Midland Red

For those of us whose first, second and, maybe, third language is English . . . .

An ideal location for a National Speedway Stadium

If the club statement had been left at this, it would have been spot on - but the last few paragraphs about donations, etc. have done the club and its officials no good at all COVENTRY can confirm they will be lodging an appeal against the verdict issued by the Speedway Control Bureau last week. The members present at the meeting on July 9, which discussed the events of the Coventry v Poole fixture on June 1, were: Tony Gillias (SCB Chairman); Dickie Staff (SCB Member - ACU), Peter Gregory (substitute SCB Member - ACU, replacing unavailable Gary Thompson), Alex Harkess (SCB Member - BSPA) and Gordon Pairman (SCB Member - BSPA). Also present were SCB Prime Officer Graham Reeve and Clerk to the Court Mrs Nikki Jamieson. Coventry can also confirm, contrary to a recent press release from Poole, that at no stage were they given the option of requesting the withdrawal of any member of this panel due to an actual or perceived conflict of interest. The club was epresented by co-promoters Mick Horton and Neil Watson. The SCB members ruled the Buildbase Bees had been in breach of regulation 4.1.9 during the abandoned meeting against Poole on June 1, stating that the riders had “failed to meet the 2-minute time allowance facility on more than one occasion.” Coventry feel the overall conclusion of the SCB has failed to take into account the full circumstances of the meeting and the roles of key officials on the night, despite the evidence presented, and that the penalty is unjust. Having given the matter due consideration, the club has paid an Appeal fee to the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) in accordance with regulation 3.4.11 . That's all that needed to be said, pending the appeal

No way should be be seeded into the 2015 Challenge He should go through the 2016 Challenge, although I can see some validity in him being given a wildcard for the GPs for 2016 - but not gatecrash the qualifiers which are under way

No - but I think Joe Root's nose looks very similar to Len Hutton's

So, the ambulance at Monmore Green is made out of paper, pens and pencils!!! Or is it just stationary?

The Cream Bun Kid!

There was mention on the SGP last night of a Swindon rider, Darcy Ward - is this the guy who used to ride for Poole? I thought he was quite good - why have Poole let him go? And why isn't he in the GPs? Or is it another rider with the same name?

What?!! A rider turned left, going into a left-hand bend? Surely this won't do? Whatever will they do next?

There's a Darcy who rode for Swindon the other night against his parent club - don't suppose it's the same one?

I believe his home debut is against his parent club

What was so wonderful about a rider (Ward) powering to the first turn in front and extending his lead over the four laps? Apart from fending off Janowski, who looked fairly down on power all night, what did Ward do to entertain? Nothing compared with Charles Wright! Other posters have already said, motm was Wright, not Ward Hope the riders who crashed are not badly injured

Affectation?

The umpires at the test match started it - excluding both Ian Bell and Joe Root when they were just forty runs short of centuries, thereby depriving the crowd of seeing them reach 100 - don't suppose the Aussies would have minded if they'd not been given out So, in your world of sport, let's do away with competition rules and regulations, and do what's best for the spectators - I'm sure Bees and Tigers fans felt deprived at the GP when the referee excluded Garrity, and deprived them of seeing their young favourite ride in the rerun PS. Why do you always shout the first word?

OMG! That really shows you up, Mr R - why should there be consideration for the fans? The race, the competition, is for the riders - one of them has committed a clear foul on another, and has quite correctly been shown the red card Unfortunate for the fans, yes, but the referee's decision is one for the competitors only I cannot believe your comment!

Some on here are perhaps questioning whether you really have any knowledge about Bomber and the GTR

Some may have done, but in many people's view, any team in Poole's situation would endeavour to get through Heat 10 - that's what the present rules allow Bees would, and have, done the same, and there's absolutely no blame attached to Muddlo The problem was that the meeting should never have started, then there was the refusal of the steward to do a track inspection after he promised to do so, followed by the GSI statement As you say, Poole did no wrong - but many others did

Backtrack, why don't you? No one's accusing Poole, riders or management, it's GSI/Sky and the meeting steward - at least, that's how I remember it

I'd be happy to see a return of the old tac sub rule, and a point for aggregate win I don't recall doubling up creating the need for guest riders much more than a few years ago, certainly not 50 years!

