spin king

I pwesonally think tha this could be the time Simon Stead comes of age, this could also signal the time that Team GB start with the younger riders coming through.

Have to disagree, at the time of his injury, I think was on the top of his game, but did not make his mark on a world final.

Simon is in a rich vein of form at the moment and I am sure that the big Swindon track will be to his liking. What we need to do now is get behind the boys, I am sure that they can still pull this one off.

Yes makes you wonder even more why he did not get anywhere near a world title.

Have to say though he never reached his full potential, like alot of the Americans.

I would urge everybody to go and see these boys, they really have a lot of talent.

Trying to think who in today's riders reminds me, but can't think of anybody at the moment.

Yes a very stylish guy, I remember him better riding for Hull.

I will be sat in front of the box with my Union Jack Boxers on.

Great to hear that SS, I am fed up with people who shout for there own team riders who are foreign.

Just read through my copy, and I have to say it waqs an excellent read, the magazine just seems to get better and better.

It is not just the Lindback and the Hampel in there countries who get the encouragement , but I agree we need to encourage the special cases like Josh and Lewis, but there are many more who you could add to the list. The name I will give is Ben Hopwood, I say Ben as he is somebody who I have seen ride, but a plenty more, we need to start looking into getting them sponsors and backers so that we keep them in the sport.

Until we devote more time in developing a youngsters and encouraging them, that means promoters and fans alike, we are never going to develop future champs. This is going to take a long time and thones that are 15 and under are the ones that I think have the greatest chance, but I do get the feeling reading some threads that people will put them down at the nearest opportunity.

SDpot on Splatty, Elite Promoters are all too quick to replace young British riders with foreign imports.

We will get a World Champion, but I don't think it will be from the current crop, ie. Nicholls and Richardson, Nicholls is not very tactically aware, witnessed at the recent Grand Prix, when he fell he got straight back on his bike, instead of staying down, and seeing what happens. Before anybody gets upset, that is what Tony Rickardsson does, and I noticed that Hans Anderssen followed him. The best chance of a World Champion in my opinion is the current crop from the under 15's, this because they are been nurtured and given support, and they obviously have the talent, this is what they have been doing in Denmark and Swedan for many years. Yes we are behind these nations but we are and will catch up with them, as long as we are patient with these youngsters and don't put them under pressure. I also think that the promoters especially are to short sight in taking foreign imported riders instead of using youngster from this country, maybe I don't know the rules need to be change where each team must consist of a least 2 British riders.

I would like to know how Jan Zabik, who rode for Sheffield in the 80's, would be interesting as his son is now a top Polish rider.

Seems strange that this was not picked up at the meeting.

I agree entirely, we need to get behind these boys, but also to be patient, I know that I see young Ben Hopwood regularly at the Sheffield training track, and Josh Auty training after the meeting at Sheffield, and they both look excellent prospects. I will watch the rest when there is a leg of the Championship at Sheffield, I am sure that I will be impressed.

Yes the future looks bright does it not.

Well done to Josh and Ben Hopwood.

Iremeber Bernie turning out for Sheffield in his last season in Britain, he was a little past his best , but was still a class act.

Nasty looking incident, I hope he is soon back on the bike.

Yeah I think I heard that some where along the line they had a fallout.

Just browsing through one of my old speedway books, and there was an article about Ian Thomas and his Co Promoter at the time Brain Larner, does anybody know what became of the guy.

I was not around Pre 70's so I am going to enter my Dads favourite, Clive Featherby, who never gave anybody an inch when riding for Sheffield in the sixties.