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Maybe he couldn't move the bike and was actually trying to get the refs attention to put the lights on but let's not let facts stop a good witch hunt!

Rule book quotes for a rider missing for injury in no 2-5 then it is r/r so by putting the rider as number 8 allows us to use them for all 4 rides

Hmmm I wonder and especially after Len silver has a pop at scunny using these 3pt riders then a week later puts one we declare in his team!!

Not sure he is anyone elses asset at moment (who knows who is these days the rules seem to change about apperances age league etc) I know he was up here for a training day yesterday at scunny so may have been helping as a guest while up here and on that performance would love to see him fill in the gap our "Full team" has. However like a few other riders I don't think it is likely as believe he is from cornwall so would be a very long distance to travel so may not be able to commit. Although people moan I bet several 3pt riders we have looked at appear in other NL teams during this season and probably quite soon!!

And currently helping out as a guest to help the stags injury situation

They did till 3 injuries in the first meeting!

If he is at newcastle then i assume KL will run R/r at No1 give the rest of the team more rides and not pay the expense of a guest. Although it is only a premier shield meeting so K/O cup meeting might take preference over it.

Might be a bit of a stumbling block which all come from previous disagrements about team building. This obviously had a place to stop teams full of older experieced riders rather than bringing in new younger riders but think in the case of the stags and possibly buxton isnt really relevant as the riders are there for a different role rather than to make a strong team. Rules look a bit dubious anyway and appear to possibly allow more than one depending on interpretation (dont you just love our rules for ambiguity) from the rules interesting wording highlighted From that it seems to say that these rules only count for initial team decleration (which is where i think it might allow it but there is then not a set of rules for redeclaration except for points limit) Then seems to say if an over 30 continue to ride for the same team its fine (assume that means you can bring one in and the other who was 29/30 previous year is wtill with you and now over 30) Also you can have more if they are new (i assume no previous team apperance means for any team at league level not just the team involved) Not getting into the scorpions 2006/7 debate as it was before i started going to watch them but I will say what did the club then do after that did they : a). Step up to the next level more fitting with the fiancial setting they were in (crowdnumbers allow it obvioulsly not riders as they did nearly none left as all sighned for higher level teams dueto the asset rules at teh time) . Spend year in year out doing the same getting the best riders and play big fish little pond Just for for how about this stags team Stefan Nielsen 8.00 Steve Worrall 7.09 Oliver Greenwood 6.89 Max Clegg 6.27 Luke Chessell 4.22 Matt williamson 3.33 Danny Phillips 3.00 Total 38.8 6 out of those 7 started thier league racing at scuthorpe. 4 I believe are scunthorpe assetts (although not sure on some) and all fit the "developing riders" critera that are being used Chances of scunny fielding that team ......................................................nil Why as that would bankrupt rob paying that team what money they will currently being paid.

I presume one spot will be filled with R/R which will allow anyone an extra ride As to the other 2 whether guests are used or long term replacement ?? Whats the guest rule i presume it has to be a 3pt rider even though any rider could come in as a guest and keep us under the points limit!! Looks like its going to be a busy week for Scunny Stag sorting the team out!

2 comments on this It does matter what you pay the riders. If this was the case buxtons lack of riders is solved just pay £40 a point like other teams to fill it in and the watch the crowds flock to watch them and stop the team losing money! It is about comprimise but maybe this will make the rules looked at again. There is a price per point limit that is blatently ignored rising the costs up on riders who should be looking to be Full time PL. this was part of why scunny pulled out before. Maybe there should be a slight lowering of the points limit and to look at a "realistic" price per point limit ( i can see the riders point as well wanting the money for equipment costs but thats a whole different discussion!!) This would then give the bigger teams a choice. Keep the high average rider but then have to bring in more new inexperience riders or ditch the high averages who should be in the PL and have a more even balaced team. This needs to happen at the next level as well though as too much doubling up higher up meaning there still isnt enough places for some to step up to the PL full time On the second point why have "Development Dudley" had to rearrange thier match with Scunny! Due to having too many riders unavailable due to riding other leagues. They have 5 riders doubling/tripling up (and one of the others rode EL last week) Next highest is Coventry with i think 4 and mildenhall 3 Maybe this should be limited as well as this shows that they are not really developing they are just paying for the riders who have developed enough already to be good enough for higher level (either one of the top 20NL riders or already making the step upto the premier league). I think the term developing here is more refered to taking a rider from rookie through which nathan greaves is one example where they have Maybe that should be changed as well the top twenty riders who are in the draft have to be shared out as well. If one thing comes out of this hopefully it will make people higher up discuss the issue as you have one group of clubs driving others to struggle financially and the other end those working to financial constraints "making winning boring!" (time to duck for cover)

Reece Downes has a double fracture of his wrist. Aaron Mogridge has a broken finger and tyler govier has reinjured his wrist/shoulder from a previous crash and was due to get it checked out today (info from Scunthorpe website/riders) From what I gather he can ride a bike and looks very fast but has little experience racing alongside others so was going to ride some MDL/Amateur meetings to get experience before coming in. The stags could probably strengthen tomorrow with a couple of heat leaders but it destroys the point of them and just increases the cost massively. The first few meetings will be the hardest with the jump into racing alongside some riders who have been league racing for years but should quickly pick it up. Yesterday the main area the stags lost out on was the first 30 yards after that they were not far off the pace of much more experienced men

I hope we have 7 otherwise my team picture will look a bit odd like just like the scorpions one if ryan doesnt get here by sunday!!

Asda has it one week then not the next. Roll on the season at least the track shop has it each week!

Thanks for that don't see much of the star in winter due to lack of outlets in Scunthorpe selling them. Second part of my post might be right then turn up to the meeting and see who they are!

