billywamill

Rest in Peace Bernie. He was Cradley Heath in the early 70s. He was my dad’s hero and I can still remember as a seven year old, the first meeting after he came second in the 1972 world final. Watching him being mobbed by the thousands of fans on the back straight as he made his way round to the pits. Unbelievable memories. Then the afternoon Bernie was staying at the Prince Albert Hotel in Wall Heath where I lived. My dad sent me up to see if I could see him and there were hundreds outside waiting for him to appear. He came outside to meet the fans and sign autographs. Back when the sport was really big !

Thanks Greg for all the great nights celebrating your unbelievable career. For the years at Cradley Heath, where you and Billy gave us fantastic performances both home and away, particularly those unbelievable occasions at Monmore Green against Ronnie and Sam. No one will ever match your Grand Prix records. In the top six for 15 consecutive years. Not 1, not 2 but count them 3, world titles after the age of 40. No one had done that once before you! Ignore the idiots who call you boring or overrated. The silent vast majority of speedway fans recognised you for what you have been. One of the sports greatest ambassadors

Shawn was fantastic. I was a student in Sheffield at the time and lived watching him. I do remember one night though Simon Wigg making Shawn look half pace. He came from behind in one race and beat him by nearly half a lap.

Hancock, was fifth in 2018 and would have ridden this year but for circumstances most people with a bit of empathy would understand. But for injury in 2017, he has been in the top six since 2002, including three world titles since 2011. Think that means he adds something to the series and to insinuate he only came over to Cardiff to get his face on screen and make sure he got his wild card place is a bit low. i think a year out the sport means he’ll probably really struggle, but if there’s one rider who can overcome it, Hancock is the man and he deserves the chance.

It’s hard to pick riders when you follow the sport for so long, but Jan O for me. Perfect balance and unbelievable from the back at any track. The Danes were so professional at the time. I think he would have won the title in 1990. He was ready to emerge from Hans and Erik’s shadows but re-broke his wrist the week before. He showed that a year later when he dominated the world titles. So many great riders though. And characters too !

it's very hard to compare different eras, but at the end of the season, the 1983 Cradley team had a combined average of over 63 !!! Even their number 7 (a future World champion) averaged just under 8. Both very different tracks, but I'd argue Ipswich in 1983 had a similar team to Cradley and overall the Heathens beat the Witches by 6 points. I think that would have been at least the difference if the teams could have met in a fantasy match up.

Well said New Yorker. The racing was brilliant this year and to be fair, Greg was involved in more than his fair share of brilliant races. Just because his passes are more controlled doesn't make them any easier to make. And you're right, The Dectorists is a beautifully observed programme. 😊

Really upsetting news. A great speedway man. His commentaries on World of Sport were just fantastic. I don't mind Nigel and Kelvin but just imagine how good he would have been with the quality of the racing in the Grand Prix? RIP Dave

Noodles - lighten up - it looks like they've nailed the indoor tracks this year. Even Cardiff was half decent so celebrate the fact they have booked in for four more years and based on this year's brilliant event, they will all be 50000 sell outs. And with a field with no obvious weaker riders, I can't wait for it to come round. Every rider has an angle for them. Can Greg continue his unbelievable form? Can Jason bounce back? Please be a yes! Will Tai get back to his brilliant best? Will Nicki return to the form he showed just prior to his injury or struggle again? Will Emil justify his wild card and be a serious contender? And what about the Poles? Which one will push through next year? Then there's Holder, iversen, Lindback, Lindgren, Zagar, Vacilik. It's a great line up!!!

To all those who are getting themselves all worked up that the FIM do not see their regulation in the way they do, get yourselves organised Register at crowdsurfer, ask for donations to fund your court case against the FIM and Hancock, and away you go. Before you know it Tai will be the new champ and those of us who foolishly don't accept your reading of the situation will be thanking you profusely. To get things moving you can even have the 87p I've found down the back of my sofa. I'll even throw in the two buttons and the dog biscuit buried there for the last couple of years. Alternatively, you can accept that Hancock is World Champion and move on.

Bottom line is Hancock is the World Champion - just move on. It might keep some people awake at night but nothing is going to change the situation.

