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From reading the Police statement it doesn't say he brutally attacked anybody, he burgled one person and robbed another at knife point. He's used threatening behaviour yes but he hasn't actually physically attacked anybody in this case (from what I've read). I am in no way defending or condoning his actions, I totally condemn them, just pointing out the known facts.

My generation would view holding a knife to a pensioners as brutal and nasty . It's the act of a dangerous criminal and a coward.

I think match fitness probably came into it as well. Kemp's pass was a bit rash in the first running of heat 16 especially compared to Bewley's stalking and probing approach in the rerun before swooping around Leon. Probably illustrates that tad extra bit of experience - but you'll never find me criticising a rider for coming unstuck attempting a ballsy overtake (no pun intended) Kemp, Rowe and Flint - along with Dan Gilkes and the Thompson twins - all come out of it with reputations enhanced and a few more opportunities to take this title in the coming years.

Multi-drug saliva test kits are available for around £4 each, purchased in bulk much less no doubt; so 14 tests would cost less than £50. Why not test every rider at every meeting?

Someone shouted Plymouth and hasn't been seen since

I always used to put a drop of Castrol R in the fuel tank of my road bikes. Didn't do them any harm & smelt lovely.

You mean he didn't come first every time?

Thought you had the threads originator on ignore, so how do you know ?

In ian thomas book he tells the storey of a comets rider getting worried about taking a test after being promised a night to remember by a local lass and he took some "pills" to help him on his way

I've only just got the chance now to watch the meeting, due to work and family commitments. The racing wasn't great, but that's what you get when you have riders of various abilities, who have had very little track time this year, on a heavy track, made difficult because of typical October conditions. To be honest, I had my doubts the meeting would go ahead, Berwick was lucky to miss a lot of the showers on Wednesday afternoon, after a lot of rain had already fallen in the previous days. Obviously the power failure before the meeting before the meeting caused a lot of disruption. But that can happen to anybody, just ask Gorzow. The production of the meeting has come in for a lot of criticism on here. If I could add one piece of constructive criticism, it would be to try and get elevated pictures, showing more of the track. There used to be a platform on the first bend that used to get used. That provided good coverage. But it was interesting to hear what a work colleague told me. He had spoken to an official of Berwick Rangers, who had been watching the stream live. Bear in mind neither of these have a great interest in speedway. "Looked good on TV" was his words. Certainly doesn't sound like the disaster some would have. I just wanted to give you the perspective from somebody outside the sport. After watching the meeting, I've made a donation. Not on the strength of the quality of streaming, but I know how much effort and hard work would have to go in to organising the meeting, preparing the track, which must have been a nightmare given the conditions and getting the power back on. I appreciate their efforts, that;s why I've donated.

There have been many serious accidents in 6 man races over the years. There have been many serious accidents in 4 man races over the years. Not sure what your point is and how you would determine that the extra 2 riders on the track were actually the cause of the accident.

Late 60s Mike Broadbank captained The Robins with World Champ Briggo at 1.

Can't see how at least a certain amount of juggling with team strengths can be avoided myself. Some overseas riders probably won't return and Brexit is certain to have some effect on rider availability as well. In theory, things should stay as they are, but in practice, this seems unlikely.

Think it was 76...

And one of the best!

Roger Johns was captain at Wimbledon i think

Yep, I remember that too, Good Friday 1999. Bunyan and Woodifield ended up pulling them to the ground long after any home fans cared any more.

That reminds of that wonderful day at Compost Corner with the Witches effigies all set up to be 'blown up' by a home 5-1

That's a little harsh, John, considering the amount of spelling mistakes you made on your speedway books thread. Have you found the question here, yet?

Don’t think people on here are exaggerating regarding his behaviour and missing meetings.He done some pretty strange things IMO.Cant remember the rider but I was at a meeting where he “injured his back “ unloading his bike in similar circumstances.

And that surprises you?

You would have thought someone would have come up with a song by now with those numbers. Maybe something to work on for next season.

Some would appreciate 2, 4, 6, 8,

I believe its the Championship league that intends to run 2021with the same 2020 1-7s. Not sure thats been agreed at Premiership level?

You don't have to be thick to commit his crimes though - just a despicable scumbag with no thought for others.

donated £10 after watching the meeting as others have said it wasn’t the greatest spectacle but did give a good insight into how to ride the track. Massive difference between those at the top in the way they attacked turn 3 driving in hard allowing the bike to run up to the apex of the corner before allowing the banking to bring the bike round and out of turn 4 on the inside .

Jesper B Jensen, 11th July 2007

Flint was excellent but there was some pretty obvious home track knowledge in the way he rode.

Nss is one of the few tracks that I would pay to watch a streamed meeting from, maybe also Peterborough There must be one in storage somewhere in Bradford that was never used

A reasonable question, which could also be asked of the official random testing and of any other organisation using such kits. I believe the deterrent factor of knowing you will be tested at every single meeting, with all your peers, would be significant.

Don't in any way condone the use of drugs, recreational or more serious. I don't think drug use should excuse Garrity though, he carried out a brutal nasty attack on vulnerable pensioners. That's not excused by drug taking or drug abuse. He is a violent criminal. We all know or have heard of riders through the decades, right up to the current day who have had issues with recreational drug taking, some have been found guilty of dealing. Many are / were well liked and respected, their drug issues understood and sympathised with, because aside from that they were decent. Why were they on the scale of "acceptability" - I'd suggest because at heart they were basically honest, young men with an issue, not a brutal thug like Garrity. A lot of very good people in Speedway have tried to help Garrity, right up to last season, they did all they could to give him a "final chance". He needs to rot for 7 years and hopefully learn and understand the errors of his ways.

