ?. That's pretty demoralising working where you feel unwanted. Danny is more than capable at NL level and needs to regroup and go again in 2019. This was always a tough ask after such serious injury in 2017; so he (as all riders do) gets my respect and thanks for his effort's it's unforgiving out there and surely as Speedway people we all understand that or we should ? The team was set up properly at the start to succeed and it would have? but no team can overcome the injuries the Scorpions suffered in 2018. To be fair the only rider not to sustain a season interupping injury was indeed Danny Phillips so he gets my congratulations for sticking with it and in one piece if nothing else. But the injuries pretty much ended our season by June. I'm not going to reiterate them they are well known; and were a massive influence against the teams progress in 2018 and the promotions ambitions on and off track for Scunthorpe Speedway. The team set up as it was should have been a major force in that League and totally capable of running Workington to the wire. As it turned out we did get the chance to deny them a triple crown in the KO Cup Final but after amassing a really workable 18 point buffer in the first leg were given a lesson in the return leg by an irresistible Comet's force ! So that was that in the end. We left Workington saying that this is what we need to be next season! We need to be like the Comets a totally driven machine. They had lost two major riders in Bewley & Proctor yet kept the momentum. Jensen & Campton have been superb and in Nicolai Klindt aside from Tai Woffinden (World No1) for me Nicolai is the British League Speedway Rider of the Year. So we have to strive for that consistency; that standard.There will be dips in form and injuries (Comets had them) but the kept their eye on the prize and just kept keeping on. How we line up in 2019 will depend what comes out of this AGM but I want us to be stepping up to Workington standard ! Not have them stepping down to ours ?!. The points limit should be the total combined averages of the previous seasons Champions and give them the chance to defend it and we to challenge them for it !. Speedway is a "natural leveller" in anycase so we do not need points limits (anti-speedway in my opinion !) curtailing team building. How many times are we left frustrated or riders frustrated by 0.01 of a point forcing some one onto the sidelines ? There are not enough riders anyway !? to have riders who want to race not racing so let's build proper teams and the entertainment ( and mostly it's not so bad now ?) But the entertainment will go up. I have set out my plans for what I want to see in 2019 in another feed on the AGM in Discussions but again; I propose Two Regionalised Conferences North & South (an amalgamation of kind) -this opens the British Speedway 2019 season and the competition runs until June. Home & Away matches. Starting the season with localised matches potentially lowers costs for riders & fans. Also distances are cut for travel and with maybe tickets incentitives for travelling fans can up the atendances ? Also with rain offs at the start of the season distances for travel are reduced. I cannot see removal of riders "doubling up" indeed if you read what Chris Harris says in the Star he woukd pack up without it ! So it's here for now. But I would make it a rule that riders in the Conference North can only double up or guest in the Conference South and vice versa. If only to give the competition credibility !? The Conference leagues are the 'qualifiers" for the "Major Leagues Speedway Series" Top half of N&S Conferences form the Premiership and the bottom half of the N&S form the Championship. That means all teams are racing in the initial weeks of the season to earn their "MLS status". So the Major Leagues get underway in June which should fit in nicely with BT Sport coverage of the British Speedway "top flight" completion. So it should keep them on side with the desire for a "premier product" So what if the Scorpions end up in the Premier League ? Well my reaction is blooming great ! Let's have some ! Its potentially "half a seasons living the dream"! We would either have to add more solidity to the team by recruiting another top rider from a Championship bound club or recruit a higher standard rider from Europe say ?. But this would be potentially for 12-16 weeks and not the usual March-Oct commitment ? I propose an InterLeague Knock Out Cup straight draw for the rounds. Home & Away ties; but with the lower League team staging the Home leg first !. The format needs to be looked at to derive the most competitive meetIngs out of it. If you got this week's Speedway Star you will have read about Super Heat Speedway. This is an idea that splits a meeting into 4 Rounds and involves various "disciplines" from Speedway. Individual races; Pairs Races; Handicap Races. Why not trial Super Heats in the Inter League KO Cup ? I believe we need to increase the number of meetings and make the competitions varied. Each track should have a minimum of one Individual Championship "shoot out" meeting. Across the leagues these could be "qualifiers" for a National Final. Also why not bring back the coverted Golden & Silver Helmet Match Race Series. Have the Bronze Helmet in the National League. Have it "roll over" so as was always the case the holder defends it in his next meeting against the top rider at that track ! I'm not overlooking National League by the way ! -this needs to stay as it is ! Keep doing what it does well arguably at the moment it is the One League that has pretty much got its house in order. If there is scope for the likes of Birmingham or Eastbourne to step up a level then that should be welcomed too. The Premiership and Championship "Major Leagues Series" culminate in Play-offs and Finals. So I started this in defence of Danny Phillips and I stand by that but it's been tough on and off track through 2018 all round. I want to really see something good come from the AGM and I would back my plan against most of the ideas floating around. So let's grasp a moment not to completely tear everything up but to try to make the sport more "joined up" in its thinking and more supporter orientated. The Rules need simplifying when Referees are needing to re-read the Rule Book cover to cover! Before every meeting !. Make things straightforward and stick with decisions that are made. Speedway in its purist form is really really simple. Four riders on bikes riding like "they've nicked em" turning left !! Scorpions 2019 ? ...not sure at all ? My Conference N&S might preclude Steve Worrall as he may revert to Belle Vue (who would be in Conference North with Scunthorpe). But Josh Auty Jake Allen; Stefan Nielsen & Gino Manzeres would be figuring for me. Fingers crossed for Speedway.

