Mr. Clemens

Long live Floppyness

The reason why they probably didn't sing the National Anthem is because when they do so, Sky TV has a penchant for either sticking their cameras up the riders noses or down their throats. This is done in order to irritate and humiliate in the hope that a rider might stumble over the words, sing a few flat notes and generally make themselves look foolish. Most likely in the same way they were expected to make themselves look foolish on the track in front of the mighty Danes.

Congratulations on a great win to all of those boys tonight. Special kudos go to Chris Harris and to Simon Stead. Both these boys took the oppertunity on offer to them and excelled. They inspired the rest of the team to action, non more so than Lee Richardson, who answered all his critic with a brilliant 15 point maximum. Let it never be said again that Richardson cannot 'rise to the occasion when it matters'. Lee Richardson thread quotes My own quote on seeing him at Belle Vue 'I said he looked like 'death warmed up' in the pits on monday night. Looks like he's sunk even further into the pits.' Lee was there tonight 'looking as ill as ever' with the attitude, perhaps, that 'no matter what happens I will do my best for Great Britain'. QUOTE(cdl123 @ Jul 31 2005, 12:52 PM)taken from www.british-speedway.co.uk NEW GB FITNESS WORRYSunday, July 31, 2005GREAT Britain boss Neil Middleditch was left sweating on the fitness of Lee Richardson overnight ahead of their World Cup opener at Swindon.Richardson pulled out of Swindon’s Elite League clash at Eastbourne after three rides with illness.Middleditch said: “I sent a text message to Lee to check on him and he responded saying he had been sick and needed a good night of sleep.” My response to this was >> 'All the more reason for both Simon Stead and Chris Harris to take this opportunity to propel themselves to a higher status in Speedway. Good luck to both these lads and the rest of the team too. Nothing is a forgone conclusion and there is no reason why adversity (and the team being written off) can be the motivation to upset all predictions and come out on top'. From the 'Loram out Stead in' thread 'It's the oppertunity now for Stead to show he can mix it with the big boys. If he keeps his head and just goes out there and ride he can prove it to himself and everyone else.The Best of British Simon!!!!' This being being my response to the view that Denmark was guaranteed to win. 'Nowt like a good dose of defeatism to get the ball rolling. (Or 'realism as th'intellectuals will probably have it). The meeting (inclusive of typical reactions twixt Uncle and Nephew) Heat 1. Joe in last place (audible groan from everyone concerned with the fortunes of GB) GB 0 Denmark 3 Czech Rep 1 Russia 2 Heat 2. Simon in first place (a 'lucky' win for the lad over a GP performer) GB 3 Denmark 5 Czech Rep 1 Russia 3 Heat 3. Richardson wins (wow wasn't he lucky that Hans got excluded for falling) GB 6 Denmark 5 Czech Rep 2 Russia 5 Heat 4. Nicholls wins (well you'd expect him to wouldn't you he's captain). GB 9 Denmark 7 Czech Rep 3 Russia 5 Heat 5. Harris second (Well he isn't expected to beat Charlie on his home track). GB 11 Denmark 10 Czech Rep 3 Russia 6 Heat 6. Richardson wins (wasn't he lucky the ref excluded Charile pheew lucky GB) GB 14 Denmark 10 Czech Rep 5 Russia 6 Heat 7. Scotty second (well he spun at the gate and he's not Nicki) GB 16 Denmark 13 Czech Rep 6 Russia 6 Heat 8. Harris first (Wow what a great piece of overtaking Bjarne must have lost concentration for a moment). GB 19 Denmark 15 Czech Rep7 Russia 6 Heat 9. Joe wins (lucky for him that Hans can't get to grips with the track phew). GB 22 Denmark 16 Czech Rep 9 Russia 6 (Inexperienced Danish team manager fails to use 'Joker'. You live and learn eh) Heat 10. Stead second (that's more like it, the Danes are regaining their composure, this is it now. Good job, though, that Simon had the brains to stay in second place as it prevents another tactical ride. Pheew). GB 24 Denmark 19 Czech Rep 10 Russia 6 Heat 11. Scotty second (Yep the Danes are composed now). GB 26 Denmark 22 Czech Rep 10 Russia 7 Heat 12. Harris second again (yep Hans has realised he can ride a bike, this is it now) GB 28 Denmark 25 Czech Rep 11 Russia 7 (It starts to