Steve55

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!

I couldn't agree more as I've said so already. Think he will be one of the biggest surprises in the premier league this year, well I hope so because I'll be there to se him every week. Get the track right and weather permitting Sheffield will be up there with the most fancied sides!

I'm happy because I'm one of those that think he has a lot more to show than he did last year at Sheffield. Yes he did do a lot of 'following home' after poor gating. But he did start making the effort later in the season, putting in some good passes, although he did come a cropper on at least one occasion on the third/fourth bend, when he was lucky not to get hurt. However he did try and that's what I pay to see, riders putting in the effort to get a result. On top of that he also has the quality to get results away from Sheffield, something that other Sheffield riders didn't seem to have last year. You know who I'm referring to and if we want to get anywhere near the playoffs they're all going to have to get points away this year. I know it's wishful thinking, but I really want the team to stick it up those who are tipping Sheffield as 'wooden spoonists' this year!

Looks like you're right Spinny, guess he will be announced Thursday as you predicted!

Remember him the evening he rode Sheffield on the Berwick team bike that eventually gave up on him. He looked very stylish & ar*e to the wind! His mother and I think sister (or girlfriend) were just past the third bend with an Argentinian flag, cheering him on. Liked the look of him then, & think he'll go down well at Owlerton - glad we've got him & not Berwick to be honest.

Odsal boy, agree with you on Simon Stead, although I see him being more of an Andre Compton (in his best days), there to set an example to the rest of the team and keeping the points clicking up. Joe I also believe will give as good as last year, although this year in the main body of the team it will make it more difficult to add to his average and maintaining his average at there or there abouts will be good enough for me. Albin & Koppe are really unknowns, some see as a bit of a gamble, but both I think will prove the risk and one or the other (hope both) will maintain their assessed average. Jake, well saw him last year and to be honest I wasn't impressed. Both when he rode as number 8 in PL and in the second halves a couple of times, he just didn't seem to have the pace. Hope I'm wrong and that he comes on strong from the very beginning, but I can see him being an early casualty to team improvements. Richard Hall, yes he can be absolutely brilliant & breath taking at times around Owlerton, but doesn't do it every week, plus his away form is poor. I really would like to see him improve away from home and I might wander further a field this year - weather permitting! Ricky Wells????? well we all know what he needs to do!

Read in Speedway Star today that Wells says and I quote, "Last years deal wasn't anything out of the water - it was actually about the same as what I was on at Stoke in 2010." Well welcome to the real world 'cos guess what, my wages haven't gone up since 2010 either, and I'll bet there a loads of others that stand watching on the terraces that are in the same boat. The only way I can add to my salary is to prove my working competencies, (Basically that I'm doing the job to the best of my abilities) and as a result get a so called bonus. So it's a case of getting your finger out and get some points. (Points = you are doing the job to the best of your ability = more money.)

Got to agree with you on that, and yes I would like to see him back at Owlerton. He has unfinished business in Sheffield and I'm sure if the tracks right, plus his set up from first race to last, there are more than a few 15 point maximums to be earnt! If you read this Ricky there are plenty at Sheffield would like to see you back giving it 100% - remember to smile a little more and look like you really are enjoying it!

Facu Albin could figure here, especially if Argentina invade the Falklands again! He could be interned! But seriously I think the management at Sheffield will have everything in place for their non-EU riders.

Thanks for that Spinny. The point I was making, but obviously didn't high light, is that Albin is obviously on less than what Wells will be being offered and that Wells is already going to be earning with Wolves. I accept that they are both at different stages in their careers, but the cost of living over here is the same for both of them. Wells will probably earn a little more for riding for USA, if they can qualify for the World Cup again.

Apparently he does have until the end of this week to make his mind up. Do you know who these 'outside influences' are that are advising him? What I can't understand is how the likes of Albin can come over from Argentina just to ride in the premier league. Is he going to be on more money than whats being offered to Wells? A rider on an assessed average getting a better deal than the supposed second heat leader! Is he bringing some kind of super sponsorship deal over with him, surely he can't have another job, or is his dad a rich man? Suppose he'll be living rent free at Grenoside!

Having read all the recent comments about Ricky Wells, both on here and the 'official' side, it would appear that Ricky thinks he's worth more than the offer that's been put to him. Talk of an 'outside influence' on his decision making, all I have seen evidence of is that Sam Ermolenko has been involved on his behalf whilst he's been back in the USA. IMO don't think Sam would get too involved over money matters, more like getting him set up with a decent team (LOL). As I've posted before, think he'll sign this week, on a deal like Squall originally posted & others have since, on a performance based payment, which might make his Sheffield riding mirror that for Wolves. In the present economic climate, what he did last year for Sheffield and his apparent, current attitude that can only be fair for all concerned. As for the to riders who are knocking at Hoggies door, hope Squall is right about that too, but I fear it's more likely to be Sanchez and Jakobsen.

My apologies, didn't realise he only rode in Britain last year!

Haven't we been here before? Nedermark is based on the continent so would cost more due to flights, machinery etc. If 7.99 is the amount why not go for someone with or near that average if they're going to have to pay the money? Wells will come, he's a bit short on what's available to him as well as the money on offer!

I thought it was the same deal that he had last year. If it was good enough then why isn't good enough now?Plus like many others have said 'it was down to him to get the points to make it pay.' Also it isn't very professional nor even polite to go about letting on what potential employers are offering him whilst negotiations are ongoing. It sounds like he doesn't want to ride for Sheffield this year, but if there's only Sheffield that can accomodate him, he's going to earn more from them than not riding in the Premier league at all! There are still a few others out there who could fill this last berth, but if these stories are true lets hope they're desperate for money!!!