Coventry 2008

[admin]

Well, after a stellar 2007 when the Bees swept the board in the Elite League, what sort of team will the Bees be tracking in 2008? It's difficult to see how Coventry will be able to keep their top three of the former British champion, Chris Harris and the Ultimate Gating Tart in tact - depending on the BSPA AGM at least one, maybe even two will be leaving Brandon, which would be a great shame.
A great shame? Yes, a great shame. Two of those riders were signed by the Bees as promising youngsters, the Bees nurtured them and now may be faced with losing them as a punishment for success. That's a great shame.
But such is the state of British speedway that success has to be punished. It works, to a degree, but only to a degree, since the successful clubs, such as Coventry have the resources to continue to track competitive sides. And I'd expect the Bees to be at the right end of the table again in 2008.
Difficult to guess which of the top three will go the distance, but you'd fancy it'd be the Ultimate Gating Tart. And hard to see his compatriot Steve Johnston at Brandon next year. But Smolinski, Allen and Janniro should still be around.
Here's where we can discuss peoples' thoughts and post hard news about the Bees side for 2008.

[admin]

-- CONFIRMED SIGNINGS --

1..Chris Harris
2..Rory Schlein
3..Simon Stead
4..Stanislaw Burza
5..Oliver Allen
6..Billy Janniro
7..Andreas Messing
8..

Note:

Not in riding order.

[Deleted]

If only we could keep the same team again -- but alas that seems impossible. I just hope we keep Scotty (yes I know not a popular choice with EVERYONE) Billy & Johnno. Would love to keep Bomber too (especially as I purchased a sweatshirt not so long ago). Don't want to lose any of them but would lose Olly & Rory if forced to make a choice.

[Deleted]

justjen said:

If only we could keep the same team again -- but alas that seems impossible. I just hope we keep Scotty (yes I know not a popular choice with EVERYONE) Billy & Johnno. Would love to keep Bomber too (especially as I purchased a sweatshirt not so long ago). Don't want to lose any of them but would lose Olly & Rory if forced to make a choice.

Yes Justjen,if only. I don't like the rumour mill TBH,people thinking they know what's what when they really know sweet f.a pisses me off.All we do know is that Bomber must have got hisaverage below 8.00 for a reason & that maybe young Joshua put pen to paper earlier in the year for a reason & that's all i'll say cos it's all i know.
Anyway let's assume that 42.5,BP's deducted & British rider reductions are kept as per in 2008
Here is the team i think we MAY have on that
Nicholls 9.28
Harris 7.78
Stead 6.51
Allen 5.30
Janniro 5.17
Auty or Roynon 3.06
British rider reductions have been included here,add this up & you have 37.12 leaving 5.38
Johnston is 5.41 & Smolinski is 5.34 so Smolinski would be added to that team with no place for the 2 Aussies.

[Deleted]

booeyboy said:

justjen said:

If only we could keep the same team again -- but alas that seems impossible. I just hope we keep Scotty (yes I know not a popular choice with EVERYONE) Billy & Johnno. Would love to keep Bomber too (especially as I purchased a sweatshirt not so long ago). Don't want to lose any of them but would lose Olly & Rory if forced to make a choice.

Yes Justjen,if only. I don't like the rumour mill TBH,people thinking they know what's what when they really know sweet f.a pisses me off.All we do know is that Bomber must have got hisaverage below 8.00 for a reason & that maybe young Joshua put pen to paper earlier in the year for a reason & that's all i'll say cos it's all i know.
Anyway let's assume that 42.5,BP's deducted & British rider reductions are kept as per in 2008
Here is the team i think we MAY have on that
Nicholls 9.28
Harris 7.78
Stead 6.51
Allen 5.30
Janniro 5.17
Auty or Roynon 3.06
British rider reductions have been included here,add this up & you have 37.12 leaving 5.38
Johnston is 5.41 & Smolinski is 5.34 so Smolinski would be added to that team with no place for the 2 Aussies.

BUT what happens if we cannot have 2 gp riders? (rumour has it that Scotty is moving to the midlands?) so if there is a choice to be made between Scotty and Bomber ?? My choice is Scotty a brilliant captain for Cov. (no need to mention the gp's

[schumi]

I think it's inevitable there will be rumour of Scott or Chris moving on because it's obvious that some teams are in desperate need of a number one, and those teams are looking to the ones who have two. The same with Poole - people know the points limit is going down and one of the big two will have to move on. It's sad for those teams who worked well and made it a success but speedway will only survive if we look at the bigger picture. Riders need to be distributed evenly or next year will be the same as this. Mind you, if they do away with GP riders that could REALLY set the cat among the pigeons.

