Yes we mustn't forget riders in the past when bikes were more difficult to handle requiring more subtle throttle control...Martin Ashby, Gordon Kennett, Nigel Boocock, Peter Collins, Chris Morton etc etc

This argument again! Elite = the best or most highly skilled. Whether you think its the most entertaining league or not, riders like Kurtz, Fricke, Kvech and Douglas (going by who was riding last night) are among the best who ride in the UK. It's a higher standard of rider than the Championship.

Probably because the GP series they took over was losing money and required stabilising first to put it back on an even keel 

Charles had a spin at Belle Vue tonight after the meeting.

Question should be why ask him.

And you have discovered the sport of Boxing down there too... Although... Your one an only fella did take a bit of a "tw*tting" last time so maybe that is now off the local agenda? Back to the Farmer's Markets maybe?