Sidney the robin

Can't disagree with that Addio he was a real stylist a gentleman to, i have never heard anyone say a bad word about him.Like yourself i only see Mirac ride four or five times but he was a terrific rider he rode great lines and he never looked the quickest but his trackcraft was as good as anybody.One of my biggest regrets was i never got to see Craven or Knutsson ride but both would rank high on anyone's alltime great list.

Yes that top five Addio was outstandingI i really believe Bjorn gets forgotten he scared all of those other greats to death.Bjorn retired prematurely Ronnie for me was a 1950s man who after his gap from British racing comeback great Ron was a real star.Olsen is a rider i have always admired he won three title's the same as Nicki but for me was in a different league that era was tough.1973/78 Mauger, Olsen,Collins, Michanek, Lee, Jansson( his time was coming), Crump( on the Streety conversion were the top riders.In that respect the GP series now is the same six /eight who are the best with others on there day capable of having there day.The top five you mentioned have to be one of the best generation's we have had Craven aged 29 .killed approaching his peak Moore had six years off Knutsson retired in a way Speedway was robbed a real shame as all five were legend's.

I actually thought he might of become a two pointer for you as you said Montie he has done alot of laps around your place.

How did Rowe go Montie ? did he just gate ? got an interest as i would love him to make the grade and be a future Robin in the future.He has a hell of a long way to go i just hope Somerset sticks with him not convinced May will though Rowe and Atkins can improve.

Can Hume be fitted in ? if he keeps fit he will do well a real racer i know he is injury prone but he is a champs rider maybe his average is to high 3.83"???

Totally right i think Bob Paulson beat Ivan in heat 1 for Sheffield at Hyde Rd and Geoff Mudge beat him home/away not easy to do.

He got booed at the abbey Steve on a regular basis but i am sure the great man took it as a compliment and took it in his stride.Looking back to that 1970 season, a miracle happened at Wimbledon Ivan had two 5.1s against him by the Hedge/ Tebby and Moore/Maidment partnerships unheard of.Also my recollection of Ivan riding for Exeter was he was awesome for them to at that time you could see he had took the sport to a more professional level.He turned up with a superb van, gleaming leathers and immaculate aquipment so proud that i see him ride a real pleasure.

I was going through some of my programmes and speedway stars god how good was Ivan from 1969/72.?? for me they were his peak years. I went through all of Ivan's maximums and paid maximums in that period ( BL fixtures only) and the stats are unbelievable.I think Ove, Briggo, Ole all had oustanding records but if i hazarded a guess Hans Nielsen would come the closest to Ivan for maximums in his peak Oxford racing years.IVAN'S stats B.L fixtures only. ) 1969- 21.maximums- 3- paid. 1970- 17.maximums- 2-paid. 1971- 17.maximums-3-paid. 1972- 16.maximums-4paid. We all know what a great rider Ivan was i just wish i had of seen him at Hyde Rd in this period but luckily i got to see him ride quite alot LEGEND.

The old Wolves track was a wee bit different would you class Wolves the same as Eastie and Lakeside Webby.???

Next year if the side is designed to carry Jordan a bit they should do it.He can still do N.L as well, is he to young to do a few Championship meeting's later in the season for experience or has he got to be 16???.I believe he can establish himself in the Championship with time and patience he is a talent. Going back to List for me he was very unlucky a massive ask in the top 5 and starting at reserve i believe he would of been ok.

I actually liked both riders so the hurt of Martin losing out was not as bad.Martin's mistake like you said was dropping that point to Louis that really cost him.Wilson did really well to qualify after falling in his first ride and i can remember Ray lining up in the final in his yellow Bostik leathers.Maybe Martin was like Leigh Adams in some respect maybe not ruthless anough he was to fair that is what Jason Crump had over Leigh that little bit of devil but both were awesome aussies though Crump breathtaking at times.

A very underated rider indeed, very classy but even with my bias head on you have to say he underacheived at world level.

He did get around Ascot??? that was my doubt could he get around Hyde Rd, The shay,Swindon, County Ground, Owlerton in England.Ability wise i believe he could but Costa Mesa is alot different to a wet and mega racey night in Manchester on a crap Saturday night i still say Mike was classy could he of adjusted who knows.

I never see Steve ride City, he odviously was a very good rider as he interrupted his brothers dominance in the national championships twice 1969/73.I saw Keeter ride once for Leicester and the talented Rick Woods at Newport odviously saw all of the disappointing McKnight Swindon home meeting's going back to Steve i believe the terrific Bert Harkins helped him alot.

Great post this i loved watching Bobby and he was also terrific at Eastbourne just a shame in never got a run at it at World Championship level.By the way andout what was your overall opinion of Mike Bast he was odviously a brilliant home boy.

He was on mega money in the States and his demands over here were unrealistic for any club.Penhall i can remember he was earmarked for Halifax first but that stalled for some reason McCormick was a shrewd bloke at Cradley.As for Bast we will never know what he could of achieved over here but Mike seemed happy with his career and you have to say he was a class rider Penhall also held him in high esteem.

I was excited to see Penhall/ Bast ride they both found it difficult but i always believed both would of practiced at Swindon beforehand after a meeting as both tracks were reasonably similar.Iris and Chunky i believe see Bast at Wimbledon do some laps but i dont know if he did any other track?

You were a regular at White City Steve did you see Bast/ Penhall in 77.??

That side really had a great spirit Schwartz( very underated) was a great team man an awesome team partner he was great on the white line.

Spot on Steve it was such a shame to see Scott at that level he was not the 1978/79 version.

I was there to i remember the USA giving Scott Autrey a ride and surprising Preben Eriksen was picked above Knudsen i had forgotten that.

It hasnt been prepared properly for a very long time.Is the racing good with or without the holes on the first bend??? they are that big they could end up burying you there in the future.

Before you even contemplate knocking our club surely you should be worrying about your own club's track.Now it has to be near on the worst track in the Premiership and going back to the Hartwell trophy/ Blue Riband days in the 70s/80s the track then was excellent.

The weather has been dismal in Swindon today, tomorrow's forecast is bad again so not all to do with the Cook situation.I hate seeing meeting's called off but this is the right call do supporters want to see follow the leader in freezing conditions i think not.One thing it does show is what a farce of a Premiership fixture list we have now we now dont have a home meeting until the 28th.Fans who get out of the habit of going to speedway find other thing's to do and sometimes they are hard to entice back.I don't know what other Robins fans want but I want at least three home meeting's a month the league's structure has to change soon surely.

Batchelor has done a very good job for Rossiter and the Robins over the years and he actually is riding pretty consistently.He actually could still do even better he certainly has the ability he won't be going anywhere any time soon.