SteveEvans

Sorry to say the Mildenhall race on the 9th has been postponed due to the Fen Tigers success - spare dates are needed for KO Cup and Play Offs but Chris Louis wants us next time! Also likely the Leicester date will move forward to the 8th or 9th. Awaiting confirmation on 4 other possibilities for the last 1-2 events.

Of course Fishback is one of a kind - I'm sure he will be back some time. Having a young team means continual improvement every event - some of the older riders (McConnell / Nicol) find their level after a match and that is what you get. Note that it's Buman, Stark's and Novratil's stage to shine on, being their third UK trip each - three trips is usually what it takes to get a rider who has it PL ready. Also note Green and Raines are very accomplished riders in the USA and come at a higher level than most of the new kids we bring over. I think exciting times are ahead!

We have updated our squad following last weekends USA Under 21 Championships and are pleased to announce the top three riders in the USA Under 21 Final as it stands will be on the tour. Joining the squad are AUSTIN NOVRATIL and runner up RUSSELL GREEN. Novratil is intending to make a run at getting to at least the semi final stages of the World Under 21 Championship next season, so racing on the tour is vital in giving him enough laps in Europe. Green has been out of action for much of 2011 but he returned to the saddle in the last three weeks. During this time he has exploded into the best form of his career - aside from the 2nd place spot in the Under 21's he has made the Main at event at all of the big three USA tracks as well as winning the Victorville Best Pairs with Eddie Castro. BRYCE STARKS, winner in 2009 and 2010, came third and is also on the squad. The revised squad is Rocco Scopellite (15) Austin Novratil (16) Mike Buman (19) Bryce Starks (19) Russell Green (20) Michael Raines (23) Robbie Sauer (43) Eddie Castro (52)

As its a Heathens match you I am sure Young Heathen Brits will feature. Also would expect Jaimie Pickard too.

'Flyin' Mike is older than Eddie! The meeting will be for National League riders only I understand. Being as its a Heathens fixture I am sure the Under 21s on the team will feature. The USA team will most likely have 5 Under 21 year old riders, a 23 year old and a Castro!

Note its actually been clarified we will be racing against GB Under 21, not Under 22. With Eddie Castro leading the Americans we may call ourselves USA Under 53!

Yes.

As it stands; 5th October King's Lynn 6th October Redcar 9th October Mildenhall 11th October Dudley (Vs GB Under 22) 13th October Sheffield 15th October Leicester

Full 6 match tour dates agreed! Will release in due course when the promoters in question allow. But some awesome venues!

Interestingly enough this kind of thing has happened a lot in Formula One over the years (anyone remember 1994 and Benetton team, famed for their fast pit stops having a part removed from the refuelling hose that made the petrol go in faster?). The usual handling in F1 was a fine and sometimes a points deduction, yet the teams keep racing. In other sports cheating has occurred - baseball legend Sammy Sosa was found to have an illegal bat in 2003, for which he received a 7 game (1 week) suspension. Eddie, if found guilty by hearing, will no doubt be penalized as should any rider who breaks the rules. If indeed this practice has been widespread as alleged, hopefully this incident will be a deterrent to others and anyone who has been tampering will get honest and straight. Edward Kennett will suffer for the loss of income based on whatever term he cannot ride for and a reputation that will be hard to shake off. I hope that if he is guilty he will learn from this and return a better person and rider. Gary Havelock did - 12 month drug ban, missed all of 1990 season yet was World Champ in 1992. I can understand 100% the upset of Coventry fans who after last night thought they were play off bound and now have to recover from this hammer blow.

The schedule as it stands right now; 5th October King's Lynn (NL) 6th October Redcar (PL) 9th October Mildenhall The remaining three dates are close to finalization - we agreed a date today in what will be a showpiece race but the promotion of the venue in question will announce the fixture when they decide.

American races often have five riders. It's looking very likely this track will be running this year. It is a very exciting project and would be a big time deal. Speedway and Vegas is a perfect match and would be a nice closed season holiday for Brit fans.

