E I Addio

I feel differently. Plenty of time to see our own riders racing other teams once the season starts on Good Friday. I quite like the idea of our own riders racing each other just this once. I would prefer a challenge match of scratch teams , something like Nick Morris select -v- Richard Lawsons select or something like Wimbledon used to have, Dons past -v- Dons present, but I suppose it comes down to money at the end of the day . Its alright to say the club should do this or that but early in the season there is a big potential to lose a lot of money. You only need it to be very cold like its been lately and a lot will stay at home. At the moment I am just glad we still have a club after last years disastrous decision to go NL but we should be getting better speedway this season. I will be supporting it.

During the years Kim said he wasn't being paid Lakeside had the same captain all the time, before that it was Dave watt for three years, neither are exactly shrinking violets if something needs to be said, so whatever the full facts behind Kims issue, swapping captains around was not part of it.

Undoubtedly. But commitment and passion are not the same thing. Plenty of riders these days negotiate good deals for themselves, and show good commitment, but as soon as the season ends they are up for the highest bidder. That’s the difference. I would say Olsen was a great example of someone who showed a lot of commitment to his clubs but rather less passion.

The total owed is £26,500.Some is from Swedish club(s).He doesn’t say how much if any is from Lakeside and could include guest bookings. Not good that any rider should be owed money from anyone though.

It’s the SCB. Look how the sport is structured:- The ACU are the internationally recognised body controlling all motorcycle sport in the this country. They have delegated the SCB to run the sport of speedway on their behalf. The SCB in turn have delegated the BSPA to manage the sport on a day to day basis but crucially theSCB retain sole responsibility to initiate and interpret the rules, Thus the rule book is the SCB Speedway Regulations not the BSPA Speedway Regulations,. In fact the very first rule in the book says “Specifically the powers of the SCB are to produce these regulations and have SOLE RESPONSIBILITY for all or any dispensations” . The Buck clearly stops with the SCB. The BSPA drafted the proposed rules last November. The problem with Nicolls and Kenneth was known about almost immediately when Lakeside were told they couldn’t sign them. The SCB have responsibility for the rules, they knew or ought to have known what the issue was. The problem is the tail is too often allowed to wag the dog where the SCB and BSPA are concerned.

Swift action ? The AGM finished on 20th November 2017 . The SCB resolved the matter on 23rd Feb 2018. You seriously call that swift action? I'd call it appalling incompetence.

Its not so much whether the rule is right or wrong or good or bad , more the fact that less than a month before the start of the season the SCB/BSPA have only just sorted out what the rule is, and we apparently still don't have a rulebook, more than 3 months after the AGM.

Then you'll have the CL promoters moaning that crowds are falling falling because people won't pay 18 quid to see a team with someone like Stuart Robson or J osh Bates in the No1 slot. What a mess it all is.

Yes, once again I totally agree Sid. Briggo was my boyhood hero and I really wanted him to win in 72. Briggo was 37 years old by then and his days at the top were numbered. I thought it would be a fitting end to his world class career if he went went out as World Champion, whereas Mauger and Olsen still had several years left at the top. Briggo was an up and down sort of rider. Whereas Mauger was like a machine and could turn it on all the time Briggo was a bit more temperamental but when he had his head in the right place I don't think there was anyone bar Fundin, that could stop him. He certainly had his head in the right place in the 72 Final and even had some special lightweight leathers made to reduce unnecessary weight. Such a pity about his crash. I think Barry would have finished either first or second otherwise. A truly great great rider. As for Ronnie Moore I only saw him at the tail end of his career but what a great stylist he was. Many fans say he was the most naturally talented rider ever to sit on a Speedwáy bike. If he had not had that enforced retirement through injury from 63 - 69 it is more than possible he could have picked up a third World crown.

I think we speak the same language sid. I agree with all of that. Maugers win in '72 is one of speedways great "what ifs" . What if Briggo, who had already beaten Mauger in his first ride had not been taken off by Perrson, would he have gone on to be world champion ? What if Olsen had settled for a safe second in his first ride and not fallen off chasing Loftqvist ? He won his last four rides, including beating Mauger, and would have been World Champion unless Briggo could have stopped him. Could we have seen Briggo with five world titles and Mauger only five? Personally, I think luck was with Mauger in the 72 final although against him in 73.

Very true Sid, and it is to Maugers credit than he acknowledged that if it wasn't for Mirac and Briggo , who were a few years older , Ivan himself doesn't think he would have got where he did. I don't suppose we'll ever see the like of them again.