rain >>> hope against hope >> if we can make it to heat 15 we can steal a win >>> pheew >>>> rain damn you!!!!) Heat 13. Joe wins again (pheew !!! Good job he managed to pass Iversen but Joe's good in the wet >> lucky GB) GB 31 Denmark 27 Czech Rep 12 Russia 7 Heat 14. Stead wins (Charlie's trying too hard and it's wet and it's his home track >> good gate all the same Simon pheew) GB 34 Denmark 29 Czech Rep 12 Russia 8 Heat 15. Richardson first again (>> he must be sick!! >> Nicki lost control though and let him pass for tactical reasons >> not so sayeth Danish manager >> Nicki's not like that). GB 37 Denmark 31 Czech Rep 12 Russia 9 Heat 16. Stead second (Hans'll do it for Denmark now, for sure, with this double points score, this is it he's cracked the track) GB 39 Denmark 37 Czech Rep 13 Russia 9 Heat 17. Lee wins again (>>> is he sick or what >>> well he should be able to beat Iversen >>> he's a GP rider isn't he after all)? GB 42 Denmark 39 Czech Rep 13 Russia 10 Heat 18. Nicholls first (well Charlie's not doing as well has he should be on his home track >> luck's in again GB phew) GB 45 Denmark 39 Czech Rep 15 Russia 11 Heat 19. Harris second in rerun (lucky for GB again Lucas thrown out of the race >>>> especially when everyone thought Harris would be excluded for falling >>> pheew >>> lucky Harris was able to come out for the rerun >>> pheew) GB 47 Denmark 42 Czech Rep 15 Russia 12 Heat 20. Joe in third place >> groan (this is it now the Danes have GB in their sights ready to shoot them down) GB 48 Denmark 45 Czech Rep 15 Russia 14 (This is it now x 2 quoth pundits only 3 points in it but this is where GB's nerve cracks and Danes move in for the kill >>> but we'll be able to say they put up a good show >> but just couldn't cut it when it mattered >>> I wish it would rain). Heat 21. Harris wins !! (Lucky that Darkin packed up and lucky that Ales kept Iversen 3rd >>> but it's the Danish big guns from now on >>> so that's that for lucky GB tonight folks). GB 51 Denmark 46 Czech Rep 17 Russia 14 Heat 22. Screen third again (tut, tut Joe you're letting the side down >> as expected >>> but luckily Ales finally got to grips with the track >>> Charlie too). GB 52 Denmark 48 Czech Rep 23 Russia 14 (This it now though for sure >>>> Nicki's out in this one >>> this will be the first of a hat trick of wins that will seal it for Denmark >> with a bit of luck. Race offs here we come >> groan). Heat 23. Stead second (Wait >>> what's this >>> who is this >> who is Tomas Topinka >> bloke that won t race that's who >> what happened to Nicki >> why is Simon second >>> what's going on)??? GB 54 Denmark49 Czech Rep 26 Russia 14 (We could win this quoth pundit's >>> but we won't really Bjarne's bound to get a flyer and Lee's sick after all ineee eh >> what >>> Richardson sick >>> gerra way wi ya). Heat 24. Richardson first (Blimey Richardson's got a 15 point maximum >> what eh >>> how >>> who >>> why >>> are you sure >> well it says so here >>> mmm >> can't be right >> must be a dream >>> meeting will be on tomorrow >> >> Denmark ull win >>> make no mistake >>> GB's a sick team >> mark my words >> but Mark's not riding >>> yep I know >>> what did I tell you >>> Denmark ull win) GB 57 Denmark 51 Czech Rep 26 Russia 15 Heat 25. Nicholls second (Andersen in front >> must be a last heat decider >> Hans again >> these Danes >> No, No, Uncle Mr. Clemens wi your daft Halifax jumper >> with your chronic myopia >>> your inability to fill your program in properly >> yer senility's kicked in again >> Great Britain's won !!! What >> where (swindon yer dopey ol fart) >>> why >>> how???). You grew up tonight Simon Stead and Chris Harris. Good luck in the final. (They'll need it >>> what >>> eh >>> who >>> why>>>??? Well Th' australia's riding >>> they've got th'world champ and Leigh and Ryan and t'other two. And there's Th'swedes >> an they've got Th'world champion in waiting >>> why >>> what's he waiting for??? An't Poles >>> they've got Gollob and Hampel and t'other three >>> and it's their track >>> and it'll be fiddled for them t' win >>> and they'll have practiced on it for a month >>> like always. An' Nicki'll probably be there too >> wi them other lads >>> you know Hans >> Bjarne and t'other two. >>> what >>> uh >>> why >>> shurrup yer daft old fart).

