Bees_Man

Said on radio they over stayed in uk by 6 months!!

Taken from Bees site: COVENTRY are pleased to confirm British Under-19 Champion Stefan Nielsen is signing for the club as a full asset. Nielsen, who races for the City Gearboxes Storm as No.1, joins from Scunthorpe with the deal for team-mate Oliver Greenwood also complete. The agreement reached between promoter Mick Horton and his Scorpions counterpart Rob Godfrey also sees Josh Auty move to the Eddie Wright Raceway on a full transfer. Auty was part of the Buildbase Bees’ title-winning squad in 2010 but found his opportunities limited at Brandon due to the form of other riders, and he then spent two years with Birmingham but this season is racing in the Premier League only at Scunthorpe. Horton said: “These are good deals for the club and I really feel these youngsters are the future. Stefan is getting better and better, and Olly was sensational at Peterborough on Tuesday when he scored a paid maximum. “You can see from the system we have, with the Storm and with Peterborough in the Premier League, through to the Elite League, the progression is there and riders want to come to us, which is fantastic to know.” The Buildbase Bees are next in action at Brandon on Friday with a terrific local derby in prospect against Leicester. Full team news to follow tomorrow.

What's with the hype about Garrity?

Well he rode on after which is a big clue!

Some sour grapes about here lol

Has anyone mentioned havvy ?? No!

What's the crowds like running on Tuesdays?

Taken from CET: Stadium officials remain adamant they will resolve the ongoing track issues A miserable week ended with yet another speedway postponement at Brandon on Friday but stadium officials remain adamant they will resolve the ongoing track issues. Frantic work on the circuit during the week was hoped to have been concluded in time for the Buildbase Bees to face Birmingham on Friday, with heavy rain the previous day putting those efforts in jeopardy. There was natural frustration all round when it became clear that the meeting still could not go ahead, with the postponement being made at 5.20pm, but although that didnt suit everyone it was nothing like the scale of PR disaster of the previous weekend. Stadium head of operations Jeremy Heaver said: Weve worked through torrential rain, a monsoon, the dry, sunny and dusty bits, the frustrating bits and finally on Friday the cancelled bits. Weve been changing the composition of the shale, weve increased the amount of stone because there was too much clay in the track. The clay holds the water which is a good thing in the hot summer but a bad thing at this time of year, so weve been adding stone and shale to the track to get rid of some of the clay, and change the mix and composition so it will drain better. It will be more like the track was when I joined Coventry twelve years ago. We will get that track back, but it takes time its not as simple as people think, just adding a few stones. Weve had four articulated lorry-loads of stone come in, but you cant put it all on in one go. You have to put a very fine layer on, then mix the shale in, and if youre doing that and it rains you have a big problem. There was one little area which caught the rain, and we were trying everything we could all day to squeeze and push it like a sponge to get that last bit of moisture out. We may have achieved it by 7pm but we couldnt take that risk. There were thunderstorms and lightning all around so although it did stay dry I just couldnt guarantee that until 9.30. The postponement means the Bees will not race at Brandon until April 11 when they face Kings Lynn, although there is a National League match against Scunthorpe scheduled for this Friday. With a tough trip to Swindon on Thursday, it means Bees face a far trickier start to the season than an on-paper highly winnable home match against Birmingham. Heaver added: It is very unfortunate because all the staff were looking forward to it. The stadium owner (Sandhu) was looking forward to it, so was Mick (Horton) and naturally he wanted it on. Were one big team here, and although there have been things in the press we are a happy family. We only have one objective here which is to see the best speedway to get that it takes the best track, and that takes time when it gets out of sync in terms of composition. The City Gearboxes Storms National League match at Devon on Saturday also fell victim to the weather, and they now visit Cradley in the Travel Plus Trophy tomorrow.

Why ride on a date that two of the top riders are missing. Short changing the public again

Think Sandhu's name with the bees supporters is now beginning to not shine as bright as it once was. I for one have zero faith that he has any interest in getting us into a new stadium in three years time. In fact I'm more convinced he's trying to see is gone after this season.

