salty

Cyril rode in the first match I ever saw at the back end of 1968. For Newport at Cradley, remember him then riding a few matches for the Heathens in 1971. Nice to hear that he is still enjoying his Speedway.

Not quite true, though you are right Dag was unavailable for the whole season. The facility awarded was season long Rider Replacement, with very few guests utilised. Paul Gachet was injured very early in the season and his absence was covered by NL riders. When you consider that riders like Kennett, Geer and Niemi were taking extra rides all season it was some feat to hold on for the title. I am sure I have read somewhere (probably by John Berry) that it was the Dugard's links with Weslake that was the key factor in the Rebels triumph.

Touchy, touchy! Haven't Raynes Park Vale got a game tonight?

Maybe you are thinking of Frank Taylor, who if memory serves became the Mirror's leading Sportswriter? Frank McLean who did the Belle Vue reports did so until a ripe old age I think.

No, but there used to be a writer called John Hyam

John Berry's book "Confessions of a Speedway Promoter" covers the fatal accident and aftermath in some depth. Berry was standing on the centre green when the accident occurred. Also quickly on the scene was Preben Eriksen and it was these two who removed Brett's helmet. Then to quote the book "We both looked at each other. Although Brett was fighting for breath, and therefore still alive, we both knew the score there and then." Can't believe it is so long since this happened - 1982 was a bad year for our sport.

I might be wrong but I was under the impression that Speedway Star man Phillip Rising was Assistant Race Director, anyone else know for sure?

Issue 15 of Backtrack showed a modern day picture of Ray Wilson posing next to a streetsign for "Stadium Rise" (which had another sign called "Parker Drive" underneath it). Caption for the photo read - "the only sign that speedway was ever staged in Leicester"

There was a lot of discussion about this on the Cradley web site a few years ago. some were in favour of some sort of recognition, but the vast majority felt that we wanted nothing to do with anything that Barratts "built" on the site.

Cradley - Horrible cheap and nasty housing estate. Wembley - a very expensive Football stadium Wimbledon - a track used for dogs and stocks Oxford - ditto

I enjoyed reading that article, but was surprised that Dag Lovaas didn't get a mention as a Reading Great. I know he was only there a relatively short time (3 seasons?), but I thought he would have warranted a mention at the very least. Amongst those "also considered" were Pierre Brannefors and Peter Glanz and without wishing to belittle their achievements in the winged wheel I reckon Dag's contribution to the 1973 Championship was worthy of some mention.

Makes the whole thing a bit of a mockery. Harris must be the luckiest rider to ever get a nomination, seeing that he finished well behind Puk and Bjarne last season. If the nomination system has to be used I wish it was to ensure the next best 4 riders were included, not to even up some arbitary national quota. I would like to see Holder get a wild card opportunity in 2009, but can't see him getting a go in front of any of the home nations. The best idea would be to see him at Cardiff, but I reckon the system which gave us Howe and Kennett over the past 2 years will stay in place.

Think you will find Tai didn't ride in the World Cup Final, GB failing to qualify from the run-off where he scored a creditable 9 points from 6 rides ( though I think you will find he didn't beat any current GP riders). Maybe you are talking about the World Team Under 21 Final? Again GB failed to qualify though Tai did top score with 14 in the Semi. Or maybe you are talking about the World Under 21 Final when Tai scored 3 points? Clearly Tai is not ready for a full GP season yet. Vast majority of people including Tai himself would see that, but don't let that get in the way of having another pop at the GP's!

To be fair to Zagar in his first full GP series I'm pretty sure he qualified in the top 8. Found it tougher 2nd time around, but at least he has shown he can cope with the step up in class. Anyone know what the score is with Holta? It is the first I had heard he might step down for2009.

Come on Tony, Sam Fox was so '80's! Funny, but I can't remember any "celebrities" finding their way to Dudley Wood in the 70's! Things I remember fondly... Webster's Speedway Mirror (4 editions published I think?) The start of the Speedway Yearbook series Studio Publications Full colour on the back and front cover of the Speedway Star. 19 Teams in the British League Going to the first home meeting of a season, buying the Star and finding out which riders had moved clubs or been newly allocated (what did we do without the net?) Belle Vue coming to Dudley Wood on Saturday nights with a massive following. Going to Monmore on a Friday and cheering for the opposition. Gulf Oil and the GOBL Staying behind to watch the second half and getting autographs as the riders loaded their cars.

Of course we should have guessed - it is all the fault of that dastardly GP series. It wouldn't have happened using the old system! watch the race again and see how much ground Harris makes up on Greg - he clearly had the speed to overtake. I'll agree that Hancock could have maybe defended the line better, but to suggest that he let Harris through deliberately...next you will be saying that Lance King and Shawn Moran let Erik overtake them at Bradford in 1985! Still waiting for anybody else to come on and agree with your "version" of events.

Now that is a good idea. I reckon Middlo has just completed his 10th season as Team Manager so a good opportunity to right a wrong.

To be fair, Sajfutdinov had to negotiate a qualifier (which he won) against a field consisting mainly of Croats (not Pavlic), Hungarians and Slovakians. He then finished 4th in his Semi, where the non-qualifiers were Vaculik, Brzozowski, Kajoch, Baumann, Ksiezak, Klindt, Stichauer and Bogdanovs. With respect to them, that is hardly a "very tough" semi. As I posted earlier the vast majority of people expect and agree that Emil should be in the GP's for 2009. If anything the fact he is Russian makes him even more attractive to BSI/IMG as they will see that as a means of promoting the series in a new country. I hope if he gets a spot for 2009 he can be competitive at the top level - I will certainly be rooting for him.

Guess we will have to agree to disagree on that one then. Would welcome the thoughts of others.... PS Someone who knows the lyrics to the mighty "Get Up Off Our Knees" can't be that bad, just don't know why you have such a downer on Greg Hancock!

My memory must be slipping. I remember that Final well - it was after all Bernie's Final - but I am 99% certain it wasn't televised live (definitely not in the Midlands) but highlights were shown on ITV about 10 o'clock. Maybe others can confirm one way or the other.

So you do actually believe that Hancock allowed Harris through! Amazing! I suspect you are in a minority of one in such a view.

Think you will find that Ghostwalker's comments about Emil waiting until 2010 or 2011 are very much a minority view. A cursory glance through posts concerning 2009's line up shows an almost universal agreement for Emil's inclusion. But don't let that stop you from having another tiresome dig at the GP system. One could point out (yet again) that both Sajfutdinov and Holder tried and failed to qualify as of right for 2009, one could also point out the utter folly of you suggesting winning the Under 21 Championship is a greater achievement than Pedersen's World Championship victory, but what would be the point. You still dream of a return to the old system - but I suspect that is all it will remain.

Should read the country "Holta is too sensible to ride in". Never had the right offer at the right time i.e. before Christmas. Holta would have been as good a performer in the UK as he has been for years in the much tougher Swedish and Polish leagues - no reason why he wouldn't have been.

Middlo, Over the past few seasons I have seen a number of occasions when Reg Fearman has reacted to stories (whether they be in Backtrack or on the Speedway Plus website) and insisted on retractions or at least putting his side of the story. Just wonder whether he has ever contacted you about your lost Testimonial monies?

So we were supposed to guess that this comment was referring to Cardiff 2007? Do you seriously think Hancock deliberately allowed Harris through? Must be nice in your world.