FAST GATER

Pre 4 valve engines we had a 2 valve Jawa from new which was just that bit quicker than any of our other engines ,the only thing we found was the cam lobes were possible slightly different from the rest . That engine broke many track records ( the old NL) it was a special engine like any item that is mass produced such as cars the odd one is some how better than others . In this age of rocket engine demand, there's bound to be the odd special one but I do concede that what goes on in a rider's head plays huge part as well .

Great fellow to chat to and as has been said is kit was always spot on ,missed out a little in starting late in the sport but still a real pro in every respect RIP Taffy .

RIP Phil great loss to the sport .

Pete Jarman slide between the wheels of the tractor as it emerged on the track E/Port he had fallen remounted ,the old "JAP " was a little worse for wear though he was uninjured fortunately .

Stuart Shirley 1977 E/Port training school hit a roller centre green

I for one am grateful for your sterling work in keeping us well informed many thanks

John Jackson in the mid 70's broke/held track records in the old NL on a regular basics

It seems to me some riders coming to the end of their career's fall for no good reason ,one that springs to mind was PK in his last season he did it a few times ,when he was one of the safest neat riders I have ever watched .

Never understood Wilson he was a good solid fast rider without needing to be over the top .

RIP ONE THE SPORT'S GREATS

Always great to see icons of the sport in retirement still sliding a bike in anger as it were ,I believe Simmo ( long into his retirement )used to treat the track staff at Kings Lynn by having odd sole blast after track prep they say he was still very fast and smooth as ever .

Perhaps a catch fence could be installed to a greater height or maybe the airfence being higher would save the riders reaching the supports ,no one will be standing there( so will not impinge on viewing ) I am sure in this day and age a safe solution can be found .

Every rider that has mentioned or said they are considering retirement immediately lose something IMO and once they do stop riding no matter what happens they are never quite the same again , as if something is switched off that can't be turned back on again . I would say it is easier for gaters than "from the the back riders" to continue longer or make reasonable comebacks ,I am still amazed that Hancock (love or hate him) was not just a race winner but a possible GP winner at nearly 50 yrs old .I for one was pleased he left the sport in tact personal reasons aside .

I remember a top old National League rider having a second half ride with few other former riders about two years after he retired at Stoke ( instigated by Tom Owen) ,he said he was scared to death by the end of the race and never touched a bike again .

That thought had crossed my mind now 30 yrs old , serious back injury ,three titles ,young family and I would have imagine not badly off either who would blame him .With Bart & co he really has to go out of his comfort zone to beat them ,not something he has had do that often before or he can adopt the Hancock approach and play the safe long game .

To me the greatest pass I have ever seen too thought TG was going to go through the fence ,Bart could well be one of the all time greats injury allowing .

Doyle has done it many times !!!

Ivan is IMO the greatest rider of all time with Hans a close second both would have dominated the series at the respective times of their career's .I still think that Ivan set the bar for all those that have come after him his influence was nothing but positive in attitude ,machinery ,personal well being and team player (when it suited ) .

Madsen is like Doyle IMO he has developed a little bit late in his career but that not to say he won't be a world champ ,as has been said is very viewer/fan friendly just what the sport needs .

I remember talking to him a Wolves in 76 and he said I drive the trucks because this could all be over tomorrow for me and you need food on the table

Funnily enough that was the rule of thumb in the past in fact there were only a hand full of full time riders in the top league Mauger ,Briggs and co , second strings and reserves were semi pro in that league as well.Saving holidays and riding for team that best fit their day jobs which I am sure could be done today plus if we had more wkend teams that would assist with this issue and maybe more fans .

Lets be honest here JD is head and shoulders above anyone in the PL (making hay while the sun shines) but IMO most riders would have less leverage on pay with lower racing costs .What you have to take in account that if you had a standard engine not requiring an ace tuner the riders would be able to take a pay cut and still make a living be it as a semi pro.

I agree with much of what you say my idea of baseline test was to show that a significant amount of changes to engines over the last 20 odd years has increased cost and little else ,if that was proved we maybe able to address the costs to riders .

What to do with existing motors ( which will be useless if their is no sport left)should not stop change maybe an exchange system for new standard engines ,if an alternative was found then perhaps a scrapage scheme or alike .If the Poles stay as they are they may take them and say the GP riders ,what must not happen is the riders stopping this with their obsession for more power and speed . It would be like turkeys voting for Christmas that's why I say use riders who are newly retired etc they have an open informed mind hopefully .

There little we can do with the tracks most of which do date back to the 60's /70's so the only alternative is do something with the engines this is more than possible with the right input.I would set up a body of newly retired riders or one's who are nearing the end of their careers( they would be much more open minded ) and get to experiment with for example 2 valve uprights ( just as a baseline to start from) or alike. Take them to every track in the country and test them out under friendly but competitive conditions ,this could be done now behind closed doors and take advantage of the lockdown .