There's as much chance of Greg being stripped of the title as there is of another EU referendum. I read it that a rider would be kicked out of any remaining Grand Prix and I think the lawyers would have a field day if any action was taken. Makes it more interesting for next year though. Looks a great line up. Let's hope Doyle returns 100% next year and claim the title he deserved this year.

Gutted for the bloke - no one has deserved it more. His progress has been amazing so just hope he gets back to full fitness soon. It's put a massive dampener on the final event. And to the cretin calling Greg 'slimey', if you're going to insult someone who's been around nearly 30 years entertaining thousands of people, at least spell the word right.

Terrible let down for Doyley. But as Steve says injuries are unfortunately part of the sport. If you remember, Greg almost had the same himself when he won his last title ironically when NKI lost control. He was fortunate not to receive serious damage to his hand at the time. Doyley has proven he's got what he takes and he's got at least 17 years to win the title 😀 Also It doesn't matter what Hancock does, it's not good enough for some people. When he passes riders, which he had done regularly in this series, it's not because of track craft or skill, no, it's the other riders letting him through apparently.

Uh? Wants to win more than other riders ? No it's because when he isn't at his best, he makes desperate moves. He's done it all his career. He also never accepts it's his fault when 90% of the time it is. His whinging when he's excluded does him no favours Saying that, he'll be back in the Grand Prix next year as the sport need characters of all kinds, and he is still capable of winning Grand Prix and even another title or two.

Would you see Lewis Hamilton do it? How about any of the overpaid footballers? How about almost any other competitor in any other sport ? The answer is no because it is not tolerated. He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy.

Fair point but imagine the uproar etc., etc. if he had done so. Anyway, I think the use of the phrase pathetic prat about anyone is offensive, but that's just my opinion.

That's your opinion and you're free to express it. It's my opinion that Nicki is probably the hardest, some would say dirtiest rider of the last 30 years, but that's just my opinion. Either way, let's hope he recovers quickly.

Sad news for Pedersen. Don't want any riders injured as they literally put their lives on the line. Regarding Darcy Ward - it's called Freedom of Speech. We don't live in Turkey or Russia. It wasn't offensive or abusive - just an opinion. The same way people here have said they don't like what he said. All acceptable but he's allowed an opinion.

I swear also but would never do it at work. I'd get a disciplinary if I did. It's called having standards. if you are representing something or somebody, you should act accordingly. The comment about young people swearing in normal conversation is an interesting one. None of the kids I know do so and my son hates it when I do. The language in the streets just walking around the local town centre however does back up what you were saying.

I think you're making a fair point. You don't see it from any other rider on a regular basis - words (profanity-less ) should be had.

Pedersen is the current World number 3 - why would he retire??? He's having a poor year by his standards but his gating skills are still there, he just isn't quite on the ball speed wise this year. That can easily change. The same questions were being asked about Greg over ten years ago. According to some people in the know back then he wasn't good enough for the Grand Prix at the time. I'm sure he hasn't done too badly since then Oh and by the way, those who say Hancock is boring - just look through the Grand Prix for the last two or three years. He's made more passes than the majority of competitors in the series. I personally think his pass on Doyley in the Swedish Grand Prix was the best seen in the series this year in terms of control and execution. As to Doyle, it wasn't so long a go people were comparing to Pedersen in terms of the reckless moves he was making. His amazing progress this year has seen him curb his wilder side and if he wins the title, it would be fully deserved. It's been a fantastic Grand Prix series this year - its just a pity no terrestrial channels show any of it

Hancock is the class rider in the field. He has passed as many opponents as anyone else in the last few years, it's just that as he does it so smoothly, it isn't as 'exciting' to some fans who seem to only appreciate riders who can make more desperate moves to get through. Even Tai falls into that category at times. The guy is 47 this year. I know it's a bit of a running joke with how much The Chuckle Brothers talk about it on the coverage, but it is amazing what he is achieving.

To have both riders still at the top of the tree at such a relatively mature age, is unbelievable really. Totally different styles but with the same amazing belief still in their abilities. Difference being, Nicki has always antagonised his fellow riders, even his own team mates at times, which means when he does have a valid point to make, they dont listen.