norbold

Latest news: Verdict just in from the F.I.M. Darcy Ward was found completely innocent of the charge of having too much alcohol in his blood before the start of the Latvian Grand Prix. The jury recognised that the test that had been carried out was by an off-duty policeman who just happened to be in the stadium and thought it would be a laugh to breathalyse a few riders just for the hell of it. It was noted that his equipment was at least 30 years old and completely unreliable. The FIM said they have no idea where their official tester was that night and also that they had no idea who this off-duty policeman was. "It's all a complete mystery to us," said a spokesperson, "which is why we tried to delay the hearing as long as possible in the hope that everyone would get fed up and no awkward questions would be asked." The jury also took into consideration that as Darcy Ward is an exciting young rider destined to become World Champion one day, they would not treat his case like any old rider's and he would be given special disposition to rehydrate whenever he likes in future. Because of his unfair suspension, the FIM have now ruled that he be paid compensation for the time he was suspended. This compensation to be worked out assuming he had won the World Championship with a maximum in every round he missed. All this plus the appearance money he would have received through being world champion to be paid alongside loss of league earnings etc. Furthermore, he will be entered into the 2015 GP Series, taking him with him the 75 points he earned in 2014, so that he will start the year with a 75 point advantage over every other rider. This was seen as "only fair" by a spokesperson. After the verdict was announced, a spokesperson for Poole Speedway said, "Justice has been done at last. We all knew our boy was innocent. The fact that in a television interview immediately after his suspension from the Latvian GP he said he had been drinking the night before and hadn't had time to rehydrate was not true as he had had nothing to drink at all. Ward had only said this because he was too drunk to know what he was saying...er....no...that can't be right...anyway, Poole will now win the Elite League instead of coming bottom as we would have done without the presence of the great Ward. I thank you."

As long as they agree with you apparently. Or is there some particular reason why Grand Central is not allowed to disagree with you?

I'm sure the FIM have a recording of the TV interview where he admitted not rehydrating enough handy....

If the F.I.M. thought they might be wrong and that they could be sued for loss of earnings what possible reason could they have for hanging the case out? So they can pay even more in compensation? That makes absolutely no sense at all.

You've missed out Haggis! I can't see any other improvement on the seven you have mentioned though.

What happened to the old date?

Mauger 1968?

I'd go along with that mostly. The other two I think worth considering would be Bluey Wilkinson and Jack Young.

But Ove Fundin won the championship FIVE times and was in the first three for TEN consecutive years!!!!!

Briggo possibly, but I am intrigued to know why you would put Freddie Williams and Peter Craven above Ove Fundin. See OveFundinFan's post above.

Why? How about Ove Fundin 1960? Or Peter Craven 1962?

We can only hope.

No, it disappeared. But apparently they've put back gustix's hearing.

Are you really as dense as you make out, gustix?

And your point is......?

Tom Farndon died in 1935. All those riders you mentioned rode after the War. How many people still around do you think actually saw Tom Farndon ride? You think Jack Milne was one of the three greatest riders of all time. You are obviously wrong as people don't remember him either.

Absolutely. It's that sort of wording that makes lawyers fortunes. "Detection will be and conducted by analysis of breath and / or blood" I would take that to mean that detection could be by just breath alone. But I can see how you could argue that there needs to be a blood test. Frankly though, if he and his legal team argue the toss on this and he gets off on the technical meaning of that phrase it would be a complete disgrace.

Allo Allo, what's all this about comedy programmes about war?

Skidder 1 "and will be able to compete in the slag from the beginning of the season" Well, that should be interesting anyway.

Well that's put Tom Farndon in his place. Obviously john Chaplin and I were wrong about him. Just remind me again of all the major titles and trophies George Newton won.

Talking of the match race championship and time machines...my choice would be Tom Farndon. Tom won the match race title in 1934 and was unbeaten through five challenges until he died following a track crash in 1935. So much did the championship become synonymous with him that the competition was suspended on his death and did not return until after the War. Tom was the ultimate professional of his time. He trained hard, didn't smoke and was tee-total. He was also the most spectacular rider of his time. He was a charismatic figure who was idolised in his day, with a personal following only equalled by footballers and film stars. Funny he never found it necessary to be "one of the lads" in the pub the night before a meeting to achieve all this. He did his talking on the track. If there are any lessons to be learned by Darcy Ward, he need look no further than Tom Farndon.

Has it ever occurred to you, gustix, that the people supporting the Facebook page, the petition and the Twitter feed are the same people?

Here is a sample from the petition: Reasons for signing Rolf Harris LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM So what if Darcy got pished as a koala on Fosters? Those Europeans are always trying to convict us fair-dinkum Aussies for little indiscretions. I was also stiched up at the Court of King Caractacus. Kim Jong-Un KIM JONG-UN CITY, KOREA, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF Ward is an imposter. I am the true Speedway World Champion of the Universe!! Oliver Reed POOLE, UNITED KINGDOM I like Darcy cos he drinks loads!!!!!!!!!! There's lots more like this. So he does have some powerful supporters with excellent reasons. No doubt the F.I.M. will give it all the attention it deserves.

You could make it 351, gustix. Why haven't you signed it?

Why are you not signing the petition, gustix?