StevePark

Plymouth have dropped Adam Roynon and Roland Benko. In come James Wright and James Shanes. I know little about James Shanes. Will he do the business, or is it too soon for a PL spot?

Adam Roynon now available..... and Roland Benko......

Firstly, sad to see the Brummies close. Secondly, a fanatstic gesture by Coventry. Thirdly, after building a team "that was always going to finish bottom," and still expect the fans to pay their hard earned cash anyway, in this currrent climate, with various, possibly cheaper, alternatives (of which I'm sure there is, in a place like Birmingham) is damn naive, at best.

But still expect the fans just to roll up every meeting??? That's not the fans' fault. It's the fault of whoever put the team together in the first place.

Why did the fans stay away? Honest question.

He appointed himself. Jim McGregor is the Referee's co-ordinator and chooses who referees which meetings (EL, PL, NL, PLRC, EL Championship, EL Pairs, PL Pairs etc., etc.).

If you look at what I put in an earlier post, I don't have a problem, as such, with people getting paid if the paying club can afford it. But (in my opinion) speedway is dying on its backside (has been doing for a while), as is being proved by the unfortunate current plight of the Brummies (and others if rumours are true) and it is all extra outlay the clubs may not need, that's all. If I could do the 'heavy jobs' (raking or putting the sheets down and taking them back up off the greyhound track, for instance) I would. I wouldn't expect to get paid for it though. I work 9-5 5 days a week for that. Again, just my opinion.

How is the sport being staffed by volunteers, turning it into an amateur sport? A few clubs are struggling financially, yet some expect that people should get paid for doing a particular job (presenters, gate-staff etc.)? Some tracks might well be in a position to pay all their staff. Good luck to them. I just happen to believe, getting in for free (saving something like £15), getting a free Programme/Raceday Magazine (saving, depending on the club £1-£2,50), and a free cup of tea/coffee (£2??), should be payment enough and they do it for the love of the sport. Don't forget, without all these volunteers (paid or otherwise), there would be no speedway. Not getting paid, perhaps, might mean the club continues to run.

If the presenter is "pulling people through the gate" there really is something sadly wrong. I thought people went to see the racing. It may help a small degree if you have a decent presenter, to the overall experience, but I would think people aren't going to say "the presenter was rubbish, so I won't be going there again." Just my opinion, of course. At Newcastle, we had so called professionals (two, actually, at different times), who were paid. They were both crap, so you're comment doesn't always follow. We had another professional who did it for free, who was quite good.

Thanks for that....... But I made the comment against "the presenter and gate staff" which is a whole world apart from those who work from early morning to late at night on the track... So, hardly "self-righteous" and, for your information, my health stops me from doing any track work, like raking etc., but, hey-ho, you obviously know me. Not.

If they want paying, then all I can say is they are doing it for the wrong reasons.

Porbably to do with the bandwith, but I'm sure someone will give the ultimate reason.

Meanwhile - back on thread - pleased to see Kyle Newman banging in a Paid Max last night, after his fall on Sunday.

He certainly likes Newcastle. I was talking to him in the pits during the meeting last Sunday and he couldn't explain how his Sheffield average was below that of his BP average! He loves that track at Sheffield too, by the way!

Dodgy track?

Not quite true, although I'm no expert by any means, but, although track prep might have something to do with it, the banking has been dropped slightly and that's why you don't get the same sweeping around the outside of 3 and 4 like you used to.

Yes, but he was in the main body of the team on a 3pt average, the same as any doubling up/down 'Fast Track' rider, which, I guess, was Newcastle's argument?

But, at the end of the day, it's not up to Tony Mole who becomes Promoters. That's up the the BSPA who interview prospective Promoters and decide whether or not they are 'fitting.'

David Bargh and Mark Thorpe?

I don't think we could replace Schrammy with Lambert, without dropping someone else. If you make a multiple swap (i.e 2 or more riders) you then have to build to 42.50. Whearas replacing Schrammy you can bring in a 3.92 (or below) rider. Lambert, as I understand it (if allowed to ride PL & EL) would come in on around an 8.00. Kingy's new real average is going to be over 9 (I think). Anyway, this is supposed to be a Sheffield thread!!!

I think someone has pointed out (on another thread), Robert Lambert is not allowed to Double up/down this season.

Not much different, though.

I'd rather see his team-mate Simon Nielsen. All down to personal choice, of course. Again, it appears we will have to see who it is when we get the Raceday Magazine.

Lewis Kerr rides (I think you've got you're Lewis's mixed up?). Lewis Rose out injured: http://www.newcastlediamonds.co/news/article.asp?id=100286 Article doesn't say who replaces Schrammy, though.

Chris Schramm won't be (I would think).