Steve Shovlar

So the new by stadium is going to cost over 5 million quid? For a field with a shale track and a stand on one side and grass banking around the other parts? April Fools day has already gone. Someone is seriously taking the P with these figures. Eddie Mitchell isn't the builder, is he?

Overall a good GP. Some good racing but very rutty up the inside. NP is the leader but we all know he will have poor GPs along the way. Woffy clearly unfit, Holder still not fully race fit and Darcy getting flattened to take away the opportunity of making the semis. Crowd looked decent though wether it's enough to go back there next year is another matter. The crowd looked comatosed at times. Guess no local man to cheer didn't help and probably many of them didn't have a clue who was who.

Oh well fair play to him. A good final. KK should have won that but drifted too wide. Idiot.

JesuS bloody wept there is no justice. A guy that wrecks Darcys night then flukes a win. Terrible

Cons idering Ward took a whack it wasn't unexpected he didn't clear. Right call though. Batch must be hurting.

Well I have just read the article in today's Speedway Star and a what a jumped up little beep Robert Lambert comes across as. He is going to refuse to ride for Team GB, will not ride in the British U21's, even though he is seeded through to the final, and says he is going to continue riding on a German license. Just because the BSPA have safe guards in for young riders and won't allow 500cc competitive racing for U16's. Regarding Team GB and U21's. "The British authorities haven't really helped me, so I don't feel as if I need to help them out in any way. I wouldn't do it. There is such a sour taste in my mouth if I did do a meeting, I wouldn't go out and put in 110%. There is such a sour taste in my mouth I wouldnt put myself out to do it. I have got german fixtures in place. It's funny that they're seeding me through and I think they are trying to get me back over here. That's not going to happen". Oh dear. Jumped up little $h/t comes to mind. Just because the UK has rules regarding young riders which he doesn't agree with he throws a massive tantrum and refuses to ride for his country or do the U21's. He might be a precocious talent for his age but it seems he is already alienating British speedway fans. Which is a shame as by saying such things he could well will miss out on lucrative sponsorship deals. Showing his immaturity I guess. Thoughts?

Hopefully a big crowd but I wouldn't be sad to see it go. Our season started, then stalled because of this meeting, which should either be at the end of February or in early November.

Sporting disasters like yesterday unfortunately happen in all sports. A few years ago England were playing a one day match in the West Indies. The crowd was in, sky were showing it live, and it was called off at the last minute because the players said the pitch was dangerous underfoot. So even Cricket has the same issue from time to time, and come off the pitch at the slightest drizzle.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/19/sport/tai-woffinden-speedway-tattoos/index.html CNN, an American channel, now running a story on Tai. Has he been signed up by a large PR company? If not why not? Carl Fogarty recently posted on his twitter that Tai was about to become Britains next sporting superstar. To do so needs a serious media team behind him. Hope he gets one in place to organise his off race night calendar.

The FIM could certainly ban him if they see his withdraw for the GP series as a snub to them over a competition they are at war with.

Absolutely. Red Bull compete with Monster and I would be very surprised of they were very angry at this decision. I think they only have Hampel now as a sole representative in the GP series. wouldn't be surprised if another rider tried to contact Red Bull to tap up Emil's sponsorship deal for themselves. Monster have Tai, Darcy and Chris on board compared to Hampel at Red Bull.

Regardless of Emils ability, there should be absolutely NO wildcard for him in 2015. If he decides he wants to participate next season, he HAS to do the qualifiers this season. We don't want him thinking he can thumb his nose at the World Championship and then just walk back in when he feels like it.

Rarely do we see eye to eye on here but I see we are both of the exact same opinion. And to say that the World Champion in 2014 will be tarnished with what if Emil rode scenario, as far as I am concerned it will make no difference to whoever wins the title. They will be worthy of being called WC. Emil can go play in these small unimportant SEC meetings and leave the glory to those who care about being the best.

Perhaps his Polish club should pay him the money that he is owed? You spout on about how good polish speedway is and the best in the world etc but if they can't pay their riders they are a corrupt bunch and should be barred from the sport until his wages have been paid in full. I read that they are trying to fine him 50,000 zl a meeting he missed when his father died. what a bunch of scumbags. Emil May well win the SEC but it will mean absolutely NOTHING compared to who wins the World championship. If he has taken advice he is a fool. A WORLD champion will get far more sponsorship than a winner of a relatively meaningless tournament.

".............because soon there will be no World Championships but the European Championships" The SEC will never be more than some small competition compared to the GP Series. One produces a World Champion, the other, we'll lets be honest who cares?

If it is a political move the lad is an idiot. The SEC is a nothing event compared to the GP Series. Being World Champion is everything in this sport. If he is genuinely injured I wish his a very speedy recovery. Seems strange though that his injuries have not been mentioned recently.

Think its a no brainer. He is an Aussie full stop. The closest he should get to team GB is either on the other side of the pits or in the grandstand.

The delays are ridiculous. No money to build it is my guess.

Never got caught and no one harmed. At Wards age I was out on the razzle every night having competitions with mates about who could pull the ugliest, who could bed the most women in a month and regularly getting into punch ups in clubs. A party animal. It's what lads do, isn't it? No camera phones then to capture the many great nights thank god. Looking back now with a wry smile on my face some of the antics were completely cringeworthy and bang out of order. But it's what a lot of lads do and my guess is Darcy did similar only has now curtailed it at an early age to concentrate on his career. Off track riders have lives to live and should be free to live them as they want but it seems the moral police on here have to have their moan about him if he slightly stepped out of line. Enjoy your life and career Darcy, and don't let the haters ever wear you down! Different laws in Aus. You can pay a fine and it will not be marked on your record.

Agree. End of the day the only thing he has done wrong is ride a little pit bike on a bit. Of parkland behind his house and had a spliff. Hardly serious stuff and he got fined but no conviction. The rest he was proved innocent in a court of law. Simple as that. No ifs, buts or maybe's. Innocent.

Think its quite clear that several on here won't like Ward if he gave all his money to charity and become a monk. The worlds best riders all suffer from the haters. Crump, Trick, Mauger, Briggs, Pedersen, Olsen, Penhall etc. NO rider at the top of their sport is universally liked. Even Chris Holder has his detractors.

So having a couple of spliffs and riding a bike in parkland is terrible? That's his only crime I can recall he has committed. Jesus I have done far worse things in my years!

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.