rickmiller

You lot dont half get carried away!!! Using rubber as the springing element in suspension has been around for years as have leading link forks. Greeves produced thousands of bikes between 1955 and 1970 for moto-x, trials and road with basically the same fork as our hero's use now. See www.greeves-riders.org.uk for more info. As for a patent, well, you are approx 75 years or more too late!!! More info on the 'device' can be found here: www.bitubo.com In answer to the comment that 'a stock cheap hagon shock is as good as one 4x the cost' - thats not strictly true. The expensive ones are adjustable and can be tuned for different tracks and changing conditions where the cheap ones are not. But you have to know what you are doing or its easy to make the handling worse! Its also down to the quality of materials used which affects how durable they are in service etc, etc. There are lots of reasons why leading link forks are better than telescopics for speedway but be very aware that the phrase 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing' was invented for people who think they know it all about suspension!!!!!!!!!

Be aware that Greg is still very, very hungry for another title. Okay, its 10 years since he won it but despite a few set backs in recent weeks, he remains positive and confident. His league scores can be misleading as he is perhaps the ultimate team man but he has still beaten pretty well every other GP rider already this year. Jason has admitted to a few glitches so far but is another who can step his game up for the big night. When I look at the likes of Andersen or Nicki P, I cant help but feel that despite being very quick, they are flat out all the time and dont have too much in reserve. AJ hasnt shown enough consistency in recent years and it looks like Lindback could disappear of the radar at any time. The Bomber could upset a few people at times as could Zagar. Matej went round Reading in under 60 secs on Monday night in heat 12 (I think), which is unheard of for that late in the meeting. The Grin did absolutely bury him in heat 15 though... I just hope we get some good racing and whoever wins does so on merit.

HANCOCK Crump Adams N. Pedersen Zagar Jonsson B. Pedersen The Grin has at least one championship left in him. Crump and Adams will be consistant all year but will fall one or two points short. Anderson is an unknown as there is a lot more pressure on him this year. Make or break year for Scotty, big learning curve for Bomber. The rest will have their moments but not regularly.

In football, it would be known as 'bringing the sport into disrepute' and is dealt with by the sports governing body. No one is perfect (in any language) and the pressure at the time was huge but the riders are supposed to be professional in the way they represent themselves, their sponsors and the sport. As a basic moral standard, swearing is unacceptable in the majority (if not all) of lifes situations but it is much worse when used in what is supposed to be a family orientated environment. It happens alot but most riders at least have the decency to apologise. Maybe Sky have done something about it as Hans has had little airtime recently. I like Hans, think that he can be World Champion but he has to get a grip of things before the ill feeling towards him before its too late.

Shame Hans didnt get fined for his foul mouthed tirade live on Sky. The sooner he realises that he is a world class rider that doesnt need to court controversy to be successful, the better for everyone in speedway.

While I agree Scotty's actions after the race might not have been totally correct, you need to look at Andersen' part in all of this together with Han's first ride (I think it was) against Gollob. It was hard racing by both of them, they are both putting it on the line for their countries and theres no free hand-outs in Speedway. At least Scotty is showing more spirit than those over paid prima donnas who failed miserably in the football world cup...

'Land of Make Believe' by Bucks Fizz 'Dreamer' by Supertramp

Once again an amazing day out but Ive got to apologise to everyone: We arrived too early and the tension hanging around got to me. I used the wrong airhorn (the £6 type) for the first two rides and ran out of gas during the 3rd one. Switching to the £5 spare one, I was able to breeze through the rest of the programme but it all went pear shaped in the final when the gas supply froze on the second lap. Fortunately, things thawed for the presentation! In all seriousness, congrats to Jason for taking full advantage of the re-run final but still having the guts to acknowledge that his luck could run out any second. Greg was the moral victor on the night but it cost him points. Could anyone see the Polish ref excluding a Polish rider? I think not. Was shocked to see the lack of challenge from Super Nicki or Adams. Other than that it seemed to be situation normal. Seemed to be less people booing Nicki this year! Track was poor compared to the last couple of years. Bonnie Tyler - not too impressed. Tony Christie - very much a 'filler' Oh, and the programme just isnt worth £7. I certainly wouldnt have bought one if I hadnt got the free one with my ticket. All in all, another memorable day - Roll on 2007...

Didnt think anything of it at the time but yes, mine arrived open too. Maybe its just a cheap and nasty supply of envelopes. It is very, very clear that there is a ticket of some sort inside. I emailed the ticket company about it last year and they said I 'was wrong, it is impossible to see what the contents is'. Seems to be the typical poor British customer service

Tony - just a quick note to say that the book has arrived and its a very rivetting, very emotional book. Although you never forget certain riders, its not until you read something like this that you realise how much you miss them. Well done to all concerned.

Does anyone think that the Speedway Star race card is easier to fill in because its all on one page? Did anyone get the time for the Final as I was to busy waving and didnt hear it.

We were sat at the end of the back straight and there were alot of US flags there - I guess he just picked them out as his group of fans. Ah, Hamill and Hancock - if only Billy was riding as well...

If you were a big-wig at SKY, wouldnt you be feeling really smug this morning in the knowledge that the British riders had the best night at Cardiff ever and finished with Rico on the podium and Floppy being the man of the meeting with a stunning nights work. And then, to top it all, The Grin goes out and wins the final by a wheel. A big result for one of the most honest guys ever to ride a speedway bike. The SKY dream is only complete when you read the schedule for Monday night and realise that you have chosen to cover Eastbourne V. Oxford. Floppy, The Grin and the Pain Dane (Nicki Pedersen)... In all seriousness, congratulations to Greg on a well deserved win and to all the riders for some of the best racing seen in the GP's Sky's coverage was good (watched it on the Sunday), but it just wasnt the same as being there.

I thought NP might have got the message when he visibly reacted to a lot of booing when he was announced on Saturday night and then no one wanted to shake his hand after the semi final. The guy has what it takes to win without riding people wide ALL of the time. As for Gollob's comments, well Tomasz may well just be the one to sort Nicki out once and for all if the rest of the boys dont gang up on him and do it first. NP is clearly a man under pressure - he is over-riding and making lots of mistakes but no one can deny that he sure can gate. The sooner the boy relaxes and grows up, the better for everyone.