Agree "doubling up" is something I can't really overcome. I do like the idea of a early season "regional competition" that forms the "major leagues series" from mid season on ? There's a completion going on for all clubs whether you qualify for the Prem or the Championship. Riders seem to want the "doubling up aspect" and it's something we have to give ground to unfortunately. Unless we can find a way of attracting more riders to the UK from overseas. With the format I suggest "there is change" but manageable change. The regional Conferences starting the season should reduce costs all round. Also if we could bring in "supporter ticket incentives" more fans may travel to local fixtures ? Say Scunny offer £5 off the admission for travelling fans & in return Scunny fans get £5 off when we travel. At the "mid season point" the "major leagues season" "reincentivises" the season for all clubs as the Conferences split to "national competitions" the PL/CL. The transfer window opens and teams then redeclare their line ups. So if Scunny qualify for the PL we would need to consider strengthening maybe at the No1 position? Or just strengthening through the order ?. Ok it sounds fine in principal and do understand there are lots of things I cannot account for here. But I really do think this could work. I don't see a complete amalgamation of the two leagues as there still will be too much self interest. Chris Louis in the Star is open to the idea of Ipswich "moving up" Eastbourne & Birmingham in the NL could elect to step up into "league above" ? So there is an understanding that we really are at "a fork in the road" moment here and all the silly tinkering with helmet colours & starting gate antics has to be put aside in favour of focusing on the fundamental organisation of the Sport. If I was sat in the AGM I would be arguing the case for my plan. It's not a cure all but it could be just the tonic Speedway needs till it finally finds "the cure" ! ?