1,4,6,7 and 2,3,5,8 is what is used in the SGP, I think. The numbers you suggest would make the 2nd semi "easier" as everyone is lower in the standings than semi 1, and so is actually a disadvantage to the one leading the scoring into the semi finals. While I am replying here, I'll also ramble about the streaming service that was provided by Berwick for this meeting. YES, there were problems. I'm not sure how the electrical problems led to the planned youtube stream being abandoned and a new one being set up...That, obviously caused a problem for a lot of people that were waiting on the stream starting. Some of the camera work and production was far from great...The camera on the start straight was definitely placed too close to the track to really be useful mid race, and some of the camera changes seemed excessive, but that was possibly as a result of the realisation that the placement of what would normally be the "primary" camera on the start straight was sub optimal. On screen graphics showing results and scores that others have complained about weren't really a big miss for me. The commentators told me who was in the race and I could check updates sites for current scorers. As a regular "tv viewer", the only thing that I really missed was replays of major incidents....but I didn't get them from the Belle Vue stream that I paid for either, and everyone seems to have been whooping up their coverage... Ultimately, I got the chance to watch a meeting from Berwick, which didn't have the best track conditions or the most even field, that I wouldn't have been able to watch without this stream being provided, and I was grateful for this opportunity to watch despite the problems. I didn't donate before the event as I wasn't sure if I would be able to watch or not, but at the end of the night I decided to donate more than I had originally thought I would...NOT because I enjoyed the greatest speedway meeting, but just because I got the chance to watch a speedway meeting that I wouldn't otherwise have seen and with no obligation to pay for it, and I appreciated that. The general theme here seems to have been that everyone felt ripped off...I GENUINELY didn't. I'd just say thanks to Berwick Speedway for letting me watch this meeting live.

Exactly. The stroke is determined by the offset of the crankshaft so the only way to increase capacity would be to use the bottom end of a long stroke engine with a barrel & piston of a short stroke. I would have thought that the barrel of the short stroke would be a different length though to that of a long stroke? If so it would have to be a bored out long stroke barrel but that would be easy to spot. Maybe they are the same length but use different length con rods? Long strokes were about in speedway till more recently though. My lads Jawa 884 laydown engine which he bought 10 or so years ago was long stroke and that had been used in what is now the championship league by its previous owner. Nobody uses them now though. I've got an upright Jawa 898 which is long stroke too. Maybe longer stroke versions of the modern speedway engines are produced for different disciplines. Grass track or long track etc. providing swappable parts? I'm a bit out of touch these days.

The SCB used to issue referees with a crude homemade t-shaped device which was the same as the diameter of the carb.

I think you are right about the engine going away to be tested as I have heard of riders complaining about the waiting for them to be returned. Certainly I saw them being removed from the frame. Testing carbs can be carried out in the frame and machine examiners are issued with an appropriate circular gauge for testing.

Godfrey would want all meetings to be at Scunthorpe and Buster would object.

Yip! ,but remember it’s a new circuit.

You can't help but wonder if the tests could be made slightly less random. Surely if a rider is a persistent drug user, such knowledge will become well known in a tight knit community. It wouldn't be difficult to "arrange" a test. In fact, evidence of drug taking should be treated in just the same way as a rider smelling of alcohol. There must be provision in the rules for the Clerk of the Course to prevent a rider from riding.

I’m sure his victims have a tale to tell, especially the pensioners.

Only think you've missed is a retractable roof to weatherproof the stadium

Yet when someone here asked why the stream that was supposed to start at 7.30 wasn’t live after 7.30 you spoke to them like a piece of crap on the bottom of your shoe.

That is one big notable difference in Poland,the starting procedure is a lot more rigid, 2min clock,no lining up at an angle, disobey the start marshal at your peril !!. How it should be over here.

And if there is to be a 2021 domestic UK league, I hope it will be possible to watch NSS matches on Live Stream ( How about a season ticket? I hope it's under consideration )

A good read in this week's Speedway Star - Part one of an interview with former (Pirates and Rebels) promoter Mike Golding. Part two next week. Also a feature on Stefan Neilsen.

Thing is, six riders in a race is not a huge problem for most riders - certainly not those who ride in the Czech Golden Helmet and certain other events on the continent. As you say, it only became an issue with the the World Pairs, and that's because riders were looking for their team-mates. THAT was the problem...

Can’t remember those! Must be getting old ps him

also put some white tape across the the opening of the tv room and when someone comes into the room and breaks the tapes you will have two mins to make a fresh brew ! have you tried eating a pie and farting while you are watching the TV ?

With a straight through pipe no doubt? Double bonus. Authentic smell and sound.

Buy a bike ,and a Tin of Castrol R run it in the living room while watching speedway,satisfaction .

And SON.. And maybe go through the GP Qualifications too? I am sure he will want to give himself the maximum opportunity to stay at the 'top table' now he has deservedly put himself in and around that level.. A key year in his long term development next season, building on what has been an excellent season for him just gone.. He is now delivering the level that the 'potential' alluded to, however many have had that potential and not reached where he is now.. Maybe he will feel that not riding in the UK this year, has helped that development and will try more of the same blueprint next? Can't knock the lad if that is what he decides..