lucifer sam

I was referring to the 2015 Stags rather than the 2014 Stags. 2011 was Year 2 for Ashley Birks and Steve Worrall, and Year 1.5 for Richie Worrall. Who knows what will happen in Year 2 for the current crop? All the best Rob

Nope it's there. I just checked. Instead of a definition, there's a picture of Eddie. All the best Rob

Richie Worrall, with less than a year's speedway experience at that point in his career. And a Scunthorpe Saints team that just avoided the wooden spoon in 2010, but then won the league in 2011. Who's to say this time next year, it won't be likes of Liam Sanderson and Ryan MacDonald and Reece Downes and... well you get the idea... scoring maximums against the Kings. Anyone calling the Stags too weak, could eventually left be choking on their own words. All the best Rob

What day is it today? All the best Rob

1. Coventry to stage a home meeting by July. 2. Tsunami and TWK to have a row, but kiss and make-up around September-time (it's play-off time, and TWK is always on edge while those are taking place). 3. Prague to stage a GP on a slick and rubbish track. All the best Rob

I only mentioned the Scunny vs Sheffield meetings; who mentioned league positions? Would you like some Curry Sauce with that chip All the best Rob Spinny, it's good to see. It would be great to see both clubs in serious contention for the 2014 honours. All the best Rob

HT, I don't see this. How does a healthy win for the home side affect their attendances? Cradley clobber the opposition every week and yet have the best attendances in the league. All the best Rob

Spinny, you can have that one yesterday. After all, Scunny did the league double over the Tigers in 2012... and again in 2013. And we'll just do the double double over you guys in the 2014 Premier League Seriously though, 'twas a good meeting yesterday and there should be some cracking meetings between the two teams this season. All the best Rob

Any weather updates? Thanks. All the best Rob

I should have spotted that Never mind, "great minds think alike" or maybe "fools seldom differ". All the best Rob

It is indeed. Although the first digit of the age of the Newcastle fan is upside down... shouldn't that be a 9 rather than a 6. All the best Rob

I thought you were loyal to Sunderland TWK.... how could you defect to the mortal enemy It's like me becoming a Swindon fan........... never!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the best Rob

I see '86 as the turning point. Nielsen had been the victim until this point - he'd often been pushed around when it came to the vital races (including by Knudsen in '85). In that race against Knudsen at Katowice, Nielsen showed his ruthless side. Tommy left a hole, Hans roared through it. No he didn't leave Tommy a lot of room, but had their positions been reversed, I doubt Knudsen would have left him even that much room. I always get the feeling that the mutual respect between Nielsen and Gundersen didn't exist between Nielsen and Knudsen. I can't remember Nielsen or Gundersen ever crashing into each other, whereas it happened all the time with Nielsen and Knudsen. Knudsen was a rather dirty rider, and Nielsen, in turn, would give Knudsen a rough time. I always felt if Tommy had rode more cleanly, he would have ended up as World Champion - he did have a terrific talent for riding a speedway bike. But he was also too injury prone. All the best Rob

