Vince

I think that is absolutely right, I spend the majority of my working life driving in the dark and it is very clear that many drivers struggle to see where they are going. Then again I would say that regular testing of all drivers should be compulsory too. Not like the standard driving test with it's ridiculous emphasis on stuff that isn't very important but just a quick round the block with an emergency stop thrown in and a few questions(first one should be what lane do you use on the motorway if you aren't overtaking!) to make sure that drivers have the basic abilities and reactions to be reasonably safe. My grandfather was still an excellent driver at 85 and I have an uncle of 80 who still drives his camper all over mainland Europe every year perfectly well. On the other hand my mother at 61 was dying of cancer and driving around full of morphine until I stopped her as the doctors wouldn't and I have a 19 year old niece who passed her test 3rd time but shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a car.

Think Rob was one of the lads who came into Speedway with plenty of Grass track experience so in the lower leagues looked to be very talented immediately then as he moved up the levels it became harder to impress. Very decent rider but not that extra little bit that makes them into international stars in my opinion. Right little chav at 16 but now matured and been riding Flat track for a couple of years and a good lad to have around, wouldn't be surprised to see him in the top 3 of the British Championships over the next couple of years. Think he would get dispensation to ride a 600 if he returned to Speedway as he is carrying a fair bit of extra padding around these days

As a 16 year old I was waiting to go out for my first ever laps of a Speedway track on a grass bike at Eastbourne following a meeting when Kelly came over and very politely asked if I would mind him either going out before or with me. There was no need for him to ask, as the big star at the time he could have just gone out or even had my ride cancelled so he could get some laps in. Genuinely nice guy who always seemed to chat to everybody and was helpful to youngsters riding, although if I'd been a fan of his team he would have driven me mad at times when he turned up totally unprepared to go racing. Incidentally about 25 years later it was Greg Hancock did exactly the same with my son at Oxford. Very different to some riders of the time who forced the cancellation of a whole set of after meeting races for youngsters so they could test engines (although to be fair that may have been the Promoter saying it was the riders as at least one of the riders was horrified when he found out afterwards)

I think you are right in many ways but am still to be convinced that an upright is any cheaper to run than a laydown of the same specification.

It'd be interesting to see them trying to take licenses from riders for riding in meetings held under an alternative authority, the ACU went to court over this in the 1970's and told it was illegal. They have blustered and threatened many times since but never actually carried out their threat. Didn't the BSPA or ACU make a similar threat about Lydd but didn't take any action when it came down to it? I'd love to ride the Island on a flat tracker so you're right about getting excited but whether there is any chance of a DTRA meeting there this year is very doubtful. Only issue I can see for following years is that it is an expensive trip in a van so a rained off weekend would be a disaster. I hope for both Martin and Barry though that Speedway returns, they must have put an unbelievable amount of work in and have left everybody impressed with their efforts. The rest of the sport should be looking at the Island for answers not shutting it out.

You also see novices sometimes get so fixated on looking at a fallen rider because they are trying to miss him that instead they head towards him. I went to quite a few amateur meetings with a lad a few years back and saw that quite often. We also see it regularly in the rookie class at flat track.

That's because they were Olle's bikes plus with two riders half a lap apart it shouldn't be necessary. Those schools of his must have been the start of many a Speedway career.

Trouble is that there is a world of difference knowing you have to lay the bike down and then doing it at the right time when you don't even get chance to think about it. I think all riders who go round a dirt oval eventually get to the stage where they lay the bike down automatically it's at the novice level it's often a problem and I doubt it's something you can actually teach in reality. I think that all that sliding out when learning takes away the fear of a lowside crash so laying it down becomes less of a mental block with time.

That flick was caused by a bit more throttle to point the bike down the straight, I don't see any way in which he deliberately did that to hit Lyons. He didn't know exactly where he was for starters. As for the Phil Morris incident it's been done to death but I don't see that as anything other than a racing incident either, two riders rode lines that converged on the exit. I agree totally with that, I think there are very few deliberately dirty moves in Speedway. The higher the level the harder moves can be without disastrous consequences but at the end of the day it is a very small world and riders deliberately riding dirty will soon be getting retaliation from all angles. Having said that I do think the one thing that you see, mostly at lower levels, that should always result in disqualification whether it results in an accident or not is turning right. The move can and does cause the type of accidents that will often result in serious injury and there is no sensible reason for it. Luckily it's not common but I have seen a couple of riders who have used it as a blocking move and possibly not even realised how dangerous it is.

