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There are two things that are constantly overlooked when considering so-called dirty riding. The first is speedway and thinking distance . Even on the slowest part of a small track the riders are exiting the bends at around 30 mph which has a thinking distance of around 9 metres per second. In other words a rider will travel something like 5-6 metres between thinking of something and starting to do it. If a rider wants to execute a dirty move he somehow has to work out where both he and the opponent will be on the track some distance ahead. Frankly I don’t think many so called instances of dirty riding really are. They are more often stupid, wild or over enthusiastic, often with Adrenalin taking over. It is after all , a very tough sport. The other thing is who decides where the border line is between hard riding and dirty riding. I remember Lee Richardson telling me years ago that at the top level, all of them , even Mr Nice Guy Greg Hancock are very, very hard men, and if they weren’t they wouldn’t be at the top. So once again we come back to the fact that it is a very tough sport, and at times the border between hard and dirty can easily and inadvertently be crossed.

God you do post some crap

I've also read in some Ivan Mauger publication that originally Peter Oakes called on Ivan to help him find a number 1 for Exeters return to the British League in 84. Mauger talked to Larry Ross, then Scott Autrey without success after Oakes failed to persuade Bobby Schwartz to sign. Exeter purchased the British League license of the recently defunct Leicester which gave them Neil and Les Collins as assets both of whom refused to join the Falcons. Andy Grahame was another rider to turn down the Falcons. After all these dead ends Oakes turned to his old mate Mauger who initially wasn't interested but lucrative sponsorship packages, Exeter changing racenights to Fridays to suit Maugers continental schedule and persuading the BSPA to allow Ivan to ride in home meetings only twisted his arm. In fairness to Mauger he still topped Exeters averages with an 8+ average from 20 something meetings for Exeter in 1984 in the British League when nearly all the Worlds top riders were still riding over here although he was obviously was past his best. I'd reckon Ivan did very well out of the deal. Peter Oakes was the loser cause the move up was a financial disaster no doubt assisted by having a weak team and moving away from the traditional Monday racenight. Oakes not surprisingly left Exeter at the end of the disasterous campaign. Nielsen always said he'd pack up before reaching 40, although I'm sure he could have gone on for another 3-4 years at the top level. He was still good enough to come 3rd in the World in his 1999 farewell season. Ermolenko still has a go on odd occasions even now no doubt loving riding his bike and he was still decent when he finished with Peterborough in the mid 00's when he was in his mid 40's even if he was past his best!

Lubos left plenty of room for Jason and he unfortunately picked up a lot of grip. Racing accident. IMO.

Oh yes I forgot about them! It'd be great to see the Buxton Hitmen back in the League!

Two comeback stories...both Exeter related... We had a family holiday in Devon in 1984 and we headed along to the County Ground to see Mauger and the rest of the Falcons against Eastbourne. Granted Mauger wasn't at his best, but he got the better of Schwartz, it was brilliant to see one of the greatest on one of his famed stomping grounds and still able to race a bit. Without him, the night would have been a much poorer experience. Forward 10 years and now living in Devon. My all-time favourite Chris Morton visited with Sheffield on his mini-comeback. Of course, he was nowhere near the rider he had been. But he won a race..something I thought I'd never see again. Loved it! I think as fans, we can get a bit hung up on riders going on too long, being past their best and somehow tarnishing their reputation. But if they still enjoy it, the fans enjoy seeing them and they don't hurt themselves....why not? It doesn't remove the great careers they have behind them.

I'm not saying he's dirty but Lambert's nickname 'Ruthless' isn't one i'd choose personally. The lads talented no doubt but he does chase back wheels.

I think part of the criteria for Plymouth being accepted into the championship was they had to put together a competitive team, so they couldn't just go with a load of nl riders,it will be interesting to see how competitive we are once the season starts covid permitting.

Wasn't Hans Wassermann nicknamed 'Split' by English fans when he rode for Reading, his surname being a translation of Waterman?

As has been said only Morris himself can possibly know if that was accidental or he intentionally nailed him, looks from the video like a racing incident and no doubt the consequences for McAllan sharpened people’s feelings who were there. If he gets up and walks away feelings would run nowhere near as high.