If true all speedway fans should be fuming because it highlights once again we have a so called governing body that dosnt know whether it’s on its base or its apex and hasn’t got a clue what it’s doing. This situation would just about be acceptable if it were sorted within a week of the AGM but to dither around for three months in each case puts it beyond farce.

There is a magazine-type book out now called Broadslide, obtainable from W H Smiths, which is one of the best publications on Speedwáy history I have seen for a long time. Well illustrated with some quality photos it traces the development of Speedwáy bikes down the years, Chapters on Briggo and Peter Collns, other riders opinions on Fundin and loads more . Worth getting for the rare pictures of Briggo grass tracking and scrambling alone. Really worth looking out for.

When it was free, which from memory was around 2006/7 people were coming from all over the country, not just Poole , but from places like Wolverhampton, who linked it in with a shopping trip. No way fans like that would ordinarily come down for a match that didn’t involve their home team. And, it has to be said Poole, even in 2006 were more of a draw than most

The fact remains that the BSPA confirmed in writing the averages the riders could be signed on, and Lakeside were entitled to rely on that letter. Then along comes the SCB and says the BSPA letter is not worth the paper it's printed on. Not difficult to work out why the sport is in a mess is it ?

The rule kus not illegal unless and until it is tested in the courts. The general opinion is that it very likely would be deemed illegal but as long as both sides consent to the situation there is no problem. It seems to me therefore, that the real issue therefore is whether anyone is prepared to invest the time and money fighting such a case.

I am just thinking aloud here , but let’s take the scenario you suggest, and promoter A signs a rider out of contract who is an asset of promoter B . What happens next ? Step one, can the BSPA refuse to sanction promoter A’s team, in which case he can’t compete without signing someone else ? That would mean it’s pointless signing the rider in the first place. If not, what would be the next step ? Presumably litigation, but the downside of that is that is would take probably two years and a lot of money the get to court . Next question. what would promoter B sue for ? Presimably his only loss would be for loan fees. I dont know what a seasons loan fee amounts to but if it is less than about £5000 it would probably go to the small claims court with no costs being awarded so employing lawyers would probably cost more than the amount involved. Given the dire state of speedways finances would any promoter really want to to take such a case on ? Would any rider be bothered to when he can get another job easy enough? These are thoughts that I have pondered over for a few years now, not saying I am right but it seems to me that given the state of speedways finances, it seems to me that nobody is likely to have the time, money or inclination to do anything other than trundle along* in the same old way. Anyone else have thoughts on the practicality of the situation?

They haven't been allowed to do anything yet because neither Lakeside nor any other team has yet been approved.

I think you can take it as read that there will be not Thursday race nights. The whole reason Cook had to decline the Premier League was because mid week race nights don't pay. Friday/Saturday have been the only viable race nights for years, and that's what it seems it will be.

What’s going on with Holder these days ? A couple of years ago I would have said Poole was in his DNA but he seem# to have lost his way now, in more ways than one. Has Darcey s injury and Dave Watts retirement got. something to do with it , being without his mates.? Or would I be wrong to suggest th3 younger Holder is a package of trouble and causing problems ?

It’s quite amazing that Philip Rising tells us there are “many” rules that contradict one another but neither he nor anyone else can name them.

There have always been talented 19/20 year olds down the years, many of them travelled halfway round the world on their own to be here. Some went on to become World Champions some never quite fulfilled their early promise. As far as I can recall I don’t think a single one of them had their mother causing trouble wherever they went. The jury is still out on Lambert. maybe he will go on to be genuine world class, maybe he will merely be very good but the sooner he detaches himself from that dreadful woman’s apron strings the better.

Finishing on the rostrum in 8 consecutive World Finals does not, of itself prove outstanding professionalism . Fundin had 12 or. 13 consecutive rostrum finishes and far more than Mauger in total but that is is not proof of greater professionalism. Mauger didn't suddenly come along and drag a rough and ready sport out of the dark ages. He was part of an ongoing cycle of development. What Mauger did was to take ideas that were already developing and take them a stage futher, just as others took Maugers ideas and developed them further. Mauger was the best rider of his generation, assuming you class Briggs , Fundin and Moore in an earlier generation, and the top Danes in a later generation. I dont think you can put it more precisely than that.

What exactly was Mauger doing that Ronnie Moore wasn't doing in principle 10 years earlier and or that Tommy Price wasn't doing before Moore even arrived here ?

There are quite a few riders who didn't exactly think it was a bundle of laughs riding on the same track as Fundin !