Steve55

See the promotors are still talking about Stead being in the team next year. Big gamble after the injuries he sustained at Rye House and on such a high average, fine if he's the Simon Stead who started this year, but that's doubtful. Might be better to take the route of having strength in depth, look at the riders who appear to be available that would fit - Jorgensen, Covatti, Bellego. They've already taken a risk in signing Hall, great if he gets some good machinery and gives up the long track commitment, bad if he's the rider I saw at Owlerton several times this year! The post about him being there until Sissis is fit is an interesting one! Whatever the team is I'll be there next year, watching whatever the management have seen fit to spend their money on.

Glad to see Garrity back for next year. Earlier on this thread Barker was mentioned and is it me or did I detect negativity towards such a move. After the way he performed in the first leg of the play off meeting, thought every Sheffield fan would love to have him in next years team. Know he's probably going else where, but depending on how the team is built he could be fit in. Also Jorgensen could fit, he hasn't been signed anywhere yet, has he?

Not wishing to appear pedantic but Nathan Greaves surname is spelt as on this post.

They'll both have to qualify for a visa first before anyone can think about including them in their team building plans!

I would like to see Arthur return next year as IMO he showed real potential. Even if the reserves position is changed he could be included at number 2 and then his average would allow team building to include at least two 'big hitters' at 1 & 5. Although Damien Bates has said that they won't do anything to jeopardise the future of the club in building a team for next year, which suggests they won't be splashing the cash too much!

The Sheffield meeting was to include all the riders that had guested for them this year, now they'll all be riding at Redcar that night. Apart from the ones who are injured!

It could have been held on the Redcar alternative night - Friday, which would have been a tad better.

Not agreed actually - 12 teams at 7 riders per team is 84 riders, if including a number 8 that would be 96 riders required. Still would appear to be enough riders about at the beginning of the season!

Sorry but if you read my post properly you'll see I don't only see the negatives with Josh. He has shown this year that he has talent and if he keeps listening to Steady he will continue to develop and in a couple of years could be a number one in the premier league (should it still exist then!). He's been palling about with Jason Garrity this year and seems to have taken on board some of his influence, which I'm afraid Josh has tried to implement rather unsuccessfully! Josh is an exiting rider, no doubt, but sometimes he has the ability to make you want to close your eyes when you see him going for gaps that aren't there. I'd like to see him bide his time, put a little pressure on the rider in front so that they make to error, giving him the opportunity to pass. Just like he did in heat 8 last Thursday with Branford. I also think Castagna will develop well at Sheffield. Once he's really familiar with the track and his confidence builds he should have the ability to pass better riders than he's beaten up to press. In heat 6 last Thursday he was undoubtedly faster than Wolbert for the first two laps, but not having the confidence he backed off and settled for third. Understandable at this stage of his Sheffield career, but hopefully that will change in the near future.

Thanks for that Andrew, thought for a while I was the only person in the stadium who saw that happen! I was posting in response to post 40, that's why I commented on his later passes being 'a pleasure to behold'. The problem with Bates is his inability to curb his youthful exuberance early on meetings, usually his first ride! How many times has he been involved in 'incidents' this year, he was responsible for Sissis going down and being excluded in heat 2 of the Scunthorpe meeting earlier this month. His impetuous behaviour has cost him this year and taken away from the improvement he's made since last season. His little spat with Bellego after heat 11 was also an example of his on track immaturity. David is a heat leader whilst he is a reserve, did he really think he could catch and pass Cookie? I think next season he ought to have a team place elsewhere, as riding where grand dad puts up the funds and uncle runs the show might have something to do with his current attitude. There's no doubt he is a brave, and gifted rider, but unfortunately lets himself down occasionally by doing silly little things, that one day may come back to haunt him.

What behind the ref! If you're the electrician responsible for setting up the new floodlights - as my previous post, you need to get your eyes tested.

Don't know where you or EIS002 were in the stadium, but where I was I had a clear view of the pass by Bates on Branford. Yes he did leave a gap on the inside, but no where near enough for a fair pass, it was a 'Basher Bates' special, there was contact and Branford did really well to hold it and not go into the fence. Yes it was a racing incident, for which he could have been excluded if the ref had perceived it as unfair riding! Having said that his later passes on Branford and Sedgmen were a pleasure to behold. If only he could put his brain in before and not after the start of the meeting! As for the new flood lights hope they are still in the process of positioning them as the one just before the first bend should be on the 3rd/4th bends of the track and not in the eyes of the fans on the terraces!

Seemed to me that he got some unexpected grip on the apex of the 3rd/4th bends, the bike lifted and he went straight into the air fence. He let go of the bike (couldn't really see what happened after that, but think he went into the air fence first, followed by his bike), possibly how he got his injuries. Don't know for sure. Totally unexpected, the most experienced rider in the meeting, especially at Sheffield! Must add - hope he's not too badly injured, nice guy Ben.

Unfortunately I am not an English upper class know it all, far from it I'll have you know. However I was well educated and learnt to write with correct punctuation so that when others read what I had written they would be able to understand it's meaning without having to read it numerous times. I don't want to join the punctuation Police unless I can be a Chief Superintendent (good wages). As for poor William Wallace don't believe all that Mel Gibson (hater of the English) would have you believe! However as for Ms. Sturgeon I would personally carry out the procedures depicted in the anti-English propaganda epic 'Braveheart', to hear her scream "Mercy", before cutting her throat. Only kidding, came on here last night having had a couple too many sherbets. Also bought some crap off e-bay whilst I was at it! Still think Sturgeon is an interfering cow though - I'm honest if nothing else!

Looks like a great replacement for Birks (no thanks), well out of the League Cup and now down the League we go!

No just use punctuation you heathen Scots person. By the way death to the wee Scots cow called Nicola Sturgeon for interfering in English and Welsh law to which she has not been elected!!!

No like the 1 point he scored last week from five rides LOEL!

If the Sheffield reserve pairing ride to their usual standard and Lunna and Hall ride like they have on their previous visits to Owlerton this year, then that should swing it in Sheffields' favour. Wells was good when he came with Worky a few weeks ago, but no where near the quality of Brady Kurtz.

Don't think we have to worry about the weather, it's forecasting cloud - not rain. Worry more about the Worky team they've some riders who usually perform quite well around Owlerton!

There was a swarthy looking young fella in black kevlars with MOGOSI on them, riding a bike with PBHS sponsorship all over it. Looked very smooth and confident. But if the UKVI ask I didn't see anything - honest guv'!

Good to see a decent performance from Ash Birks after his max whilst guesting for Scunny. It would appear to have something to do with the Ricky Ashworth engine he's using! Good to see Ricky there again last night!

Have to slightly disagree with that - he didn't come off last night did he, think that's the first time I've seen him complete all his four heats at Owlerton. However he did come very close to disaster on a few occasions, but the only conclusion I can come to is that he must be improving!

Sorry - don't do Facebook and if that's the sort of rubbish that's on it I never will!

Sorry if I've missed something here, but where on this thread are the above posts? 'Edinburgh fans jealous of Sheffield', 'you are horrible b*stards', where does it state that from a Sheffield fans post? I always look forward to seeing your fans come down here, a six hundred mile round trip, that's what you call real supporters. Especially those lads that used to wear their kilts!