Is that fact, or just a guess?If it is fact, can you explain it, please?

From Chris himself: STATEMENT: This is to clear up false rumours that are being reported about me on social media regarding the non use of GTR engines at Cardiff. Firstly not at any time have I been offered any money to use the engine neither at anytime have I asked for money from Gerhard engines for me to use them. The reason I chose not to ride the GTR at the British SGP is due to not having enough track time with the engine to understand how it works and how to set it up to my riding style. The last time I rode the GTR was at the British Final meeting and after the meeting it was taken out of my bike and taken away for the guys to check it out or work on it. I made the decision to use my BAR engines on the back of having 3 good meetings including a paid max and I know how these engines work for my riding style. I had lengthy conversations with Marcel Gerhard over the weekend of Cardiff and discussed the plan moving forward which involves a GTR being changed to suit my riding style and to practice on the engine prior to the next SGP. To support this my sponsors Rock Oil have provided the required oils by GerhardEngines to ensure Marcel and his team have everything they need. I look forward to working with Marcel and the team to come up with something special that suits my riding style in the near future. Marcel completely understood my reasons and there were no hard feelings which was proven by their message of best wishes for me on their social media accounts. I am disappointed but at the same time amused at what people write and that they waste their time posting on social media sites and forums without knowing the truth. Rumours and false statements are aimed to make the person in question look bad, however I am an honest rider and I will make decisions what I am comfortable with whether it turns out right or wrong, at the end of the day I am the one riding the bikes and risking my life. If people wanted to know the reason why they should just ask me and I will explain the truth rather than listen to rumours or made up stories on social media sites and forums. Chris

From Chris himself: STATEMENT: This is to clear up false rumours that are being reported about me on social media regarding the non use of GTR engines at Cardiff. Firstly not at any time have I been offered any money to use the engine neither at anytime have I asked for money from Gerhard engines for me to use them. The reason I chose not to ride the GTR at the British SGP is due to not having enough track time with the engine to understand how it works and how to set it up to my riding style. The last time I rode the GTR was at the British Final meeting and after the meeting it was taken out of my bike and taken away for the guys to check it out or work on it. I made the decision to use my BAR engines on the back of having 3 good meetings including a paid max and I know how these engines work for my riding style. I had lengthy conversations with Marcel Gerhard over the weekend of Cardiff and discussed the plan moving forward which involves a GTR being changed to suit my riding style and to practice on the engine prior to the next SGP. To support this my sponsors Rock Oil have provided the required oils by GerhardEngines to ensure Marcel and his team have everything they need. I look forward to working with Marcel and the team to come up with something special that suits my riding style in the near future. Marcel completely understood my reasons and there were no hard feelings which was proven by their message of best wishes for me on their social media accounts. I am disappointed but at the same time amused at what people write and that they waste their time posting on social media sites and forums without knowing the truth. Rumours and false statements are aimed to make the person in question look bad, however I am an honest rider and I will make decisions what I am comfortable with whether it turns out right or wrong, at the end of the day I am the one riding the bikes and risking my life. If people wanted to know the reason why they should just ask me and I will explain the truth rather than listen to rumours or made up stories on social media sites and forums. Chris

I didn't say anything about other sports - where do you get that from??? The doubling up/down system is a self-inflicted injury imposed on speedway by the powers that be, creating more and more guest riders, less and less teams tracking their own riders It could perhaps be better implemented to avoid the need for guest bookings, but it would take some working out Three guests, two r/rs, tonight - another good advert for British Speedway Let's hope it's rained off!

Why not do like F1, have pre-meeting practice, and the fastest in practice start in front of the slower riders - that will take away any gate advantage

A major problem is rules/regulations brought in which complicate the sport and appear to take away all sense of fair play I give you: Doubling-up/doubling down riders - how do you explain that a rider is missing tonight because he's riding for another club? FTRs staying at 6 & 7 - much as I enjoy the benefit that Bees get from having top two FTRs, it makes no sense that, if they're good enough to move up to 2nd string (as shown when they take their extra reserve replacement rides), they are not allowed to, giving an unfair advantage over teams with lesser FTRs Black & white helmet - well, we all know about that