Broadsider

Thanks for clarifying CI. Exactly that, the Elite teams operate with their squad in both the Sky Elite and Premier Leagues (minus their Gp/ Euro No 1's.) Condensing the flagship Sky Elite League but expanding the competion, variety and interest in the Premier League. Believe me, if for instance BelleVue and Sheffield are rocking up against each other again those crowds will be up and l would be t likewise across all venues in a revamped competion. Effectively existing Sky Elite teams get the best of both worlds. What's not to like?

Point taken re fixed nights and increased GP rider costs. But my rationale, based on the existing 8 Sky Elite League teams, is a reduced 7 home and 7 away fixture list plus play-offs.The idea being that reducing the number of fixtures will hopefully achieve a balancing of costs. Likewise the GP riders would presumably benefit through reduced Sky Elite League commitments and therefore enabling them to better accommodate the Sky Elite League in their international racing schedule. Agree entirely, the current Sky Elite League isn't Elite at all and is continually being shored up by Premier riders. That's precisely the issue and we therefore need to reset British Speedway from it's strongest Premier League point. However, I still believe that we must retain a flagship Sky Elite League to maintain TV interest and promote British Speedway at the highest possible level as a truly professional 21st Century sport. Absolutely the National League must be retained on it's current lines.

Traditionally the close season gives rise to renewed hopes for real change in our sport. Fans opinions are often courted but generally overlooked in favour of the same old script. Intriguingly though, Scunthorpe promoter, Rob Godfrey has already hinted that Scorpions fans are likely to see more fixtures in 2017. On the back of this therefore, I still envision the existing 3 tier league structure. The Sky Elite League retaining it's flagship status and comprising say the existing 8 teams; contesting a programme of 7 home and 7 away fixtures, plus the play-offs, but with all teams adopting the same race night and operating a rider squad system. With a condensed Sky Elite fixture list and common race night this could hopefully entice back a few more of the GP and Euro big guns to boost the British Speedway scene. Alongside the Sky Elite League would be the existing Premier League but now also embracing all Elite teams minus their GP/ Euro stars and governed by an agreed points limit. We already see Sky Elite teams shored up by Premier League riders so I don't believe this will impact in way on the standard of racing and spectator appeal at Sky Elite League circuits. An enhanced Premier League would currently see 10 home and 10 away fixtures plus play offs and KO Cup competition. Across both Leagues there will be ample meetings to keep the Premier League guys busy and with a reduced Sky Elite League fixture list and the one fixed race night this will surely have greater appeal to the GP & Euro stars. The National League would continue to function along current lines. Personally I don't subscribe to thoughts that we are now witnessing the flickering embers of British Speedway. Now more than ever there is genuine opportunity to project British Speedway as an action packed and colourful sporting spectacular. More especially with the advent of the new Belle Vue, a truly superb track and stadia facility which must be utilised at every opportunity to project British Speedway as a real 21st Century sport. Some times we look and hope so much for change but its often staring us in the face!

Heat 7 from Sunday's EWR action feast, a total humdinger and probably the best non-passing race you will ever see! https://youtu.be/i9LaXp4q44w

Just woke up after the most incredible speedway dream! Quick check of my mini-cam clip and cripes its there! Only went and blinking happend! Rules apart, witnessed some of the most thrillingly incredible blanket speedway you will ever see What a ding-dong affair! Stood watching with the French sponsors of Erik & Mark Riss and they were absolutely amazed at the sheer quality of racing on what was a superbly prepared track! They were fulllsome in their praise and described its as some of the most perfect racing they'd ever seen! They weren't wrong! Take a massive bow, Rob, the team & everyone.The world needs to know about super scintillating Scunthorpe Speedway! Keep looking Paul, l'll be back later. Epic!!

Get set for more rip roaring Scorpions action with spot of Tiger taming tomorrow! https://youtu.be/7KA6kOQ_ksE

I think we can excuse insider getting a tad carried away on that one. Always one of the most interesting and considered posters on here. Can't disagree with the thought of having Josh Auty out of that No 1 spot though? It appears too big a burden and he's been pretty much ineffective at that level all season.

Oh dear what?

Surprised by Kerr's availability,but given his remarkable recovery from horrific injury last year, will be delighted for Lewis just to get some decent scores @ Scunny and post as near a 7pt overall average as possible. Everything crossed that this works well for both Lewis and the Scorpions? 👍

The number of team changes at all clubs is becoming farcial and l"m honestly losing track of speedway?

