lucifer sam

Scunny will be alright, simply because the people in charge of the club are so passionate about it. From experience, I've seen what happens when you have promoters who aren't completely committed to their club. We had one or two at Oxford, who treated it as a plaything, until it either starting losing too much money or a bigger club came along, and then they simply tossed Oxford aside. On the other hand, when it comes to the Scorpions, Rob Godfrey is the biggest fan in the place, which is how it should be. Rob wears his heart on his sleeve, and he wants to see Scunthorpe Speedway succeed. There are ups and downs in all sport, and speedway is no different. One moment you're winning, the next everything can all go pear-shaped. Not long afterwards you can be winning again. Even the Premier League championship winning season of last year wasn't without its difficulties at times. You can bet that Rob Godfrey is having sleepless nights, trying to work out how to get back to a winning team. It doesn't help that he's had his hands tied at this current moment, with the rulebook not being applied as it says, but that won't stop him looking for the solution. Scunny won the Premier League last year. Only one team out of 13 can do that. Some teams such as Somerset and Workington, despite having won other silverware, have never won a league title. You can't expect to win the league every year, and there's a very good reason why no club has successfully defended the PL since its inception in '97 ('95 if you include the two amalgamated years).... because under the points limit, it's very hard to do. Every club has ups and downs, and every promoter makes good and bad decisions at times. At Scunny, there's a promoter who won't rest until he's got things right. And don't forget the rest of the package. There's the wonderful racetrack (which I consider to be the best in the country), there's the training track, there's the Amateur Meetings / Saints set-up which has already produced some great young riders, there's a very tidy purpose-built stadium that has gradually been built up from humble beginnings and continues to be improved every season. Scunthorpe Speedway and the Eddie Wright Raceway are one of the real success stories of recent times. Rob will do his upmost to get things right this season in terms of returning to a winning side, but in meantime, let's enjoy the fact that there is a cracking meeting with great racing on display virtually all-the-time at the Eddie Wright Raceway. All the best Rob Peasley

It's a shame that Buzz Burrows isn't still riding for a league team. Not only would he be the oldest rider, but also the most naturally talented rider competing in any league in the world. All the best Parsloes1928nearly

The normally fairly benign M1 turned into a monster tonight, thanks to a festival at Donnington over the weekend. Finally got off the M1 at around 7pm and ran up to the track to see Heat 1 - phew!!! Redcar were deserving winners tonight - they are going to be contenders this year. It was actually a pretty decent meeting, with a lot of good racing, but losing at home is never a nice feeling. There's no doubting Rob Godfrey's passion for the club. I think everyone realises he's doing his upmost to improve our current fortunes, but it's not easy when the BSPA MC are trying to snooker him. It's too early to write off our season yet.... two sucessive home defeats, out of the KOC and League Cup, poor start to the league campaign... that rings a bell somewhere... and look what happened in the final four months of 2012. All the best Rob

I think I'd go for: Woffinden (automatic selection if fit) Barker (raises his game for big meetings; did very well in the World Cup last time around) Worrall (recent 18-point max at KL) Auty (impressed at Cardiff) Not covinced how Cook would go around KL. Also he was given a big ocassion at Cardiff and blew it by two-wheeling around half a lap behind everyone else, while Auty dived in and mixed it and ended up beating Lindback. All the best Rob

With David Howe crashing out last night, the Scorpions will bring in Kevin Doolan as a guest tonight. All the best Rob

Has anyone got the time for Heat 15? Thanks. All the best Rob

Why bother with Harris? That's not going with youth. All the best Rob

That's what I said Neil All the best Rob

Great comeback by Scunny in final few races. 22-38 after Heat 10 to 40-50 final scoreline, despite David Howe crashing out in Heat 9. Scorpions to win 51-39 tomorrow please All the best Rob

That won't be released at the current time. All the best Rob Peasley

Do ups and downs work the other way around in East Scotland? Can only see an easy win for Scotland's No 2 team, despite Two Track returning to Armadale. All the best Rob

