Steve55

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.

Rob Godfreys' performance with the mic on the centre green was one of the best I've seen or heard at a Speedway meeting. His interviews with Damien Bates and Neil Machin were great, especially his 'sign offs', to Damien - "you can get back to the wife now" and to Neil - "Your history now anyway!" Brilliant, who writes his scripts?

It didn't look good, the county ambulance came and took both of them (I believe) to hospital. It was a typical first bend melee where the riders from gates 2, 3 & 4 all 'went for it' and got in a tangle. Two of them seemed to hit the air fence together and at least one of them went over the top! It was difficult to see from where I was as the air fence panel lifted on impact and flew into the track. Another was on the track and he was having gas and air before they put him in the ambulance. Just one observation is that once the air fence panel 'lifted' behind it was armco crash barrier, in front of the earth banking. That's ok for the first rider hitting it (provided they don't then go over the top!)but if there's another following on and the air panels gone!!! That's just my observation, I believe at Sheffield the barriers in front of what was the existing fence, a much safer proposition in my view! If anyone knows different I would be interested in finding out.

I would have given him Pooles last ride in heat 14, but I think Joe wanted them all to get as much track time racing, building up the team spirit as he says! I also didn't expect a win at the EWR this afternoon, but what a pleasant experience it was. Think there's more to come from the Scorpions though, but don't think they missed Douglas that much as Sergeant scored his average, putting on a good display in the process. Don't think he could have done anything more in heat 14 even though his engine packed in. Have to admit I was impressed by Josh Bates performance today, think he had a point to prove and hope he continues with this attitude, especially his determination in heat 14, only the experience of Birks got him the win! All in all a good team performance with some action that entertained all the fans. Even Rob Godfrey commented on that didn't he, "the cheques in the post referee." It was so obvious to everyone in the stadium!

Taylor told Simon Neilsen that he's OK, but his bikes in a mess. (That's missing the 'aussie' terminology that he included in his message!)

Does it really matter what a teams kevlars look like? The most important thing is that their sponsors are visible and even if they are kitted out as a 'team' their bike covers usually identify them as an individual on track, don't think I've ever had a major issue seeing who is who with visiting teams in 'team' kevlars! The term is 'halcyon days' BTW!

There are some photos' on @Tigers Speedway twitter of a 'closed doors' session where all the team were on track, plus Joe Screen. Steady let Ryan Rhodes have a go too. No sight of an air fence though!

Great to see Tiger Cubs entered in the Midland Development League this year, something I really missed last year, watching second half racing. Mind you it probably would have been better than the actual meetings on some nights!

Like what's happening in the season opener (Air Fence Fund Bonanza). Got some decent riders to come in and give our top five some competitive practice. Whilst pitting Bates & Neilsen up against some lesser competition so they've got an idea of where they are with the track/set ups etc. Can't wait for it to start - bring it on!

Don't know if it was because Dave Hoggart wasn't there, but at last Wednesdays 'Legends' evening it was Ian Hunter (Sheffield Window Centre)that was thanked & congratulated for being the 'middle man' between the new consortium & Neil Machin, during the long distance negotiations over the winter! If so it would appear Hoggy wasn't so important to the new guys even at that stage!

Don't have traffic wardens in Sheffield any more - PCSOs' now and they daren't say 'boo' to a three year old, plus they don't go out in the dark! Like I said if they stay out in the car park and prevent car crime - OK, that's what I pay my £2.00 for.

The security is only needed in the car park, first to politely park paying patrons in the correct part and secondly to prevent vehicle crime. They've got radios so if they're required (in the unlikely event) to sort a drunken riot when the pork sandwiches come on sale in the Panorama room, they can be summoned. Unfortunately they seem to have plenty of muscle and too little brain, from the sounds of the experiences some have had!