Steve55

Just been on the BBC weather site for Sheffield 6 (where Owlerton is) - giving sunny periods from 6pm to 9pm when there might be light rain showers. Get it on. As long as there are no hold ups everything should be AOK! I'm about 5 miles from track we've got cloud with sunny intervals now. Did have an horrendous thunder storm about 1.30 pm this afters, but web site says track ok - I believe it and I will be there!

Well he wasn't coming off the throttle last night going around Owlerton! Seen him looking better though, looked good when riding here last year - still it is the fastest track in Britain, according to our management! Andre Compton went out a couple of times after Adam - he really did look good, rather him than Roynon for me, especially here. Although I'd have them both in place of some that are in the Sheffield team this year!

Just read the latest blog from our 'joint team manager'. It appears that they know what the issues are, but can't do anything about it until the 'new guys' have got the 4 home 4 away league meetings in, to get their new averages. So the answer for the time being is to put Haines to number 2, where he had so much sucess last year (don't remember him scoring that many against decent teams), Wells to number 3 to ride with Hall, apparently they think there will be big points throughout the meeting from those two together. (Did it work last year?) and this is the best one Albin to number 5 where he will sink or swim (which is more or less what it said on the blog!) Cannot wait to see what comments are coming on here about this. Feel sorry for Facu, but lets hope he steps up to the mark (might help Neil if you got him an engine from one of the decent workshops.). Oh and they're (the management) still comparing Koppe to Steve Johnston, well the situation when he first came over and couldn't ride Owlerton, I really do hope it clicks and he proves everybody wrong. Hope, what a big four letter word that is, hope the weather stays like it is now, especially on Thursdays, we don't want anymore amateur weather forecasting upsetting the management as well as the gripes about the team. Get Steady & Hally back to fitness and lets see some passing action on the track it's been bad recently and I've other things I could be doing on Thursday evenings, as I'm sure lots of others could be! Come on Tigers.

Simon doesn't think he'll be able to ride in the pairs on Friday so Thursday will be a definate no! However Hally seems to think he'll be taking Steadys place on Friday, so he'll want to ride on Thursday. Hope he's more ready than he was against Rye House! If not don't know how we'll go on at Somerset, might as well withdraw and let a team with a decent pairing take our place. As for the Leicester meeting think it will be close, Branford and Sergeant have both done plenty of laps round Owlerton so will be a good challenge to our bottom end (all 4 of 'em). Bjerre is usually good round here too and although Doolan doesn't particularly like it here, if he shows the same commitment he did at Poole last night he should do reasonably well. But if we suddenly get going who knows what might happen!

The weather has been on & off all day, sunshine, rain, hail storm, sunshine, rain. Been out in it all day, not surprised the track's water-logged! By the way there is a photo on the website showing the state of the track!

Don't fully understand your figures, but would agree that things have to change. Seen different posts about when you can/can't change riders, but as soon as is possible Damien Koppe has to go. As hard as he tries (and I give him credit for that) he just cannot ride Owlerton. As it is his home track I think it is important that he should be able to! However it also appears he doesn't do that well away either! Got to persist with Albin as he has potential and with help Knight might possibly improve - a little. From what I've seen and read the management just don't seem to understand or are turning a blind eye (which might be nearer the truth) to what's obvious to everyone else. There must be a decent rider out there without a team (not going to speculate) so get him to Sheffield ASAP. It may well be the only way to save the Tigers - especially if Bradford do start up again next year.

Been shown some 'snap shots' of the incident last night - Koppe was on the outside of the back straight, on the back wheel, next to the fence, alongside Wells who was much closer to the inside. Skiddy is on the inside of Wells and as they come to the third bend Wells starts making the turn and appears to be going for an inside line on Ostergaard who can be seen infront, mid-track. Skiddy then appears to start moving out toward the centre of the track and clip the rear of Wells. He then continues in that direction whilst parting company from the bike, misses the fence, and hits the dog track. Luckily he walked away from it and I wish him all the best and a full and speedy recovery. However I can't see why Koppe was the cause of it. Wells kept his line and the only one moving off line was Skiddy, towards Koppe. Explain that one ref!

