woofers

Gearing up......!!! Go back to post No 214, December 2015, the record has been stuck since then.

Is it, which regulation ?

Routine home win, good job etc etc but disappointing in terms of a spectacle. Considering that this was the 2nd leg of the play off semi final with the scores close, I have to say the event lacked thrills or excitement. The racing was generally processional and the number of passes could be counted on one hand.

There are some 'odd' fans at every club, I have no problem with Ayres either.

"As A Brand....", the Poole v Wolverhampton semi shenanigans sum it up.... British Speedway needs independent administration. The promoters can't see the bigger picture and are only protecting their own, short term interests to the detriment of the sports future. Perhaps the reason that the GP's are successful is that there is a hard set of rules and an independent set up?

Probably the only way he had half a chance of complying with British Speedway Regulation 12.4 12.4 The rider’s hair and neck between the Helmet and the suit must be covered; scarves or neckerchiefs must not trail so as to be a possible source of danger. Still surprised at the number of riders that have very exposed necks though, Jason Doyle being the most noticeable.

Feel for you, but also it must have been gut wrenching for Kelvin based on the above, I must say that he did a throughly professional job commentating on TV under the circumstances. Having got the the play off's and then see your best efforts go down the pan through someone else's interference must be hard to take. To see it unfold before you and not be able to say anything or express other emotions must be, well, hard! Can understand him not making any immediate decisions regarding his future there.

I think they are. Can't see in the rules where they aren't permitted, perhaps you could indicate where it say's otherwise. As it stands now, tactical's can only be used once, and between heats 5 and 11. I don't think that was the case in 2006, Peterborough used the tactical ride late on in the meeting if my memory is correct. - (checked, it was Hans Andersen, heat 13)

Correct me if I am wrong, but the options for No 1 instead of R/R realistically were - KK, Harris, King, Klindt, Batchelor, Lambert, Hougard, Tungate and Morris - which of these would have "guaranteed" more than 6 points ?

Errr, no....the rule actually does speed the process up, (it prevents rides leaving the track). It is when the rule is broken that the delays occur - as is the case when most rules are broken ! And no, the rules are not the same in all countries, or events for that matter, something which most riders and managers should be aware of really, after all they are professionals making a living from this.

Well done to Belle Vue, commiserations to Lakeside, hoped they would run it closer. Same old arrogant Zagar, when he was No 1 at Eastbourne he thought he was beyond reproach - what a pillock !

Would it possible for the continual slagging off, abuse, name calling and twit-for-tat personal remarks to be made through PM's please ? The constant hijacking of threads by a few is becoming SO tiresome. Back on topic, here's a plea for Chris Gay to pop along to Peter Adams and Neil Middleditch with a copy of the regulations chapters 10 (bike standards), 12 (rider standards) and 15 (racing rules), and let them know that these are the rules we will be applying tonight. These are the ones that apply most generally to most meetings. No if's, No but's, No grey areas, No "discretion" - if a rider moves, he is warned, if he does it again he is out - simple. That way, we all know where we stand and can get on with racing. (I suspect Neil is already briefed, after all Matt "knows all the rules" doesn't he)

Has Tonio been to Figaro's yet ? 😄

You'd think Nigel Pearson must have a bit if a dilemma over this, on the one hand he is Woffindens PR person, on the other he is apologising on TV for "any language that may have offended you". Is he advising Woffinden about media training and language ? Is the swearing a deliberate ploy to "raise his profile" by creating a bit of controversy, and sanctioned privately by Mr Pearson ? Should he be embarrassed by the fact that he has to apologise for his client ?

Still waiting to hear from you. Come on, just give us a handful of ideas where referees, team managers and club officials are disregarding rider safety. With around 30 tracks in the 3 leagues you've got plenty of opportunity to highlight the 3 that could remain open and shame the other 27. (Although you don't need to name them, just let us know some of the reasons why they'd be shut down)

Here is one of the start procedure rules - "15.2.8 The Start Marshal, shall bring the riders to the Starting Gate, in the order as determined by their gate position, ie. a, b, c then d, ensuring all parts of the motorcycle and rider’s limbs are within the marked Grid (nb. lines are neutral and do not form part of the Grid), with the front wheel spindle being directly above the 430mm gridline and when satisfied the riders are correctly positioned, that their motorcycles are stationary and the rear wheel is in contact with the track surface, s/he shall signal to the Referee to illuminate the Green Start light and walk well clear to the rear of all motorcycles." I would suggest that for the rear wheel to be in contact with the track surface and the bike to be stationary, the rear wheel can't be spinning. I can't see how there is a way to spin the rear wheel, keep it in contact with the track surface and have the bike remain stationary.

Haven't we heard proposals for next year about each team having 2 No 1 riders in a squad system. The way Woffinden and Lindback have been "bought in as required" is surely a fore runner of things to come.

Correct, last year the rule just stated that goggles must be worn. This year the rule has been amended to say that their loss or removal during a race is not an offence.

Well done Lakeside, great result.

What are you on about? Give us some examples that would close 90% of UK tracks.For what it's worth, I am not at all one of the "angry mob". I know that no rules have been broken, an assessment has been made and whether I agree or disagree with it is irrelevant but I don't chose to get into 30 or so pages of debate as to whether the right call has been made. The question one or two of us are asking is - will a particular rule be broken or adhered to in future ? Personally I think it's a sensible rule, but maybe it will be thrown out or amended next year, after all the rule regarding the wearing of goggles was changed for this year..........could that possibly have had anything to do with circumstances in last years play off's ?

Yeah, thanks for pointing that out.... What we are actually talking about is a rule regarding rider safety, (which we are told is paramount), whether it likely to be complied with and whose responsibility it is to uphold the rule. If it's a daft rule, scrap it, however, I strongly suspect that if Lindback was involved in an incident that resulted in his hair being caught in moving machinery parts it would be quite unpleasant and there would be a inquiry as to why rules weren't applied. (I think you'll find that rules relating to rear mudguard specifications were charged following nasty injuries to both David Norris and Jason Crump when their arms were caught between spinning rear wheels and rear mudguards)

It's not as though the rules are difficult to find. Some are poorly worded, hence the constant wrangling on this forum, however on the whole the Regulations are clearly set out in defined sections. www.scbgb.co.uk/regulations or www.britishspeedway.co/2016_regulations_final.pdf

He can get away with it GPs because it's not against the rules, whereas in British Speedway -"Rule 12.4 The riders hair and neck between the Helmet and the suit must be covered; scarves or neckerchiefs must not trail so as to be a possible source of danger." So despite, rider safety "being paramount" and "our main concern", no one has explained to me i) why this rule is ignored so frequently and ii) who's responsibility it is to uphold it. Surely riders, referees, team managers and some other track officials are aware of this rule (perhaps Bryn will know the answer to this?). It is interesting that most of the more experienced, dare I say "older" riders have noticeable neck coverings, Harris, Andersen, Pedersen, Lindgren .... whilst others remain exposed e.g Doyle.

Seriously, will he be able to comply with rule 12.4 ?

Ah, but will he be able to comply with rule 12.4?