steve roberts

....call it mutual respect from a distance!

...and of course the classic Brian Johnson and Jonathan Agnew interlude!

Yes and all those 'screaming' commentators with their over the top commentary. Kenneth Wolstenholme ("They think it's all over...") was once quoted as saying that one should keep the commentary simple and not feel the need to constantly talk/shout but let the action often speak for itself.

Trouble is I don't have those facilities on my TV...don't subscribe to anything other than the 'bog' standard!

One of the main reasons I don't watch sport on TV anymore...the constant analysing (whether by using statistics and/or diagrams) and constant replays from many different angles just bores me.

Interetsing thread this one. What's developing in to a bore on another thread is the insistance that riders be judged upon how many times he wins a race. Sure winning races is important but it's how those races are won is what many of us remember and judge. Those are the memories I cherish and reflect back on. I particularly recall the classic race between Peter Collins and Gordon Kennett at Hackney...Peter riding the fence and Gordon the white line side by side for four laps which ended up as a dead heat and drawing massive applause from the appreciative fans. Or Gordon splitting the team riding Ole Olsen and Alan Molyneux at Wood Lane and coming thru' fo a tremendous win!

...and didn't we "Rebels' fans appreciate Thommo's efforts!

...I await with interest but don't leave it too long as the years are catching up with me and reading some of these long winded, round the house threads is only adding to the agonising eventuality!

...and I see that you've coveniently side-stepped my question to you which is still outstanding. I await with interest.

Are you being particularly obtuse as regards the 'like' option? I've covered that in detail in all it's permutations and it's very apparent use when some contributors register that option by their sometimes clarification of why they choose to do so or not as the case might be. Hopefully that's the end of that particular line of enquiry. As regards 'judgement of riders' I've covered that in previous posts and my overall assessment of a rider can vary depending on a rider's prowess and overall ability as was the example I gave between John Davis and Gordon Kennett who were both very successful speedsters but whose techniques were different in reaching the same goal. Now can I ask you for a long outstanding answer to a statement that you made 12-18 months regarding that many riders during the seventies achieved team places within only a few weeks sitting on a bike. It was established that those with grasstrack experience were exempt. Examples please?

You're not quoting registered 'likes' again. I've already covered that in a previous post if you had bothered to read it.

...There you go again. Where have I said that?

I think that's generally a fair comment althougn during Gordon's superlative year (1977) he registered maximums at both Exeter and Bristol and nearly achieved a full score at Halifax. He rode King's Lynn exceptionally well but strangely when he moved there in 1983 he tended to struggle. He obviously excelled at the vast White City track but the corners were relativey tight which played right into his hands! Following on from an earlier post comparing Gordon with John Davis John enjoyed a longer career at the top level due I feel to his superior gating skills compared to Gordon obviously proving an advantage then as it does presumably now. Turned into a bit of a Gordon Kennett thread but that doesn't concern me in the slightest and I make no apologies...anything that gives me the opportunity to reminisce about one of my 'all-time' favourites as others have done is fine by me!!

I remember his 21 point maximum at Swindon (Kai Niemi got 19) and 'The Eagles' still lost! Personally I felt that Gordon should have moved to Swindon when White City closed rather than returning to Eastbourne...if nothing more it would given me more opportunities watching him ride!

Remember it well as I was there. In my opinion the meeting should never have taken place due to the heavy rain prior and during the meeting. Gordon rode heroically in the race with Kelly Moran getting totally 'filled-in' as he attempted to find a a way past. Of course as the record books prove New Zealand qualifiied together with the Yanks and went on to win the Final at White City (another meeting I attended) beating the Danes in the process. Rather bizarrely England failed three times (76, 79 & 82) in qualifying for the final at Wood Lane!