EC Rides Again

I'd build the team around Auty/Howe/ Douglas. Once again the caveat will be league structure and team building rules. God knows what the AGM will come up with this November.

Scunthorpe only have three of their 1-7 available so the Witches will never have a better chance than this. However, I think that it will be tight and go down to Heat 15. Nervous night for the Rebels fans methinks.

Everything that can go wrong is going wrong at the worst time for Scunny.

This thread must appear on the Forum every 6 months or so. As much as I am an old nostalgic I fear that harking back to the good old days of the 60's and 70's is futile. We live in a world of internet and electronic games, on demand/multi channel TV and multiple participation sports and activities competing for the public's time and money. Add in the economic changes to other speedway heartlands like Poland, where it was previously a Communist state, and the centre of gravity of the professional sport has inevitably shifted overseas. The old model of promoters renting ready made "stadiums" and laying a track within it is just not tenable any more. The lack of freedom to race when it is most profitable to do so is just too much for the sport to overcome. For British speedway to flourish we will have to follow the continental model of sports clubs based in receptive communities. The money just isn't there to do anything else. Somerset and Scunthorpe have shown that it is possible.

Southern Section fixtures: Thursday 25th Sept, Ipswich v Scunthorpe Friday 26th Sept, Scunthorpe v Somerset Wednesday 1st Oct, Somerset v Scunthorpe Thursday 2nd Oct, Ipswich v Somerset Friday 3rd Oct, Scunthorpe v Ipswich Friday 10th Oct, Somerset v Ipswich (Edited with thanks to Lucifer Sam)

I would think that the "southern" section will be more competitive than the "northern", but it's still odds-on for a Somerset v Edinburgh final. Rob Godfrey mentioned that Sky are intending to show at least one, if not both, of the play-off finals.

Cold cash wins out with the promoters with these groups. Can't blame Embra and Zumzet as they're good enough to progress whoever they pick.

Guess he's been gating tonight. Good to see special agent NK getting in some track time at the OTA before a possible Rebels-Scorpions play-off meeting.

Greg's run ends, a real shame.

Last Friday night Rob Godfrey said that Somerset had indicated that they would choose Scunny first. Of course they might change their minds.

Scorpions coming to the boil nicely in time for the play-offs. Rob Godfrey (aka "that bloke on the centre green") mentioned last Friday that Somerset have indicated that they would choose Scunny with first pick - wonder if they may reconsider ? By the way, "Happy Birthday, Ryan".

Naaayyy !

Rob has his own distinctive style, but at least you know what he says is from the horses mouth !

Gutted to have missed this. Sounds like 30 Heats of high quality racing at the EWR yesterday.

Nice to see the Stags giving their opponents a decent match.

Close scoreline but distinctly average racing by the high standards of the EWR. As Rob said the track was as slick as it's been for a long time, not by design, apparently. The Scorps missed Klindt and would have edged all three league points with him in the line-up IMHO.

A real shame that it's two "Select" sides on Friday. The KO Cup fixture on Bank Holiday Monday was a cracker. Half the riders form that one are missing. Odds against me making the trip I'm afraid.

No one could argue with that ! Just gutting for Scunny fans that this team has so many good qualities but just cannot put a performance together away from EWR/Owlerton/EoES !

Good luck to the Scorpions and hope that all riders on both sides stay safe. Weather looks set fair for a change ! Scunny desperate for some away points as unfortunately we can't ride at Sheffield every week.

Can't disagree ! Rob kept apologising for the lack of action, especially as reps of the sponsors were out in numbers. Felt sorry for you and the other Rockets fans present as your team were beaten by the 1st bend in most heats. The Scorpions had a similar night up at Rough Park a few weeks ago, so I think we can all sympathise.

Which fixture ?

I'm not blaming the riders, it's the authorities in Russia and the FIM that should be in the stocks.

Only three Russians turn up ? A real shame that they can't get their act together.

Hope it goes ahead as there should be some good racing. What does the resident weather guru that Rob Godfrey likes to consult say about today ?

I think Zagar could be described as a "lover, not a fighter". I could say what I think Pedersen could be described as , but I don't want to offend anyone on a Sunday afternoon. Glad everyone was fit and well afterwards. This contretemps shouldn't detract from an excellent Grand Prix that was probably the best this year. Congratulations to Tai on back to back GP victories. He's showed that he can do it from the gate or from the back in Prague and Mallila. Plus it was on Freeview so everyone with a TV could see it.