Well its thursday next rider anoucement time and the rider is............................................................................................. Nothing!! Must be building up for a big announcement (or maybe plans changing with Marc Owen looking to comeback?) Although I think we should make it more like pre internet age and not name the last 2 and people find out as everyone gets there next sunday!

Been very impressive over the winter at scunny and would have liked him as a stag. he will not let anyone down and will have a few teams chasing him if changes are needed at the lower end

This completly is missing the point of the STAGS. The MDL and NJL have lots of riders riding in them but where do they go from here!!! nowhere as too many teams in the NL are more bothered about splashing the cash on established riders The stags are the next step up giving these riders a chance to progress onto the next level. Lets go through the team 1. Steve jones - no point riding below NL level as he has shown to be high standard at this level ad will be a match for most riders in this league 2. Ryan MacDonald - Spent the last couple of years riding in the NJL as one of the best riders so surely now is the time to be given a chance. Lack of northern NL teams means he is travelling along way to take this chance 3. Reece downs - Old enough to now ride NL and already has the youth 500 under his belt last year finishing just behind Nathan greaves who holds his own in the NL so surely is ready to ride especially at reserve (also clocks the EWR at sub 60 seconds which is heat winning level at NL level) 4. Arron Mogridge - Would cost him a fortune to ride in the MDL or NJL. would probably have jumped at the chance to ride in the SDL.......................oh wait there isnt one (there is the AJL but dont seem to have anywhere near as many meetings as the more northern leagues). Has shown all winter that he can battle with the likes of Oliver greenwood, max clegg, Nathan Greaves so a full spread of NL level riders so again surely good eough well thats 4/7 that should comfortably hold thier own and should have a place at any team in the league but i bet only 1 had multiple offers So that leaves 3 raw rookies 5. Liam Sanderson - Been on a bike less than a year but developing fast. Will also be riding in the NJL ad MDL as the likes of Dany phillips and Max clegg have which is the intermediate stage riding in both. Beat Adam extance in a round of the winter amateur series who is riding for buxton so will not be miles off other riders in the league to start with 6 & 7 the 2 raw rookies. These are probably the only 2 at the start of the season that will be slightly off the pace but again the rate of progression will be quick and likely they will also look for team places in the MDL ad NJL. Its all about meetings and track time for them. So on reflection yes they will likely lose meetings to start with but we are not aiming to win the league but they will be a team determined to improve and give 100% and will be a completely different prospect both at home and late in the season As i said earlier not all teams should go down the STAGS route butmore needs to be done to get these riders into the NL from the NJL otherwise whats the point of the league you just end up with a bunch of riders travelling around racing for free losing money with nowhere to progress to.......so then what happens....................they quit the sport Maybe a draft should be done similar to the EL where you build your top end 5 to a limit then each team has to draft 2 riders from the junior leagues who did not race regularly at NL the season before at reserve Rant over cant wait for 2 weeks to watch them race for first time and hopefully surprise alot of people especially those moaning who probably know nothing about half the riders

Limited yes he only stepped into it at the last meeting. Although he did crash he was in the mix with the rest coming into bend 3 but twice overcooked it probably from being a bit faster and with other riders unlike in the support. Even so he crash out and was to sore to continue but within a couple of days back out on the track practising looking to put things right. A good advantage of scunnys track accessibility and living in the town. If he continues his dedication to practise he will improve rapidly (also seen him down helping wayne at the mini track even when he is not riding so always learning) I don't think all 9 teams should have the exact same structure as the better riders are needed for the lads setting out to benchmark themselves to but I think each team should look to have at least 3 rookies at the lower end so they get a mixture of similar and better riders to race against to help them improve.

Agree with this. He is one off my list. the rate in which he has come on over this year from first getting on a bike is fantastic. Will be an unknown quantity to anyone who has not been to an amateur meeting but shows exactly what the Scunthorpe set up is about to get the talent from the mini track to league racing. Also great to have another scunny lad in the team and will improve greatly through the season and will be helped by racing for Castleford getting him experience away from EWR

Quite correct as he has not been to the amateur meetings! Final 3 could be any of several riders and expect more to be pushing for any spots that come up. I see Castleford have several riders from the amateur meetings which will also help bring some through for the stags. The choice is a hard one as I could name about 10 straight off who are either showing promise now or shown large improvement in a very short time on a bike that would fit with developing a team that next year will do well but more importantly would be ready to move up at a similar rate as Ash, Steve and Richie did. Just a shame we cant have half foreigners or my list would be bigger!!

I think its a good thing. The riders have bikes from racing in the amateurs maybe with less time they will concentrate on the racing and learning rather than as too many setting out seem to do and spend everything on shiny new stuff thinking it will automatically make them fast

And as stated putting him at reserve could help with the scores while the rest of the team get experience. From the times he does around the EWR i hope he will improve massively on his starting average. This is a good sign ad just the sort of rider we need to fill the team with it might be hard work this year but next year should be a different matter.

I heard rob and Mr hoggart enjoyed themselves last year so much they are riding at number 1 and 5

I presume the way it will work poole will either have to sign them from scunny or keep the partnership running to be able to pick a rider as an asset in next years (or future years) draft. Scunny will be doing most the hard work running the team the meetings and training the riders with matt presumably paying some costs to cherry pick the best riders coming through whether straight from the saints or after they have progressed to the scorpions Time for people to guess the riders now. I was speaking to a friend last ight who struggled to think of enough to finish the teams already in the league let alone another team but i recon i could name 2 teams of riders epecially new 3pt riders

Well its official Scunthorpe stags are set to join the NL with a tie in with Poole. This could be an exciting team to watch over the next couple of years and should help continue the heathens stream of riders!! Only joking with that comment but there are some very promising riders I expect to be in the team and could produce some more quality riders although I don't expect many of them to be household names yet.