Steve55

Well he'd probably be able to lodge with Ty who resides in the Stannington area of Sheffield - about 5 minutes from the track!

Can't see him winning many there then! Last time I saw him ride there (for Sheffield) the mic man couldn't even get his name right - announced him as Joss Autry - every time! Having said that he couldn't pronounce Kauko Neimanens name, and he was their number one! Hope they've got somebody better on the mic now.

Why might it improve at Leicester? It's failed to improve everywhere up till now!

You're very astute & vigilant Mr Blobby!

See Bates is going to be a FT reserve at Wolves next year. From my previous post I think this could probably be the best place for him to be next year. Also see he's being linked with Ipswich? Where ever he ends up I wish him all the best for 2015.

Would agree with that, but IF he is loaned out they will have to be careful where he goes. I thought he would do well at some of the smaller more 'technical' tracks in the Premier league, but I was disappointed with his performances where I thought he might impress. However he did show his potential to some extent in the National League and more surprisingly with Leicester in the Elite! There's talent in him, but it needs drawing out with care.

Why Bates? Ok so his grand dad more or less owns the team which kind of guarantees him a team place, and he did win the British U21 title, but what did he do for the Tigers this season? Not a lot as I recall - had a lot of last places and when he did try harder usually ended up in the fence or sliding off! Not good enough I'm afraid and I don't think he'll get the measure of the Owlerton track next year either. But I'll be there to see him prove me wrong if he can.

Heard on the grapevine that he's already put pen to paper!

Damien Bates brother has apparently put on the Ipswich thread that Risager won't be back at Foxhall next year. Also someone has posted that he is now based in Sheffield. But 2 + 2 doesn't always make 4 does it!

Well if this is true I know three supporters who won't be going to Owlerton for the rest of the season! What a way to run a team, so much for the new owners being in touch with what the fans think. Thought you were a good bloke Mr Bates - sorry but if you've done this you're anything but!

For me it's got to be Josh Bates - never thought he be in the top three of the U-21 never mind CHAMPION! Then his fantastic performance at Redcar last night, brilliant. Must admit I was more than a little sceptical about him coming into the Sheffield team this year, but his first meeting at Scunthorpe proved he had real commitment and although his first couple of competitive meetings at Sheffield were poor it appears he's now gained confidence and has the ability to go far in this sport. Good on yer Josh keep it up kid!

Sorry for the delay - been eating all those words, a size nine and a very large portion of humble pie!

After the first 7 heats last night I thought you were going to get 50+ as well! But tonight I think you'll probably score 60+ even without Richard Lawson. If you'd had Richard Hall in the side last night you would definitely had 50+! Hate to be the bringer of Doom & Gloom on the Tigers but they just aren't getting out of the traps quick enough in the early heats, resulting in heads going down and things getting worse. At least last night they managed to rally the troops and with the fans behind them pushed on to scrape a win. Tonight at home will give Bears newer/less experienced riders more confidence and their established riders (Summers & Skidmore) will more than likely get Maximums! C'mon Tigers prove me wrong - make me eat these words!

Tigers lucky tonight - one winner out of first four heats at home is just not good enough! Nielsen & Poole are not pulling their weight at present and need to show improvement - fast! Once again before 7.30pm - no programmes available - sold out, felt so sorry for the kids selling them with dozens of punters stood around complaining about something that isn't their fault. The management really need to sort this out, twice this has happened in only five meetings, it's unprofessional and bad for business, although I'll bet there will be plenty next week for the British semi-final when they'll be a fiver each! Can't see anything other than another away massacre tomorrow night, even if Lawson isn't riding. Tigers just can't seem to get going until halfway through the meeting, and that's at home!

The Diamonds did a lot better at Sheffield than the Tigers did at Newcastle, two totally different circuits. However the meeting at Scunthorpe might be a better test for the Diamonds on what is considered by most to be a 'fair' track.

Can't see Douglas being at reserve for long once the rolling averages kick in. He was without doubt my 'rider of the meeting' last night. Another Aussie following in the footsteps of Crump, Holder, Ward and all the others before them. Can see him putting at least 2.5 points on his average if he maintains that form.

