lucifer sam

You've had thought some thought would have been given towards the European leagues, and this round held at the end of February rather than the end of March. All the best Rob

British season starts on March 15th NZ GP on March 31st I would say that's a pretty severe disruption to any club with a GP rider in their ranks. Poole will probably have two, so won't be able to start their fixtures at least three weeks after the start of the season. All the best Rob

Any expansion of the Grand Prix series needs to be coupled with an increase in rider wages. Otherwise the riders will never go along with a series that would dispupt thier Polish League schedule, which is where they earn their money. Read Darcy Ward's interview in this week's Speedway Star. All the best Rob

I think Johnnie Hoskins deserves the tag of "The Father Of Speedway". It's arguable whether West Maitland in 1923 was the first meeting or not, but that's not really the point. It was Hoskins who first really promoted and shaped speedway. However, I hope no-one thinks Hoskins is the Father Of British Speedway. That is a false claim. It's actually those behind High Beech (again it's arguable whether that is the actual first meeting, but again it doesn't really matter) who are the Fathers Of British Speedway. All the best Rob

There was a GP race at Bydgoszcz between Hamill, Hancock, Adams and Gollob in 2001 that was pretty amazing. All 4 riders had led the race by the end of the first lap. The chopping and changing continued until Hancock stole second from Adams on the final bend, with Hancock getting away with momentarlit putting both wheels on the centre green. Otherwise Joe Cook (Oxford) v Craig Branney (Newcastle) in 2003, a race at Cowley in which the lead changed 10 times. Branney stole the verdict at the death. Also an ice race at Assen in 1998, where Fadeev did 4th to 1st to 4th to 1st!! All the best Rob

Oh go on, it's fun. PS Are you coming to Oxford on October 14th? Dan Berwick poised to win the British Dirt Track championship, plus Oxford v Reading quads. You can even buy me a pint if you like. All the best Rob

Are you a tyrannosaurus or a diplodocus? I have to admit, though, I'm still not sure of the use of Play-Offs in the National League. Was much better when fixtures only had to completed by October 31st - it made it easier for clubs to run at BOTH third tier and at a higher level at the same time. All the best Rob

Well done to Greg Hancock - a hugely worthy World Champion. All the best Rob

They are they to push off the rider if they stall at the tapes. It also explains the 30m line, this is the line to which the riders were allowed to be pushed in the case of a push start. All the best Rob

Sandie, it's freezing cold at Buxton in July All the best Rob

Any dates for the play-off semi-finals yet? I hope last season's lessons have been learnt in messing about and not getting on with the play-offs. All the best Rob

Oh yes, it's in the little sub-heading bit. Don't remember Mark Robinson apart from the name, Scott Smith was more memorable as a Cradley junior because he was a dirty little bugger. All the best Rob

That's what I was wondering. No mention of a surname during this thread. Looks like the Heathens fans in talking in secret code and they're hard enough to understand at the best of times. All the best Rob

I assume so, although I would prefer it to be at Pardubice, which is 10 times a better racetrack than Prague. All the best Rob

Jaybea 42? I reckon he's lost count at some point and missed a few years off. Incidentally, has anyone explained to Rob Henry how to do a TR? All the best Rob

Hope John Oliver is OK. Nice to Lee Smethills showing a bit of form. A bit of anti-climax after a thrilling Scunthorpe v Edinburgh meeting in the first half. Mildenhall need a new team manager who understands how to make a tactical ride. All the best Rob

Fantastic meeting at Malilla. Just got back yesterday from a 10-day Travel Plus tour, also incorporating the GP challenge and 5 other meetings. Wonderful relaxing time in Vastervik (although I ended up with a bit of a hangover after staying out until 3am the final night ) and the weather was kind, allowing us to get all 7 meetings in. All the best Rob

Kev, I see Merv at the Oxford Supporters Club BBQs - I will ask him next time I see him (currently in Sweden and also not about for the next GP, so it will be a few weeks. He is English. All the best Rob

I've been reading this discussion with great amusement, as if there's one thing Jonsson is not, it's bland. Somewhat annoying in the way he can suddenly turn it on at times, and look next to useless at others, would be a fair criticism. I think "inconsistent" is the word that sums that up. But bland? No. Totally the wrong word. Ironically, if the word "bland" does fit against a top-class speedway rider, it's Bjarne Pedersen. All the best Rob

We need a snooze smiley for such cases. All the best Rob

Parsloes, I still can't quite see why it's Len Silver's fault if Hackney have failed at Lakeside but are still running at Rye House. Surely it is Uncle Len who is the one now keeping the team running? All the best Rob

I think the Hackney revival was very worthy, and an attempt to recreate the Cradley success. However, not all clubs maintain the same interest over years of inactivity. When I recently interviewed Dave Perks (available in Backtrack Issue 43), I think he hit the nail back on the head, saying how special speedway was to Cradley, since they didn't have a good football team or anything like that, so speedway is therefore the main sporting attraction. I wonder if Lakeside will continue National League speedway, but with the team branded as Rye House / Lakeside in a similar fashion to Scunthorpe / Sheffield. All the best Rob

Oh dear, I give up. All the best Rob

Because keeping a match close away from home, in a sport where home advantage is large, deserves a reward. All the best Rob

Not the same as the Joker. Look at what DRS stands for and you'll find out why. DRS is there to reduce the handicap on the car behind, not give them an unfair advantage, as the Joker does. All the best Rob