norbold

You're such a spoilsport, Phil. What will the conspiracy theorists do now?

I was genuinely asking the question but with the thought in my mind that the 9th place rider invariably gets a pick for the following year, but I don't actually know that to be the case for sure, which is why I was asking.

If what's the case?

With regard to Troy Batchelor getting a Wild Card, does anyone know the answer to the question I sort of asked earlier. How many times has the ninth placed GP rider NOT been given a Wild Card for the following year?

That depends how long the ban is surely. If the ban is a short one (assuming he gets one at all), he may be able to go through the qualifiers. If he's as good as he's made out to be he will no doubt qualify for 2016; if he doesn't he won't be good enough anyway.

Does anyone have any statistics on how many times the no. 9 has been given a wild card for the following year?

That's how to ride a match race. Great ride by Nicki.

Yes, they stick a camera in his face and then apologise for the language. What do they expect in that situation? Incidentally, my sympathies are with Nicky over that decision.

Well done, Greg. Brilliant. No doubt now one of the top three American riders of all time...Jack Milne, Bruce Penhall, Greg Hancock. But in which order?

Tracks I used to go to...New Cross , West Ham , Harringay , White City , Hackney . Not even the stadiums left. No hope!

I remember the Provincial League well, though I didn't see much of it as my teams were mostly in the old National League, but I did get about half a season of Provincial League racing at New Cross in 1963 before they closed. Good old Reg Reeves, Jimmy Squibb and Stan Stevens. Also Geoff Penniket as it happens. I did see the Provincial League Riders' Championship at Harringay in 1961. This was when Trevor Redmond, easily the best rider on the night, was cruelly robbed of the title when he shed his chain on the fourth bend of the fourth lap in his last race when heading for a 15 point maximum. Incidentally, that was the last meeting ever held at Harringay.

First of all let me say that I am at one with all those who say that Ward should be suspended, fined and certainly not be allowed to take part in the 2015 GP series. However, there IS a legal IF whether we like it or not. Ward admitted to drinking the night before BUT if it is found that the equipment used to test him was faulty, he could get off on a technicality. I certainly hope that doesn't happen but you can't say there is no IF about it as clearly there is.

As I said before, if Ward is found guilty by the FIM his only recourse is through the Court of Arbitration for Sport. If he is found not guilty, his recourse for compensation may be through the same route or possibly through the Swiss court as that is where the FIM is based. However, Swiss courts have been reluctant in the past to get involved in these sort of issues and that's probably why a number of International sporting bodies are incorporated there.

Lindgren, Batchelor et al. This keeps coming back to the idea that if you can't get in the top 8, you're not worthy of a place in the top 15.

That was because the dispute was with the AMA, who the court said were acting as agents of the FIM, therefore they were allowed to sue the FIM. In this case the dispute is directly with the FIM; the ACU have nothing to do with it. But in any case the laws concerning international sporting bodies have changed significantly since the 1970s The only option open to Ward if the decision goes against him is to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport which has the supreme international authority to rule in sporting matters when the international governing body of a sport has made a ruling. There is no other course of appeal open.

Why is that making two and two equal five? There is no European court that an issue like this can be taken to. That seems to be making four to me.

Which European Court are you talking about?

Who's that then, Gustix? Personally, I don't think Briggo was the greatest of his time, let alone all time. I was at my most active as a speedway supporter in the 60s and early 70s and I'd say, as someone who was there, that without a doubt Ove Fundin was the greatest rider of the period, if not all time. But it's all a matter of opinion of course and I could name at least a dozen riders who have a claim to greatest of all time: Vic Huxley, Tom Farndon, Bluey Wilkinson, Jack Parker, Vic Duggan, Jack Young, Ronnie Moore, Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs, Ivan Mauger, Hans Nielsen, Tony Rickardsson......

But there are 15 Grand Prix riders. Should they not be the top 15 in the world? Or are you saying that only the top eight should be in the Grand Prix? On what criteria do you select the other seven?

Do you mean he steals poles, or is he actually a Pole and not an Aussie?

1950s is interesting. I think the top 5 in no particular order would undoubtedly be Jack Young, Ronnie Moore, Ove Fundin, Barry Briggs, Peter Craven. It's the putting them in order that's the problem!!!

I'm not sure I understand the point you're making. What difference does it make whether he was found with alcohol in his system before or after a meeting? The only difference I can see is that he is more likely to have seriously injured himself or someone else if he hadn't been tested beforehand and allowed to ride with alcohol. What is he charged with and what might he have been charged with?

I took 1970/80 to mean 1970-1980, not 70s and 80s, which is why none of us chose Hans Nielsen.

60s. 1 Fundin 2, Briggs 3. Mauger 4. Moore 5. Craven 6. Knutson 70s 1. Mauger 2. Olsen 3. Collins 4. Michanek 5. Louis 6. Simmons 2000s: 1.Rickardsson 2. Crump 3. Pedersen 4. Hancock 5. Gollob 6. Adams Greatest: Ove Fundin

You're right there, Screm, there certainly will be plenty of argument. People will be arguing on this Forum whoever is selected.