Need to pick up sponsorship from an earplug company to block out out the whinging

Well that's a great top two to start with

About 10 years ago I was lucky enough to watch a meeting from the ref's box at a current British track. I say 'lucky' as it was a foul night in October with a perishing, unforgiving wind straight from the Arctic! I can't remember if the windows in the box opened, but given the weather they stayed firmly closed that night. Anyway, anyone who has watched speedway through glass knows it gives a slightly distorted view, and even though I have average eyesight (and therefore much better than most refs if the old joke is true, ha!) I simply could not identify the riders on the back straight. All the helmet colours looked the same. And if there had been an incident going into the third bend, I simply wouldn't have had a clue who was at fault as the view was that poor. I have no idea if it is still like that there, but instant replays would have been the only way I could have made a decision that night had I been the ref. As we see every week with VAR in football, though, even with the aid of technology there are still some mind-boggling verdicts. What that night did do was help me understand the difficulties speedway refs have in making the right call on a split-second incident which could involve two or more riders 100 yards or so away on a dimly-lit track.

Lots of new designs now, over 150+. Today’s design was with Super Joe Screen, Joe’s TShirts are already in the post. Order yours here http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53481-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575378759&campid=5338273189&customid=&icep_item=203273142384&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229508&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg&toolid=11111

I would be very pleased if it is.

Told ya all weeks ago. Guy who richly deserves a proper chance Danyon Hume

Sorry Marksman but I have altered the page and it is now right.

Masters 7.35 Thorsell 7.33 So whos the number 1 and therefore highest paid?

That’s the Laurence Rogers influence with dodgy foreign imports. Mildenhall 2008 !!!

Intriguing and an exciting prospect for British speedway! So its not a track that has staged League speedway before? - Workington Northside?

Zagar has a nasty streak. Seen him turn right on riders at Kirky lane.. Ronnie Pedersen was a nut case when he rode for Peterborough.. Others that spring to mind are Preben Eriksen and Tim Hunt, but there's a fine line between hard and dirty riding....Freddie Lindgren is riding that line.

Andrej Diviš (ACCR) rides @ No.1

Masters Schlein N. Morris Becker Douglas Nicol The team to beat.

Think you will find they can only run NL on Monday's not championship

Did you miss this ? “Our other six riders will be based here in the UK once the season is up and running, whereas Jacob would be based back home in Sweden and commuting in and out of the country constantly.''

I know this was mentioned earlier in this topic and is regarding postage covers. We get Commercial Motor delivered by RTM media and they have switched to white envelopes in recent weeks from the clear/ polythene covers. Result is that it has been delivered every Thursday since the envelope has changed. Before it was erratic from Thursday to Monday deliveries. Possibly could help Speedway Star, although I do understand it has an expense attached to it.

Me too and it’s not like we have loads of options. Lambert is impossible to replace but Thorssell would more than make up for Riss.

I just hope they " walk before they can run", .

He's been released as he stays in Sweden and with the restrictions at the moment Wolves weren't going to take the chance.I would take the risk and hope the travel restrictions are sorted come May.

Don’t know how likely it would be, but would take Thorssell in a heartbeat now he’s been released by Wolves. Decent at Lynn and would give some much needed top end strength away. A rider who I’ve always liked watching.

Yes that move by Zagar on Burrows halfway down backstraight sticks in my memory. As for other dirty/hard riders I remember B. Persson, P Erikson breaking K Tatums leg at mommore,J Esklidsen,S Gresham ,G Guglielmi,T, Hunt,R Matuosek not forgetting Wolves most hated own rider N Pedersen

They have visa

You only have to see how Belle Vue now probably wouldn't exist if the NSS hadn't been built, to see the future those Greyhound sharing tracks face..

Godfrey is probably asking David Howe to come out of retirement.

Yes I have to agree. That would have been my call too.

KTel's Hits Of The Seventies..

Exactly this. It's the one redeeming feature of doubling up. When these young riders are on their learning curve they need to be on the bike as often as possible. If they're not doing the PL and CL then they need CL and NL for the exact benefits you've pointed out. Even if there has to be nomad teams in the NL (whose 'home' matches are at the oppositions track and fixtures against other nomad teams at neutral tracks) to create these opportunities and a career path for those kids not up to CL yet. Good time to ban ghost teams eh?

Good luck 82 - perhaps you will be able to stream the meetings......

I remember hull being in a very similar situation having to take the remaining riders not employed. They ended up winning the league that season. So keep positive

In Paul Hurry’s entire career he has finished almost every season on the injured list except about twice. The chances are next season would be the same. He is already the bionic man, after the serious knocks he has had, and the wrong side of 40 now to be putting himself at more risk.

