lucifer sam

Unattached rider Coty Garcia rides for Scunthorpe, so that they can track four riders. Not a guest as such.

http://scunthorpescorpions.co/?p=8746

His guest bookings with Scorpions this weekend, before he got injured in Sweden on Tuesday.

What no-one has pointed out is the final of the 2017 SGB Championship Pairs at Sheffield. Ben Barker and Charles Wright held a 7-2 for most of the race, but Wright made a mistake on the final lap and Kyle Howarth and Lasse Bjerre came though. Barker slowed entering the third bend to try to assist his team-mate, and Sheffield pair also slowed as a result, and then Charles Wright smashed into Kyle Howarth in a frightening crash. Wright and Howarth both sustained injuries, with Wright ruled out for the rest of the season.

TOP BRIT Tai Woffinden says it was ‘good to be back’ riding for his country last week. The Scunthorpe born double World Champion scored a stunning 38 points out of a possible 39 in the Monster Energy FIM Speedway of Nations Final. But it wasn’t quite enough to hand GB the gold as Russia pipped them to the post in the final – despite Woffinden winning the race. Now he’s looking forward to a bright new future for the national side under the franchise ownership of Rob Painter and Vicky Blackwell through their VRX Motorsport team. “This is the first stage of a five-year plan for GB and whilst Rob Painter (team supremo) is making all the right noises I’ll be alongside him, he said. “I want to say I’m proud of young Robert Lambert, he did a great job throughout the tournament and also a special mention to Craig Cook who travelled with us and was a big member for us as part of the team. “It was good to be back racing for my country on a team basis.” Woffinden has explained the circumstances behind the final in Poland – he won the decider but with Russian duo Artem Laguta and Emil Sayfutdinov claiming second and third they effectively won the race 3+1-3. He said: “The plan was to win the final 5-1 or 4-2 and we knew we could do that so that was the goal. “In a final like that you cannot slow down the race like I did in previous heats. The competition is just too good, maybe 10 years ago you could but at world level now anyone can beat anyone and you have to do the best job you can. “Unfortunately the event rules state if you’re second and third you’re better then the winner! “There’s not many things in life where you get rewarded for losing! “I would like to congratulate Emil and Artem for their world title and look forward to doing it all again next year.” Woffinden has also congratulated newly crowned British Champion Lambert, who romped to the title with a six-ride maximum in Manchester on Monday. “He’s the future,” said Woffinden. “Congratulations to him, he deserves it. I know what it means to win your first national title and it’s pretty special.”

Fantastic performance by Great Britain - proud of them, but so disappointed at the same time. So close but so far. I think Woffy did the right thing in the final. Lambert was racing the inside line, and any attempt to slow Emil would have simply shut off any chance for Lambert to make the pass. He's done enough laps of Wroclaw to know when it's got so slick that team riding simply won't work. At it was, he did more to team-ride than any other rider. There were heroes. Woffy with 38 points out of 39, and Lambert racing his hear out. What a race to beat Magic! Much more optimistic about the future than I've been for ages.

The sensational Heat 5 from last night:

Good meeting - Heat 5 was brilliant speedway. I hope that one ends up on the BSPA website. Scunthorpe battling well despite currently missing three riders. While Newcastle were unlucky not to get a point last night.

It's happened a few times - it's allowed.

Well done Steve. Just to add, Rob Godfrey was full of praise of the commitment put in by Gino last night: http://scunthorpescorpions.co/?p=8627

Most Olympic sports do have a sudden death final at the end of a couple of days of qualifying heats. For example, the 100m has heats one daytime, semi the following day, concluding with the final by the end of the evening. When Bolt had a poor final last year, that was it. He didn't still win the event, because he'd been first in a qualifier. The curling has a whole round-robin to determine the top four, but then becomes knockout. One exception is the heptathlon or decathlon, but those are a combination of different sports and a different kettle of fish. Otherwise there is nearly always some sort of final.

But, crucially, without a sick note. So no replacement allowed under SON rules.

It's real, unfortunately: That's the OFFICIAL account for the new GB set-up.

He cannot be replaced, unless ruled out by injury or illness. Which was obvious all along, otherwise why was there a deadline for submitting teams?

Complete shambles! Mr Rossiter, that's a great way of totally undermining one of your riders just prior to the Speedway Of Nations.

Have people not learnt? Shovvy's on the wind-up.

So there's already been heavy showers, plus a 95% of rain at 14.00, a 95% of rain at 15.00, a 95% of rain at 16.00, a 95% of rain at 17.00, a 75% of rain at 18.00 and a 50% of rain at 19.00, and you think this is something other than a rain-off?

Oh, for goodness sake, take that chip off your shoulder. I've seen my club die. I hope one day it is resurrected, but in the meantime, if you think I want Swindon to fail, then you're on a different planet. I don't to see any club close. Doubling-up is here at the moment, and sadly it isn't going away anytime time soon. While it's here, then there is a necessity for the two leagues to have different race-nights, and for the clubs to honour any agreement regarding those nights. Monday and Wednesday nights have not done Wolves or Poole any harm. They are perfectly acceptable nights for speedway.

Don't be daft. You've got this dangerous 'us' and 'them' mentality when it comes to the two leagues. It's about both leagues working together. And also about neither thinking they're more important than the other one.

Sorry, but you've got it wrong. Mondays and Wednesdays were the dates agreed at the AGM by the promoters from BOTH divisions - not Mondays and Thursdays.

Yes, typical arrogance from a top-flight fan.

Nice try, but there's far more many riders of second division standard doubling-up than those of first division standard. Almost every second string and reserve in the top-flight is a second division standard rider. Add in some second and third heat-leaders as well. If the top-flight want first call, then it's about time they put out genuine top-flight teams. If not, then the two leagues need to avoid racing on the same night. And with three teams to one, it's clear Thursday has to be a Championship night. It's an agreed night, and needs to be stuck to. Swindon either need to run on Mondays and Wednesdays next year, or otherwise down drop to the Championship and race on Thursdays.

The whole problem stems from the top-flight using riders who are second division standard. If the top-flight clubs want everyone to fit around them, then I suggest they go out and sign proper top-flight riders. That would stop the need for doubling-up and allow more freedom on race-nights. While doubling-up is so common, then fixed race-nights are needed to avoid a repeat of the total farce of last season. And the agreement in place is quite clear. Mondays and Wednesdays for the Premiership, and Thursdays to Sundays for the Championship.

I don't really see how Thursday is any different to Wednesday. Thursday is out, because Sheffield, Ipswich and Redcar all ride on a Thursday. Hopefully the stupid situation where Swindon are allowed to ride on Thursday will only last this season, and Robins have to fall into line and run on Mondays and Wednesdays next year.

Nicolai Klindt is riding for Workington: http://scunthorpescorpions.co/?p=8563 Still a big test for Scorpions, even with Bewley and BWD missing, especially with Tero booked in as the guest at No 7. It should be a great night of speedway.