Dunno about that - they're not riding against Sheffield every week and when the new averages come out in all probability, Dyer will be in the main body of the team and Wilkinson at reserve. They might not then be the same proposition, although if Summers and Kus can maintain their form of last night who knows????? Glad to see Skiddy walk away from that one, didn't really see what happened there, saw Koppe lift on the back straight, but he seemed to be on the outside and Hugh on the inside, behind Wells. Thought he'd hit Wells and that's why he went off at that strange angle. Anybody see what actually did happen? I do know that he was concussed and had to go to hospital to be checked out. Would appreciate an update on that too. Will he ride tonight?

Well we saw what was coming on Tuesday when the Scunny match was on Sky & he arrived tonight in style - Micky Dyer was brilliant, 16 + 1 from his six rides. Three of our riders scored a total of 3 points from thirteen rides! It was embarassing for the Tigers & would possibly have been worse had it not been for Steads 15 point max. You have got to change this team or the terraces will be empty come summer. Sheffield were very poor against what appears a mediocre Bears team on paper, however that was the best I've seen Summers ride Owlerton & Matej Kus seems to be getting over his early season depression, taking it out on the Tigers tonight. Joe was average & Ricky Wells had his best ride when on the tactical, just pipping Kus for second, however he just doesn't seem to be happy on Sheffield shale as someone has already alluded to. It's no good busting a gut to pass someone and then not defending the best line, allowing them to pass in return! After the meeting during free practice Steady went out on the bikes of the two reserves, he showed that there's nothing wrong with their machinery, it's the guys that are on them! Neil/Hoggy you've got to look else where - they are two good lads who are doing their utmost, of that there's no doubt, but their best just aint good enough and against teams with decent riders at reserve we are going to get hammered (again). Anybody know why Mr. Machin was wandering around the car park after the meeting? Had he a arranged a clandestine meeting with a potential new rider or was he looking if anybody had dropped their wallet so he might pay his riders later this month when there's no fans turning up!

Can't see him being anymore than 70% fit to ride tonight (it's only a week since it happened) rather than take a chance I'd be happy if he gave it more time. There's always the possibility it could cause further problems down the line - better safe than sorry! As for Facu Albin he's rode the track before - sounds like it might be a bit different to when he was last on it though, but it's his opportunity to show what might have been for the Bandits.

It's gonna be Aaron Summers if Stead not fit!!!! Good luck to him, at least he knows he's going to get paid! Just seen Tigers web site according to that he's was due to see a 'physic' this evening, thought a physio would have been more use to him!!!!!!

I would have thought with the size of the track the best option would be to prepare it for as many racing lines as possible. That would please all of the fans and possibly most of the riders! Yes Claus Vissing would be a good guest and if he were to do well it could assist in him in gaining forgiveness from the Sheffield faithful for past indiscretions.

Got to agree with that. R/R just makes no sense when it's your number 1 that's out, but it is the 'Cheap option' which seems to be favoured by Sheffield (or was last year). If the Tigers want to have any chance of taking something from this meeting and Steady isn't ready to resume then Joe Screen would appear to be a good option (if available). If not Josh Auty could do a decent job, looked fast last night in the semi once he got going.

Unfortunately can't make it tomorrow, if it's anything like last night there should be some good racing to watch. However unless we get lucky I can't see the Tigers taking any points away. The Comets reserve pairing is much stronger and the top three Sheffield riders won't be able to carry them at DP. I think that the Tactical ride will come into play again & I don't like that rule either - it's worked against Sheffield at home many times in the last couple of years. Think the Tigers will do well to keep it to a 12 point margin - enjoy!

Never thought it would be that close! What a finish, the last 3 heats were worth the admission price alone if you were a Tigers, Comets or neutral fan, although I must admit it was probably a better experience for the Sheffield fans. This is why we watch speedway isn't it? The Comets rode well tonight & rather than giving away the win in my eyes it was taken from them! They deserved something from the meeting and took a well earned point. I must agree with an earlier post that Kyle Howarth was their best rider of the night, considering his age & experience and I can only see him improving. As for the comments about the tractor - the track was the same for both teams - it's not like it was sent out covertly whilst the Worky riders were having a cuppa!