I'd like to put forward some thoughts I have had about next season's domestic format. Collective Averages are not used to build team strengths in 2019. Instead teams are permitted to build there team strengths to the level of the 2018 Champions. In this case say Poole/Workington are the bench Mark. Split the current Prem/Champ Leagues into two Regional Conferences North & South. The "Conference's " being the curtain raiser for the 2019 season. The "Conference Campaign" runs from March-June. Riders can double up across the Conferences but cannot ride for two teams in the same Section. Teams changes are only allowed to cover injured riders. "The transfer window" opens at end of June (read notes to follow). On conclusion of all Conference fixtures (teams ride once H&A) The top half of Conferences/N&S combine to form the 2019 Premier League and the bottom half of Conferences N&S form the 2019 Championship Riders can continue to double up. The transfer window opens to allow teams to adjust team strength should they wish. Alongside the PL/CL teams contest National KO Cup. This is an inter-league competition straight draw.; two legged ties. Where a Championship team draws a PL team the Championship team is always at Home for the first leg. I am convinced these revised "League formats" give everyone something of what we want both as fans and competitors; without tearing everything up altogether. I believe the season opening with Regional Conferences helps with costs; travel over shorter distances (riders & fans) and loss of meetings to bad weather. Provides a meaningful start to the season as it would determine which League a team enters in June !.Also gives continuity with BT Sport TV coverage of the Premier League which is very important to the Sport going forward. At the end of the PL/CL campaigns keep the Play-Offs as they are now. So in practice Conference N. Scunthorrpe; Sheffield; Belle Vue; Berwick; Glasgow; Edinburgh; Newcastle; Redcar; Workington Conference S Somerset; Poole; Swindon; Rye House; Ipswich; KLynn; Ptrboro; Leicester; Wolves Premier League (result of Conf Placings) Belle Vue; Workington; Glasgow; Sheffield; Somerset; Poole; Wolves; KLynn Champ League Scunthorpe; Berwick; Edinburgh; Newcastle; Redcar; Rye House; Ipswich; Ptrboro; Leicester. As I have said riders can double up across the Conferences/Leagues but cannot ride for two teams in their Conf Section/ League. In June Conference teams will have a window to review their team strength before embarking on the "Major Leagues Series" from July-Oct ie; PL/CL. If say Scunthorpe were in the top half of Conferences N and "promoted" into the Premier League Series they would have the opportunity to recruit a rider/riders to be competitive in that League or indeed elect to build to a budget. This would be for "half a season" June-Oct so making it more affordable (commitments being not for a full season,) to recruit high standard riders. Just thinking this through I do think it workable and brings about some of the changes we all want and Speedway needs; without completely tearing down the bricks we already have in place.

Bow to your superior "local knowkedge" here Big Cat; I was "nobert a lad" at Odsal in those days following my home town team Bradford Northern great days. Gotta say Scunny must have done well in 72 v Crewe Kings to avoid anything less than a 40 point plastering ! Crumpie & Co pretty much "skimmed" the lot of us over in their charge to the League Title as I recall.

I'd love "Matt Phillips" to be doing tons better for us !...but he doesn't ride for us !???? On Friday while I'm on; it was the biggest home defeat I have witnessed in 40+ years of watching "my team" across Bradford/Halifax and now Scunthorpe. At 13 heats there was still hope I might get away with equalling the worst ever ! As the score standing 26-51 actually matched Bradford Barons Home spanking by the all conquering Birmingham Brummies in 1974. Alas it wasn't to be and the 30-59 ensured it made "my record book". Using the old "13 Heat factor" that's near as damn it 24-54 which might have done justice to the "legendary" Scunny Saints 72 ? But I think they went down 19-59 at home to all conquering Crewe Kings at Quibell as I recall. Non the less Friday was up there with the worst of things. To be fair Ipswich had a few EWR exponents in that team plus a fantastic 16 year old in Drew Kemp who's performance had me harking back to PC and Mike Lee as teenage debutants I'm the 70s !. Boy ! coz that's what he is; boy is he a prospect. Lightening off the start; fast and controlled on the bike. Did you see him almost come to grief on turn four ! before putting the back wheel in the fence bringing it down; then getting back upright and carrying on ! That was masterful and demonstrated no little skill on a motorcycle. Then throw in Scotty Nicholls riding like a 16 year old ! Covatti and Heeps always like the EWR and it was evident from the off we were in trouble. You cannot lay the blame at our riders for me they're as brave as they come. You just cannot take all these injuries and construct anything out of a season. It's just not sustainable; Stevie and Stefan shouldn't probably be out there; Stefan the more so. Then we minus our two most consistent performers Josh and Jake. Jason manfully tried to plug the gaps but he's not always finding what he wants out there and for sure Danny has found things very tough although I can't fault him for sticking with it. Gino's promised much but again injury and personal worries have meant we haven't seen the very best of him. But cannot fault him for "hanging in" there battling the set backs. Rob apologised countless times and I accept it; he and the Management tirelessly work to put the show on and sadly they're unstinting efforts haven't paid off on the track. Mostly we see great racing at the EWR; so hey we can forgive the odd stinker ...well I can. When we started out this team should have been right up there challenging and it would have been but for the brutal way Speedway can pay you back ! If at the end of the season we are all still standing; we can reflect; regroup and take a view into 2019. Speedway's future is once again "up in the air" which raises questions about Scunthorpes future I'm sure. The sport at Prem/Champ level just doesn't know what it wants to be ? The Grand Prix and National League are doing their job and to me doing it well. It's the "bit in the middle"; arguably the "very staple" of Speedway in the UK that needs a viable plan to survive and to appeal to paying public. By all accounts Speedway officialdom is already laying out a plan for 2019. Whatever they come up has to address the chaotic nature of things across the two main domestic leagues and just make things work better for promoters; riders and fans because we all want Speedway to be the very best that it can be. It still can be "The Greatest Show On Earth"