Taken from CET: Brandon stadium bosses are confident their major track overhaul will in time result in a racing surface to be envied across Europe. Over 80 tonnes of material have been applied to the circuit in between rain showers this week to completely change the composition, and hopefully eliminate the problems which beset the start of the speedway season last weekend. Weather permitting, the Buildbase Bees launch their Elite League campaign tonight against Birmingham (7.30pm), and the attitude from all concerned has been that the work will be complete in time for that meeting if humanly possible. The changes centre around reducing the clay content with the overall aim of providing a grippier, looser track to produce fast racing on a uniform surface. Track curator Marek Meinert confirmed 56 tonnes of 2mm-6mm granite, along with 28 tonnes of stone-based shale, with zero clay content, have been worked into the surface, which will also assist with drainage and reduce moisture. Meinert said the major changes to composition are designed at re-balancing the circuit and are intended to be a long-term solution rather than a quick fix, with improvements to be seen over the coming weeks ultimately providing perfect conditions for both speedway and stock car racing. The enemy of the work which has taken place is the weather, as the stone and shale is necessarily mixed and packed into an existing surface rather than building a completely new track from scratch. Conditions this week have been showery, and every downpour sets the work back somewhat, but speedway promoter Mick Horton will be kept informed of the progress with a view to running tonight. Should that be the case, the Bees will hope to get off to a flyer against a Birmingham team who were heavily beaten 35-58 at Wolverhampton on Monday but do boast plenty of experience in their ranks. The new race format will be a step into the unknown, but Bees big guns Hans Andersen and Chris Harris will definitely be paired in two races prior to Heat 15, while Andersen teams up with Ryan Fisher in Heats 1 and 10. For the Brummies, Edward Kennett makes his first return to Brandon since leaving at the end of the 2012 campaign, and they have made an astute guest booking at reserve with last years Storm captain Joe Jacobs standing in for the unavailable Paul Starke. Horton said: Were desperate to get the team on track and the stadium are keeping me in touch with how the work is progressing. We do need a bit of luck with the weather, and I know several other matches have been called off this week, but we will update people on Friday. Everyone has been so excited about the new season and we have to put last weekend behind us now, and hopefully get a good win to start off with. BUILDBASE BEES: Hans Andersen, Ryan Fisher, Kenneth Hansen, Kyle Howarth, Chris Harris, Jason Garrity, James Sarjeant. BIRMINGHAM: Danny King, Adam Skornicki, Ben Barker, Daniel Nermark, Edward Kennett, Simon Lambert, Joe Jacobs.

Weather now looks slighty better. Fingers crossed.

Seems to be issues with our future near on every season now. Beginning to lose interest now. Just glad I never bought a season ticket.

Interesting tweet : Nigel Harrhy (@N16ELS) 27/02/2014 23:04 Well i never, it seems that Coventry owner Mr Sandhu, has formed a new company, and just bought the stadium: off himself

Will both teams be at full strength ?

