salty

It it ain't broke, don't fix it. Tony seems comfortable with their current markets. Both current magazines complement each other well and though I only subscribe to Backtrack (since Issue 1) I have no problem with the focus on the 70's and 80's and I wouldn't find more recent times so interesting. Naturally there are plenty of riders whose careers have covered the 80's and 90's and I don't think anyone would begrudge their whole careers being discussed. Obviously, most of the major riders have now been covered and it is hard to continue to find fresh angles, but I find the stories from "lesser lights" just as interesting (if not more so) as those from the household names and I hope Tony and the team continue to unearth more and more tales from such riders .

Wow, that really is surprising. I always got the impression that the Sky twins weren't that fussed with Ward, I mean they hardly ever mention him or interview him.

Personal choice - Bernie Persson (1969 -72 vintage) Rider I never saw - Peter Craven For the good of the sport - Peter Collins (mid-70's version) or Bruce Penhall

Thanks for the reply, figured it was another editorial blunder!! Will look forward to the interview when it is finally published. I find the ex-administrators/promoters can be a wee bit more candid and have more interesting stories to tell than many of the ex-riders.

Quality stuff. Love the new pic Arson, not as pretty as the Sid James one though.

Actually I don't think they did use the separate finish for FIM meetings. I was there for a WTC qualifier in the early 80's and pretty sure they just raced over the 4 laps. Edit: Just checked the programme and the times in a few races were within the track record so that suggests the "second" finishing post wasn't used. Track record wasn't altered in future programmes.

Great issue as always - loved the Ashby, Foote, Olsson, Coupland and Lohmann features - and I always enjoy reading about the sport north of the border. Not really a fan of the 50 Memorable moments and the ICF recap (apologies to Rob P). One question. Cyril Crane's name is on the front cover, but nothing in the magazine?

Either of those 2 options may have ramifications for his chances of being a GP rider in 2016. A ban until August or beyond and he is relying on being parachuted into the GP challenge or getting a nomination. Both options would be difficult to justify and I'm sure there will be plenty who would disagree if Ward is shown any favourable treatment. Edit: this post is replying to Gavan and TWK suggestions of bans until August and March 2016 respectively.

The were some cracking comments on the Echo website on Wednesday. Calls for Poole to just declare him in their side anyway and other well thought out strategies.

I actually think the 4 to 5 days theory could be a winner here.

You say Darcy would know the rules regarding the 45 day period, but Middlo, who as we know is very close to Darcy, didn't seem to be aware about it judging by his tweets on the day of the hearing. It was clear he expected a judgement on the day. You sound like Starry with his (unsubstantiated) talk of hanging, but all I have read is people asking for a ban. The majority of those asking for a ban are asking for a ban less than the maximum, so hardly "blood thirsty". As for your example about the BSPA, it's a wee bit like apples and oranges, once we are in the auspices of the FIM the rules change somewhat and, as I keep saying, once the lawyers get involved then time becomes a slow moving concept. Obviously if it was the BSPA then the wheels would have been greased (maybe even palms), lessons would have been learnt, wrists would have been proferred and gentle slaps administered. And Poole wouldn't have needed a guest for the play-offs.

Similar thoughts were mentioned back in August that Darcy's links with Monster would result in a lenient approach. At that time I think it was said that the FIM would be immune from such "favouritism". Obviously, if the result is a favourable one for Darcy then the conspiracy theorists will no doubt call it a "monstrous" decision.

I certainly don't agree with the long time it has taken for the FIM to hold the hearing. However, as we have heard, that timespan when it comes to the FIM is not unprecedented and, as I have said before, that once lawyers (on both sides) are involved then the wheels of justice tend to grind pretty slowly.

To be fair I did stress that the report only came from the Ward camp. The sub judice nature of the case has meant that all we have learned (or been told) since last August has come from the Ward side. Edit: Reply to Starry - rightly so. The FIM have maintained silence over the matter which is absolutely they way it should be until they have a decision to impart. Once lawyers are involved then it is the only way to be.

To be fair to Middlo and Ward the reports after the hearing were that they would be told within a week what the outcome was. Although again that has only been reported via the Ward camp, nothing from the FIM. Quote from Middlo in last weeks Star "They did say they would give a decision this week" However, Middlo also says they "could take two months if they want - it's up to them" which suggests numeracy might not be his strongest subject.

I can't believe we allow someone in an "UNOFFICIAL" capacity to put those names on the board after the draws for the semi-finals and final. No wonder the sport is such a shambles...

I don't think anyone is seriously suggesting Ward was falling down drunk, we are just illustrating that nobody truly knows the extent with which he was over the limit. The fact remains that he apparently was over the limit and that is the crucial fact. All comments following the test have come from the Ward camp. Totally agree with you that his legal team are probably raging that Darcy did his interview - my understanding is that rule 1 from any lawyer is "say nothing!!!" Since then your magazine has given Neil Middleditch plenty of opportunities to air his views on the matter, yet obviously we have heard nothing from the FIM. A lot of the 245 pages on this thread has been a reaction to Middleditch's (and Ford's) comments.

Fair play to you Starry. A true Speedway fan putting the sport before their individual club.

So you agree a 2 year ban for Ward then? Surely as you are so keen to root out these type of misdemeanours you can agree that an example needs to be made?

Maybe the FIM will grow a pair and ban Ward for 2 years. Sending out a clear message that alcohol and Speedway don't mix. Surely anyone who doesn't agree can't call themselves a true Speedway fan. Would have far more effect than tinkering with the testing.

Totally agree. I was mocking Middlo's latest diatribe. Given his oft mentioned role as Darcy's "surrogate father", is it possible the FIM will take a dim view of his witterings and accusations in all forms of media? Hard to see a "lesson being learnt" when someone so close to the rider is unable to grasp the gravity of the riders misdemeanour. A more thoughtful and considered response from someone in Middlo's position might have used the words support and rehab, rather than poor kid and disgrace.

Harsh words. Anyone can see that what Darcy is being put through is akin to "mental torture", which is clearly "disgraceful". It really is "dreadful", what with him having to pay to travel to Geneva for the hearing.

Unless it's a (Forth) team tournament.

No Bernie???? Given that Michanek only rode part of a season before being sacked I wouldn't contemplate putting in a Heathens septet. Probably put John Boulger in before Wiggy. 1. Persson 2. Penhall 3. Gundersen 4. Hancock 5. Hamill 6. Janno 7. Johnny B

To be fair to Middlo he didn't call you retarded, he asked if you were retarded. Which is slightly different, but the whole tone of his exchange left no doubt of the offensive nature. For a team manager to conduct himself in such a manner is pretty demeaning, you would never expect people in similar positions in other sports getting so personal and offensive. As others have said, riders have been punished for bringing the sport into disrepute on social media and if the SCB have any regard for the public image of the sport one would expect Middleditch to be brought to book for his comments. The Poole management haven't covered themselves in glory throughout the Ward fiasco. From Middlo's initial "mitigating circumstances", to Ford "Hopefully he'll get off" to Middlo talking about "lots of grounds for appeal" whilst at the same time saying he didn't know what the alcohol readings were. We then had the tweet on Friday - "No decision till next week!!!What the hell is going on! #fimareajoke" which showed Middlo had no idea of the disciplinary process. One would have expected someone in his position to be familiar with FIM Anti-doping code so that he would have known there would be a period of deliberation before a decision was known.