BWitcher

Absolutely spot on Fourentee (I didn't realise you were a gamer). This game has me very intrigued and as you say the price seems the going rate for one of this type. Top Trumps is essentially a childrens game that is pretty much entirely luck based. As Fourentee says, this style of game has layers of strategy and depth that give it a high replayability value, which is essentially where you get the value of your purchase from. Its very very far removed from 'Top Trumps'. The game looks professionally presented, which I was surprised about and the mechanics look intriguing. If they work well and offer a decent strategy, I'd consider £18 a worthy investment for sure. The potential to further customise the game with individual rider cards is something that could greatly enhance the game also.

I agree with a lot of what you are saying SCB, particulary regarding the new ideas and the 'old guard'. I think you make a little too much of the 'products' side of things though. Speedway merch isn't too far removed from the kind of merch you see being worn at much larger events such as Nascar. The key is, nothing new is tried. Fresh ideas are always panned. The simple fact of the matter is, new fresh ideas are a threat to the existing cartel who run the sport. If the sport was ever to thrive and be sucessful there would be no place for many of the current incumbutents of power.

Why is this being turned into a 'Inside Speedway' v 'Speedway Star' war? They appear to be entirely different magazines in their approaches. It seems that the 'Inside Speedway' magazine will be more along the lines of 'Five-One' which, although it didn't last, was an excellent read and very different to Speedway Star. It's also, once again plain that the 'old boys network' are closing ranks. Here we have a fresh production, potentially bringing fresh ideas to the table and the usual suspects are rising up to attack it.. Just another example of why the sport is in the mess it is. As others have said, this magazine is an addition to Speedway Star and shouldn't be viewed as competition at all. Wouldn't it be better if they were both around?

I think folk should email their local MP and ask them to raise the issue in parliament.

Interesting post. A very 'weak' Man Utd team, I'm no fan of them, but to call them very 'weak' seems to suggest you lack much footballing knowledge. As for 'many supporters' losing interest.. an assumption totally lacking in any form of statistical backing.

Correct, it is tough. You were wrong again.

No it wasn't good enough for most on here at all as the thread clearly shows. By the way, misquoted doesn't mean he didn't say it. In fact, the more sensible posters (skidder for example) don't argue against the fact that he DID say it. Where the grey area lies is in what context and in relation to what question did he say it. However you address it, it wasn't a clever thing to say, but 'perhaps' looks worse in the way it was portrayed in the Echo. Precisely Skidder. This is the sensible answer, are you reading Starman? Not complete denial that Middleditch ever said it.

I haven't yet received my copy of the Speedway Star, but if as reported Middleditch has clarified his position with some sensible comments that is a good thing. Despite a minority few harping on I had a vendetta against him, all I was suggesting was this would be his best course of action.

Eh? There will be no 'judge or jury' from riders. None of them will bat an eyelid or even consider not racing against Ward. Crazy post.

Whether anyone knows Middleditch or not is irrelevant. SCB has highlighted a number of basic elementary errors that any decent team manager should not be making. Now, in his defence, it could be that Middlo is a great motivator and riders raise their game when riding in his teams.

Pandorum, His crime, which you claim was hardly worthy of a telling off, has been viewed quite differently by the courts. In fact it was made clear he was very fortunate to escape with just a fine. Matt Ford, who knows Darcy a darn sight better than you believes there are issues that need addressing. That should be more than enough for anyone. You do the lad no favors by constantly dragging it back up again. Let Ford and others that Darcy is close too give the advice that is necessary to keep him on track. Let's hope he listens to them and not the sort of council which you would provide which would greatly increase the chances of him throwing away his career. Personally, I think he will learn from this and look forward to him in the GP this year.. if we get to see it

The only people dragging it out are people like yourself questioning why he has attracted criticism. You do wrong, you are criticised. Its simple. Once again you have made another post defending Ward, when the VERY LAST THING he needs is to be defended and given the impression it's all ok, don't worry. That's simply the start of a slippery slope. If you can't grasp that, then so be it.