USA Touring Team have unveiled what they feel is 'possibly the best squad we have ever had' for their October tour. The team features two of the very best domestic based USA riders, four teenagers who are all intent on British careers, as well a rider in his early 20's described by tour management as perhaps the fastest rising rider in the USA right now. The team will be once more captained by 52 year old EDDIE CASTRO. Castro will start a record breaking fifth tour of the UK and shows no signs of slowing down. Having been hugely popular stateside for many seasons, he now has a big UK following with his racing exploits that have won him many British fans. He is most likely joined at the top of the team by JIMMY FISHBACK. Fishback, who is working out final logistics to be on the team, is keen to return to the UK where he made a huge impression two years ago. He currently is at the top of the domestic California scene with Main Event wins and appearances at all four tracks running a summer schedule. Nineteen year old MIKE BUMAN returns for his third tour in the last year. The New York based rider is just back in the UK after a successful trip in the Spring where he top scored at Dudley & Buxton, as well as scoring 5 points against Premier League opposition at Plymouth. He is keen to use this tour to cement his spot in the 2012 Premier League. Also looking out for a 2012 league spot is current Under 21 National Champion BRYCE STARKS. Starks was a revelation last October with some impressive rides, Belle Vue and Weymouth especially. He also scored 7 points and just missed out on qualifying in the World Under 21s in Germany. Still only nineteen but back for a second stint on the team is JASON RAMIREZ. Ramirez is a former Junior National Champion and impressed in the 2009 tour, getting heat 15 at Poole on his UK debut. He has huge potential and underlined this with a Main Event win at Perris earlier this season. A rider rapidly on the rise in the USA is 23 year old MICHAEL RAINES. Raines is a former Arenacross Pro and has only been riding for 18 months, but he has already claimed numerous scalps in his short career. He has made main events at three tracks this year and a rider who has huge potential. Also making his British debut will be 15 year old ROCCO SCOPELLITE. Scopellite started racing Pee Wee Speedway in 2004, then progressed as a junior and now is on a 500cc bike. He has dominated Division Two in the US wherever he has ridden this year and also scored 9 points on his Division One debut at Victorville. The number 8 spot on the team will be offered to ROBBIE SAUER. Sauer came on the team last October and struggled on bikes that were not set up for his tall frame. He will be a different rider this time and will show his true abilities on more familiar equipment. Our good friends Shawn McConnell and Doug Nicol, who contribute so much to the tour on and off the track, are potential standbys if a place opens up. It is also of note that two young riders who came close to joining the team this tour have already pledged their support for next April's tour, should one occur. The Touring Team will be in the UK between 3rd and 17th October and is looking to race at National League and, with some help from their UK based American friends, Premier too. There are also possibly some GB Vs USA Test matches being looked at. The team has two riders who are virtually PL ready for 2012, two more in Ramirez and Raines for 2013 and a long term potential star in Scopellite. Castro and Fishback too would consider they can do a job in the PL already so there has possibly never been such a squad of prospects since touring began. We look forward to showcasing some tremendous racing this October, meeting friends old and new, and showing the fun side of speedway!

As good as it can be it would be even better if it was a real team event with team riding. Make it every 2 years, with qualifying on the off year. Have one country stage all events and rotate it between nations. Main tournment - 8 teams, 6 man teams (plus one reserve), run on old traditional test match format with 2 nominated heats at the end. Straight knock out competition and spice it up with NO seedings - match ups pulled out of the hat. 7 matches in total. The winners of the 1st matches are seeded to the next competition in 2 years. The 4 nations who lose go to qualifying tournaments in the off year (could be four touraments of four teams, knockout, 3 meetings, winner of each goes to next world cup.

Looking to name the full team this Sunday - its a bit manic right now with many options and choices - any final requests?

Seems an odd night and hope any injuries are minor. Would be good to hear what occured from someone who was there.

We billed the match as being the closest thing in America to a British match so glad we could keep it real Lefty! Been in the Moreton lately?

Pleased to say our tour opens at King's Lynn on October 5th. The full 1-7 should be known within the week with any luck.