So much for the weather forecasts, about 5 miles from Owlerton & it's chucking it down! Just watching local TV forecast - it's showing persistent rain showers throughout the evening - sun now shining through break in very dark sky! Too late if you're coming from Worky, but if it's just showers might get the meeting on & completed if the showers don't last too long! Here's hoping as we will be going - rain or shine!

This could be a very close contest; Lawson usually puts in a good performance at Owlerton and Bach can certainly ride the track. Mills if on form could dominate heat 2 & his later contests against the reserves. However if the Tigers can replicate their previous Thursday night showings then once again it should be a home win without too much trouble. As for the heat leaders Stead has been dominant as has Hall, Wells has done ok if he's gated and been in front, if not it's just been 'follow my leader'. However following up on previous posts Ricky has been waving to the crowd following heat wins (not too enthusiastically I might add!) Does he read these forums?

On last nights showing and last Thursdays the Sheffield team look a better outfit than last years. If they can maintain this form then 'happy days'. However like a lot of posts are saying it's early days but things do look a lot better than last year, so expectations are high. Richard Hall does get his fair share of stick from the Tigers fans on here (guilty myself) but he has hit good form early doors & only mechanical gremlins have prevented him doing even better. Facu Albin his riding says it all - what a signing he is! The posts from Leicester fans do have a lot of credibility and they have lost (for the time being) one of the best riders in the Premier league. Adam Roynon was very good at Sheffield last year & if he comes back with that form then the Lions will no doubt finish in the top half. But back to last night Karlsson has never had his best nights at Sheffield & Doolan never has looked 100% comfortable around here, especially after his home straight spill in 2008 when riding for K Lynn. Bjerre didn't look as good as last year - was it because the Tigers riders got the better of him? He won heat 12 quite easily after passing Joe who's looked out of sorts up to now (is it his machinery?). Thought the Lions reserves would have made a better show of it last night, but I think they will improve and I think it might be a lot closer meeting when they come back at the end of next month in the league meeting.

Really pleased with the performance tonight although the final score didn't really reflect the dominance of the Tigers heat leaders, with the Lions riders only actually winning three heats! Joe & Damien have to up their home form, but they may prove useful on away tracks. The rider I was most impressed with tonight was Jake Knight he really did look as if he was giving everything, unfortunately for him too much in heat 4. Ok he only scored 5 points from six rides, but for most of the night he looked on the pace and couldn't be faulted for his effort. Yes one or two of the Lions riders were a little self desctructive at times, but as in heat 3 they could only do their best to catch the man in front & Richard Hall wasn't going to be caught tonight! Hope they can maintain (& some improve on) this effort.

According to this evenings forecast we are due for some rain (not known exactly how much, but not thought to be torrential) during the day, but this should be mainly on the pennines. From early afternoon it should be to the west that gets most rain and staying away from 1700 hours onwards. & No this is not Neil Machins forecast!This could well have changed come tonights & tomorrow mornings TV so keep your eyes & ears open. Really hope it stays away, we don't want another year like last & I want to see some more quality racing at Owlerton.

Got to agree with that. Facundo really looked good and when he went round with Steady he looked well on the pace, infact it was a bit scary at times as they got quite close on a couple of occasions. Our little gang of observers all think he should start at reserve. He'll not be there for long though! Thanks Berwick Bandits!

So there is some common sense in the rule book!

Used to see that regularly in 2011 with Josh Auty, how many times did he almost bring down or cause his team mate to fall. Remember Skiddy having a go at him in the pits after one particularly selfish display, he said something like, "it's not all about you Josh!" To which Auty just gave some obscenity back. If I remember right he hit Sanchezs' back wheel in one meeting taking himself out of the race. He was exciting to watch, but not racing recklessly against his own team!

Looking at the admission prices on the website, the 'concessions' is followed by OAP, over 65s' with ID. In past years I thought this had also included Students over 16 who are in full time education (with proof). Are they expecting these students to now pay full price? Think this is harsh for someone with no or very little income to pay full price! Anyone know any different?

You couldn't fit him in by .01 is probably the only reason that he isn't in your team and that's why you've got Edberg. Please feel free to correct me if I'm way off the mark. I do know that you've got one of the best number ones in the league and can't wait to see him come to Sheffield. Always entertaining Ricky Smashworth as the Berwick fans named him a few years ago!