To me you make a great point. The Grand Prix shows you the "potential" for Speedway as a "high end" event; well publicised; well organised; well promoted. At the other "end" the National League is working at and succeeding in it's "brief" to develop the "the racers of tomorrow". It is the "bit in the middle" - Premiership & Championship that doesn't know what it should be or can be ?. I watch the Polish League (yes I know the money is in Poland) but how did they "steal" the mantle of the World's major Speedway league from the UK ?. Is it purely down to the World's best riders wanting to race there? I would contend that looking at the terraces in Poland there just is a "bigger appetite" for motorised bike sport than in the UK at this time. Although Motor GP; TT & Superbike are still hugely popular ? But; with the latter three notice these are "big individual events" where there is much interest centred around the bikes as well as the participants. Road bikers relate to the machines used in these events. Speedway does not enjoy that level of interest in the bikes as the bikes are essentially so unconvential to Motorcyclists. There maybe some Speedway riders who may never have used a road bike ? So it is hard to draw support from the "vast well" of interest there is out there for conventional motorcycling. Yet when Speedway began its origins were in "conventional motorcycling". The idea you could take your road bike "strip it back" turn up and race your mates round an oval circuit. Overtime Speedway has become "niche" and the bikes hold little interest to bikers ? Other than their lack of brakes; and the "counter intuitive" idea that you hit the gas into the corner and slide rather than knocking off the throttle and braking ! ? Then it usually gets the motorcyclists attention and respect. Essentially Speedway is akin to the "Wall of Death" at the Fairground. Which brings me right back to its inception ...the great man JH started his Dirt Track Racing essentially as a "sideshow" at the Fairground. Which ironically is where Speedway has ended up as a "sideshow" So accepting the "two ends" of Speedway (GP & NL) are working at what they do best. What do we want from the "bit in the middle"? Do we want or need a "League structure" ? Has the idea of the 7 man Speedway Team reached its end ? Is it more likely that fans will support a more "varied" type of racing programme over a season. If there are "teams" (and let's be clear it is increasingly difficult to staff these consistently) need the team comprise 7 riders ?. I saw something in the Speedway Nations Series that worked- 3 man "teams" and more "teams" in a meeting ?. Is that idea worth exploring ?. A team comprises 3 riders ? But effectively each club has "two teams.!? Let's stop calling Speedway "A Meeting" and instead call it "The Event" this has two parts to it (perhaps like Boxing) "The Main Event" and, "The Undercard" (might want to think if that's best termed ? ) But let's go with it for now. Each club has a Rider Squad from which it forms two teams. One - Premier ..One Championship. "The Main Event" is the Premier Heats. But interspersed with "The Undercard". So there are effectively two outcomes playing out during each Speedway event. So translating this to the current Scunthorpe team (illustrative only !! as riders in 2019 will revert to parent clubs in a "Leagues" merger) Teams should be formulated at the start of the season using a "Rider Control Draft" based system using "gradings" not averages directly (splitting hairs on averages is "anti-speedway; leaves riders sidelined for 0.01pt ? ) Scorpions Premier (Main Event) S Worrall J Auty; J Garrity; Scorpions Champs (Undercard) G Manzeres; S Nielsen; D Phillips I would recommend a 3 or 4 Team Speedway Event. So Scunthorpe would entertain say; the 3 man teams of Sheffield & Belle Vue in the "Event" held over say an 18 Heat Card ..following a hybrid of the Speedway Nations race formulae - teams race in pairs as normal. The heats follow Premier - Champ - Premier - Champ. Consider the potential for "promoting" the top scoring Champ rider into the Main Event ? With the lowest scoring Premier rider dropping into "The Undercard" in the later stages ?. The Event would be the basis for all "Team Speedway" events on the British Fixture List. However "Team Speedway" need not be the "only" type of Event held through the season. Each Club could hold it's own "Grand Prix style" Individual Open Event ..and there could be accumulation of points over the season culminating in a Grand GP Finale at the National Stadium ? There is much to consider but personally the more I think about the above the more I believe in it's basics ? Speedway as a 7 man team concept may well have run it's course but the idea of 2 Speedway Events on the card and 3-4 Teams has potential ? Also bringing in a crowd drawn from the support of the 3-4 Teams on the Event Card. Obviously await someone pointing out short comings; but we are really coming up short with Speedway these days and surely something needs to be done to put a "stake in the ground" defend what we have left of a great sport and try to move it forward in these very "different times" we are in today. Another idea I have is to "revist" the "value" of Cycle Speedway to Motorised Speedway. I contend that the "very idea" of skidding your back wheel on a bike comes naturally to you as kid. Racing your mates on your bicycle is something we have all done having an oval circuit to do that on is the next step. Look how popular "cycling" has become and kids still want to pull wheelie's and tricks on them in the parks. Indeed some outdoor spaces are given over to "Cycle X" at urban and country locations. Many Speedway riders grew up on Cycle Speedway's. Indeed Cycle Speedway is still happening today ! There's a brilliant track and set up in Poole as I recall. Every Speedway track might benefit from having a Cycle Speedway on a bit of spare ground where kids could have a go at emulating the Speedway Riders. It's only nature then to want to strap a motor to it .. and off you go like me Speedway for life ! Thanks for reading.

