FAST GATER

A lot has been said on this subject already by myself included ,above all it is great that he wants to race will have the best kit money can buy so lets just saviour the prospect we have lost one w/champ from the sport and another is returning . If he can stay clear of injury and not get tangled up chasing points or go to war with Doyle or Niki Ped he should be able to hold his own if not sparkle from time to time as the rider of old .

I hear what you are saying but IMO Greg was aone off at GP level never mind league ,I was shocked when Michael Schumacher made a comeback what a disaster that was and only after a couple of years .Once they stop they are never as good again courage ,concentration you name it just leaves them forever . I would not want to see him getting 4/5 a match and getting hurt in the proccess ,I really do think this is a bad idea from his image or legacy point of view nothing to prove which makes it worse .

I think that this is a gamble on all fronts rider ,team ,he won't come cheap I hope he is something like the rider he was but I have reservations about that .I have been told that once a rider retires there mindset chnges this is usually why they are never as good as they have been and they lose touch with pressure plus bcome more aware of the dangers once they step away.I am certain this has happen to Greg Hancock( never believed he would ride again once he stopped ) he's probably recently did a few sessions and all of a sudden the reality dawn on him . The Pl is not the GP'S but the same risks exist in all racing and IMO that's what will defeat JC old riders lose their nerve and concentration hence they seem to fall off a lot more ,I witnessed this in PK in his last season for Wolves and he'd not been retired for ever .Sorry folks think this is a big mistake in all parts but I do wish the team and JC all the best and hope I am wrong !

I think the secret would have been to use less powerful engines as the tracks are smaller and the demand for raw power much diminished but size tracks was probably as much an issue as anything else and there was little could be done about that . The rider in question learnt his trade by doing dougnuts on a concrete slab( 100 cc bike) with his father putting cones in various places to improve his ability to handle small tracks and learn throttle control which he said was the most important discipline of all .

I was once told that the easiest way to learn to slide a s/way bike was in fact on concrete as it allowed the rider to control the slide on a consistent surface which makes quite a lot of sense really .

He is no Greg Hancock in that his style of riding and temperament do not lend itself to riding at such an advanced age( in speedway terms) IMO Greg love or hate him is a one off and we will still have to wait and see if he can still cut it ! .Crumpy should stay retired and turn out for fun by all means but don't make ythe same mistake as his father did and comeback nowhere near the rider he was .

I can assure you that in most cases both sides are happy with the arrangement ,I am not privy to the sums involved( most teams want riders to be riding ) but it will be rider's terms that make or break deals !

Sad news watched him at the end of his career at Berwick but still a class act RIP

World Of sport days With Dickie Davis if my memory serves me right also a certain fellow called Dave Lampkin ( if that's the spelling) springs to mind !

One of the best summations of Greg I have ever read spot on long may he continue and others should learn from his example !

A lttle harsh I think riders have to make the most they can while they can ( they are not all Hancock's riding at the top level at 50yrs old ) as self employed working in a team structure and sadly the big money is no longer available in this country anymore .

Excellent news all the very best to the Diamonds and Mr Grant for the future ,he sounds like a breath of fresh air just what the sport needs

I would agree with you 100% I was never a fan of Tai's ( I do recognise his skill and achievements) but since the way he conducted himself whilst being with KT & Pearson I have warmed to him a lot more than I did .

If NP has come to top his pension up then I would agree if not I think that there maybe a few fireworks ,Doyle will always have one eye on the GP's when he may need both on NP at all times .

Well I believe a 48yr old has signed to ride in the Champ/L for next season and a 50yr old will be riding in the GP's so you never know ,I think PK should stay where he is

I always say they all look the same with their helmets on all the best to Rob ,he made a fist of it last year and I hope he proves the doubters wrong next season

Well done Tigers Nicki is not the rider he was but you don't win 3 w/champs for nothing ,I will be please to see someone pushing Doyle round in the PL for a change and the clash of their robust styles should get the punters in !

No one can argue that Doyle is a class act and should have two world champs to his name ,IMO he is making hay while the sun shines and in reality has 3/5 yrs to do so .His past injuries and style of riding ( robust not dirty ) dosn't lend itself to a Greg Hancock career span .

To be honest the GP series has grown into a huge part of the sport and British sp/way just faded away for a multitude of reasons all have been debated and little has been done .The social landscape has changed dramatically and we have to face the fact that the only thing to bring top riders is money but they are not guranteed to bring the fans through the gates.IMO all league s/way( particularly in this country ) is long term a feeder stream for the GP series . I genuinely believe had Doyle enjoyed success much earlier in his career at the top level of the sport he would not be riding in the PL .He has come to the party late and is making "hay while the sun shines" not least of which because of the many serious injuries he has collected along the way which will impede and curtail his career ultimately .

Is there actually any prize money for winning the league or just enhanced earnings through gate receipts for extra meetings ?

I don't see how anyone can't include Doyle( personal feelings about him aside) in their list as he is the outstanding rider in the league 2019 but then I feel the standard of riders in The PL is nowhere near what it once was .I am not alluding to dreams of the 70's but even over the last 5/10 yrs sadly the level of top class riders has evaporated at an alarming rate due to money and the increasing demands on top GP riders . I have said before the SON real brought home to me the true level of of how far the standard of riders in the PL has sunk. Back Topic Doyle Adam Ellis R Jensen luke Becker

Well done Swindon worthy winners solid team from top to bottom Ipo just never at the party but I don't think any team would have beaten the Robin's on their recent form would just say good job there is no longer " rider control " in place .

It has to be said (as a neutral observer ) Swindon were in a class of their own last night with all of the riders coming to the party, non of the Ipswitch riders were sadly up to the task and I would single out is Iversen .He should of had the beating or almost of Doyle but IMO took his pay under false pretences , the stand out man for me in the whole match is Adam Ellis a real star of the future.Believe me I wish Ipo had won and wiped the smirks of Doyle and Rosco faces but they have all done the business and set up what maybe painful walkover tomorrow night . These matches do the sport no good from a spectator point of view I would love Ipo to prove me wrong I am sure they will do their their best and I hope they leave with at least their pride intact .

Sadly after watching this years SON I have to concur with you

I actually switched the match off last night after heat 10 ,watching s/way like that is not a pleasure in any shape or form IMO, Swindon did what was needed and no one can say otherwise .I felt sorry for NP/KT for trying to paper over what was a less than impressive advert for the sport itself. Wolves have never looked that great all season to me and squeaked into the playoffs,IMO there needs to be a root and branch clear out ,sadly I don't think that Morris is going to be the rider he was Thorssell is not and never will be a PK ( will there ever be another) .Two new heat leaders at least are called for i don't blame Adams I think he can only work with what he has but i think they have paid a price for loyalty in the past and have certainly done so this season .