All the more reason both Simon Stead and Chris Harris to take this opportunity to propel themselves to a higher status in Speedway. Good luck to both these lads and the rest of the team too. Nothing is a forgone conclusion and there is no reason why adversity (and the team being written off) can be the motivation to upset all predictions and come out on top.

I was talking pre meeting run round the track.

Nicki is a great rider and so is Jason. Calculate the points, TR would be in front of the next rider in line by in the GP's, if those two weren't there to entertain us.

Bjarne P will put Nicki P through't fence on't first bend (all in the cause of team bonding and Nordic brotherhood) that'll take care of him. You have to think tactically in these kinds of meetings.

I said he looked like 'death warmed up' in the pits on monday night. Looks like he's sunk even further into the pits.

If Alun Rossiter looks 'fed up' in the pits beware !!!!!

Nowt like a good dose of defeatism to get the ball rolling. (Or 'realism as th'intellectuals will probably have it).

Perhaps you might see something they don't want you to see>

An article on Anders Michanek, what happened to him? And on Arnold Haley too. I would like to see something on both of these.

It's the oppertunity now for Stead to show he can mix it with the big boys. If he keeps his head and just goes out there and ride he can prove it to himself and everyone else. The Best of British Simon!!!!

Thanks for the update Vince. It's likely that we will be at BelleVue on monday to see the meeting there.

While speaking of Bernie Persson, who I agree was always a class act to watch, I recall a somewhat amusing incident at Halifax once. (This again was in the 70's). Halifax's redoubtable reserve Mike Hiftle performed a minor miracle by getting out of the gate first in a race that Bernie Persson was also involved in. As Hiftle raced up the back straight Bernie Persson almost caught up with him ready to make an overtaking manouvre, which everyone expected would happen. Just as Persson was about to make his overtaking move, the 'excitable' Hiftle did his customary 'wobble', which he was prone to do when he found himself in any other position but fourth place. Persson immediately shut off and fell some distance behind Hiftle. You could almost hear Persson thinking 'F... that for a game of soldiers'.

I agree and this was the reason I found it odd that there wasn't a thread started to 'boost and promote' these young riders for those who may not have read about or yet heard of the Academy League. A positive promotion of these meetings, through this forum, would I think make suporters aware of these meetings and motivate them to go see what these young riders had to offer British Speedway. Especially if 'non aligned' supporters, not connected to the main teams riding, went along specifically to support them. I think that would be the kind of positive support that might well 'enthuse' the young riders to put on there best possible show. But as your link indicates the enthusiasm for this league must come from the riders concerned first. Taking into consideration other prior committments of course. But surely those who have created the fixture lists for these meetings should have been aware of what committments these young riders had??

I read in this week's Speedway Star that with the school holidays starting the British Academy League 'gets underway for real'. I am a little surprised not to see a thread already begun discussing the prospects of these young riders in this league. Perhaps I am missing something and a thread is posted elsewhere. If not I think we should all be encouraging these young riders. We will be at Scunthorpe on Sunday where there is the Bulls v Rams match after the main meeting. Also at a Sheffield meeting which coincides with the Cobras v Buffalos meeting. We have talked of going to Buxton to see a meeting there. We noted that Scunthorpe rides there on Sunday August 28th and have decided to go to that meeting. According to the Academy fixture list Buffalos v Rams takes place there on the same day. So we will be at 3 of these meetings all being well. Come on everyone out there where is the enthusiasm for these meetings and the supporting of these young riders ???

If we go (don't be afraid we might not) we will meet you on the grassy knoll.

My belief is that no rider wants to take the 'responsibility' of doing Pedersen harm on the track for all the right reasons. What I do feel is that Pedersen might well suffer serious injury himself. It will come about in a scenario where tries to pull off one of his usual stunts. This will rebound on him, in a way that there will be those who say it is 'Poetic Justice'. I had this feeling about a rider long ago, for different reasons, so much so I was inclined to write him a letter advising him to retire from the sport before he harmed himself. I didn't write this letter as I decided that the rider in question could not and would not make a decision of that nature on the basis of someone's 'hunch'. Problem is though as those around me would tell you, my 'hunches have an unnerving consistancy in being proved right'. It didn't surprise me to learn later that indeed this rider suffered serious injuries that finished his career.

