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If you're going to try & have a pop at me, at least try and get your facts right. Where does finance come into it? The press release on the website doesn't mention finance and it might seem to YOU that the financial outlay is unreasonable - the promoter in question doesn't: he been apparently trying to get the work done and supposedly it's purely down to timescale that he's pulled out. I bow to the superior knowledge and experience of a Leicester fan with regard to track preparation and excitement, blessed as you are with a regular diet of both. I'll ignore the riders from both leagues that I've spoken to who have voiced differing opinions on why the track is a shadow of its former self. I'll accept that it's the only track that hasn't suffered from Stock Cars being introduced, and that the bouncy castle strapped to the earth bank- mounted Armco barrier& bits of old fence add a bit of excitement.

Any need to resort to childish insults, simply because someone doesn't subscribe to the Scunthorpe best track in the country mantra? If you can't recall the track being worn out, it's immaterial which match I attended. It was the Berwick match. You seemingly think the track was fine. Or, it was the Newcastle match. Again, it would appear you thought the track was fine that night too. Who the visitors were, doesn't matter. I thought the track was considerably worse than on previous visits. That's my opinion - I wasn't aware that I wasn't permitted to express it without abuse. With regard to the crowds, simple maths would suggest that the gathering on the night in question wouldn't have covered the basic outgoings of points money and a few running costs Therefore, it's not much a leap to assuming all the other activity helps fund Friday nights. Considerably reduced in numbers over the last handful of visits, this "best track in the country" doesn't appeared to have held the attention of many locals - unless there's another reason for them to be stopping away in droves in comparison to other tracks. If you could actually read what was posted instead of trying & failing to be ironic, you would see that I wasn't commenting on the unprofessionalism of the out of date nature of the website, rather than the constantly moving goalposts surrounding Kenny Smith. You might think its the best racing. I don't. It may have been a few years ago, now I think it's poor in comparison. I don't recall mentioning profitability at all. However, now that you've brought it up, if you think the "crowd" witnessed on the night in question covered the costs, you're kidding yourself more than about the quality of racing

www.scunthorpescorpions.co - it's the scrolling / changing thing at the foot of the page. It happened to be displaying the exciting details of the opening meeting when I accessed the site. The recent visit was.... recently So that'll be when one of the northern teams visited. Or are you going to tell me that on the night of the Berwick (or Newcastle) meeting the world-renowned Scunthorpe Mardi Gras was in full swing, thereby decimating the crowd, when on other nights the place is packed to the gunnels & the last one in has to wear a "House Full" sign on his back?

<p> <br /><br /> </p> By putting yourself forward for the job.... & then not being up to standard upon inspection. "Interesting" to check out the article on the website - the home page is still advertising the opening meeting of the season: apparently a top field is being assembled for the Kenny Smith Memorial Meeting. See, easy to put yourself forward for something... and not deliver. On a recent visit, the track looked to be, well, totally knackered through overuse & was a shadow of it's former self, but i suppose that's necessary to fund PL racing. Certainly the "crowd" wasnt a shadow of its former self - there weren't enough to cast a big enough shadow - in fact only the travelling support made it a "crowd" as opposed to a "gathering".

Plus the fact that the Cheerful Orange Coloured Kockanee is seemingly much more untested in screwing everybody in sight rather than actually achieving anything. Still there are the many sponsorship deals he's brought into the sport to administer too.

Oh well, golly gee, I'll just have to learn to live with that. Criticism? Not really. Rejection of the ra-ra, let's all be grateful to Sky? Yes. Inaccurate? That's one thing you couldn't find, up to and including the LIVE coverage tonight 0:55 - 9:00 of the 3rd One Day International between New Zealand and South Africa - in HD. So, not exactly cutting edge technology, breaking new ground.

Tell you what, I'll show my "appreciation" like I usually do: by direct debit each month. What do you want? A medal? Oh my God! It's in HD! That'll be because it's on Sky Sports HD, is it? For which HD subscribers pay more. Very good of Sky to provide WHAT THEY'RE BEING PAID FOR. Holy Mother! It's on live!we better all get out of bed and show our support by wearing Sky Sports nightwear! Let's not bother trying to make it out like Sky Sports are "going the extra mile": through the night they're currently broadcasting live New Zealand v South Africa cricket - I haven't noticed Britain becoming a nocturnal nation this week as everyone grabs a kip during the day so they're fresh as daisy for the first ball every night. It's already mentioned that it's being shown live in Australia,so it's not as if the infrastructure isn't going to be in place. Thanks Sky, take all the praise you deserve. For providing what you're being paid for.

Well even back in November he'd identified a couple - as well as saying that if Sheffield weren't involved Scunthorpe would go it alone. Surely the point of "development" is that you don't know what you're going to get from the "undeveloped". "I'm actually thinking we might go with a team that is totally about developing new riders" - you can almost tasre the fear & trepidation in that quote At this rate you'll be able to identify the date when the Kenny Smith Meeting was rained off last year (as per Mr Hollingsworth, Speedway Star, recently)

So, there's a difference between "breaking the team up" and "starting again"? You DO know that you couldn't have one without the other - they kinda come as a pair.

