FAST GATER

In the 70's they were all mainly semi pro except for the likes of Mauger ,Olsen and the mighty Mich and that was said to be the heyday's of the sport .

I think there will be one league and semi pro at least till the world settles down again ,what ever happens I think there will be many riders retiring if for no other reason than 18mths inactivity .Those the wrong side of 35yrs old will find it hard to pick up from where they left off ,once a rider stops after a certain age it is hard to get back to where they were and somehow the danger of the sport becomes more apparent .

We got out in the early 80's my father saw the sport changing and social demands becoming more sophisticated my younger brother ( by 4yrs ) lost interest very quickly because there were other distractions and he didn't remotely want to have a go at riding .You are right about the sport not investing in it's future but if I am honest my own opinion has changed over the years and I would say s/way is very much like" Marmite" as they say . My daughter and I have stood in mud and watched matches and come away moaning about a doggy pass not wet feet ,I know there are many like us on here still but we are a diminishing breed . Imo one of the main problems is that the demands of the sport mean it fails to meet the modern outlook ,it is deemed noisy ,anti social and it's fan base is so small that the powers that be feel little if any pressure to assist it's continued existance ! One thing you say is true though pay enough money and they will come Top Riders that is, as I always say team sport ridden by individuals but will the fans come ?

One of the biggest effects on league s/way IMO is the GP's they robbed us of weekend team racing in both leagues really ( better for kids to go) the best riders either not in the league or treating it as a top up for income or testing and to sustain fitness levels .

The "Asset System " is only observed because it suits both parties , in my limited and very much in the past experience of riders dealing with promoters it was very much everyman for himself and I always say s/way is a team sport ridden by individuals .Most riders are or were at least on pay as you ride I think it is known as the "GIG Economy " today that is why they were and I would imagine are still considered subcontractors to all intents and purpose .

Just wondering if there was no GP Series this year would Greg perhaps give it another go as non of the other riders would have had any track time at this level for 12mths making his return a little easier .

Anyone who is a s/way promoter in this day and age I take my hat off to , I did everyting I could to get my father into promotion in the mid 70's and he said then it was a thankless and profitless task !

Costs nothing and certainly can't do any harm ,to me that type of approach is one of the appealing qualities of s/way .

IMO we may not see any league racing in this country this season if as has been said we are all locked down for 3mths ,the best we can hope for is open or challenge matches ,not sure what the GP's will do .The worst thing is it will lead to many premature retirements due to the length of time riders are out of the saddle and the loss of income they have suffered .

This is not why I go to speedway certainly don't look forward to seeing it ,anyone can try too hard make a mistake but not just knock someone off and act in such an arrogant manner afterwards there is nothing endearing in that !

Neither of them are riders I like to watch because of their robust styles( their combined injuries in some respects reflect this ) I accept that they are victims of their own reputations but things have a habit of evening out most of the time .

I think this was true of the old NL in the 70's you would get a few old time greats drop down at the end of their career's and do a season or two ,I remember watching Ken McKinlay helping riders in between races with setup in his Scunthorpe days ,got 9 paid 11 on the night aswell .

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 .