We ran a rare night of team racing at Victorville on Saturday using full British League rules. Lots of familar faces riding - 10 of the rider have been on recent tours (if you include Drew Coats who was Tyson's pit man), whilst Rocco Scopellite is down for the October tour and Aaron Fox is a possible addition too. Professors vs. Students June 25, 2011 Results By: Steve Evans Professors edge Students in team thriller at Victorville. Eddie Castro and Shawn McConnell combined for a last heat 5-1 to take a narrow a victory for the 'Professors' over the 'Student's in an epic team encounter at Victorville, which pitted a team of riders over 40 versus a team of riders under 25. The match featured a full British League format race with all the trimmings - team riding, helmet colors, race bibs, rider replacement rule and tactical rides. The action got underway with Castro leading home Joey Holt and Robbie Sauer for an opening heat 4-2. The race needed to be re run after a crash on lap one where Sauer sustained a rib injury, though despite being in obvious pain, he continued the whole night. Heat 2 featured the 1st Division debut of 15 year old American Touring Team rider Rocco Scopellite and he impressed with a fabulous charge from the back to win over guest rider Drew Coats from the Professors. Heat 3 was another tied race and another classic - Aaron Fox and John Marquez gated on a 5-1 only for Robbie Sauer to dive between them both to take the lead on lap two. Fox fought back to take the win whilst Doug Nicol got by Marquez. The Professors edged four up in heat 4 when McConnell won from Scopellite, Sonnier holding off Holt. Heat 5 was shared with Sauer winning from Holt and Manzares. Heat 6 had Castro and McConnell 5-1 over Dylan Black and Fox, putting the older riders up 22-14. Heat 7 once again saw the Fox / Marquez pairing gate on a 5-1, but McConnell was having none of it with an outside pass stunning Fox, whilst Coats picked up a third place, making the lead ten points. Heat 8 had Casto lead home Scopellite and Holt. Heat 9 was perhaps where the match turned. Students Manager Steve Graham elected #1 rider Gino Manzares for a tactical double point ride. Doug Nicol for the students took off and rode into the distance before a turn three fall earned his exclusion. Manzares did not get the bike down in time and collected Nicol, who had to withdraw from the match with a shoulder injury. Manzares got the 6 point win from Sauer and Black, so the ten point lead was down to 5 at 31-26. Castro won his 4th from Fox and Marquez in heat 10. Heat 11 was perhaps the race of 16 year old Joey Holt's career. McConnell led the race but Holt, the student of McConnell for many years, took his teacher back to school with a stunning outside pass and the only defeat of McConnell all night. Manzares's third place brought the lead down to three. Heat 12 had another good ride from a Spring Touring Team member - Dylan Black holding second place behind a hugely impressive Aaron Fox, the 5-1 putting the Youngsters one point up. Heat 13 had Castro and McConnell take the lead back with a 5-1 over Marquez and Scopellite to put the Old team back up by three, though McConnell took three laps to find a way by Marquez. The lead once more swung back to the Young rider when Marquez had an excellent win in heat 14 with Scopellite following home, The one point lead was not enough though as Castro, who scored a fantastic 18 point maximum and McConnell gating and leading home Fox and Holt for a decisive 5-1 The Sidecars once more ran an extended program as a result of the previous weeks well received headline show. Brandi McElroy was once more the winning passenger, though this time she was partnered by Dan Jones. Joe Jones and Jimmy Olsen got 2nd on the line from Shawn & Missy Driggers. Nicholas Varner overcame his large handicap to win the Junior class over Gino Scopellite, Sebastian Palmese was third. 8 Division Three riders went through heats, semis and a last chance race in the 'Golden Gallons' Challenge - the winner getting 5 gallons of fuel courtesy of American Die Casting. Brad Russell made a fine gate and won the final. Joey St. Louis was 2nd, points leader Tony DeAlmeida third. Nicholas Varner showed much improvement on his 250cc bike, beating Tony DeAlmeida in all three 250 Vs 500cc match race challenges. Luke Whitcomb won the Pee Wees after Dakota Shockley won both heats. 'WAR OF THE AGES' TEAM RACE SCORES PROFESSORS - 48 1. Eddie Castro....................3 3 3 3 3 3....18 2. R/R 3. Robbie Sauer..................1 2 3 2 1..........9 4. Doug Nicol........................1' 0 X..................1+1 5. Shawn McConnell...........3 2' 3 2 2' 2'....14+3 6. Drew Coats (Guest)........2 1 0 1...............4 7. Marvin Sonnier..................1' 1 0 0 0 R.....2+1 STUDENTS - 45 1. Gino Manzares.................0 1' 6 1..............8+1 2. Joey Holt...........................2 0 2 1' 3 0......8+1 3. Aaron Fox.........................3 0 2 2 3 1 11 4. John Marquez..................0 0 1' 1 3...........5+1 5. Jason Ramirez R/R 6. Dylan Black......................0 1 1 2'...............4+1 7. Rocco Scopellite.............3 2 2 0 2'...........9+1 Heat 1: Castro, Holt, Sauer, Manzares (4-2) Heat 2: Scopellite, Coats, Sonier, Black (tapes penalty) (7-5) Heat 3: Fox, Sauer, Nicol, Marquez (10-8) Heat 4: McConnell, Scopellite, Sonnier, Holt (14-10) Heat 5: Sauer, Holt, Manzares, Nicol (17-13) Heat 6: Castro, McConnell, Black, Fox (22-14) Heat 7: McConnell, Fox, Coats, Marquez (26-16) Heat 8: Castro, Scopellite, Holt, Sonnier (29-19) Heat 9: Manzares (Tactical Ride), Sauer, Black, Nicol excluded (31-26) Heat 10: Castro, Fox, Marquez, Sonnier (34-29) Heat 11: Holt, McConnell, Manzares, Coats (36-33) Heat 12: Fox, Black, Sauer, Sonnier (37-38) Heat 13: Castro, McConnell, Marquez, Scopellite (42-39) Heat 14: Marquez, Scopellite, Coats, Sonnier retired (43-44) Heat 15: Castro, McConnell, Fox, Holt (48-45)

Talking of talent, unfortunately a schedule clash looks like it will make it impossible for #1 USA Flat Track rider 'Slammin' Sammy Halbert to join the team this time around. Halbert had audaciously approached the Touring Team for a spot after having won the prestigious Daytona Flat Track in March, and the TV interviewer suggested that based off of his style, he should perhaps try racing speedway. We arranged a test with Billy Hamill and Halbert, per the Bullet's assessment looked like the most natural rider he had ever seen jump on a bike. After the video of Halbert's test hit Youtube, one Elite League promoter contacted us with the view of a team place for Sammy in 2012 - quite amazing for a rider who has never actually ridden in a speedway race! Now the AMA have added an extra round to the series which would rule out any travel to the UK in October, as chasing the #1 plate is Sammy's main goal right now. Sammy, who has also recently tried road racing, is committed to giving speedway a shot and we will look at bringing him to the UK at a future time.

He had a late start to the year but is riding now - came 5th place at Victorville 2 weeks ago (behind Hamill, Fishback, Castro, Novratil).

There is always a chance Norman

First date on the schedule - a return to Mildenhall on October 9th, our first visit in almost 5 years!

Time doesn't heal does it?

In that case Sandie can buy you a pint!