FAST GATER

I would have thought that being w/champ in any sport meant that you were the best at that time in the world which covers most if not all areas as it were otherwise what is the point of the GP'S?

I would have thought leading a series which is supposed to made up of the best riders in the world would trump that IMO

He is just so neat and tidy on the bike( just like Peter Karlsson another amazing rider for his age ) and makes it look easy that's why some many say he is "boring " which IMO is just not true.

Think we are all on the same page here what IMO sets him out from the rest is his ability to adapt to the track ,machinery and also the track methods shall we say some of his opponents may use ,in the time I have watch s/way the nearest I have seen to him is Ivan Mauger .

So I am not alone then in thinking that what we have now is no better than before !!!! Tai is 25yrs old not 46yrs old like his main rival so surely he can handle a few extra meetings !!!!!!!!!!

What dose that say about Tai then ???? IMO Hancock is a different rider to those mentioned all brilliant riders in there own way but a lot comes down to the way they ride the bike and the demands they put on themselves .He has a very compact style and his size helps as well he has stayed relatively injury free which makes a huge difference plus probable two s/way career's of experience and a marvelous temperament which IMO was Crumpy's weakness if he had one .

Boring or just that good ?

The way it is going Hancock will out last the lot of them ,can't quite understand the animosity towards him really except for the fact he is possible the best rider in the world at this time

Perhaps the rule only applies to Hancock !!!!!

There needs to be changes to the bikes as soon as possible I watched heat 9 of last Monday's Wolves match( on their web site ) and even PK was fighting the bike and had trouble keeping the front wheel down at times .If a rider with his experience can't control these bikes something must be done and quickly ,it must be no fun for riders when they live in fear of being fired at the fence at any moment .

I would love to get kelvin Tatum ,Scott Nicholls Rosco and Havvy in room and get them to give their own take on s/way today and where it should go in the future ,would ruffle more than a few feathers I am sure

His GP mentor will be right by his side though even as he races perhaps

Imo the pairing is excellent in every respect as you have an informed journalist who has a true passion for the sport and a well educated and articulate exrider who have formed an exceptional partnership which has become quite unique and I for one hope they are retained for the foreseeable future .

It has to be good news for the sport that the w/champ is back( even if it is the last 1/3 of the season) I wonder if he will be paired with PK his new GP mentor ,it would be a great if PK was able to end his EL career with the team winning the title . He would be then able to return to semi retirement in his homeland and if anyone desrves to go out on such a high it is this great example of how a s/way rider should conduct himself within the sport ,really think Wolves have a great chance now .

This will always happen I think that Poole rolled out Hancock a couple of years ago for half dozen meeting at the end of the season ( every team would do what ever they can to make the play off's and win the league if possible ) so would it be much different if Tai did the same for his team to whom he an asset as well.I personally don't like GP riders dipping in and out of the EL but if it is within the rules fair enough and as has been said we will see one of the best riders in the world is that not worth something at the end of the day.

Do nothing and let them get faster and faster tilll say one of the top riders in the world meets his demise as a direct cause being a passenger on an overtuned missile !!!!

If that happened the riders might have to rely totally on their own skills perish the thought

Sadly both reasons I suspect

Watched the Coventry /Swindon match last night and yet again brought to light the need to address the power of engines within the the sport when they break away they are lethal even in the hands of exprerienced top level riders ,it has to stop never mind what the riders want or tuners for the matter.Both Tatum and Havvy were biting their tongues last night about aspects of the sport including restarts and engine power ,these men have 40yrs experience between them and they appear unable to speak out about important issues in our sport. I asked an informed person why all of a sudden Peter Karlsson was not the gater he was ( I ventured to say that it was an age thing) and the reply was to make the bike rideable he may have to compromise on setup ultimately effecting his gating thus not having to worry that he may be heading to the fence at any moment .This is a rider with 25yrs experience having to do this if it is true it is absolutely rediculous ,what is going to take before someone takes the bull by the horns a multitude of serious injuries of god forbid worse . The other thing that needs sorting for next year is starting IMO if a rider sits still and gets a flyer without touching the tapes so be it and if there is a restart for a false starts pit gate stays closed and straight round for the restart.

Needs to go ASAP!!!!!!!!! EDR was not for cost saving it was to bring riders on or was it just to save money which is what I have always said poor show if the EL can't function without it !!!

IMO the greatest of all time huge influence on the sport always the ultimate pro may the rest of his days be the best they can be my own father is in the later stages of this horrendous condition

Would it not be worth giving Andre Compton a chance in the team ?

IMO speedway has to accept that the so called big names are not coming back any time soon ,they can earn more money else where and as self employed men I understand that they have to meke the best living they can .The sport should therefore need to turn it's attention to matters that will help the sport and use the riders that want to race in this country and change and adapt rules to to suit that situation .Personally I have no issue where a ride comes from if he is willing to race here week in week out and not treat it as a fiil in if he has a window in in his racing diary,and wants a king's ransom into the bargian. The changes have to start with the running costs and work from there on. Control of engines ( stopping tuners sucking the cash out of the sport many ex riders making more that way than they ever did as riders ) riders are all obsessed with more speed and should not be allowed to dictate what happens in this area except for possible safety issues. Merging the Leagues regardless of what people say and I have no agenda one way or the other ( but hate the FTR with a passion ) I like EL or Pl racing just want to watch 7 EL riders again if the leagues remain separate if thay can't have a team of 7 EL riders then merging is a long term must. Value for money is vital and 15 heats is fine but you need to give good racing with equally match riders and machinery I often could not careless about the final result if we have had close a entertaining racing . People go to s/way for various reasons they like to see their team win and four men dicing in very close proximity almost touching each other not one of them with the deepest pockets half a lap ahead or being reluctant to race because the track can't accommodate their rockect ship powered bikes

Sounds far too sensible for s/way sadly

Sadly I think that the riders need to accept change and they are often reluctant to do so unless it involves greater speed which is the last thing the sport needs .