Steve55

The post wasn't aimed at his enthusiasm for the sport, but good to see you're doing your best to live up to your anagram name.

Don't know about the other three but if Josh Bates hasn't put his signature on a contract yet it's only because he can't spell his name! Like every year the first five or six riders will all ready be sorted it's just a case of drip feeding the names in to keep the fans interested and give the journos' something to write for the next few weeks in the Speedway Star. Might be that he number one isn't sorted yet because Steady hasn't made his mind up wether or not he's retiring.

Oops! and I put him in the team a few days ago, I put it down to the aluminium pans my mother used for cooking when I was a kid! Sorry Junior fan.

According to the SGB website he will be, although he finished on 3.83.

Would that one be Allen. Who are you alluding to? Oliver Allen has retired or am I in a time warp! You can talk about Jason Garrity and Brady Kurtz, but the best value rider for the Championship is Jack Holder, especially around Owlerton. Remember him posting the best time around Sheffield for a couple of years until Steady went out determined to beat it in the following heat (0.1 off the track record!). Holder is the man for Sheffield.

I think we should have Jack Smith as well, but it would appear the Scots Tiggers are adamant they're having him in their 1 to 7. He's done a lot of after meeting testing at Owlerton over the last two years and looked good on the track. Plus he's ridden with JPB (apparently nailed on for Sheffield next year) this year with the Brummies so they've already got an existing understanding/partnership.

It's Chris Harris, apparently all the Championship teams are after him, according to him!

Well you thought incorrectly for some reason - been on SGB website.

Proctor was coming back from a serious injury but started putting in some good performances and scores both home and away and had a current average at that time over 7. It was his CMA green sheet average that let him down and caused his 'expulsion'. Kyle Howarth wasn't consistent throughout the full season, but came very good at the end for both Sheffield and to a lesser extent Wolves.

Heard rumours during the playoffs that Chris Harris was bound for Sheffield next year (from more than one source) but completely disregarded them. Good rider but wouldn't really want him at Sheffield, especially after the way the track has been prepared for the last two years!

Definitely could, would like to see him back especially after the way he was treated by the authorities. Even if it isn't with Sheffield I'd like to see him riding in Britain again. That is an attractive average for him and he really was riding well prior to his departure in 2015.

What about Jack Holder, Jake Allen and Stefan Nielsen as the last three, leaving Bates at reserve with JPB. Or would the first two not want to travel north?

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!