On the subject of programme contributors ?; having done this myself for a number of years; including once ending up the editor by default; it is an extremely time consuming thing to get involved in. For my part; I was effectively a member of staff; so was allocated a staff pass; I would have willingly paid to go in; but it might have been a bit mean on the management's part not to recognise my considerable efforts at the time. The reality is that it is very likely to be a supporter who will have the depth of detail and interest that it takes to put together a Speedway programme. Very often I found the people running it and taking part are consumed by their day to day involvement to be interested in how many appearances Bent Handlebar made for the club; his race statistics and CMA. But putting that aside; after yet another rider crashing out with very serious injuries (Lewis Kerr at Lynn last night ). Get well soon Lewi ! Plus the Rye House shambles coming this week. I'm calling for an INDEPENDANT ENQUIRY INTO THE SAFETY RECORD OF SPEEDWAY and while we're at it a 2nd INDEPENDANT ENQUIRY TO REVIEW THE OPERATIONS OF SPEEDWAY AND SECURING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR THE SPORT !

Great shout actually isn't it time we actually got to see what Lyager could do over a sustained period. He certainly looked the part in his very short stint here last time ?. I believe we have to restore the team to a 1-7 asap. Yes we can run r/r and book guests but personally I want to see a full team out there of Scunthorpe riders not a "pick n mix" select that really saps the interest out it ! ?

