Star Lady

Cloudy, breezy and about 14 spots of rain this morning.

Does he not ride on an Australian licence? In which case it's up to them to suspend his licence. Think that's how it works.

I'm not disputing that but they were different times. I was just pointing out what those brave lads did at the same age as Darcy. Probably shouldn't have made that comment but the sight of those planes made me very very proud and somewhat emotional.

As he rides on an Australian licence isn't it up to MA to ban him pending an FIM hearing? Slightly off topic. I've just come back from watching the Battle of Britain flight and the Canadian Lancaster display at Marham and it crossed my mind that the crews that flew in the Battle of Britiain were the same age as Darcy Ward. Makes you think doesn't it?

That might be your opinion. It's not one many others hold. Here's some advice.....Stick a sock in it.

So Sweden are better cos they wash their dirty washing in private. Simply putting another view Personally I haven't seen a Swedish TV match this year that has held my interest. Now that could be a combination of too many unknown riders (to me), indifferent racing for the most part, far too many unexplained delays or the Ermolenko effect. I've also not seen that many EL matches that have held my interest but I know the riders,can relate to the tracks and Kelv and NP do make sense at times. Both Sweden and GB probably have their good points IMHO one is not better than the other. They are both 4 riders going round a track.

Not denying that BUT if a club has 2 riders for the no 1 position, they should have no need of a guest except in the case of long term injury. They can't have their cake and eat it. If a club has a single rider at number one, they don't have a back up so should have guest. Simples

As I posted elsewhere it's an FIM offence and up to them to issue punishment or not first. Any action by Poole of any other club Darcy rides for could be seen as prejudicial. Never thought we would see eye to eye The fault is the FIMs. They should have banned Darcy until his hearing that way all his clubs would have known where they stood. As it is they could issue a statement at 1915 tonight banning Darcy with Poole due to rider 15 minutes later. That would be grossly unfair to Poole who are innocent in this particular affair. Good lord I've just agreed with Skidder and stuck up for Poole - I need a lie down

I would suggest as the incident happened at an FIM event and Poole are only involved with EL they are allowing the authorities that run the event to rule on it first. To comment or act in any way at all could be said to prejudice and proceedings the FIM take. Totally agree No we are saying Darcy was over the limit imposed by the SPEEDWAY authorities when he turned up to race SPEEDWAY. Anything else is irrelevant. See above. Drunk or tipsy or even rat-arsed doesn't come into it. In this case it's the numbers that count and Darcy's were too high.

I've advocated a squad system for some time however if it's just to be shared jobs at number one clubs should have a choice. If they choose to go down the shared job route, they should not be allowed a guest at No 1 and only R/R if both No 1s are out on long term injuries (3 week minimum from all meetings) If however a club chooses to have one single committed rider at number 1 they should be allowed guests and R/R as per the current rules. LIke some others I don't give a tinkers cuss about seeing GP superstars but accept that some do. I prefer a rider of possibly lesser ability (or probably with less finances ) who is wholly committed to his club.

.??? You have lost me there!

Ford is the organ grinder tho, not the monkey

I think for once Matt Ford has got it right. Let the authorities do their thing and then and only then is it time for Poole to do or say anything. At least that way he cannot be accused of influencing anything

No but as my last employers could, if they had chosen, have requested any of us to take alcohol tests, I never drank for at least 24 hours before a shift.

Which just proves a personst judgement is impaired by alcohol.As for your 2nd point, it has no relevance to this incident

His ban should be the same as Danno, 8 months, as his offence was the same - failing an alcohol test. How much by is immaterial - he failed end of. His history has nothing to do with his actions on a speedway track and should not be taken into account IMHO.

Not what the link says, unless of course Danno was suspended pending the hearing and the ban started from then.

Out of interest Rob what time of year did Danno's suspension start? EDIT just found it. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Speedway%3A+GP+stunner+for+Danno.-a068355819 Commited the offence in September, He was banned in December meaning he could not race until the following August, so effectively nearly a whole season

Excellent post.

Interesting post from FTM. We all know that Sky have tinkered interfered with Speedway over the years but why the hell are they allowed to dictate track prep . Surely it is up to the home club to provide the track conditions, or do Sky dictate so as to allow their favoured team (insert any club you like) to benefit. At the extreme it could have a significant influence on who reaches the play-offs and in what order. If that's the case speedway is more corrupt than I thought. It obviously won't affect King's Lynn cos Sky forget they exist

Go find the whisky bottle . I and many others are not anti-Ward we are simply anti alcohol in speedway. There is a difference, and if you can't see that maybe you have already found the whisky .

Er no it's Darcy Wards for having a drink (or two)

I'm gonna buck the trend . I sort of enjoyed it. Not the first 2-3 races when the ref and/or the sky clock decided to make themselves famous. I don't have an issue with 2 mins being 2 mins but at least tell the riders before the meeting (telling the team managers might have helped too). Once the track settled down there was some decent racing. True riders got caught out but if they are only used to riding on smooth as silk tracks on rocket ships they don't have the control and finesse of years past. Gustafsson, North, Harris and Howarth didn't seem to have that problem. They took stock of the track, adapted and got the rewards and so did the fans. Felt sorry for Greaves, blowing his engine before the meeting and then being ignored by the entire Swindon camp when his 2nd bike gave up the ghost. Has to be a big financial blow for a youngster, who has improved massively since the first time I saw him on track. I'd far rather watch some of those races again that the FTG rubbish served up in most of the Sky matches. Edited to add - it's always entertaining when Rosco spits his dummy, tho to be fair Robinson is a tool

Damn I thought Dave Robinson had killed this thread off good and proper

Probably a brown one to fill in one of the ruts.