NEW ERA DAWNS FOR FLUID-AIR POWER SCORPIONS IN 30-HEAT FEAST OF SPEEDWAY THE SCUNTHORPE SCOPRIONS take to the track for the first time in 2014 on Sunday… with a brand new team sponsor, FLUID-AIR POWER LTD. It’s the first of six successive double-headers at the Eddie Wright Raceway, featuring both the FluidAir Power Scorpions and the National League Scunthorpe Stags, the latter being a team packed with potential Scorpions of the future. The action starts at 3pm, with the Scorpions taking on local rivals, the Sheffield Tigers, with League Cup points up for stake. It will be followed, at approximately 4.30-5pm, by a National League clash between the Stags and Kent Kings. “With a new team sponsor, it feels a bit like a new era”, said Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey. “Hopefully it will be the beginning of a very successful and very fruitful partnership between the club and FluidAir Power Ltd. “Although having said that, they’ve always sponsored us right from the beginning – it’s just that now, as a growing company, they’ve decided to take it to the next step and become our team sponsors. “FluidAir Power have certainly come in as team sponsors at a good time, because we feel we have a very good side this season. Our main aim this season is simple: to regain the Premier League championship that we won in 2012.” Local firm FluidAir Power Ltd are based on Foxhills Industrial Estate in Scunthorpe and supply hydraulic and pneumatic components. There’s a strong chance that Scunthorpe’s Australian reserve, Ryan Douglas, will miss Sunday’s meeting. Both the management and fans have been on tenterhooks all winter, hoping that Douglas - in sensational form in the closing months of 2013 - would be granted the visa he required to resume racing with the Scorpions in 2014. The good news earlier this week was that the visa has been granted and despatched to 20-year-old Douglas. He is waiting for it to arrive, and the moment it does, he can hop on a plane from Australia to the UK. Godfrey conceded: “We have to realistic, and admit the chances are that Ryan won’t be over here in time for Sunday’s meeting. “There’s no point in re-declaring our line-up for one meeting, so we’ll have to use a National League guest. “So we have James Sarjeant on standby to guest against Sheffield – he’s got off to a flying start to the season and I’m sure he will do a fine job for us, if we do require him to ride in Ryan’s place. “Anything can happen on Sunday – we have a couple of riders in their first meeting back from injury. But David Howe is back to the old David; he’s fitting fit and cannot wait for the season to start. And our captain Ashley Birks is also keen to resume racing; no-one should under-estimate Ash’s determination. “Should we be without Ryan on Sunday, and it looks like we will, I’m sure the rest of the team will rise to the challenge of overcoming a new-look Sheffield side. “In the meantime, I’m looking at the bigger picture, which is that we will have Ryan over here this season. That’s a huge plus for us, and a huge minus for every other side in the Premier League! “One rider does not make a side, but a strong reserve can make such a difference. Given that, in my opinion, all our top five are also of heat-leader standard, it makes us very strong and solid indeed.” Swede Anders Mellgren, the club’s new No 1, and Lancastrian Matt Williamson both make their debuts for the Scorpions on Sunday. One change on Sunday is to the cut-off point for admission prices for children, which has been raised so that all those under 18 are now regarded as children in terms of admission. Godfrey said: “I think we might be the first club to do it. The cut-off point is normally 16, but we’re going to raise that to 18. “It’s the sensible thing to do. I suppose we might lose a few quid from those already coming in; but I prefer to see it as an opportunity of encouraging a few more younger people along. “16 and 17-year-olds don’t have a lot of money and these days they have to still be in some form of education. By the time they are 18, they can leave education and are subject to a higher minimum wage. “The school-leaving age has been raised, and it makes sense to move with the times. It was a suggestion on our forum. I take people up on the things they suggest sometimes; there are some good suggestions on there. We are a club that listens to its supporters. “I think it will benefit us in the long-term. We’ll monitor it and see what it brings in.” Sunday’s adult admission price for the double-header is £17. It’s just £2 more than a single Premier League meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway, for 15 extra heats of action. The circuit rightfully has won the award, several times, for being the best racetrack in the Premier League, so a full and exciting day of racing is ahead. Adult: £17.00 Student/OAP: £15.00 Child (10 – 17): £5.00 Child (0 – 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult) Family