Ray Stadia

In the context anyone, over the age limit, can legally buy booze, to use a tampered silencer in speedway, illegal. To use dope, hashish whatever name you call it, is illegal, in most countries, whether while riding speedway under the influence or a social user. I rest my case!

I have fully explained my argument, have another look!

Why? Booze is legal, silencer tampering isn't and nor is smoking dope. Obviously excessive drinking is illegal if you drive a car and if you ride a speedway bike. Where the boundaries are blurred regarding booze, is the FIM limit, apparently, is very low and Darcy was caught on a breathalyzer the following day, after the night before. Now, if at the end of the day, he had drunk booze, say at 10.00 am before the GP, I would have no sympathy. If he had stopped drinking at 2.00 am and was seen in a burger bar, seemingly sober, as has been suggested, I have full sympathy. If what has been suggested is true, how the hell was Darcy to know he was over the FIM limit? Yes, he could have said at 9.00 pm, time for bed and gone back to his hotel, but he is a young fella and I for one, would have done what he did. People on here can say, 'but he is a professional speedway rider and should act professionally', but as we know, these guys put their necks on the line and most earn about enough to earn a living. They are not paid like the 'prima donna' professional football players. Speedway is dying on it's backside, this 'hang em and flog em' aint going to help.

And the drinks were positively lovely!

Who is Suarez? Is he an Aboriginal speedway rider with a drink problem?

Just as well they didn't speak to Scott Nicholls!

I know we would all be nervous to have to give a breath test, as there is the 'you are never 100% sure', but the fact Nicki posted his negative result, may suggest he was a bit bum twitchy!

As someone else on here alluded to, you do wonder whether Darcy was singled out for a test, as a result of a tip off. The way Scott Nicholls put the 'boot in' during his commentary........who knows?

Me too SCB, I would rather have 6 or 7 pints of Stella!..........oh doh!

But alcohol is not illegal Steve. I totally agree, drugs are wrong, but the guy goes out the night before a meeting and drinks legal alcohol, which unless I am wrong, you may have done too, as a rider. I rode Grass Track and I drank alcohol the night before a Sunday meeting.

You mean Michael Lee style Steve? That is bad, I have to say. But being an ex rider Steve, what do you make of this alcohol thing?

We have already been told that if tested, there is virtually a zero tolerance to any alcohol in the blood stream! So yes, there would have been a trace mid-day. Doesn't mean he would have been a danger, doesn't mean he wouldn't have won the meeting. It is the typical British attitude, build someone up and take great delight in seeing them tumble. I hope you are enjoying your cocoa Oldace, in your fluffy slippers!

He is only 22! I still remember what I was like at 22 and if I had been a speedway rider at 22, I am pretty sure I wouldn't have been in bed the night before a meeting, in a different country, tucked up in bed with cocoa!

Trouble is, many of us have had a 'skin full' and driven the following day. How do we know whether we would have failed a breath test? In my opinion, at worst, he would have had a bad meeting and not been a danger to other riders. I wonder what would have happened if the Moran brothers had been tested just before a meeting? Also, I heard stories about a rider, no names, falling out of the van when the passenger door was opened and was due to ride! He was under the influence. No one was hurt and I believe he had a reasonable meeting! Times have changed I understand, but he is a young man and deserves a bit of slack, in my opinion.

I think Orion is not adding enough water!

It is sad! Very sorry to hear the news. South African I believe?

There is a thread just started in the Elite League section, mentioning how poor the Elite League is this year and suggesting speedway should be run by ex riders rather than 'money men'. But surely, no promoter of any league, especially these days, expects to make a profit! But I can understand them expecting to at least break even, which is not unreasonable. I think speedway needs to lay it's cards on the table, for all remaining tracks and look at all the real costs and see where changes need to be made for the good of everybody. Surely a sensible business plan for all can be achieved. Perhaps speedway promoters need to work as a co-operative?

Not sure Cradley is a big city? And we did have Birmingham!

The opportunity to bring back hanging?

The good news, is the longer it takes to build, the closer I become to being eligible to cheap or free travel and concessionary entrance fee! Every cloud........!

Still looking forward to buying you a beer on that first night (or second night) TWK!

Best wishes Ricky. Very well done!

Very sad. RIP

With respect, I think the problem with Mildenhall is being missed. I don't believe (for one minute), the problem is speedway. It is the stock cars/bangers. Speedway is wrapped up on the last heat and no more noise. Apparently, evening meetings were running at the track for bangers and they create a huge mess and the track was being prepared for speedway into the early hours, so we are told. Is that reasonable, even for the most tolerant neighbour?

I haven't read Phil Collins article, but reducing costs, all round, has to be the way forward to try and get speedway growing again. Perhaps a way to introduce the new engines, would be to insist that existing engines are restricted to a certain power output. In other words, reduced to a similar output to the new engines.