Is that the latest version of recent history being ponied out now, is it? The team may well have already made the play-offs before the promoter started moaning about pulling out of the National League, but worrying about breaking the team up - you're having a laugh. - "We're not a stand alone club and every pound it (NL team) loses is a pound out of the PL pot, and it's a matter of survival" - "it all comes out of the pot, which is diminishing quicker and quicker and it's been a tough year as it is" - "the one that's on it's own (NL fixture), 200 people will come and that doesn't pay for anything" all quotes of Rob Godfrey, Speedway Star, 5/11/11. - "I'm actually thinking we might go with a team that is totally about developing new riders" - "I acould give them (raw recuits from an amateur meeting) a job and make the National Leaguewhat I want to make it: a development league" both quotes from Rob Godfrey, Speedway Star, 19/11/11 So, not much evidence of Sucuuny's worry about "having to start again" - quite the opposite, in fact.

Wool that be the Scunthorpe Saints that were so well supported last year that their promoter was going to pull the plug on them due to two men & a bored dog watching them - until they got to the play offs, when his mood swing medication kicked in & everything became rosy once again?

That being the case, then that's a good thing - especially this week.

So the grand scheme would be to reduce the number of races involving the riders that the public actually turn up & pay to see - reducing the programmed rides for reserves by 25% and denying the paying public the nominated riders race - to free up more time for novices and amateurs. Sounds like a real winner and should help cut having to print so many admission tickets each season.

Why, precisely, would that rule be "stupid" - I thought the league was supposed to be about developing talent.

SLIDESHOW? What? Surely someone in deepest Suffolk has ventured towards the cutting edge of technology & could show CINE FILM too (accompanied by a pianist, just like they do in the new-fangled moving picture emporiums)?

Bearing in mind how easy it's been for Fisher to get a deal done this winter, it's "remarkable" that, in less than 72 hours, the trouser-dropping clown of the PL has started negotiations and concluded a deal. Or, maybe, Fisher has had a reality check, Bowden got wind of that & out came the Tippex on Ashworth's contract…

Can't be bothered doing stats, but always enjoy laughing at your rider assessments… is this one based on Ashworth's sole trip to Plymouth last year which had two wins, a second and a fall ??

Unless Berwick are thinking of competing with Bowden for the jester's hat, whatever noises might have been made publicly / to Smith, that's only going to be an issue when Smith is fit & ready to go. Until then (& who knows who'll either NOT be fit & ready or riding badly), they've GOT to go without him. If they're foolishenough to be speaking to people about "until June or July, when Smith might be fit", they deserve whatever mediocrity they find. That might sound harsh, but it's for Smith's benefit too. Say Berwick are struggling, with someone signed as a stopgap. That's only going to put pressure on Smith to come back, maybe too early.

Bobby Garrard: But that'll be because at the time they didn't have a choice: they were representing the ACU which encompasses their colonial homes. In much the same way as the Scottish are an integral part of TEAM GB rather then the 4 or 5 Englishmen representing England. Bunyan is in NZ and even if he's returning to his place of birth for a little while, his gear will still be there - cheapest option.

How many times was Ted Howgego British Champion? Is he likely to achieve that title this year? Whether it's a sensible idea to be holding this sort of meeting in a backwater - and particularly one thousands of miles away - is a different debate & one that's gone on arguably since Norden in 1983. Now that it's going ahead, it's a well established precedent for the backwater to include the backwater champion.

Id guess it's simply a case of Jason Bunyan is best qualified to represent New Zealand. Of all the riders currently in New Zealand. Let's face it, if they want to go down the route of having a "local" representation, let's be realistic with the expenses (I'm guessing points money won't be a big factor in the calculations). Bunyan - in New Zealand Wells - in USA(?) Mudgway - in England

Wouldn't have thought for a second he will be going anywhere - was wondering if "threat" was a traditional Devonshire expression for "late Christmas present on offer". I believe that any prospective promoter would be vetted. Before there's another round off BSPA "only in speedway" bashing starts, it's topical to say "Football League", "fit & proper person guidelines" and "George Reynolds at Darlington". Fit & proper replacement for Bowden? I wonder if Ronnie Biggs has anything stashed away in the Post Office.

Interesting use of the word "threat" in the article on the www.thisisplymouth.co.uk website. I think there's a spare "h" in there. If fans are annoying Bowden, maybe it's time to organise a roadside stall on Friday nights, selling effergies & burning crosses - should do a roaring trade.

While Steve had a few meetings for Scunthorpe towards the end of 2010, both Birks and Richie saw the year out in the Saints team - Richie getting most of his gigs as a replacement for Steve. It's a stretch to describe Steve as a PL REGULAR at the beginning of the season, but as Richie and Birks had no PL experience whatsoever at the start of the season, perhaps I don't have a grasp of the meaning of REGULAR.

See what I mean...