Ticket £39 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-17) Match Programme: £1.00 Expected teams for Sunday (English unless stated): FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Anders Mellgren (Sweden), 2. David Howe, 3. Thomas Jørgensen (Denmark), 4. Ashley Birks, 5. Josh Auty, 6. Matt Williamson, 7. Ryan Douglas (Australia) or James Sarjeant. Sheffield Tigers: 1. Simon Stead, 2. Simon Nielsen (Denmark), 3. Leigh Lanham, 4. Taylor Poole (Australia), 5. Adam Roynon, 6. Andre Compton, 7. Josh Bates. Scunthorpe Stags: 1. Steve Jones, 2. Ryan MacDonald (Scotland), 3. Danno Verge, 4. Tyler Govier, 5. Arron Mogridge, 6. Liam Sanderson, 7. Reece Downes. Kent Kings: 1. Simon Lambert, 2. Luke Chessell, 3. Ben Morley, 4. Benji Compton, 5. David Mason, 6. Daniel Blake, 7. Brandon Freemantle. Sheffield Tigers at EWR Ave Ave Best Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Performance Josh Bates PL 5 29 8 2 1.10 1.38 4 from 5 rides (2013) Andre Compton PL 11 48 80 7 6.67 7.25 13 from 5 rides (2005) Leigh Lanham PL 6 29 53 3 7.31 7.72 14 from 5 rides (inc 4 pts T/R (2011)) Simon Nielsen PL 2 8 7 3 3.50 5.00 4 + 1 from 4 rides (2013) Taylor Poole PL 4 19 30 4 6.32 7.16 18 from 7 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2010)) Adam Roynon PL 4 17 18 3 4.24 4.94 8 + 1 from 5 rides (2012) Simon Stead PL 2 10 19 0 7.60 7.60 14 from 5 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2013)) Other Notes Josh Bates Began the 2013 season in the Scunthorpe Scorpions Premier League side. Member of Mildenhall's National League Championship, KO Cup and Trophy Winning Teams in 2012. Will be making his Sheffield debut. Andre Compton 2004 Premier League Riders' Champion. Member of Sheffield's 1999 Premier League Championship Winning Team. Member of Newcastle's 2001 Premier League Championship Winning Team. Member of Sheffield's Premier League Four-Team Championship Winning Team in 1999. Member of Workington's Young Shield Winning Team in 2009. Leigh Lanham 1997 British Under-21 Champion. Member of Exeter's Young Shield Winning Team in 1997. Member of Newport's Premier League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011. Will be making his Sheffield debut. Simon Nielsen Has previously rode in the Premier League with Workington, Leicester and Plymouth. Winner of the 2005 Individual FIM Youth Gold Trophy (80cc), unofficial Under-16 World Championship. Will be making his Sheffield debut. Taylor Poole Returning to British speedway after a year's absence. 2012 Australian Under-21 Champion. Will be making his Sheffield debut. Adam Roynon 2006 Conference League Riders Champion. Member of Mildenhall's Conference League Championship and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2004. Member of Rye House's Premier League Championship Winning Team in 2007. Member of Dudley's National League Shield and Four-Team Championship Winning Teams in 2011. Member of Dudley's National League Shield Winning Team in 2012. Member of Workington's Premier League Pairs Winning duo in 2012. Simon Stead Three times British Under-21 Champion (2001 to 2003). Youth Development League Riders Champion 1998. Has ridden in 4 Speedway GPs and 5 World Cup Tournaments. Member of Peterborough's Premier League Championship Winning Team in 1998. Member of Sheffield's Premier League Championship and Young Shield Winning Teams in 1999 and 2002. Member of Sheffield's Premier Trophy Winning Team in 2001 and KO Cup Winning Team in 2002. Three times Premier League Fours Winner (1999/2000 with Sheffield and 2004 with Workington). Member of Workington's Premier League Pairs Winning Duo in 2003. Member of Belle Vue's Elite League Pairs Winning Duo in 2006. Member of Belle Vue's Elite League KO Cup Winning Team in 2005. Member of Coventry's Elite League Craven Shield Winning Team in 2008. Member of Swindon's Elite League Winning Team in 2012. Named as a 'doubling-up' rider with Leicester for the 2014 Elite League season. Sheffield Tigers' Results at EWR 23 October 2005 CH L Scunthorpe 47 Sheffield 43 30 October 2007 CH W Scunthorpe 44 Sheffield 45 21 March 2008 PT W Scunthorpe 41 Sheffield 48 11 April 2008 KOC W Scunthorpe 44 Sheffield 48 15 August 2008 PL W Scunthorpe 43 Sheffield 47 20 March 2009 CH L Scunthorpe 60 Sheffield 32 05 May 2009 PL L Scunthorpe 57 Sheffield 38 19 March 2010 PT L Scunthorpe 43 Sheffield 33 30 August 2010 PL W Scunthorpe 41 Sheffield 51 18 March 2011 CH W Scunthorpe 43 Sheffield 47 10 June 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 46 Sheffield 43 04 June 2012 LC W Scunthorpe 40 Sheffield 50 17 August 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 51 Sheffield 42 05 April 2013 LC L Scunthorpe 50 Sheffield 38 21 June 2013 PL L Scunthorpe 63 Sheffield 31 29 September 2013 RC L Scunthorpe 54 Sheffield 24 (stats courtesy of John Eyre) Scunthorpe Scorpions Team sponsors: FluidAir Power Ltd: www.fluidair-power.co.uk