Could'nt have put that any better myself? Think l'm gonna like this Scunny team, a lot!

Corect both NK & AL are with Polish league side Czestochowa in 2016 and unfortunately that seems to rule out any imminent Scunny return for AL? However, Polish sides do operate squad systems and therefore dependant on AL's involvement then there may be some leeway to reinclude AL at the EWR? It would be great to see AL given further opportunity at Scunny as from the brief glimpse we've had, he certainly appears nothing less than organised and with a real apetite to succeed at his chosen sport.

Take your point AJ and yes NK is an enigma but if he gets his head on he can be a serious scorer at PL level. That was surely the hope at Rye and the concern now will be finding, as you say, a reasonably adequate replacement? Easier said than done with the apparent dearth of options available?

Certainly appears a smart move and gets us out of an unwelcome hole. More than likely Zeddys figure will drop but a purposeful NK should also make an absolute mockery of that starting average so will have to see how things pan out? Great to see Nicolai back on board and if anything should potentially set things up even stronger for an exciting 2016 season ahead? Not sure what Rye fans make of all this but some you win and bring it on!

Absolutely no doubting NK's total professionalism & fair to say he would trap more often than not at EWR? However, Rob has quipped more than once how NK comes at a cost and as such I'm pretty sure NK remains out of the Scunny budget? Also read that NK has already tied up 2016 contracts in Poland & Germany which would seem to rule him out on Sundays? Suspect NK is not our plan A, B or see??

Appears RJ is already signed with Polish side AZ Victoria Pila for 2016. Would seem to curtail as a Scunny option?

Really surprised & disappointing news, only few days back TP was tweeting on lines "xmas over & training starts!" Has certainly seemed up for Scunny 2016 so don't no why the apparent sudden change of mind? We'll possibly never know whats gone on? Still, Rob says Scunny will be stronger out of this and its an awkward average but l'm sure he has an Ace up his sleeve?

Alex NOT a Scorpion 2016? At a total loss as to what's gone on if this is the case?? Really disappointing!

Take it as read that Josh, Ryan, Carlos and Alex are deffo and then dependant what comes out of the AGM possibly a draft pick current NL rider? Then it's a choice No 1 big hitter or once again "strength" in depth? I do get the impression that Carlos will start at reserve and if so then we work from there. IMO we need a No 1.

If the AGM, as it should, comes up with some proper structure, then there would be no need to even think about this. Baring forced changes through injury, there needs to be a set window, say 1st June to permit the first team change. To me this would seem fair and sensible on all sides. I must say "15" definitely gone just like that is an awful lot to lose! Obviously, I don't know what the issues are but that's worrying and there may be others? For sure the promotion need to be aware of this type of thing when making their decisions. I sincerely hope that at least a few of the 15 can find a way of being there at some point? The promotion certainly don't need to be switching to Sunday only to find numbers even less! As regards every other Sunday, it was intimated as being "more or less" & that with the Bank Holiday dates then it would all pretty much pan out. We'll see?

From what was said, their aiming for every other Sunday & also the usual Bank Holiday dates. Yes the track doesn't always suit an afternoon start but if we aim for 6-6.30pm then the track should normally be just about perfect and still allow for everyone to arrive and get home at a reasonable time? Presumeably the Scorpions will have at least one away fixture on those weeks when their not at home? Wonder whether this weekends AGM will set something in place cost-wise to encourage regular fans to travel and support their team at other tracks? #GOTTA MAKE THIS WORK!

Rob takes the mike & announces to rapturous applause, exactly what everyone had hoped to hear? The Scorpions WILL fight on in 2016! It's cost a small fortune over the past few years to keep things going, so everyone MUST now please just simply get down the EWR on a Sunday and KEEP BACKING the Speedway in Scunny to ensure a successful 2016 & hopefully beyond!. Great to see Josh, Alex,Carlos & most surprisingly Zeddy (what commitment!!) all there taking a bow!, Also ever-popular Tommy G with Rob teasing him into a 2016 return, not?? Carlos took the supporters Rider of Year with Theo taking the Track Staff award. Teamwise 2016? Josh, Ryan, Alex and Carlos all nailed on imo and dont rule out Zeddy? He's dead keen and as I say, what commitment to get over for the presentation, after all he's only done 3 Scunny meets so far and riding back in Czecho on Sunday! Here's to a great 2016 for the Scorpions. BE THERE AND BE PART OF IT! Cheers all!