You are very naive aren't you. I highly doubt when the police arrived Darcy greeted them with an "Oh hello, yes sorry I've been riding the bike illegally and I've been smoking illegal substances too". Far more likely he was asked if he had been drinking/partaking in drugs and he admitted it. That's quite different to 'voluntarily owning up' to it. The 'press release' has nothing to do with the courts so he can effectively paint the picture as he wishes. The point of all this and its one that goes over the heads of a select few, is Darcy is a young man with a hell of a lot of talent. He can choose to listen to people like you and continue on in his wreckless ways and throw it all away, or he can take the sensible mature route and focus on his talent and go on to perhaps become one of the greatest riders of all time. Personally, I would prefer the latter, seems clear you prefer the first.

Although Humphrey, we only have Darcy's word for that don't we? The initial report painted a slightly different picture, in that he was initially on the road, and only headed into the parkland when the police arrived.

You seem hellbent on seeing Darcy throw away his career. As the above is precisely the attitude that will lead to that happening. Fortunately there are others who will do their utmost to ensure he stays on track. I do believe he can learn and move on. Time will tell.

Very true, I'm by no means saying it will be easy. Just illustrating that its possible as a naysayer seemed to find it laughable. Strangely they've gone quiet now though.

An expected response, which pretty much backs up we were correct regarding your previous post.

Says what a sad life you must lead.

Here's an idea, if you don't like a service, don't use it. Simple. The reality is, as much as a few people on here complain they don't like football, the overwhelming majority of Sky Sports subscribers DO. Sky pay what they need to pay for the football rights because without them, their channels would sink quicker than the Titanic.

That doesn't put anything into perspective. Many people who drink and drive don't kill anyone, perhaps we should let them carry on until they do? Agree with the rest of what you say.

An explanation of being found guilty, with no conviction:- In the courts, lawyers often argue that their client should be spared a criminal record by "avoiding a conviction". Lawyers will submit that the court should not record a conviction as this may hamper their client's job prospects. Magistrates and Judges will sometimes act on these submissions as a measure of lenience to the offender if this is seen to be in the public interest. Victorian sentencing law requires the courts to take these issues into account. Victorian law permits courts to find a person guilty of an offence but not proceed to record a conviction. This can be done when adjourning a case on condition of good behaviour or when giving a fine or correction order. A conviction must be recorded when a more severe penalty is imposed, such as a sentence of imprisonment. If the court is considering whether or not to record a conviction, the law states that all circumstances of the case must be considered when making the decision. These circumstances include the nature of the offence, the character and past history of the offender and the impact of recording of a conviction on the offender's economic or social well-being or employment prospects (s.8 Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) ("Sentencing Act"). This statement of legal principle may give the impression that not recording a conviction will protect the offender from harm to their social well-being or employment prospects. Unfortunately this is not always so. Under the Victoria Police policy relating to criminal records, employers and others you authorise to access or receive your police record will be informed of findings of guilt made against you, regardless of whether a conviction is recorded or not. Police may also list an offence on your record if you have been charged and the case is awaiting hearing, or even if you are only a suspect under investigation. Link to the information:-http://www.lawhandbook.org.au/handbook/ch04s06s01.php

And still some folk want to just drag it on and on and on. You're doing the lad no favours. He's held his hands up and admitted he did wrong. Move on.

Yes. Darcy Ward pleaded guilty. Darcy has done the right thing by issuing a statement and apologising for his actions. Its a shame some of his sycophants can't accept, as he seems to have done, that he has done wrong. As Darcy himself has admitted, he wasn't just riding his bike on some parkland. In his statement he admits riding his bike (and if he is fleeing from the police, which you conveniently ignore, it will be at some speed) down an alleyway. Hardly 'parkland'.

It's all ok as Darcy co-operated with the police once they had discovered his location. After all, he could have got involved in a shoot-out with them, fled out the back door, all things that kids do today. In all seriousness, he has done the right thing (whether prompted or not) and addressed the issue and most importantly apologised for his actions. It should also be noted that previous 'bans' have been when riders have been caught racing speedway with drugs in their system, so they don't apply to this situation. Sadly, Darcy's team manager has thus far failed to come forward with a statement of his own to put to bed his own comments.

Yep. Fined £4000 for nothing. Maybe you should email Matt Ford with your 'thoughts' too.