I'd agree, looked to me that LT was trying to leave room to race, back end went round a bit to far, due to rider error or a patchy track

Damn awful commentator!

Vera Duckworth & Lennox Lewis. That pair probably know the square root of diddly squat about speedway, and that would probably be their biggest advantage.

I take it that listening to Dancing Queen by Abba on the stadium PA isn't your idea of "something" then?

Was wondering will the rising star programme and the opportunity it gives be wasted by the lack of teams at national league level. No point been a rising star if all your getting is rushed second halfs

Difficulty to judge on one camera angle. Other cameras in different positions might show things differently. But :- 1. It was a slick track and Morris drifted wide on bend 4/lap 1 , as he did when the accident happened, and rode round the boards on lap two, so riding wide seems to be his chosen line. 2. Morris was in front at the time of the collision so should be able to pick his line. 3. It’s not clear whether Morris drifted wide because it was his chosen line or because he saw David out of the corner of his eye and drifted wide to block McAllans run round the outside, but there’s no reason why he shouldn’t. Possibly a harsh decision to exclude Morris , but the referee was there and I wasn’t so I can’t argue about that but was it dirty riding ? It didn’t look like to me but I suspect only Phil himself knows the answer to that one. A terribly tragic accident though, with dreadful life changing consequences for David ,and I really feel for him

Civitta, 08.06.1975 1 Germany 33 9 Wassermann, Hans 3,2,3,3 11 10 Gilgenreiner, Georg 3,0,0,2 5 11 Käter, Jan 3,1,N,N 4 12 Betzl, Christoph 2,2,1,2 7 19 Baur, Fritz 3,3 6 2 Austria| 26 1 Haider, Josef 2,2,2,2 8 2 Fischbacher, Hubert 2,3,0,0 5 3 Funk, Adi 2,2,1,0 5 4 Szerecz, Herbert 1,3,2,2 8 17 Grubmüller, Walter N 3 Italy 22 13 Terenzani, Armando 0, 0,1,N 1 14 Marzotto, Guiseppe 3,3,2,3 11 15 Biginato, Francesco 1,1,3,1 6 16 Casarsa, Dario 0,0,2,N 2 20 Bazan, Luigi 1,1 2 4 Netherlands 15 5 Seur, Piet N,N,1,0 1 6 Steman, Henk 1,1,0,1 3 7 Koppe, Frits 1,1,0,0 2 8 Egges, Tony 0,0,N,N 0 18 Kroeze, Henny 0,3,3,3 9 Heatdetails: ------------ 1: Marzotto, Guiseppe Betzl, Christoph Szerecz, Herbert Kroeze, Henny 2: Käter, Jan Funk, Adi Steman, Henk Terenzani, Armando 3: Wassermann, Hans Fischbacher, Hubert Biginato, Francesco Egges, Tony 4: Gilgenreiner, Georg Haider, Josef Koppe, Frits Casarsa, Dario 5: Szerecz, Herbert Wassermann, Hans Steman, Henk Casarsa, Dario 6: Kroeze, Henny Funk, Adi Biginato, Francesco Gilgenreiner, Georg 7: Fischbacher, Hubert Betzl, Christoph Koppe, Frits Terenzani, Armando 8: Marzotto, Guiseppe Haider, Josef Käter, Jan Egges, Tony 9: Kroeze, Henny Szerecz, Herbert Terenzani, Armando Gilgenreiner, Georg 10: Wassermann, Hans Marzotto, Guiseppe Funk, Adi Koppe, Frits 11: Baur, Fritz Casarsa, Dario Seur, Piet Fischbacher, Hubert 12: Biginato, Francesco Haider, Josef Betzl, Christoph Steman, Henk 13: Kroeze, Henny Betzl, Christoph Bazan, Luigi Funk, Adi 14: Baur, Fritz Szerecz, Herbert Biginato, Francesco Koppe, Frits 15: Marzotto, Guiseppe Gilgenreiner, Georg Steman, Henk Fischbacher, Hubert 16: Wassermann, Hans Haider, Josef Bazan, Luigi Seur, Piet

Basically a KO Cup then after a seasons practice?

Yep... I had it right the first time although by accident as I thought he was British and applied a 2.5% reduction to him to get to the correct average... then changed it under instruction... but never mind we got there eventually Regards THJ

Just got to hope for a dry summer!