Nice interview with Richard in this week's Speedway Star All the best Rob

SCORPIONS UP FOR THE CUP! HENDERSON INSURANCE Scunthorpe Scorpions take a break from Premier League action this week, as they are involved in home and away matches with the Redcar Bears in the quarter-finals of the Knockout Cup. The Scorpions travel to the South Tees Motorpark on Thursday for the first leg, before entertaining the Bears at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday evening (7.30pm) in the second leg. With a new signing blocked by the BSPA Management Committee, the Scorpions will continue to use rider replacement for Dane Thomas Jørgensen, who is currently out of action with a broken shoulder. Promoter Rob Godfrey said: “I’m not happy about what happened regarding the new rider we wanted to bring in. “But we have to turn any anger about the decision into points. I’ll be having a team talk with the riders before the meeting on Thursday. We will come out fighting.” Redcar are in excellent form and currently sit in third place in the Premier League table. Godfrey added: “There’s no doubt that the Bears are tough opponents. Their trump card has been Micky Dyer at reserve; he’s now moved up in the main body of their team so they can no longer give him seven rides. “Nevertheless, the Bears are a strong side, and they now have a Scunthorpe Scorpions’ legend, Carl Wilkinson, at reserve. “But I see no reason why we can’t beat them over the two legs. We need as good a result as possible at Redcar on the Thursday, so that we can complete the job at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday. “Along with the Premier League, the cup is one of the two competitions really worth winning.” The Scorpions won the third-tier Knockout Cup in both 2006 and 2007, but have only reached the semi-finals at Premier League level once before in their history (in 2009). There has been a gap of 18 days since the last Scorpions’ meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway. During that time Josh Auty and David Howe have finished second in the Premier League Pairs at Somerset, Auty scored a point as a reserve in the British Grand Prix at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, and Howe finished a highly creditable sixth in the opening round of the World Longtrack Championship in Finland. Other members of the team have also been making track appearances, such as Ashley Birks who made a trio of guest appearances for the Glasgow Tigers at the weekend, in place of the retired James Wright. Admission Prices for Friday: Adult: £14.00 Student/OAP: £12.00 Child (10 - 16): £5.00 Child (0 - 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult) Family Ticket £33 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-16) Match Programme: £1.00 Expected teams for Thursday and Friday: Henderson Insurance Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Josh Auty, 2. R/R for Thomas Jørgensen (Denmark), 3. Michael Palm Toft (Denmark), 4. Ashley Birks, 5. David Howe, 6. Ryan Douglas (Australia), 7. Lewis Blackbird. Redcar Bears: 1. Ulrich Ostergaard (Denmark), 2. Hugh Skidmore (Australia), 3. Matej Kus (Czech Republic), 4. Micky Dyer (Australia), 5. Aaron Summers (Australia), 6. Max Dilger (Germany), 7. Carl Wilkinson. There is a six-heat Castleford v Belle Vue Midland Development League match in the second half at the Eddie Wright Raceway on Friday: Teams: Castleford: 1. To be confirmed, 2. Kevin Keay, 3. Danny Phillips, 4. Callum Harris. Belle Vue: 1. Max Clegg, 2. Sean Phillips, 3. Matt Williamson, 4. Robert Shuttleworth. Redcar Bears at EWR Ave Ave Best Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Performance Max Dilger PL 3 11 7 2 2.55 3.27 3 + 1 from 4 rides (2010/2012) Micky Dyer PL 2 12 17 2 5.67 6.33 10 + 1 from 7 rides (2012) Matej Kus PL 3 15 27 0 7.20 7.20 17 from 5 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2012)) Ulrich Ostergaard PL 4 17 32 0 7.53 7.53 18 from 6 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2008)) Hugh Skidmore PL 13 60 95 7 6.33 6.80 11 + 1 from 5 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2012)) Aaron Summers PL 10 45 61 3 5.42 5.69 10 + 1 from 6 rides (inc 4 pts T/R 2010)) Carl Wilkinson PL 83 370 677 64 7.32 8.01 16 + 1 from 6 rides (2010) Other Notes Max Dilger 2008 German Under-21 Champion Made his Premier League debut in 2009 for Edinburgh. Micky Dyer First rode in British Speedway in the National League with Dudley in 2010. His excellent form so far this season has seen him move in to the Top 5 of the Redcar side. Matej Kus Has ridden in 4 GPs and 4 Speedway World Cup Events. 2010 Czech Republic Champion. Twice Czech Republic Under-21 Champion (2008 and 2009). 2008 Czech Republic Under-19 Champion. Ulrich Ostergaard Member of Peterborough's Elite League Championship Winning Team in 2006. First rode in British Speedway with Eastbourne in 2003. Hugh Skidmore 2009 New South Wales State Champion. Made his Premier League debut in 2009 for Sheffield. Has rode as a guest rider for Scunthorpe on a number of occasions. Aaron Summers Member of Edinburgh's Premier League Championship and Premier Trophy Winning Teams in 2008. Member of Edinburgh's Premier League Play-Off Winning Teams in 2008 and 2009. Member of Coventry's Elite League Winning Team in 2010. Member of Birmingham's Premier League Four-Team Championship Winning Team in 2010. 2004 Australian Under-16 Champion. Named as a 'doubling-up' rider with Coventry for the 2013 Elite League Season. Carl Wilkinson Former Scunthorpe rider who has scored over 1200 points for the club. Member of Boston's Conference League KO Cup Winning Team in 2000. Member of Peterborough's Conference League Winning Team in 1997. Redcar Bears' 2013 Results 04 April 2013 TTT H L Redcar 37 Newcastle 58 06 April 2013 LC A L Redcar 39 Workington 56 07 April 2013 TTT A L Redcar 36 Newcastle 58 (agg: L:- 73 - 116) 11 April 2013 LC H W Redcar 45 Workington 44 13 April 2013 KOC A W Redcar 46 Berwick 44 18 April 2013 KOC H W Redcar 45 Berwick 44 (agg: W:- 91 - 88) 20 April 2013 PL A L Redcar 37 Leicester 53 25 April 2013 LC H W Redcar 48 Newcastle 42 28 April 2013 PL A L Redcar 42 Glasgow 48 02 May 2013 PL A W Redcar 53 Sheffield 39 03 May 2013 PL H W Redcar 60 Sheffield 35 09 May 2013 PL H W Redcar 36 Rye House 27 12 May 2013 PL A L Redcar 38 Newcastle 55 16 May 2013 PL H W Redcar 51 Plymouth 42 30 May 2013 CH H W Redcar 51 Dudley 42 06 June 2013 PL H W Redcar 49 Somerset 41 07 June 2013 PL A W Redcar 47 Edinburgh 46 08 June 2013 PL A L Redcar 40 Workington 50 Redcar Bears' Results at EWR 30 March 2008 PT D Scunthorpe 45 Redcar 45 06 June 2008 PL L Scunthorpe 52 Redcar 41 19 June 2009 PL L Scunthorpe 49 Redcar 44 31 July 2009 KOC L Scunthorpe 50 Redcar 39 02 October 2009 YS L Scunthorpe 56 Redcar 34 05 April 2010 PT L Scunthorpe 50 Redcar 42 02 May 2010 PL L Scunthorpe 57 Redcar 34 09 September 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 52 Redcar 41 07 October 2011 PL Ph 2 L Scunthorpe 65 Redcar 25 27 April 2012 LC L Scunthorpe 54 Redcar 36 14 September 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 55 Redcar 38 (stats courtesy of John Eyre)

