Middlo

Not a chance mate!!!

Just to clarify VVs other pearl of wisdom, Mark spoke to me in Poland about this. And he said he was misquoted and apologised to me. And who pray tell would you like to see in charge? The fact of the matter is we do not have the strength in depth of some other nations at the moment hence no victory add to that numerous injuries over the years, FACT

Hey Vincent you talk a real good game if BS was rubber you would bounce for ever! get in the pits at a big meeting and see how you handle it.Just look at the pedigree of the Aussie team the boys done real good all you ever do is get on here and slag me and the team off.Why do you bother? Asked you before and you bottled it come and speak to me face to face and tell me your master plan i would love to hear it.YOU ARE WITHOUT DOUBT THE WISEST MAN ON THE FORUM BY YOUR OWN ACCOUNT. Thanks to everyone else who actually appreciates the boys efforts

Just to clear up a few things up Leigh Lanham and a few others were asked to go to the qualifiers and elected not to do them which is there right. And the rules from the British Championship said the first four were qualifiers.After that it is up to me and as manager i asked riders i thought would a.benefit from the chance and b. stand a chance to qualify ok I agree its a tough call on Eddie Kennett but he deserves a shot.(and he is my favorite as you all know!!!)I did offer Andy the slot back and he declared himself unfit after his crash at Reading against Poole.And before you all start saying he was just proving a point by not doing it i dont think so he had paid for his license and was fully prepared to go,but sadly cannot do it.Bringing you right up to date David Howe will now go to Hungary a choice I am sure will again cause loads of contoversy. But went through the list and he jumped at the chance. No i dont think i am bigger than the rules but i am manager and i choose who I think is best people may not agree all the time but hey i can take the stick, makes the world go round. And please any of you who have an axe to grind we me please make yourself known when i visit your track I will be happy to talk it over with you.

Just to let you know spoke to Floppy this morning when he stepped down he was devastated as he had set his heart on the World Cup as I had him being in it. I just hope he will get over this very annoying and worrying injury and be back in the saddle soon, it takes a big man to drop out of the World Cup but I always knew I would get the truth from Flop.Bomber as you can imagine was delighted with my phone call and I am sure he can do the job for team GB. And as you are all probably sick of seeing me saying "your country needs you" at Swindon!! BE THERE!!!!!!!!

Very sad to hear of the passing of Buddy I grew up hearing his name mentioned by my father KenMiddleditch many times.I met him once and he was a true gentleman, Dad raced with Buddy in South Africa, he will be very sad to hear about the passing of a very dear friend. R.I.P.

Sorry to hear Steves very sad news Steve stayed with me for a few years when he and Scott Autrey first came to the UK, never met Jim but remember Steve talking about him. Very sad, Sandman you see Steve you pass on my condolences to him although not known in this country Jim was still part of the world wide speedway family. R.I.P

Heard some sad news Jimmy Squibb passed away yesterday.He had been suffering from Parkinsons disease for some time. Myself and my family send our condolences to his son Barry and their family. Always remember Jim when i first started to race I was 16 he was over fifty then I think, and he was keeping me out of the Eastbourne team! We had a crash together and poor old Jim broke his arm, got my team spot then!! He never held a grudge thank god cos he was a big guy!! A great character very tough rider awesome round the county ground he will be sadly missed. I am sure their will be some forum members who remember him racing.Good on ya Jim, sleep well my friend. Middlo

Steve, in answer to your question what would I have done re the Lee Richardson incident had it gone against me in a league match would have spoke to the ref asking very politely!! why he made the decision he did, knowing full well i was wasting my time, they should take the phone away and put a mirror in its place so I can talk to myself because all the years i have been managing think I have made a ref change his mind once. I must admit with video replays it does make life easier when you can see things from a differant angle people shutting off blocking riders etc that sort of thing.( bitter me?!!!!!!!! )Why he made the call i dont know but thanks Mick i owe you a beer.

Just to thank all of you for your fantastic support at the final it was really goose bump material for the boys and I, we really did want to win that not just for us but for all of you. There is nothing else we could have done they rode their hearts out and that is all I can ask, everyone should be so proud. second place am I happy? not really, I came to win the World Cup and this was my best chance nobody remembers second places that old adage 'good loser' show me a good loser and I will show you a loser,we were not good losers we were devastated and in the cold light of day there was no more we could have done everyone rode theirs guts out and to lose it the way we did hurts me even more, dont want to comment to much, think i probably spouted off to some of the press after the meeting which perhaps I shouldnt have but that was the way I felt. Congrats to Sweden their name is on the trophy and ours isnt thats the facts.Thanks again for your support was much appreciated.

Thought would make a post as I did in Denmark last year just to keep you guys informed. Great for us to be in the final the short way! the boys all rode fantastic and the support that you gave them was brilliant they really do appreciate it and hopefully even better at Poole on Sat, it was nice to actually field the team that i wanted and how they battled, was very proud. Flop was not happy as you probably noticed! with his bike, but once he got things sorted was back to his normal self, he just gets so angry with himself if he feels he under performs for any reason. Scott is a great captain i know some people think he is not the man for the job but if you could have seen how angry he was at dropping points you would understand, he HAS the passion to lead. Mark was outstanding ever seen him make that many starts? i think even he was shocked. Lee tigered away, probably by his own admission not his best night but very vital points and again rides with great passion, has been an ever present for me at the World Cups. Screeny again battled for every point and some people again criticized his late selection but he proved the knockers wrong with a great performance. Next the final, gonna be a tough one all the boys will be coming down to the Race Off to have a look and check the track out to work out set ups,we have practise Friday morning but tracks always change so much due to temperatures etc so will be good for them to see it under proper race conditions. Its a tough one to call every team has that extra drive racing for there respective countries and i do know that home crowd support does really help to inspire the boys. Havvy is in for Screeny as you all probably know. It was my original plan to use Havvy at Poole but was tough call after a good show from Joe but we spoke and he agreed Havvy was the man, my final decision and hopefully the right one if Havvy does a great job I will be praised if not will get the oh should have picked Joe people, but thats my job and whatever happens hope you will support us the end. Winning would be fantastic and would hopefully give speedway some decent coverage in the nationals instead of tucked away in the corner of the sports section, but even a rostrum placing and i would feel we had done a good job after all the years of bad luck. So, just a couple of days to go having a game of golf with Havvy and Screeny Thursday, arranged some fishing for Floppy and hopefully a boat trip and dinner out after practise for all the boys just to chill out together. See you Saturday Middlo

67 IS Toni Pilloto was skiing with him this year bit fatter bit balder bit like me!!!!

Well thanks for the support (from most of you) The boys have done everyone proud the team spirit is fantastic the boys have been so up for it none of them wanting to let each other or their country down and it shows! We are just chillin waiting to go to the final at the moment and wherever we finish first or last be very proud of them I know i will be.

I remember your uncle very well he drove all the way from London to Dorset just to bring me my first bike an ex post office BSA Bantam. when i was about 13, will never forget it, he always had a smile on his face never a bad word to say about anyone a true gentleman. You should be very proud to be a relation of Phils, he was a great character and a very talented rider my dad spoke very highly of him.

Just a note to say have heard from Scott and he wants to thank you guys for the birthday wishes. Scott wrote: "I appreciate the birthday wishes, and even though the big 5 ohhh is still around the corner, all i can say is I have made it this far! When I saw the messages the memories were overwhelming. Although I live a completely different life now I can truly say the time I spent in England, were indeed, some of the best years of my life. There are so many people I remember fondly, and to be remembered, well it just blows me away. Please tell thanks for the great memories they gave me. Our love of speedway is our bond" Scott