Midland Red

I'd be happy to see a return of the old tac sub rule, and a point for aggregate win I don't recall doubling up creating the need for guest riders much more than a few years ago, certainly not 50 years!

Is that fact, or just a guess?If it is fact, can you explain it, please?

From Chris himself: STATEMENT: This is to clear up false rumours that are being reported about me on social media regarding the non use of GTR engines at Cardiff. Firstly not at any time have I been offered any money to use the engine neither at anytime have I asked for money from Gerhard engines for me to use them. The reason I chose not to ride the GTR at the British SGP is due to not having enough track time with the engine to understand how it works and how to set it up to my riding style. The last time I rode the GTR was at the British Final meeting and after the meeting it was taken out of my bike and taken away for the guys to check it out or work on it. I made the decision to use my BAR engines on the back of having 3 good meetings including a paid max and I know how these engines work for my riding style. I had lengthy conversations with Marcel Gerhard over the weekend of Cardiff and discussed the plan moving forward which involves a GTR being changed to suit my riding style and to practice on the engine prior to the next SGP. To support this my sponsors Rock Oil have provided the required oils by GerhardEngines to ensure Marcel and his team have everything they need. I look forward to working with Marcel and the team to come up with something special that suits my riding style in the near future. Marcel completely understood my reasons and there were no hard feelings which was proven by their message of best wishes for me on their social media accounts. I am disappointed but at the same time amused at what people write and that they waste their time posting on social media sites and forums without knowing the truth. Rumours and false statements are aimed to make the person in question look bad, however I am an honest rider and I will make decisions what I am comfortable with whether it turns out right or wrong, at the end of the day I am the one riding the bikes and risking my life. If people wanted to know the reason why they should just ask me and I will explain the truth rather than listen to rumours or made up stories on social media sites and forums. Chris

From Chris himself: STATEMENT: This is to clear up false rumours that are being reported about me on social media regarding the non use of GTR engines at Cardiff. Firstly not at any time have I been offered any money to use the engine neither at anytime have I asked for money from Gerhard engines for me to use them. The reason I chose not to ride the GTR at the British SGP is due to not having enough track time with the engine to understand how it works and how to set it up to my riding style. The last time I rode the GTR was at the British Final meeting and after the meeting it was taken out of my bike and taken away for the guys to check it out or work on it. I made the decision to use my BAR engines on the back of having 3 good meetings including a paid max and I know how these engines work for my riding style. I had lengthy conversations with Marcel Gerhard over the weekend of Cardiff and discussed the plan moving forward which involves a GTR being changed to suit my riding style and to practice on the engine prior to the next SGP. To support this my sponsors Rock Oil have provided the required oils by GerhardEngines to ensure Marcel and his team have everything they need. I look forward to working with Marcel and the team to come up with something special that suits my riding style in the near future. Marcel completely understood my reasons and there were no hard feelings which was proven by their message of best wishes for me on their social media accounts. I am disappointed but at the same time amused at what people write and that they waste their time posting on social media sites and forums without knowing the truth. Rumours and false statements are aimed to make the person in question look bad, however I am an honest rider and I will make decisions what I am comfortable with whether it turns out right or wrong, at the end of the day I am the one riding the bikes and risking my life. If people wanted to know the reason why they should just ask me and I will explain the truth rather than listen to rumours or made up stories on social media sites and forums. Chris

I didn't say anything about other sports - where do you get that from??? The doubling up/down system is a self-inflicted injury imposed on speedway by the powers that be, creating more and more guest riders, less and less teams tracking their own riders It could perhaps be better implemented to avoid the need for guest bookings, but it would take some working out Three guests, two r/rs, tonight - another good advert for British Speedway Let's hope it's rained off!

Why not do like F1, have pre-meeting practice, and the fastest in practice start in front of the slower riders - that will take away any gate advantage

A major problem is rules/regulations brought in which complicate the sport and appear to take away all sense of fair play I give you: Doubling-up/doubling down riders - how do you explain that a rider is missing tonight because he's riding for another club? FTRs staying at 6 & 7 - much as I enjoy the benefit that Bees get from having top two FTRs, it makes no sense that, if they're good enough to move up to 2nd string (as shown when they take their extra reserve replacement rides), they are not allowed to, giving an unfair advantage over teams with lesser FTRs Black & white helmet - well, we all know about that

Top post, RS - if only we could go to our local track EVERY week, see "our" team instead of one filled with other teams riders; meet the riders in the bar afterwards instead of them jetting off to foreign parts; a proper Knock Out Cup competition; league champions the team with the most match points; have enough local tracks to run regional cup comps and individual events; each track having one BIG individual meeting; special days out to the Internationale and World Final, yet with none of the "carnival" that the SGP has become There was a lot to be said for the old "club" setup in British speedway From this old grump

I believe there's another British GP going on today - I wonder how much passing there will be Seems to attract fairly big crowds and some media attention WHY???

I said one lap would have sufficed - tonight was the British GP, stage should have been left for the three medalists after Tai had done a deserved lap of honour/thanks for his support Where have I said I don't like Tai? - I think he's a great rider, was a great champion, does great deeds off-track, is sadly missed on-track by his English club As for banging on about it - ????? I don't like his tattoos or ear piercings, but that's got sfa to do with me Like you said "you say it best when you say nothing at all" - so stick to facts or shut up, you really are a pain Agreed!

Very disrespectful - one lap would have sufficed, then exit stage left and leave it to the three medalists Poor show from a very good rider

But - don't you all remember? It's a contact sport (Muddlo said so)

To my mind, the only way such a move could be viewed as "reasonable" would be for Ward to sign to ride for Swindon till, say, the end of next season, so that it can be viewed as a proper signing to strengthen the fortunes of the club in the longer term

What happens next year when Ward goes home? Is it really worth breaking up this year's team for short term "gain"?

Seems totally unnecessary, and is very, very annoying

Thanks for that Neil - can you now please settle the discussions about who is in charge of track preparation for televised league matches on Sky

Good grief! Well, Mountford, Boocock, Knudsen

WHAT??? One thing Harris can NEVER be accused of is a lack of fire and determination, and certainly he has at least as much, if not more, than Lambert

REALLY???????????? From another thread: EL promoters agreed a contract in about 2009 which effectively handed control of track preparation to GSI for all Sky broadcast matches. This was part of the overall contract covering such matches, and has remained in effect even after the expiry of the more substantial sponsorship deal with Sky a couple of years ago.

If it's going to rain, it should have been called off 48 hours ago!

April 1st? Comedy Central? What John McEnroe said!

Games???

Martin Ashby please!

Well done, Nicki, after all the s@@t that's been thrown at you this week!

Quite a lot, recently, as he passed away in February