NEW ERA DAWNS FOR FLUID-AIR POWER SCORPIONS IN 30-HEAT FEAST OF SPEEDWAY THE SCUNTHORPE SCOPRIONS take to the track for the first time in 2014 on Sunday… with a brand new team sponsor, FLUID-AIR POWER LTD. It’s the first of six successive double-headers at the Eddie Wright Raceway, featuring both the FluidAir Power Scorpions and the National League Scunthorpe Stags, the latter being a team packed with potential Scorpions of the future. The action starts at 3pm, with the Scorpions taking on local rivals, the Sheffield Tigers, with League Cup points up for stake. It will be followed, at approximately 4.30-5pm, by a National League clash between the Stags and Kent Kings. “With a new team sponsor, it feels a bit like a new era”, said Scunthorpe promoter Rob Godfrey. “Hopefully it will be the beginning of a very successful and very fruitful partnership between the club and FluidAir Power Ltd. “Although having said that, they’ve always sponsored us right from the beginning – it’s just that now, as a growing company, they’ve decided to take it to the next step and become our team sponsors. “FluidAir Power have certainly come in as team sponsors at a good time, because we feel we have a very good side this season. Our main aim this season is simple: to regain the Premier League championship that we won in 2012.” Local firm FluidAir Power Ltd are based on Foxhills Industrial Estate in Scunthorpe and supply hydraulic and pneumatic components. There’s a strong chance that Scunthorpe’s Australian reserve, Ryan Douglas, will miss Sunday’s meeting. Both the management and fans have been on tenterhooks all winter, hoping that Douglas - in sensational form in the closing months of 2013 - would be granted the visa he required to resume racing with the Scorpions in 2014. The good news earlier this week was that the visa has been granted and despatched to 20-year-old Douglas. He is waiting for it to arrive, and the moment it does, he can hop on a plane from Australia to the UK. Godfrey conceded: “We have to realistic, and admit the chances are that Ryan won’t be over here in time for Sunday’s meeting. “There’s no point in re-declaring our line-up for one meeting, so we’ll have to use a National League guest. “So we have James Sarjeant on standby to guest against Sheffield – he’s got off to a flying start to the season and I’m sure he will do a fine job for us, if we do require him to ride in Ryan’s place. “Anything can happen on Sunday – we have a couple of riders in their first meeting back from injury. But David Howe is back to the old David; he’s fitting fit and cannot wait for the season to start. And our captain Ashley Birks is also keen to resume racing; no-one should under-estimate Ash’s determination. “Should we be without Ryan on Sunday, and it looks like we will, I’m sure the rest of the team will rise to the challenge of overcoming a new-look Sheffield side. “In the meantime, I’m looking at the bigger picture, which is that we will have Ryan over here this season. That’s a huge plus for us, and a huge minus for every other side in the Premier League! “One rider does not make a side, but a strong reserve can make such a difference. Given that, in my opinion, all our top five are also of heat-leader standard, it makes us very strong and solid indeed.” Swede Anders Mellgren, the club’s new No 1, and Lancastrian Matt Williamson both make their debuts for the Scorpions on Sunday. One change on Sunday is to the cut-off point for admission prices for children, which has been raised so that all those under 18 are now regarded as children in terms of admission. Godfrey said: “I think we might be the first club to do it. The cut-off point is normally 16, but we’re going to raise that to 18. “It’s the sensible thing to do. I suppose we might lose a few quid from those already coming in; but I prefer to see it as an opportunity of encouraging a few more younger people along. “16 and 17-year-olds don’t have a lot of money and these days they have to still be in some form of education. By the time they are 18, they can leave education and are subject to a higher minimum wage. “The school-leaving age has been raised, and it makes sense to move with the times. It was a suggestion on our forum. I take people up on the things they suggest sometimes; there are some good suggestions on there. We are a club that listens to its supporters. “I think it will benefit us in the long-term. We’ll monitor it and see what it brings in.” Sunday’s adult admission price for the double-header is £17. It’s just £2 more than a single Premier League meeting at the Eddie Wright Raceway, for 15 extra heats of action. The circuit rightfully has won the award, several times, for being the best racetrack in the Premier League, so a full and exciting day of racing is ahead. Adult: £17.00 Student/OAP: £15.00 Child (10 – 17): £5.00 Child (0 – 9) Free (accompanied by paying adult) Family Ticket £39 (2 adults, 2 Children 10-17) Match Programme: £1.00 Expected teams for Sunday (English unless stated): FluidAir Power Scunthorpe Scorpions: 1. Anders Mellgren (Sweden), 2. David Howe, 3. Thomas Jørgensen (Denmark), 4. Ashley Birks, 5. Josh Auty, 6. Matt Williamson, 7. Ryan Douglas (Australia) or James Sarjeant. Sheffield Tigers: 1. Simon Stead, 2. Simon Nielsen (Denmark), 3. Leigh Lanham, 4. Taylor Poole (Australia), 5. Adam Roynon, 6. Andre Compton, 7. Josh Bates. Scunthorpe Stags: 1. Steve Jones, 2. Ryan MacDonald (Scotland), 3. Danno Verge, 4. Tyler Govier, 5. Arron Mogridge, 6. Liam Sanderson, 7. Reece Downes. Kent Kings: 1. Simon Lambert, 2. Luke Chessell, 3. Ben Morley, 4. Benji Compton, 5. David Mason, 6. Daniel Blake, 7. Brandon Freemantle. Sheffield Tigers at EWR Ave Ave Best Name Lge M R Pts BP (no BP) (w BP) Performance Josh Bates PL 5 29 8 2 1.10 1.38 4 from 5 rides (2013) Andre Compton PL 11 48 80 7 6.67 7.25 13 from 5 rides (2005) Leigh Lanham PL 6 29 53 3 7.31 7.72 14 from 5 rides (inc 4 pts T/R (2011)) Simon Nielsen PL 2 8 7 3 3.50 5.00 4 + 1 from 4 rides (2013) Taylor Poole PL 4 19 30 4 6.32 7.16 18 from 7 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2010)) Adam Roynon PL 4 17 18 3 4.24 4.94 8 + 1 from 5 rides (2012) Simon Stead PL 2 10 19 0 7.60 7.60 14 from 5 rides (inc 6 pts T/R (2013)) Other Notes Josh Bates Began the 2013 season in the Scunthorpe Scorpions Premier League side. Member of Mildenhall's National League Championship, KO Cup and Trophy Winning Teams in 2012. Will be making his Sheffield debut. Andre Compton 2004 Premier League Riders' Champion. Member of Sheffield's 1999 Premier League Championship Winning Team. Member of Newcastle's 2001 Premier League Championship Winning Team. Member of Sheffield's Premier League Four-Team Championship Winning Team in 1999. Member of Workington's Young Shield Winning Team in 2009. Leigh Lanham 1997 British Under-21 Champion. Member of Exeter's Young Shield Winning Team in 1997. Member of Newport's Premier League KO Cup Winning Team in 2011. Will be making his Sheffield debut. Simon Nielsen Has previously rode in the Premier League with Workington, Leicester and Plymouth. Winner of the 2005 Individual FIM Youth Gold Trophy (80cc), unofficial Under-16 World Championship. Will be making his Sheffield debut. Taylor Poole Returning to British speedway after a year's absence. 2012 Australian Under-21 Champion. Will be making his Sheffield debut. Adam Roynon 2006 Conference League Riders Champion. Member of Mildenhall's Conference League Championship and KO Cup Winning Teams in 2004. Member of Rye House's Premier League Championship Winning Team in 2007. Member of Dudley's National League Shield and Four-Team Championship Winning Teams in 2011. Member of Dudley's National League Shield Winning Team in 2012. Member of Workington's Premier League Pairs Winning duo in 2012. Simon Stead Three times British Under-21 Champion (2001 to 2003). Youth Development League Riders Champion 1998. Has ridden in 4 Speedway GPs and 5 World Cup Tournaments. Member of Peterborough's Premier League Championship Winning Team in 1998. Member of Sheffield's Premier League Championship and Young Shield Winning Teams in 1999 and 2002. Member of Sheffield's Premier Trophy Winning Team in 2001 and KO Cup Winning Team in 2002. Three times Premier League Fours Winner (1999/2000 with Sheffield and 2004 with Workington). Member of Workington's Premier League Pairs Winning Duo in 2003. Member of Belle Vue's Elite League Pairs Winning Duo in 2006. Member of Belle Vue's Elite League KO Cup Winning Team in 2005. Member of Coventry's Elite League Craven Shield Winning Team in 2008. Member of Swindon's Elite League Winning Team in 2012. Named as a 'doubling-up' rider with Leicester for the 2014 Elite League season. Sheffield Tigers' Results at EWR 23 October 2005 CH L Scunthorpe 47 Sheffield 43 30 October 2007 CH W Scunthorpe 44 Sheffield 45 21 March 2008 PT W Scunthorpe 41 Sheffield 48 11 April 2008 KOC W Scunthorpe 44 Sheffield 48 15 August 2008 PL W Scunthorpe 43 Sheffield 47 20 March 2009 CH L Scunthorpe 60 Sheffield 32 05 May 2009 PL L Scunthorpe 57 Sheffield 38 19 March 2010 PT L Scunthorpe 43 Sheffield 33 30 August 2010 PL W Scunthorpe 41 Sheffield 51 18 March 2011 CH W Scunthorpe 43 Sheffield 47 10 June 2011 PL L Scunthorpe 46 Sheffield 43 04 June 2012 LC W Scunthorpe 40 Sheffield 50 17 August 2012 PL L Scunthorpe 51 Sheffield 42 05 April 2013 LC L Scunthorpe 50 Sheffield 38 21 June 2013 PL L Scunthorpe 63 Sheffield 31 29 September 2013 RC L Scunthorpe 54 Sheffield 24 (stats courtesy of John Eyre) Scunthorpe Scorpions Team sponsors: FluidAir Power Ltd: www.fluidair-power.co.uk

