lucifer sam

Conkers, regarding the second Assen weekend, I notice the World Championship roinds are on the Friday and the Saturday. Do you know if there's a third meeting on either the Thrusday or the Sunday? All the best Rob

Surely if the Grand Prix riders received thier fair share of the cake, then there would be no problems. The GP riders are massively underpaid - the prize money is a joke. That's why riders are putting Poland first. Even British Speedway pays better than the GPs. All the best Rob

Exactly. Give it up Parsloes. All the best Rob

Name one teenage Speedway Individual World Champion since 1936. (Clue: there has never been one). Emil came along and took the world by storm at the age of 19, just as I fully expect Darcy to next year at the age of 20. Things have not changed. It's the the case that if you're good enough, you're old enough - always has been. And that works both ways - in Greg's case, it's the you're good enough, you're young enough. Age is immaterial. All the best Rob

Neil, that's the one. It's also the format that has been used in Ice Racing for many years. All the best Rob

What obstacles? Last year, after winning the Under-21 for a second year Ward was quoting in the press that he didn't think he was quite ready for a seeded spot in 2011. So he's been given a seeded place once he himself covers himself ready for a spot. What obstacle has been placed in the path of Darcy Ward? I love to see new young riders in the Grand Prix, but at the same time, I don't want to see Hancock and Gollob pensioned off before they themselves decide it's time to go. You seem to be discrimating against Hancock and Gollob on the basis of their age. If they are competitive (and the last couple of years suggests that they most definitely are), why should they have to go? Give it up, you're talking nonsense. All the best Rob

Neil, just checked my programme and the heat format for the second day is completely different for all the heats (21-40). Riders kept the same numbers for both days - for instance, Hans Nielsen was No. 2 and Erik Gundersen was No. 13. All the best Rob

Nonsense. The World No. 2 & 3 from this year are both in the middle of that age range, while the World No. 6 is still a youngster. And Grand Prix rounds have been won this year by riders of various age ranges. I really can't see the point that you're trying to make. All the best Rob

Phil, I agree - Greg is THE man of 2011 and a very deserving world champ. Parsloes, does it really matter if the World Champ is 19, 29, 39 or 41, as long as it is won by a worthy recipient? All the best Rob

You what? Greg would never have let him pass... it's the final of a Grand Prix for goodness sake. Parsloes, you crack me up at times. All the best Rob

Nope, if he was going to be World Champion, it should have happened in 1982 or 1983. It didn't. Carter peaked early, and by 1986, his career was on the downward spiral. The Danes had well and truly eclipsed him. EDIT: Falcace, yes we've been here before. All the best Rob

So, 25 points out of 27 before the interval, and 6 out of 18 after the interval. That tells a story. Kenny Carter was never going to be World Champion. All the best Rob

Frigbo, thanks a lot, that helped me get my facts right for the piece in today's Oxford Mail: http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/9302467.SPEEDWAY__Former_Cheetahs_star_How_dies_at_81/ Ron How joined Wimbledon in 1955, which means he featured in six of their seven league titles between 1954 and 1961. Then he won the National League again with Oxford in 1964. And but for his mid-season injury, the Cheetahs would have surely won the 1965 British League (even missing How for four months, Oxford finished just 7 points behind eventual winners West Ham). Ron How won SEVEN National League titles - what a fabulous record!! All the best Rob

RIP Ron How. Made a huge impact in such a short space of time at Oxford - No. 1 for the 1964 treble winning team, and only his injury stopped the Cheetahs winning the inaugural British League title in 1965. Also became the first Cheetah to reach a World Final - scoring 10 points in Gothenburg in 1964. And quite rightly he is remembered as a legend for Wimbledon, where he won numerous league titles. EDIT: Does anyone know how old Ron was? All the best Rob

And maybe, just maybe, Ian Hoskins is unlikely to have a balanced view. I think the tag "The Father Of Speedway" is fair enough, though; do you Norbold? All the best Rob

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