Taken from CET: Coventry Bees promoter Mick Horton has declared “the hard work starts now” following the news that Brandon Stadium is set to cease as a sporting venue in 2016. Horton has committed himself to efforts to secure a new venue in the area for motorsport, sentiments shared by outgoing owner Avtar Sandhu who remains heavily involved in the stock car scene. The immediate closure of the greyhound racing operation, promoted by Harry Findlay, over the weekend sparked speculation that the stadium could be set to close its doors immediately – which would have been disastrous with the new motorsport season only weeks away. Aside from a packed speedway programme of over 30 meetings, car racing takes place under two different promotions, and this year’s schedule includes the Formula 1 World Final in mid-September. But Sandhu, while confirming that the stadium is to be sold, has allayed those concerns and says he also wants to be part of a long-term future elsewhere. Sandhu said: “The Coventry Bees and Brisca F1 stock cars are guaranteed to continue for the next three years regardless as to the ownership of the stadium, and during those three years I will be trying to secure an alternative site for a new stadium in the Coventry area. “All three sports have become something that I enjoy on a personal level and the respective fans have shown me a great deal of respect over the past 12 years. "As such I want to ensure we do everything we can to see these sports continue. I am giving my word that I will do everything I can to ensure we succeed. “In terms of the stadium site itself it will be sold and re-developed - it’s just a question as to when that re-development will take place. “It will not take place for at least three seasons and that gives us time to find alternative sites for development into our new home.” Horton is going into his third year as owner and promoter of Coventry Speedway, and having met Sandhu over the weekend he says the news should not cast a shadow over the new season. Horton said: “Deep down I think everyone knew the stadium was going to be sold eventually, and I’m pleased I managed to extend the lease last year because three years does give us some breathing space. “Sandhu is a man of his word and he guaranteed that we have those three years, so really the hard work for me starts now in terms of finding a new home. “I’m 100 per cent committed to that and in many ways the prospect of taking the club into a new venue excites me, although I know with the history of Brandon it will be heart-breaking to leave. “Three years should be just enough time to make it happen. There are a few options, we want to work on it now and I would also hope with the fan-base we have the local authorities will be supportive. “But I really don’t want everyone to see this as a negative ahead of the new season. We have two very exciting teams this year, the Bees and the Storm, and we’re all looking forward to seeing them in action.”

Good move. So why wasn't that used to begin with?

Pathetic. Nothing changes, the sport is a shambles. Howarth hardly riding at home from the look of things.

From the CET: Coventry have named Chris Harris as their captain for the 2014 Elite League season. The triple British Champion is returning to the Buildbase Bees this year after spending last season on loan to Birmingham, and will take his place in a completely changed team at Brandon. Promoter Mick Horton acted swiftly following their wooden spoon finish of 2013 by re-building the side from scratch, but despite that there were several potential candidates for the skippers role. Harris has led the Bees in four previous campaigns, most memorably in 2010 when they came from nowhere to take the title in an epic finale at Poole. Meanwhile, new No.1 Hans Andersen has twice captained League-winning teams, with Peterborough and Swindon, while Ryan Fisher led the Bees in the closing weeks of the 2011 season after Edward Kennett had been suspended. Harris, though, gets the nod as he goes into a busy year which also includes his return to the Grand Prix series and Horton believes he has the right attitude to succeed. Horton said: Chris asked me if he could be captain, and I asked if he was sure about it or whether he wanted to just concentrate on his own efforts. But he said no he really wants to be captain, he feels hes got something to prove this year and that he has plenty to offer us. Hes really, really keen about this season. Chris knows the score, and he knows what hes got to do with coming back to Coventry. By his own admission, over the last couple of years he hasnt been quite the same rider, a few things have been missing from his game, but he has a point to prove and were looking forward to seeing him doing it. Meanwhile the Christmas Cracker meeting, postponed at Coventry two days before the scheduled December 29 staging, has been switched to Peterborough. The Brandon venue will be unavailable for motorsport before March, so the meeting will take place on February 2 at the home of the Panthers, with whom Horton is a member of a leasehold consortium running the sport at Premier League level. Coventry season ticket holders can, however, gain free entry on the day at the Showground as was the plan for the original meeting. Bees own press and practice day has been set for Friday March 14, with the full fixture list currently being prepared.

No it's just no one wants havelock back!

So what's happening with Morris? Will they all kiss and make up? Still have a little feeling he could end up at Coventry.

Indeed. Thought he'd quit??!

Surely coventry aren't going to pick Sarjeant as first pick - bit of a waste of having first pick if they do!!

100% has to be Garrity!!

Interesting snippet from a Swindon paper: The Advertiser understands four riders, Newman (Poole), Kerr (Kings Lynn), Adam Ellis (Lakeside) and Ashley Morris (Wolverhampton) are protected, meaning their parent clubs have first call on their services - but only in the first round of the draft. Coventry are set to get first pick in round one due to the fact they finished bottom of the league with the Robins going third last behind play-off finalists Birmingham and Poole. The team with the lowest ranked rider at the end of round one will choose first in the second round