Minimal contact, and not at the moment when Carter fell. Carter's exclusion is the correct decision. The decisions in the '86 ans '93 finals were also correct - Knudsen should have been excluded (he moved back across too late when Nielsen was already coming through), but Nielsen's speed moved him wide as he passed Ermolenko and he was rightly excluded for that one. All the best Rob

Thanks. Sorry, misread that as speculation. That's a shame - was looking forward to some speedway. All the best Rob

Any updates on the weather for this meeting would be appreciated. Thanks. All the best Rob

It's about making sure everyone gets the news at more-or-less the same time - whether on the web, Speedway Star or Scunthorpe Telegraph. It's not easy to do, for example although subscribers get their copy of the Star today, a few readers would have picked up a copy at Poole last night. Most clubs try to co-ordinate their signings across the media. For Scunthorpe, the Telegraph and Star both come out on a Thursday, so that's when the club tends to announce its riders. All the best Rob Plus Tyler Govier for, at least, four meetings. All the best Rob

I saw Dave Hammond there on Sunday, so hopefully he'll be doing it every week. Both he and Peter York come up together from Oxfordshire. All the best Rob

Proof I'm not perfect either... now corrected. Sunday was ridiculous, embarrassing, call it what you like. But it happened, and it can't be made to un-happen. We just have to hope everyone involved learnt a valuable lesson. The last thing we need is to lose Coventry Speedway. All the best Rob

Shovvy makes mistakes. Such as the time he missed the Coventry v Poole match, because he'd put the wrong type of fuel in his car. All the best Rob

Final two Stags riders to be announced first thing on Thursday morning. All the best Rob

Any news? All the best Rob

That noise is the great, late Charles Ochiltree turning in his grave. Total and utter farce tonight. All the best Rob