Absolute sickner, totally gutted for Ryan and only hoping he can recover well and comeback stronger from this latest appauling injury set back. Apparently he tangled with Brady and went feet first into the fence? Was anyone there and can expand on what actually happened? Once again, I'm asking the question, what use is an air fence when he ends up like this? Quite frankly, the number of serious injuries incurred this season has long since reached unacceptable proportions. I'm sure everyone agrees that Speedway urgently needs to undertake a drastic root and branch review and not least to consider all aspects of Rider safety.

Totally agree, it is difficult to be certain from my video clips. But in my opinion the facts are: 1. In the initial running, Rohan was for sure not impressed with Josh's manoeuvre out of turn 2 and which seemed to leave him with nowhere to go but down. 2. The immediate impression was that Josh had been excluded. It was therefore a slight surprise and relief to realise the referee had called all four back. 3. Stefan Nielsen didn't seem to be buying that decision as he headed back to the pits and similarly Chris Louis seemed to quietly express his dissatisfaction when Rob attempted to gain a reaction on the mike. 4. I think it's fair to say Rohan lined up for the rerun just a tad "put" out and lets say, keen to prove a point or two? 5. Rohan misses the start and Josh and Alex head him home. 6. Rohan runs over the finish line in 3rd place and is actually nowhere near Alex. Now either Rohan loses concentration or momentarily full control of his machine(unlikely as he is professional motorcyclist?) or perhaps more likely?, he's still a little wound up and frustrated to realise Josh has finished head of him and when perhaps otherwise Josh might have been excluded? Added to which of course his team are at the end of a 1-5 reverse. 7. So race over and with Josh ahead and slowing around turns 1-2, Rohan's machine runs out wide towards him. There is a coming together out of turn 2 and this wipes out Josh in a heap! My initial thought was that Rohan had possibly taken out Josh with kick but in fact the rear of Rohan's machine does swing out for some reason and takes Josh's balance. 8. Even trying to give Rohan some benefit of the doubt that there was no intent on this.The one glaringly damming fact is that whilst he might not have intended to deliberately wipe out Josh, he does never the less manage to dramatically collide with him when the race is over. However and this is the dammnng bit, surely anyone who has just accidentally collided with an opponent,causing a fall and even injury, would then, on regaining full control themselves, have pulled up, turned around and gone straight back to his fellow stricken professional to show some definite concern and remorse for an injured colleague? More especially when that opponent has only just returned from serious injury! The fact is Rohan deliberately chose to do non of that and clearly this reaction in itself partially demonstrates Rohan's regrettable motivation in this instance. 9. Rohan's conduct was certainly unprofessional, at best reckless and at worst dangerous. Granted, he may well have lost control but doesn't simple rule of the road apply? Surely the rider following behind still has some responsibility, at the end of the race, to show basic care and awareness of the rider ahead? Josh certainly doesn't have wing mirrors on! 10. Rohan's actions and reactions whilst still within the meeting and under Referee Peter Clarke's control were certainly questionable and therefore in my opinion the Referee in this instance should have used his ultimate discretion to exclude Rohan from the rest of the meeting for dangerous and ungentlemanly conduct towards an opponent. This one literally had absolutely everything a speedway meeting could chuck at you. Let's hope that amongst all the mayhem and particularly after the astonishing highs of the previous week, there's still enough good will in there to have the punters rolling back for more? All the best to the Scorpions on their appeal and if I can be of any further assistance to the Club and investigations relating any issue arising from Friday's meeting then I will of course be pleased to help.

https://youtu.be/MT6F69LQE0k https://youtu.be/5amcO2uQ5JA https://youtu.be/pAfI4yFO4-s Ok, here's how it all unfolded from my angle, really hope this is of some help to everyone in unravelling last nights astonishing Heat 10 events? Also added Nike's mammoth hauling back of Morris in Heat 14. Can honestly say in all my days around the speedway's I have never before seen a meeting quite like this Sorry for the slight delay on upload, whilst I have been considering things but also otherwise engaged throughout today.