[Deleted]

schumi said:

I think it's inevitable there will be rumour of Scott or Chris moving on because it's obvious that some teams are in desperate need of a number one, and those teams are looking to the ones who have two. The same with Poole - people know the points limit is going down and one of the big two will have to move on. It's sad for those teams who worked well and made it a success but speedway will only survive if we look at the bigger picture. Riders need to be distributed evenly or next year will be the same as this. Mind you, if they do away with GP riders that could REALLY set the cat among the pigeons.

I would be the first to say that I don't want to see such one-sided meetings as witnessed this season - just sooooo sad to see our winning team split up but in the big scheme of things -- yes it is inevitable for the good of speedway which has to be 1st & foremost.
As for gp riders I can't cope with that at the mo. one step at a time eh?

[admin]

Let's be realistic, GP riders may be limited, but they certainly won't be forced out altogether. Are Poole, Coventry, Lakeside, Eastbourne, Wolverhampton, Peterborough and Swindon going to vote to get rid of key riders in their teams? No and that's seven of the ten Elite League clubs accounted for.

[Deleted]

schumi said:

I think it's inevitable there will be rumour of Scott or Chris moving on because it's obvious that some teams are in desperate need of a number one, and those teams are looking to the ones who have two.

Sorry Schumi to disagree but Chris is still a year short of being a #1,

Nicholls to stay as the 8+ average rider
bomber, johnno, janniro, smolinski, allen,

then possibly roynan and auty to double up

afffectively keeping the team below the anticipated 42.50 point limit

[Deleted]

admin said:

Let's be realistic, GP riders may be limited, but they certainly won't be forced out altogether. Are Poole, Coventry, Lakeside, Eastbourne, Wolverhampton, Peterborough and Swindon going to vote to get ride of key riders in their teams? No and that's seven of the ten Elite League clubs accounted for.

Something our esteemed owner said to me was that there is no need to worry about the vote as WE are now in a majority.
This is one of the reasons i say what i do.So boss there could be some truth in what you say about clubs & their GP riders.It is fairly obvious to all that Poole will need to lose 1 but that is as far as it may go.

[schumi]

robert said:

schumi said:

I think it's inevitable there will be rumour of Scott or Chris moving on because it's obvious that some teams are in desperate need of a number one, and those teams are looking to the ones who have two.

Sorry Schumi to disagree but Chris is still a year short of being a #1,

Yes, you're right, of course. But having seen what a dire year Belle Vue have had, I'm sure they'd have quite happily taken him had he been available. But then it's not Coventry's fault BV had a poor season. I can see both sides.

[Deleted]

The rumour control stuff really pisses me off to be honest. Nobody knows whats coming from the conference? I don't actually recall seeing anything official about one GP rider per team either, I'll wait till its announced thanks.

I don't want to see any of the riders that we have now go, but one that I definitely want to stay is Scott Nicholls. It's up to Pratt and Oakes to sort it all out at the end of the day and I have faith that they will do the right thing...

[Deleted]

Bomber should definitely kept over scotty a better rider to watch he would bring more enjoyment to brandon than scotty plus he has more potential to become something great after winning the gp i think he may be a future world champion

[Deleted]

mattythebee said:

Bomber should definitely kept over scotty a better rider to watch he would bring more enjoyment to brandon than scotty plus he has more potential to become something great after winning the gp i think he may be a future world champion

where does it say that one or the other has to go..?

[Deleted]

mattythebee said:

Bomber should definitely kept over scotty a better rider to watch he would bring more enjoyment to brandon than scotty plus he has more potential to become something great after winning the gp i think he may be a future world champion

Think on this MTB.Bomber will be getting 8 new engines next season. Something wich John Clarke of Buildbase has invested his money in.Do we really believe that would be happening IF Chris was going to be on his way from Brandon.I would say nothing official yet but a cast-iron yes he will be in Bees colours on that theory.I wouldn't say Scott would go either,there has ben nothing stating 1 GP rider per team,& Scott is apparently moving house again,to where isn't known by me but it would suggest he's moving back into the locality.