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I didn't say you did. Try reading what I wrote very slowly. I was asking you if you knew for a fact that the FIM had said they would report in seven days because as far as we know they have never said this.

Eric Boothroyd and my hero Stan Stevens.

I believe the expression used these days is whooooooosh.

IF! Who said the FIM did say that? As far as I know they never did say this. Unless you know better.

I used to think at the time (early 70s) that, on his day, Olsen was the best rider in the world but wasn't quite as consistent as Mauger and had more not so good days. I suppose it comes down to what you mean by best-ever. Is it who would win a race both being at their absolute best or is it who would win over a series of races? A bit like the difference between the old one off World Championship and the GP

Reg Reeves, Brian Craven, Graham Warren, Tommy Sweetman, Ken Middleditch, Tony Lewis.......

It's worse than that. He rode for West Ham as well!

What about Jan O?

Who?

Yes, that was me. Strange I didn't see you then.

That looks like Old MacDonald's team, Steve.

Yes, L is a consonant. But, as Rob points out, a capital I is a vowel.

Four pages, and no-one's mentioned Crusty Pye!

And how could I have forgotten Alf Bottoms?

How about a best team with no consonants? o ao Oe ui Ia aue o iao a i a iee i ua That would be my choice anyway.

You'd make a good team manager Mr Fire.

Absolutely, Wackie. Darcy's "misfortune" and possible loss to speedway hardly rates alongside the loss of Tom Farndon, Peter Craven, Tommy Janssen, Vic Harding, Lee Richardson and many many others sadly.

Where's Tm Frndn?

Roger Johns Dick Campbell John Titman Colin Pratt Marvyn Cox Nigel Boocock Eric Boocock

And I can match Ron How for shortness...Ted Ede.

A great team: Tiger Beech (nuts) Les Rum(sey) Trevor Whiting Dick Campbell ('s soup) Todd Wiltshire (Ham) John H(e)art Haggis Promoter: Colin Cook Joint Team Managers: Ernie Baker and James Fryer Track facilities arranged by Jack Kitchen

Er..."we" didn't forget Stan Pepper!

Pot...kettle...

And all flavoured with a nice bit of Alan Sage.

Leave me out of this! Oh, ok, since you've asked..... I think in reality it is impossible to compare riders of different eras and say riders in the 80s were better than riders of today or vice versa, even more so to compare riders from before the War or the 50s and 60s. Personally I can only go on what I have seen from 1960 onwards and on written records and oral testimony from people I have spoken to for pre1960. Just going on my own eyes and riders I have seen, I would always put Ove Fundin at no. 1. I hardly ever saw him race a bad race. He was skillful, determined, ruthless and had that indefinable something that makes a great champion. On his day he could (and did!) beat any and every body. I know riders like Mauger and Rickardsson have had better records since but they didn't have the likes of Briggs, Moore and Craven to contend with, all of whom could well be included in a top 10. And that is, of course, another aspect to this. The opposition. As has been said, in relation to Greg Hancock, although you can't deny his amazing record, he never quite made the heights when Rickardsson, Crump, Pedersen and Gollob were at their peak. Yes, he's 44 now, but where is the opposition? Although I didn't start going to speedway until 1960, some of my family were fanatical speedway supporters already, especially my two uncles, who had been going since before the War. They always maintained that Vic Duggan was the greatest ever. One of those uncles, who is now 91 and still goes to Lakeside occasionally, still mantains that view! And then there was Tom Farndon...... I think it all partly depends on what era you were brought up in and who your own personal heroes were. As the saying goes, there is no right or wrong answer.