norbold

He won the British Semi Final at Sheffield, the British Final, the Commonwealth Final and came 6th in the Intercontinental Final.

That he didn't is the biggest regret of my speedway life! I saw his first ever public race at West Ham. It was a special junior match race between him, aged 15, and Barry Thomas, aged 16. Barry won, but I thought Dave looked really classy for a 15 year old having his first race and I said to my friend, "He"ll be world champion one day." But, of course, he never was!

I think there were a number of Russians in the 1960s who would probably have benefited from riding for British clubs. As well as Plechanov and Kurilenko, there were Boris Samorodov, Gab Kadirov, Yuri Chekranov and Vladimir Sokolov to name a few.

It is an interesting conundrum and Zmarzlik's dominance raises an interesting question . Leaving aside Laguta and Sayfutdinov at the moment for obvious reasons, if we were to look objectively at the top 15 riders in the world, I think we would include the likes of Magic and Dudek. However, I think we also know that the chance of them ever beating Zmarzlik to the World Championship is almost zero. The only way he is going to lose over the next few years (Russians excepted) is for one or two of the younger riders, like Lambert, Bewley, Kvech, Kubera or Becker for example, to come good. But to do that they need to get experience at Grand Prix level. So do you go for the top 15 in the world regardless, and I can understand those left out would feel very aggrieved, or do you try and inject a bit of youth in the hope that at least one of them will make good and make a fight of the World Championship?

Oh dear...I'm as bad as Kelvin!

Kelvin Tatum is going for Leon Masden as a wildcard for next year!

Got it. Wokeness means anything you disagree with. Thanks for clearing that up.

Can you explain the meaning of wokeness in that context?

Good job the FIM President didn't kiss any of them on the lips….

Kelvin reckons Madsen hasn't done enough to squeeze into the top six after just showing us the chart with him fifth. Dear oh dear!

"Becker fading",,,,,,Did he not watch the race?

I'm watching on Eurosport and have full commentary.

I think he threw a blanket over them.

Another things that has occurred to me is that back in the "old days", we used to go along and watch "meaningless" matches, London v. the Rest, New Cross v. the Kiwis, etc. I even remember seeing Southampton v. Provincial League Select at New Cross when New Cross had an away fixture on race night. There were also a number of individual trophy meetings. And, of course, there were the second half scratch races. And yet we enjoyed them all just as much as the league and cup matches.

And on a bike too!

Good job you never made a world final BOBBATH or we'd have to change the list again.

Mind you, Ivan Mauger accounts for most of that on his own!

Reported by Jon Stevens in the Dons Den on Facebook: "It is with great sadness that we hear of the news that Gordon William Kennett has sadly passed away at the age of 70. I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear this. "Gordon was our last rider to Don the number 1 race jacket. As he was the last ever rider to take the chequered flag at Wimbledon stadium. World Final Placed 2nd at Empire stadium Wembley in 78’. He was also a true Gent, would always stop to say ‘hello’ and a chat. "The Speedway family has lost a friend, a member of our the speedway family from the heydays of the sport. Our condolences to Barney Kennett Dave, Eddie and the whole of the Kennett family at this very difficult and sad time." Sorry, I see this has already been posted elsewhere, but I thought Years Gone By was the most appropriate place for it.

Correct.

Sorry, wrong on both counts.

Here you go, Lefty.

Long Eaton.

Exactly. The jury let it go…you can hear it now: ."Oh yes, just because it's Zmarzlik. Any other rider…etc.etc…."

Zmarzlik's looking to make up some loss of earnings…

Eighty two years ago today, in the scratch race final at New Cross, Ron Johnson ran into the fence on the back straight and fell. With less than two yards separating him and second man, Tom Farndon, the latter had little time to take avoiding action, though those that were there that night say that Tom deliberately tried his best to turn away from his fallen skipper, choosing instead to plough into his machine. Tom and his bike were thrown into the air and flung a considerable distance before Tom landed on his head. Both riders were rushed to hospital. Sadly, Tom never recovered consciousness and died two days later. A sad and tragic end for the rider who, at the age of just 24, had achieved everything there was to achieve in speedway and who seemed unbelievably to be growing in stature and getting even better. Of course, we will never know what the future might have held in store for him - there are those who are certain that the way he was progressing he could well have won all three pre-War World Championships and come back for more afterwards - but already he had achieved enough to be counted amongst those who always find themselves listed amongst "the greatest ever". Was he as good as Vic Duggan, Jack Young, Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs, Ove Fundin, Peter Craven, Ivan Mauger, Hans Nielsen, Tony Rickardsson, Greg Hancock? We will never know of course and everyone will have their own opinions but to take his place on that list at the age of just 24 is a major achievement in itself. R.I.P., Tom.