When Sky renew the contract next year, they want to go for weekly Premier League and just the occasional EL meeting at Peterborough or King's Lynn. No need to go to Lakeside, Eastbourne or Belle Vue.... All the best Rob

You're not exactly a half full glass kinda guy, are you Rod/Ron? All the best Rob

This year was very funny. No queue, so I had no choice for the bag to be searched (my attempt to walk past him didn't work), but still waltzed in with my food & drink - they're not very thorough at checking. All the best Rob

I think there should be an index in each issue Seriously, the new look Star is very good. The changes seem to mean even more is crammed into each 48/64 page issue than before. And I like the history pieces that accompany each previews of a BSPA Major event. All the best Rob

Trees, but we're British... if we didn't go, we'd have nothing to complain about and what do we talk about then? All the best Rob

"then the MC will issue a revised MA, based upon actual rides if the Team re-declares." (my bold) But there's a "will" earlier in the sentence. Which suggests if a team does redeclare, a new average does have to be issued for riders still on assessed averages. And as it's "based upon" actual rides, surely that's what the rider has averaged so far. There's lots of IFs, BUTs and MAYBEs in the rulebook, but this one looks fairly unambigious. I can only see one intrepretation. All the best Rob

SCB, thanks. Yes you've read it the same way. I can't see how it can be intrepreted differently, can you? All the best Rob

This rule reads: 17.4.4 A Rider starting the season with an Assessed MA will have a new Established MA upon completing 4 Home and 4 Away fixtures, which becomes effective 7 days after the last qualifying Meeting. Should an Established MA not be achieved in order to be effective from 1st May, then the MC will issue a revised MA, based upon actual rides if the Team re-declares. Say a team is trying to introduce rider C into a team, in place of rider B. Rider A has an assessed average, but has only completed 5 to 7 league matches. From the above, my reading would be that Rider A would get his average from the 5 to 7 meetings he has completed at this point as his new CMA. Is there any other way of reading this? It seems fairly umambigious to me. All the best Rob Peasley

Don't forget NOT to book the hotel on the Friday night - you can't miss the pairs again All the best Rob

It's off according to the BSPA website. Lucky Rebels - you were going to have your asses kicked tonight. All the best Rob

Ben seems to raise his game for these sort of meetings. He performed well last time in the World Cup (two years ago). Might as well give it to the younger riders - the careers of Nicholls and Harris are in decline. Why not give the younger riders a go? - it worked for Denmark. Another rider who should be under consideration this year is Richie Worrall. And give it more one year, and Ashley Birks will be ready as well. Those six (Woffinden, Cook, Barker, Auty, Worrall and Birks) are the future of the British in a couple of years time, so why not use them now. All the best Rob

Tai Woffinden Craig Cook Ben Barker Josh Auty All the best Rob