BWitcher

Disagree, part of what the sport is lacking. Whip up a cracking atmosphere. Isn't it time the sport realised the 'family sport' tagline doesn't work? I don't mean all out brawls and violence but simply drop the 'family sport' and concentrate on the thrills, spills, tensions, bit of aggro etc.

It is Paul Dugard who confronts Cook, but in other footage Martin Dugard is shown to throw a seemingly unprovoked full on headbutt at a Glasgow rider. No doubt, no shoulder barge, just a vicious attempt at a headbutt. Again at a point where things had calmed.

You're right, it's terrible to see page after page of discussion on a discussion forum. Much better to see the forum continue to slowly wither away. I wonder if you apply the same analogy to the sport itself and complain about fans entering meetings? Perhaps there should be a five minute time limit for them to get in.. anyone arriving before and after, sorry, no go. We wouldn't want too many watching the same stuff now would we.

Where has this nonsense come from? I have NEVER in 40 years of watching speedway seen riders all STOP at a red flag. They slow down and leave the track. How many times do you see red flags when a rider is prone injured on a bend? The riders don't stop and get off their bikes, they ride slowly past. Which is what Cook was doing.

If you want to see an actual headbutt check out the footage of Martin Dugard.

We'll have to agree to disagree. Either way, all parties acted like clowns.

Pretty much everyone has agreed that Cook did not headbutt or even attempt to headbutt the marshal, even most of those who were there and said so at the time. He shoulder charged him, that is it. Had he wanted to 'headbutt' him he would have done so. Still waiting for you to pay up on your bet

It really is quite simple. Glasgow, led by Cook, pushed off early, no doubt as a way of a bit of spiteful get back at the digs offered over the mic by Eastbourne. THAT should have been the end of it with perhaps a warning to Cook and the other riders. Cook was clearly leaving the track, as you do when the red flag is shown on the parade until the marshal instigated the next incident by needlessly and recklessly stepping in front of Cook. Cook responded, a bit of argy bargy and what would have been the end of it... Until Paul Dugard then takes it upon himself to escalate things further and charge up to Cook and stick his face right into him, no idea what was said, but that caused Cook to throw the first punch. Nobody comes out of it with any credit, but effectively the 'incidents' all ended and were started again by different protagonists. It may not seem savory but reality is, it's great for speedway. Absolutely fantastic in fact. Who wants to miss the next time Cook/Glasgow come to Eastbourne, or indeed even when Eastbourne visit Glasgow next?

So after all of the talk it turns out to be just a few handbags. Completely tame compared to events back in the 90's involving Eastbourne, particularly against Wolverhampton.

Perhaps you ought to actually read his post again. He has clearly stated IF Wolves were to make the top four they would be strong favorites. To have done that would require a huge upturn in away form. It's a view I completely agree with. Whether that upturn in away form will come is another matter.

I most certainly won't trust you as what you have reported has been shown to be inaccurate. Cook was riding directly towards the pit gate. He did not 'aim' at a marshal, nor did he throw a headbutt as has been claimed on here. We all know they shouldn't have been riding. The marshall didn't need to do anything other than show the red flag to indicate the rider to leave the track or stop. He did that. Cook was leaving the track, the marshal instigated what came next by stupidly stepping in front of him which could have caused injury to both parties and damage to machinery. Cook was in the wrong initially, the marshal escalated the situation with stupidity. It's not a debate anymore, it's clear to see for everyone.

It was blatantly obvious that he was. As you do when a red flag is shown.

I'd suggest it's not been shown because it doesn't portray Eastbourne or Mr Dugard in a good light

Agree they were out of order, but the reality is, Cook was heading OFF the track so there was absolutely no need to step in front of him as he did.

It looks that way, as you do when the red flag is shown.

It's quite hilarious that Dugard things the video evidence backs up his comments!

So now we have the truth. Cook did NOT aim his bike at a marshall, indeed it looks like he was headed for the pits gate to ride off the track? The marshall steps in front of him. Cook did NOT headbutt the marshall as I suspected. He put his shoulder into him, likely angry at being stepped in front of which could have been very dangerous. All that said, the riders were wrong to set off with the red flags waving.. but from that clip, they weren't going into a corner fast and appeared to be heading off the track.. as you do when the red flag is waved.. IF that is the pits gate we can see.

There was a major punch up at Monmore between Wolves and Eastbourne, a member of the Wolves track staff literally flipped Trevor Geer's son in the air over his head, WWE style. Next thing David Norris is chasing him through the crowd, weapon in hand. I highly doubt anything last night came close.

Which suggests it wasn't a headbutt at all, more likely a close up exchange of words. I didn't say I wanted fighting, just pointed out the utter hypocrisy that is shown.... every single time. As for repercussions? Next time Eastbourne face Glasgow the crowd will be well up on the norm, that is for sure.

I love these threads. Elsewhere we keep being told there are no characters in the sport, how great it used to be with controversy, riders throwing punches, brawls and more.. Yet as soon as anything happens everyone is up in arms.

Spot on. There were several all out brawls back in the day with Wolves... messrs Dugard, Barker and Norris usually at the centre of it.

Agreed, but there was no doubts over the original exclusion. You often needed a touch of luck in the old one off World Finals. Nobody can argue Ermolenko wasn't the best rider in the world that year.

Before that Baggy, Nielsen was riding one in the 93 World Final. Still Nielsen fans who claim there wasn't 'enough contact' to cause a fall!

Am I really understanding this. Somerset have dropped a division. They no longer have one of the very best in the world riding for them. And they have put the prices UP! Absolutely staggering ineptitude.

Speedway is not different, it just keeps telling itself it is, ignoring successful business tactics employed by all manners of businesses (including entertainment) and wonders why it continues to struggle. Your comments are indicative of why the sport is in the mess it is in the UK. Anyone with the slightest semblance of business knowledge would tell you that continually cutting the quality, whilst increasing the price will result in only one thing... and so it has come to pass.