Looks like its season ended for Stefan absolutely gutted for him. We cannot replace such a pivotal rider in the team and further wrecks our season that truly promised so much. The team that wins this title will not be the best team ? It's the team "left standing" at the end of the day !. This incidence of serious injury in Speedway has reached epidemic proportions and personally I would call for an Independent Public Enquiry into the Sports safety record. Not because I'm a pedantic busy body but because I actually care about the sport and the people in it. There is a reason for the injuries suffered (some career ending) and why some riders are choosing to finish with it altogether. Ex Scorpion Matt Williamson immediately springs to mind deciding to quit Edinburgh this week. It's four things basically 1.the tracks 2.the riders 3.the bikes or 4. a mix of all 3 !?. As it is the sport is unsustainable there are simply not enough riders to man the Leagues ? In the meantime we still have a meeting today and some "patching up" to do immediately. A guest and r/r for Stefan seems likely. But with three others carrying knocks I can see Lakeside causing us a few problems ? Looking ahead my immediate thought was to send Ryan an SOS surely to God given our dire need and he being a Scunthorpe Speedway "business asset" we can get the UK Visa folk to see sense. After all they let in through customs unchecked! ?. Or failing that send an SOS to Ellis Perks who was really making strides last season at Redcar but has been left on the sidelines so far this season. We have to do something but in the long run there needs to be a full review into the Sport (I think Moto GP did a similar thing and came out better for it). If it means looking at restricting the bikes in some way to make them more manageable on unpredictable tracks then lets do it !. It certainly can't spoil the spectacle? Much rather that tan have hour long delays while riders are carted off to hospital ! (and no I don't mind standing through it) I just dont' want to have to ! which only means a rider is seriously hurt. Or to end up in the club house "presser" with our team all sat there looking like the A&E queue at Scunthorpe General !

In a meeting with so many positives A fine mild evening fit for Speedway The Scorpions living up to the billing A "good looking crowd Jason Garrity's debut 15pt maximum! A great track surface that Garrity loved ! A 26 point Home win Scorpions Heat winners 14 out 15 races All the Scorpions playing their part. A great after the meeting Q & A session for 20 mins in the Club house that all of the riders bar Stevie & Stefan attended ! Thank you guys. Just one "downer" Stevie Worralls Heat 11 crash that looked nasty chasing Jonas Anderson on the outside going into lap 4; there was just "no give" with Anderson and Stevie ended up pinned up to the air fence and no where to go but right ? ! into the air bag which "blew out alarmingly" as man & machine "went in" at high speed coming to a sudden stop!. It did not look good and there was at least an half hour hold up while they sorted him out in the ambulance on track. We don't know the outcome ? Josh Auty rightly refused to comment when asked about it during Q &As.. But it looked a sickner and may yet prove an immediate blow to both ourselves and Aces if Stevie is now sidelined for a period ? We will have to wait and see where this takes us. Get well soon Stevie who has a big break through season on the domestic; European and World circuits. So lots of positives and we'll take those and the irrepressible Jason Garrity publically promising he and the team were determined "to do the business" for the fans; bodes well indeed. What a character Garrity is. Also Gino seems a real personable club orientated guy keen to do well and get back in to his UK Speedway after two enforced years out. So yes we'll take the positives and go again at Redcar next week. But as good as we are as a 6 minus Stevie; we really must hope that his recovery is full and timely and we are a 7 again just as soon as we can be. Riding a man down already was never a part of the "grand plan" and the sense of "come down" regarding Stevie was like the air coming out of that "exploding air bag!

We've just been overhauling these fixtures; and because of the way it all falls into place (ie; where we will be geographically on certain days) baring a rain off we don't miss a single fixture Home or Away until potentially ? - 23 June Lakeside Away - and we might end up there as well ? !. Cannot remember a Speedway season where we have felt this "motivated" not to miss a single second ! "SCUNNY GRAND TOUR" - gets underway Friday "under the lights" v Redcar ! - blooming 'ummer this is exciting !