Please don't hesitate to tell me if I'm wrong, but if the track was unridable for heats one and two why did the the winner of heat one post the best time of the night by more than two seconds? It appeared to me that the Scunthorpe riders came prepared to go out and get on with it whilst the Sheffield team just weren't ready for it for some reason. Vissing and Douglas attacked the track, whereas Stead and Compton didn't. He who dithers - doesn't win! Auty was so much faster than everyone else, so didn't have to take any unnecessary risks! A good night for the Scorpions and an extremely bad one for the Tigers!

Yes the same lad who at first was a pleasure to watch as you have stated. However in his last season with the Tigers (IMO)he got a little obsessed - with his own self importance and quest to be number 1. To the point where he nearly had his own team mates off so that he could finish first! I well remember him almost putting Sanchez in the fence two or three times in one heat so he could get the three points. He did the same thing with others to the point where after one heat Hugh Skidmore told him in the pits "It's not all about you Josh." To which he received a mouthful of abuse in return. When you witness things like that it's easy to go off people, isn't it? Also seen him on TV in Elite League meetings where he's been up against better riders making moves that just aren't going to happen and lost count of how many times he's been excluded as a result. He apparently made the move to Scunny so he could have more practice time - especially on his starts! Yes he is an exciting rider as is Vissing, but to my mind takes too many unnecessary risks and to me that makes them reckless, especially when they put others at risk by their actions.

Not the most 'popular' rider at Owlerton is Claus, as I've said before he can be quite reckless, resulting in him being a danger to other riders and himself. What with him and Auty it could prove to be an interesting meeting and a long one judging by how long repairs to the air barrier took last week!

Whatever time the gates are opened isn't the point here. The security person shouldn't be taking money off anybody to get in and pocketing it! If there is an issue with anyone getting in and watching a couple of heats for free, then they should be told 'Sorry can't let you in, you'll have to wait outside.' I know one or two whose wife or other relative have come down late on to pick them up, while racing is still on and there's never been an issue. This is a case of one brick brain trying to make a dishonest tenner and coming unstuck. As for the other moron pushing Roynons' dad and then fronting up Adam for challenging him over it, well that beggars belief. Find out who these idiots are and sack them, that's the answer, make an example of them to the other yellow tabard wearers and they might all back off! I also think Damian Bates is a reasonable bloke, who will address the stadium management and get things sorted out. I mean who wants your home track having a reputation like this, away supporters won't want to come here with tales like these being banded about will they?

Don't understand what you're saying there. Robbo had the black & white cover on (looked brand new) coming out to ride in heat 12, they were looking for a tactical ride, not reserve replacement! George English obviously had his maths wrong and thought we were ten points up not nine. Good job too otherwise it would have been a 2 - 7.

Think yourself lucky you got a programme. I arrived just before 7.30pm to be told that all the programmes had gone and was given an A3 size photocopy of a score sheet! The poor sod giving those out said they hadn't expected such a big crowd - load of bo11ocks it wasn't a big crowd. So much for a free programme - perhaps it would have been fairer to those that attended Monday to swap their rain off ticket for a free programme and others could have paid for theirs!

Been misty, but dry all day as has the rest of the midlands I believe. BBC weather at 1.45 pm stated possibility of showers later this evening, but you never really know, been like this last two days! I'll be going down there for 7.30pm whatever.

Lanham made short work of his first heat on Monday and after a poor gate in his second started carving through the others till his mechanical troubles, so he should be ok. Can't see any probs for Roynon, but as I've stated before Poole needs to get his equipment right. As for Andre don't think he'll have to help Josh after seeing him go on Sunday & Monday! They'll probably only have the one ride, possibly two together, depending on what the score is after heat 13.

If they ride with the same commitment as they did on Sunday can't see anything other than a Tigers victory. As for Nielson & Poole, Simon seemed to go quite well on Monday, certainly had the same pace as Bates, but not gating as well as him. Poole looks like he's got problems with his bikes, which needs sorting asap. Know he's coming back from a bad injury and needs to gain some confidence quickly.