spin king

And still 4 team places to fill.

Found it hard myself to watch. I am not sure how I thought his recover was, but when you see him posting on Facebook you got the feeling that maybe he was making a faster recovery than what he is really. The video certainly brought it home that he still has a massive way to and it is blatantly obvious that his proud family need our help attend the benefit meeting for Ricky. Ricky gave 11 seasons of his career to Sheffield, virtually unheard of these days in any sport he was loyal and passionate and nobody wore the Tigers race jacket with more pride than Ricky, and nobody knew how to get the crowd going more than Ricky. He won the Pairs for Sheffield with Josh Auty, but his defining moment was the PLRC win in 2009, a little know fact the engine that Ricky used for that meeting was tuned by Ricky himself, and the guy made all his own frames, the one thing that you could say about Ricky is he is a very bright and very talented young man. In 2012 he moved over to Berwick and totally won over the Bandits fans, and proved to all the doubters out there that he was just an Owlerton track specialists, but could compete and beat the very best in the Premier League. My message is if you are thinking of attending this meeting, do it. And lets make it a bumper day for this extremely talented young man, who has suffered the misfortune of a serious injury.

Your beginning to sound like a grumpy Northerner, you will be wearing a flat cap and walking whippets next.

Probably comes that way but if I am honest it was a more of a backhanded compliment.

After reading that the new owners at Glasgow want the club to be the Manchester City of speedway, I wonder whether this could be the last season for Glasgow in the Premier League.

Of what I have seen so far, and in no particular order I would say the following look pretty good; Glasgow, if the Summers signing comes off then a very strong top 4, with some promising youngsters if Berge and Sarjeant can convert some of that promise into points. Peterborough, look solid throughout, the main key is if they can get Adam Roynon back to form and staying fit. Edinburgh, you can never ever rule out although if I am honest for once would like to see them struggle as you get a bit fed up with them winning all of the time. Sheffield my own team look to be dark horses, and will add to Ipswich and Workington to that category. At present don't fancy either Scunthorpe, Redcar, Rye House and Somerset. And unable to comment about Berwick, Newcastle and Plymouth until their sides are completed.

The only problem I see with the reserves is Leicester will have first call on Simon Lambert that means chances are that they will have to use a Guest rider at Workington, Berwick and Rye House.

Doesn't always pan out this way but the Panther look to be the team to beat next season.

I will pass your number onto the Promotion.

Andre's average would not fit, and if we question Taylor Poole's fitness then what Andre's that was a massive knock to head. Adam Ellis, yes I can see where you are coming from, but the club are trying to re build an asset base for the club, and Ellis is never going to become available for transfer, Sissis after completing so many meetings will become an asset.

With that team.

Sounds very promising and they sound as though they want to make some big investment in both the sports running at Ashfield, got to be good for the area. Mind you with the surname of Facenna, that sounds very Italian, maybe some of the Monarch's fans should be watching out otherwise they might find a horses head on their pillow.

I think in general if people enjoy what they see they will return to watch a sport. They may not go week in week out, but they still go. A lot of what you are saying about Cradley was said about Scunthorpe towards the end of their days as a stand alone Conference/ National League team, the difference is that Scunthorpe have their own track and moving up a division was far easier transition than for Cradley who don't have their own track.

Exactly, its interesting but not a jot of difference to me. The main thing for me is that a rider wants to ride for Sheffield and all of the riders who have signed have publicly stated that so that is fine by me. As to what they are paid or not paid is irrelevant.

Yeah Jim Airey.

Of course in Poland they do it so much different don't they.

I think I know what Oily is alluding to. I think Ben can count himself unlucky not to get a team place this season at Sheffield as he does a job for the team that is a bit of a specialist role, and one that would be vital and helpful if we are to make Owlerton a fortress again. Ben throughout his Sheffield career riding the number 2 riding position, and overall throughout his Sheffield career at home he has done this well and last season was no exception. Last season for instance Ben rode in heat 1 on all 10 of his home appearances, 70% of those races he either had a paid win or won the race, which meant that on most occasions we invariably start with a heat advantage, and he beat some very good riders doing so. He would have done a fine job, and with his fine home form he would have upped that average by the end of the season. But the chance to sign a rider of the potential of Arthur Sissis is far to great to turn down, and I think that given the opportunity to sign was to great, yes there is an element of a gamble in the signing, but he is only 19 and still very young and for me the gamble is worthwhile taking. But even so Ben would have done a very good job for the club, but I still think that the club made the right move to go with Sissis.

I have to agree with you on the Craig Cook statement, I think in his case this year is the put up or shut up season. He makes a big play about wanting to ride in the GP's, but needs to broaden his horizons and ride more meetings abroad, be that Poland, Sweden or Denmark. I don't think that the doubling up does any harm, but his failure or his efforts to get rides abroad will greatly reduce his chance of moving his career along.

Did they make an illegal approach? I am not so sure that they did. Redcar seem to be following the same approach that Swindon seem to be following in that if the rider wants to ride for another club then the other club must buy the rider rather than loan him.

Definitely time to bring on young riders but the balance has to be right, and has to be done with the right balance of youth, experience and who is on form, be that the squad of riders and the team that is chosen. I think also you need to look at to where the meeting is been held, horses for courses the Simon Stead inclusion raised eyebrows last season, but he was a match winner at Kings Lynn a track that he rides well, the mistake Rosco made was to stick with the team when they went to the Finals in Poland. But as a speedway nation we should be introducing younger riders or less experienced riders and blooding them on the International scene. On present form I would look at maybe the following team. Tai Woffinden Chris Harris Robert Lambert Craig Cook Then a back up squad of Simon Stead Danny King Ben Barker Richie Worrall Jason Garrity Steve Worrall. Kyle Newman

Jonathan Chapman's younger brother. That will go down a storm in Brummie Land.

I can see why Havvy Senior is maybe looking for a transfer fee for Summers, but to be honest I think that he is wasting his time and I do think that his valuations are some what over valued. What happens if Glasgow refuse to pay a transfer fee, he would be left with a rider sat on the sidelines not making him any money, who does not want to ride for the club and no loan fee, transfers are very rare in speedway these days. My guess is that if Glasgow stick to their guns they will get their man with no transfer fee to pay, their are riders who could do a similar job to Summers without having to pay a transfer fee and it is my guess if they wait a little longer Havvy's resolve with melt.

So don't have doubling up riders in any other leagues in other countries. I think you might just find that Sweden has doubling up/ doubling down. Admittedly no to the extent it is in this country, but still have it.

I assume now that you will be dropping Steve Worrall from your team as he has signed to ride for Newcastle in the Premier League. Not the Full time Elite League rider that you jumped to the conclusion that you thought. Bit like popping the champagne corks before the season is over.