Things that occur to me are ? With just over a week to the start of what promises to be an incredibly exciting season for Scunthorpe Scorpions; just wonder if we are going to polish up the presentation during meetings ? Have we some "catchy Twitter strap lines" we can throw out there to "catch the eye" Are we hitting all the local pages of the "Scunthorpe dedicated" Facebook + Twitter groups to advertise the Speedway is on and Scunthorpe & surroundings cannot afford to miss this ! Could we do a "loss leader" for the first meeting; say kids in free ? or a family of 4 in for a reduced price; or a little give away for the kids on the gate; free Easter egg ? Meeting "build up" as spectators arrive - choosing the right "backing tracks" for example: I have "Welcome to the Pleasure Dome" by Frankie Goes to Hollywood whirring around my head as great build up tune. There are others too of course. Close the meeting with a regular "Scunthorpe Theme Tune" can I suggest "Lets Go Round Again" by the Average White Band - great tune yes but also its kinda of what we want people to have in their heads as they walk away ...because we want them to come back again and again. How about photo opportunities pre-meeting ? in front of the pits - say the pits was roped across and fans had the chance to file past and a photo ? How about being able to have your photo with the whole team ? again at an appropriate time ? Pre-meeting presentation; would it be best to revert to the "old school" march on of both teams and officials (weather permitting) and introductions. Get "Barry in the Box" to sort his Ipod out and get some proper tunes on between heats; basically if he plays the 80's its sorted ! Are we having "theme tunes" for each rider this season ? Can we make sure the "Start Marshall" hands the chequered flag to the winning Scorpions rider after every heat - because I reckon we will be winning our fair share of heats ! How about getting some Scorpions flags made up for fans to wave especially on the home straight; that adds to the atmosphere. Rob; will be host with the most no doubt; but to keep things "moving and informative" can we have a roving mike in the pits to get some rider reaction for the crowd where time and events permit - so a "co host" to work with Rob ? Make sure the tannoy system is at the right level so the scores and times are clear between heats !; obviously backed up with our electronic scoreboard. Steve Worrall mentioned a post match 15-20min "presser" by one of the team to answer any questions fans have - understand this happens at Belle Vue. This list has taken me 5 minutes to knock up; and is by no means exhaustive, and I am certain the management will have a lot of this covered. But we really have got a fantastic product this season and its is simply not to be missed. Interested to hear what others think ?; might return to add more when I have minute.

Reading between the lines I can see Danny Phillips getting the No7 spot. He was unlucky last year with injury; Newcastles track review in the Star reports how they expected good things of him but for this. Last week he was back on the bike for the first time at the Isle of Wight and Steve Worrall overlooked him whilst there. I know Robs indicated a sort of "X Factor" "roll up and show us what you can do" competition for the No7. But finding someone who can be pitched straight in at Championship level from a training school is asking a lot. Thats why a rider of Danny Phillips 'experience' and on just over 2.00CMA to me has to be a bit of a "give me". So long as we dont go in expecting loads from him at the start. The way we are set up (Gino Manzeres starts at reserve) should give the 2.00 pointer a bit of breathing space to get on the pace for his programmed heats ?. Agree Danny Phillips is probably the stand out choice.

Just like to say how enjoyable the "Evening with Nigel Pearson & Kelvin Tatum" was last night. Saw them last year in Halifax; but did not disappoint second time around either. Some amusing anecdotes and stories from both of our genial speedway broadcasters. Also Steve Worrall gave us an real insight into his racing and motivation to be the best he can be at his sport. On the evidence we have a real No1 and leader in the Scorpions ranks this season that's a fact !. Lots of enthusiasm from Nigel & Kelvin towards Scunthorpe Speedway; the track and the exciting team that has been assembled for 2018. Well attended and great to be back at the EWR for this sneak "behind the curtain" before its raised properly for the season in 8 weeks time. On this evidence we can't blooming wait !

Not too soon is it to wish all fellow Scorpions; the Management; and Riders across the world a Merry Christmas & A Happy & Prosperous 2018 ! Santa already delivered the presents early ! . Boy have we got a lot to look forward to in 2018; literally as excited about it as I was as kid on Christmas Eve ! Have a good one all ! Wont be long now; less than 100 sleeps ?

DE DE DE DE DE DE DER DE DE.DE DE DE DER ..OH GINO ! Wow we only gone and blown the bloody doors off the thing ! This is off the Richter Scale exciting !