Not really they are just the words of a bigot.

Only those of very limited capabilities think they can describe the opinions of 17m people with two words.

I'll bet not a single vote was cast to get rid of the red tape imposing limitations on credit card charges! The way is now clear for the UK government to to as they wish with regard to that and for people to campaign for what they want. Despite the percentage headlines and predictions of disaster it is a small thing for the vast majority of people with the possibility to look around and get a better deal.

Was notified the other day that I can get an ATA boomerang carnet for £175. As for the checks considering the number of stolen bikes leaving the UK I'm all for it. Way more than half the people I know with off road bikes have had one or more stolen. Its a massive international business and anything that makes it more difficult can only be good. The past few years driving a van full of bikes across Europe has been easy. Unfortunately just as easy for criminals as racers.

I'm all for that with the exception of the concrete start which can't work in my opinion. I'd settle for the 2 minute warning being the time to tapes up though so they can garden if they get there early enough.

Brilliant GP season I thought and what a track to finish on. Lets hope Marquez, who is reported to need another operation is fit for next year as I think some of the new stars have that similar attitude and style to him and can start to run him close.

I would imagine a GP series run outside of FIM authorisation but paying well would gain much support and like the ACU here it has been proven time and again that they cannot revoke riders license for riding under a different authority. However it might stumble at the paying well bit unless you get the right people involved to bring in sponsorship. just yesterday we heard that one of the many ACU alternatives, the MCF are shutting their doors after many years but to be fair they bought about a lot of change for the good in their time, especially for riders.

That's all I remember him doing and I also thought he was very good at it. Got across the respect I've found that racers from other motorcycle disciplines have for Speedway, it's only their fans talk about 'going around in circles, the riders understand the skills required. Don't see how as a very knowledgeable and experienced Speedway rider his views are irrelevant. His comedic value was much appreciated when he was behind the microphone, in my house anyway. That's probably a good point, it would be a risk!

I think Kelvin Tatum and David Norris would be the dream ticket! However seemingly unlike most I do think that Nigel Pearson and Kelvin Tatum are excellent, I also think Keith Heuwen was very good and David Rowe is good too, unfortunately Sam Ermolenko, as knowledgeable as he is, in my opinion is awful on commentary.

I would think so!

As far as drugs improving performance on a bike there was a grass track rider who suddenly improved his performances with the aid of amphetamines for most of a season. Certainly gave him a much bigger set of balls than he had without it, once people caught on and started suggesting he get tested he stopped riding. I think one of the reasons so many sports people go off the rails is that they miss out on going a bit wild in their teenage years and try to make up for it when they retire as they are still relatively young. I know two very good pro MX riders who did very well out of the sport in the 80's, probably earning more than their counterparts do now who have nothing left due to taking up drinking and partying with all the dedication they once had for their sport.

He'll be bottom of the pile wherever he goes so hopefully his 3 1/2 years or whatever will be bloody awful.

Well I thought I was but seems the council put pressure on the track owner to cancel because of covid

Out on the horses at least 4 times a week all through lockdown, one of them needs the exercise or will not be here long worked all through as well.. Popped up the road to watch a pre 85 mx last weekend but best of all going racing next weekend in Wales for 2 days and get to try out the Norton finally

I think the job market has changed so much since those days that working and racing is a lot more difficult. In the past the vast majority of jobs finished at 5pm which would allow riders to make home meetings after work or with a couple of hours off. Now with more and more jobs being run over a 24 hour rota hours are all over the place and it's very much more difficult to find a job that fits in. Also in the past Speedway was a much bigger sport and many employers were happy to help riders in their career allowing for time off and injuries, that just wouldn't happen now. Weekend racing would help a lot but is not possible for a lot of tracks and even that is becoming difficult with ever more 7 day working. Plenty of riders do work running their own business or part time during the season and there aren't so many that could really say they are making a good living out of Speedway, most will have to work at least the off season. At the end of the day it has to be remembered that the likes of Briggo had businesses to run because they used their Speedway income to set them up not the other way around. Certainly in comparison the money paid to riders in the past was a whole lot more than it is now.

I always thought it was ACU policy to take away the race licence of anybody convicted of riding off road illegally anyway. As usual with the ACU they completely miss the point that 99% of illegal riding is done by the low-lifes that steal the bikes from their members not guys who spend all their money racing legally. However they do like to make sure they feel important in any given situation. Can you tell I'm not a fan of the ACU? My opinion is undoubtedly biased.