Leicester Lion

It was like Ward was briefed prior to the interview, but only took half of it in and didn't know what to say. He forgot his lines about what he’d learned by watching Greg Hancock and blurted out the obvious thing, the gating. Pearson and Tatum gushed all over him, making it all as easy as possible, but he even failed to take their blatantly obvious prompts which would have helped him at least indicate some contrition, genuine or otherwise. Instead there was no hint of regret, either in his words or his manner. His confidence about getting the wild card at Melbourne betrays his sense of entitlement; that speedway owes him opportunities and status, regardless of others who might have emerged to stake their own claim while he’s been serving his ban. The interview was a great chance for him to show he has grown up, has a fresh approach, feels repentant for his misdemeanours, and is determined to turn over a new leaf. None of these came across. While there is no doubt about his talent, he did nothing to change peoples' minds about him as a person.

No, I definitely understand SCB's point.

You'd hope so, but I doubt it. I don't know how it happened but the meetings from Leicester I watched on Bet365 last season had heat after heat of incredibly dull processional racing, yet reports from some gave the impression spectators at the track were wetting themselves with excitement at 15 heats packed with thrilling racing from tapes to flag. I can only conclude that something strange must happen to the images when live speedway from Leicester is transmitted over the internet.

Point spectacularly missed. Look at the bigger picture, and think about at the whole point being made rather than selectively jump on one snippet. There could be far more to punishing the miscreants than stopping them having access to a few minor riders who can indeed be easily replaced. The penalties for breaking these laws can be huge. If the V&I had chosen to prosecute rather than educate, fines or worse would have hit the promoters much harder than losing a few riders.

Those poor promoters who have enough to deal with running their day-to-day businesses. They can't possibly be expected to know how to run their speedway businesses properly too. It's not as if the same rules apply. (I'm being sarcastic) Clearly the problem is so widespread in the sport that the UKV&I have taken the pragmatic view that education is better than a raft of punishments that would irreparably damage the entire sport in the UK. The promoters will have to be fully compliant from now on though.

It makes me wonder about their degree of compliance with health and safety and tax/NI rules.

In my opinion, which you seem to agree with at first!

Although only John Boulger did it while attached to Leicester. Winning a national championship is of course an accomplishment to be proud of. Looking at the quality of the opposition, though, Doyle would be expected to comfortably win over a four round series. Australia isn't the force it used to be.

It's 6.8, but might as well be 4.4 given he beat only his team mate six times. I know ten rides isn't much to go on, but six out of ten rides at BP without beating an opponent sets some alarm bells ringing for a vastly experienced rider who would be coming in as our number two with high expectations of improvement. The rider we need shouldn't need more track time to get better.

16+1 from 10 rides (6 of those points being on the wrong end of 5-1s) in his two matches for Eastbourne at BP last season is hardly a revelation. Leicester's healthy financial position surely means we can sign anyone.

Which explains why I've not heard it associated with him.

Never heard of it myself, although there are several other terms I'd associate with Pedersen. It is amusing that riders are allocated a nickname by a small group of people who for some reason assume the wider speedway-going public will somehow become aware of it and start using it.

I live fairly close by. I think the track area was around what are now Braemar Drive, Braemar Close, Strathaven Road etc (I drove along part of Braemar Drive earlier today). This would place the western end of the track opposite what was the Speedway Hotel, now Indigo restaurant. There are allotments alongside and behind Indigo.

A man with his finger on the pulse, who, more than anyone else, has the insight into what constitute exciting racing and slick, entertaining presentation. A man who can work with all types of people and keep them on board as they work collectively towards the common good.The visionary we've all been waiting for. DH can save British speedway!

You don't know me. You don't know my educational background. You could at least spell 'infinitely' correctly if you're trying to look smart.

Or that the attendance for the first Wolves meeting was, by default, 100% more than the corresponding fixture last season.

What does he mean about attendances being up by 100%, or 40% or 30%? Compared with what? It's easy to throw unsubstantiated figures in to make it sound impressive, especially if you're thinking of selling the business and are seeking to justify your own high estimate of its value.

Otto Walker.

There is more to making commentary interesting than merely describing what is happening using a bunch of clichés and spouting nonsense about shopping malls and Abba.

They're on for far less than three hours though. Anyway, as esteemed professional broadcasters, don't they spend many hours researching and preparing for their programmes?

I am finding the Pearson/Tatum bromance rather tedious.

If only there was a sarcasm flag on here.

If only there was a sarcasm flag on here.

We can't have "in the know" comments like that on here! People get easily bored of that type of speculation. ;-)

That thought did cross my mind as I made my post!