Pedersen gets away with what he gets away with because no one does anything about it. Because no one does anything about it Nicki, therefore, concludes that he's not doing anything wrong. Nicki does need to give Nicki a good talking to. Nicki is depriving Nicki of the possibility of being a multiple world champion because of his antics. If Nicki doesn't listen to Nicki, then Nicki might well end up in hospital with multiple injuries instead. In fact, he might do so because Nicki might decide that if Nicki doesn't listen to Nicki, a spell in hospital to reflect on his deafness might do the trick. Over to you Nicki. Love, Nicki

I understand completely what you are saying Andy what I am talking about is going above and beyond all that. I am aware of the history of the sport and know what the score is with British World Champions. Yes of course my opinion of Nicholls and Richardson are justified. There is no reason that they cannot move on and improve in the sport. If they will or not is down to them and those who support them. The very fact you say that we have stoodstill for 40 years and more is the very reason I said what I said. This being the reason I post my thoughts here. I have not been to speedway for 18 years but all the arguments put forward here are the same debated when I did watch it regularly. The underlying point I am making is that the sport should have been unrecognisable to me as it had progressed so much since 1987, but it isn't. I don't know much about this Academy so if there is a weblink someone post it for me please.

People shouldn't be asking people should be doing.

The interesting thing reading through this thread is the depressing and pessimistic conclusion from one and all that in effect there won't ever be a British World Champion again. There are plenty saying there could be, should be, might be. Personally I think that both Nicholls and Richardson can raise their game to become consistent GP contenders and win the series too. The self belief of a rider is multiplied by the injection of belief in them from their sponsors, the supporters and promoters. As it is reduced by the apathy of those around them. I don't actually know if there is anyone on this forum who has 'clout' in the sport but I do know if there is then they ought to start using it. Speedway is at a crossroads in its development so the question is does everyone want the sport to go forward? People can argue about whether or not young British riders are given the oppertunities to develop themselves in the sport. These things should be taken as read not presumed or assumed by anyone. If the oppertunities are not there then the sport is going nowhere too. There should be programs in place that ensure there is a co ordinated system between tracks to take and develop these riders as a matter of course. There are plenty of retired riders of all nationalities who should be willing to pass on their knowledge. There should be a system in place where our young riders should be able to go to Sweden, Poland, Denmark and even Australia to gain experience. A process of exchange for young riders to get experience on all tracks everywhere. If towns and schools and such can create exchange systems, how is it that speedway can't? This sport has been living in the 'twilight zone' for far too long now. Time for those involved to 'get this show on the road'. Time to take out that road map and plot a destination and dispel this 'set in concrete' image the sport being forever on the 'road to nowhere'. I imagine that any young British rider, no matter what grade they have achieved thus far in the sport, would get very depressed when reading what has been said here. The ethos being that no matter what the effort or how hard they try to succeed no one really cares as they are 'left stranded at the gate' before the race even starts'. For these are 'circular argument's' going 'round and round and up and down we go again >> like we did last summer' and every other summer for the duration of the sport. Is there anyone out there with this 'clout' I mention who can and will take the sport by the scruff of the neck and give it the shake up it needs. Because this sport is jaded and needs an injection of 'spirit of intent' to electrify the sport. I know there are those who will respond to this who will say that things are being done to promote the development of young riders here. I don't doubt there is but it's not good enough and it's not comprehensive enough. My belief is that if there had have been access to such a forum as this 30 or 40 years ago that the supporters I knew would have been making waves. We would have whipped up a storm that would have made people listen. This is what those involved here should be doing now instead of wallowing in a sea of pessimism. As I often tell people 'you can always give a 1000 reasons why you can't do something but not 1 reason why you can'. See you all at Coventry tonight I will give you all a wave.

And talking of great riders (which no one appears to be anymore ) the greatest rider I ever saw was dear old Arnold Haley. Poetry in motion and the sole reason I paid my cash to watch Sheffield on a thursday night.

I think we are at a point where there will be a 'changing of the guard' in the GP's. It's time for new blood in there as the riders currently competing seem totally jaded.