Steve Shovlar

Like I said, I don't remember him doing anything wrong at all last season. Was excellent on and off track and came across very well on Sky. Totally professional for one still so young. At his age my brain were in my pants and I spent very night chasing girls and getting drunk. That's what lads his age normally do, isn't it? Petty jealousy then, as I doubt you have ever sat down and had a chat with him.

Can't think for the life of me what Darcy did wrong last season to say he hasn't matured as a rider. Came across very well when interviewed on numerous occasions on Sky. Showed maturity beyond his age when made Captain of Poole and let the Pirates to ultimate glory at Birmingham in the final. Had his GP challenge curtailed by injury but came back to claim a top eight sport on merit. Leads the Pirates again in 2014 and comes across well. Loves leading Poole Åland the joy when winning the league last year was plain to see. And long may it continue, with hopefully he doing the job with the title of World Champ under his belt.

Reading a lot of petty jealousy on this thread. Darcy matured considerably last season and will win the GP series in 2014 if he stays injury free. He is Poole captain and proud to be. He comes over well on TV and put his past behind him. All this rubbish about him not committed, needs a major attitude adjustment, etc is pure crap. His attitude is of that of a winner. As for Oldaces posts, well he was found not guilty, which means he was innocent of any crime. Having a bit of rumpy pumpy with some girl who wanted to be involved in a threesome or moresome is not illegal. Many of us have been there, done that in our lives. If I was the father of the girl I would have been more disappointed in her behaviour than those of some young lads whose brains lie in their pants after a few drinks. I believe Darcy grew up a lot after that incident. Being captain of Poole will never make Darcy popular with many fans from other clubs. That's a fact but he is well liked here and will no doubt get the full backing of the Pirate fans. There's not a more exciting rider out there at this moment in time.

How do you know he hasn't been working flat out this winter? You don't know what he has been up to with his prep. Certainly been working with Crump on his gating. Going to be the best GP series in quite a few years.

Tai lost a few rides through injury but unlike his rivals who had their season ended early(Emil) or at the start (Ward) he rode through his injuries. As I said I would very much like Tai to win back to back titles but a fit Ward is a step up from Tai. Think this coming season of GPs will be a cracker.

Between Ward and Holder this season, though Ward will be less rusty than Holder. Would like to see Tai win it but feel luck ran his way last year and he took advantage of it. Don't think he will be so lucky this coming season.

It's just bowls on ice and just because gb won a couple of medals it gets publicity on the bbc who are covering the event. Give it 3 months and it will die back to where it was 2 months ago. To be honest it looks like a sport where you could play it for a year and be pretty good at it. And if you are crap just hurl the thing down the ice and smash the rest out of the way. A game that's as thrilling as tiddly winks if the bbc covered tiddly winks. The whole nation gripped on the bbc as to whether pert Suzy Wilkins from Dunfermline manages to flick the last tiddly into the wink. She does and it's wall to wall coverage ,

One competition for world champ, the other a mickey mouse tournament and who wins, well it really means nothing, does it? So Emil will not ride in the SGP? More fool him then as winning the SEC means nothing and winning the SGP means everything. Let him vanish into the SEC and let Tai or Darcy win what is important. We don't need both competitions, which just take race days away from the UK. Kill the SEC now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQWAvqxAbLs http://spikes-mag.tumblr.com/post/76417243663/how-running-helped-me-win-the-speedway-world-title

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/news/newsresults/general-news/2014/february/feb1614-moty/

My maths is correct. I get my initial £250 bet back as well as winnings. BSPA moved the goalposts reducing the teams in the playoffs from 6 to 4 rendering the terms under which I placed the bet invalid. William Hill refunded me after a phone call to them.

Is that why they are brining their own track man?

I placed a £250 bet at 100/1 a few years ago on Poole winning the league from bottom. If it had been successful I would have won £25,250. But the BSPA moved the goalposts from 6 to 4 for the playoffs, ending any chance. I got a refund as the rules had been changed after the bet was placed.

Really the other team should be Poole as we are the Champions of the UK. Surprised Sky are interested to be honest.

Polish League?

Just listening to tms and it seems Aussie cricketers are having Visa problems to play English county cricket. Rule change in visa applications were mentioned.

Heard that a drunk had dialled 999 and asked the operator to be put through to Alex Ferguson. The operator said " sorry you have the wrong number. Phone the council and ask for the Moyes Abatement Department".

If they could sort out the team strengths, who rides for whom, this would be a huge money spinner for the clubs involved.

What you unsurprisingly fail to comprehend is that SWC meetings are not run on tiddly little trick tracks like Monmore or Kirky Lane. They are ridden on large fast tracks and riders like Cooke wouldn't see Janowski for dust. To compare the two on an international stage shows your lack of knowledge of international speedway.

The reason Cook isn't rated by some Poole fans is probably down to his performances when he comes to Poole. Very poor. And the reason his average is as high as it is is because he has ridden many more home meetings than away in 2013. Was looking forward to seeing him ride against us last year but he was useless. Scored 4 points the last time he rode with one win in ten races over the season at Wimborne Road Not the form of an international.

Woffinden, Harris, Nicholls and King. Cooke is a second string who is dialled into about three tracks. Too old already and has reached his level

Cooke had his chance. Nowhere near good enough unless GB ride at Belle Vue.

<personal abuse removed, valid points left in post>

Congrats to Rosco. Don't let the mountain of abuse about to come your way from next summer get you down! <predictable personal abuse removed>

Fifteen quid is far from expensive. Perhaps if promoters had had the guts to raise prices properly a few years ago we would have more of the top guys riding over here. People are happy to pay £25 to watch league 1 football and always find the money to support their team. People who say speedway is a ten pounds sport are living on another planet IMO.