Steve55

It could have said that, but unfortunately it doesn't say that! I questioned this on the Sheffield thread last week. Pity you aren't on the BSPA IronScorpion - all this uncertainty wouldn't have happened, would it?

Having seen Jack Holder ride Owlerton this year I think if he rode for Sheffield he could easily put 1.5 to 2 points on his average and be number 1. As I wrote clarity is required on this as the way it reads now he could come in as a 3-point or a 2-point rider which ever way you interpret it.

Having read the release from the promotors meeting and the two lines that refer to this are to my mind rather vague and open to interpretation, stating 'Championship clubs must include include a young Brit with a 3-point average. In a bid to help young riders get a team spot any rider who hasn't achieved a 3-point average will come in on a minimum of 2'. For a start it doesn't say what league they've had to achieve that 3-point average in. The only league mentioned is the Championship, which actually doesn't exist yet (only in name) so no one has ridden in it! British youngster - will there actually be an age limit put on this? (The British 'youngster' rule in the Elite league was a bit of a farce was it not.) So to put it into context does it mean the riders who come in on a 3-point average will have achieved that in the existing Premier league or National league? Or is it that if they have not yet ridden in the existing Premier league they come in on a minimum 2-point average? Think the BSPA have to make a more detailed press release for the purposes of clarity.

Swap Greaves full stop! Sheffield should have ditched him June/July, it was quite obvious by then that he wasn't good enough for the Premier league! Can't persist with him next year surely.

Yeah Glasgow, be giving that one a miss I think. Why not give it to Scunny - deemed the fairest track in the league and more importantly a lot more central. Thought it might have been one of Robs priorities to get that sorted!

He hasn't that's why he'll come in on a 3 point average as has been posted previously!

Think Jacobs will be in demand next year, but can't see him heading to Sheffield. Team building will depend on the decisions made at the promotors conference this week and what points limit they come up with. Rumour has it that it could just be two leagues next year so big changes could be imminent! With regard to the post about Sheffield going Elite League, Bates stated a couple of months ago that that was a non starter, so they'll definitely be in the lower league(s).

Saw Damien Bates and Jason Garrity talking in the pits after Wednesday nights meeting and Bates body language and facial expressions didn't look promising!

Be ok if they don't have a League cup next year, if they do Sheff & Scunny will no doubt be in the same Group again! But if not then it would be a good curtain raiser with some decent racing - on Scunnys track!

See Bates has said (according to interview in S'way Star) that they want Howarth and Bates as the first signings for next year. Agree with getting Kyle back as he has shown commitment and improvement throughout the year, but not Josh as I have said before. Damien Bates stated, "Josh has shown in recent weeks that he's a key asset.....". Well he's one of four Sheffield riders that have survived the full season, but apart from doing well for Somerset whilst guesting against Glasgow, despite his best efforts he hasn't really lit up the track at Owlerton, for me that is. Last night you couldn't fault him for the effort he put in, but 6 points from 5 rides just isn't 'A key assets contribution'. Wish the lad well for tonight though and hope he gets an 18 point max to win the play offs for Sheffield.

To my recollection the Somerset fans had their 'Rebel' flag raised on the first bend, throughout the entire meeting in September. Perhaps no one complained on that occasion. Can see why they might be banned at a football stadium if they interfere with somebody else seeing the game, but not where they had it last time on the first bend away from the terraces! Is that where it was last night?

Didn't get chance to speak with him, he was talking to Ian Hunter, hopefully about his return to Sheffield next year.

Thought Stead and or Garrity would have been busting a gut to ride in these two meetings. Haven't seen Steady about but saw Garrity down at Owlerton last Wednesday, didn't appear to have a cast or bandages on either hand! As they're not riding hope they've considered loaning an engine or two to the other riders that might improve their performance. Probably not Nathan though, he'll only fall off whilst travelling at a faster speed!

If it is 2 points for new riders from the NL Sheffield ought to get Jack Smith at reserve with JPB (been good for the Brummies this year) this will give more points to play with the top end. Will have to wait and see what they dream up at the meeting this time!

My heart wants Sheffield to win, but my head says Somerset. Let's hope heart beats head!

Somerset have chosen their reserve guest pairing very well and IMO they will be the difference over the two legs. Josh G has been scoring well all season and Tungate came into good form towards the end of the season. Wright and Stark have also been consistent throughout the year and Wright was outstanding in his last visit to Sheffield last month. If Howarth, Bates and Sissis ride out of their skins again and the guests do their bit we might keep it competitive at Owlerton, but will get spanked at the OTA. But that was my prediction in the last two rounds and look what happened. So hope I'm wrong again, c'mon the Tigers!

At the end of the day however much track grading is done it's the same for both sets of riders so it's difficult to lay blame for a teams performance based on that alone.

Dunno if Steady will be fit for next week, can't see it, think this depends on who the Guests are for both teams, think it will be close!

Somerset waiting to take on the Tigers, well one of them!

Looks like Sheffield giving it their best, but can't understand Heeps as a choice of guest. Hope the team manager takes the hint tonight and give one of Greaves rides to Arthur, can't understand why yet again the lad had four rides last night!

There are quite a few Sheffield fans that think Bates needs a season or two away from Owlerton to help him develop. Being away from Sheffield and all the family ties, might help him grow up a bit. Having said that it didn't help riding for the Rebels at Glasgow did it? Somerset might be a good club for him, plenty of recent success and a similar track. Can't remember how he's performed there this season, but he's not been that brilliant around Owlerton this year IMO.

Speedway racing is dangerous and incidents happen, wether it's our National League, The Polish Leagues or the GP series. Riders get injured as a result of other riders actions or their own. But I think it would be very wrong to infer that they are deliberate actions, if so nearly every meeting would see riders scraped up off the track and carted off to hospital, some never to return! The laydown engines, exhaust systems and track issues play a big part in riders lifting and coming together at times. Throwing the bikes at each other would more than likely cause them as serious an injury as well as there opponent, so it just doesn't make sense. However an 'on track' incident as with Bates and Bach, or Lingren and Cook (EL play off final) are probably far better sorted after the race, with the old 'Sticks and Stones' saying. But Bates probably went too far, bruising his own knuckles on Bachs' helmet, but as I've said many times before he's got an excuse, "he's from Barnsley". So it's happening again tonight, think you all need to take a deep breath, count to ten slowly and see what happens on the track!

That must be the case as I'm 5 miles north of the stadium and it's been raining on and off all day here, with one really heavy shower this afternoon. However the sky is now blue with the sun breaking through some fluffy white clouds. See you there at 7.30!

Cant see this being on it's rained through the night and is raining quite heavily now (I'm about 5 miles from the stadium). The forecast is for more showers throughout the day, some predicted to be heavy!

Is this going to be the running order of the team on Thursday? Surely Bates should be at 2 and Auty at 3. With Auty at no. 3 riding with the R/R at least we'd have a chance of 3 points in heats 3, 5 & 9, he rides Owlerton far better than Bates.