stratton

I agree and they're we're a few we both would miss out, my take on the standard i believe most of the second string riders in the 70s and up until 85 were better than now.It was not a fluke if some of these riders beat say a Mauger or Olsen.Another few riders who you never mentioned, Cartwright ,Broadbelt,Doncaster,A.Smith,Evitts.

He was a very good rider no doubt about it Colin brightened speedway up no end did he reach 2 world finals? The likes of Schwartz never reached a world final and endless others failed he had a career to be proud of.

Gustix is great value on this forum,enjoy his debate very much love his knowledge on the Older riders great fun.

You wouldn't be far wrong Wk, those two could gate moderately yet still come through.I would say WK without my bias head on Lee was not that great at Hyde Rd either i think he was placed in two BLRC meeting,s alot of top riders were not that great at Hyde Rd.

The KIlb meeting should always come first, bugger everything else crappy challenges if this meeting is pushed to the side i will not be happy.

I was never a fan of Davis and like eaces1 said he would not be in my top ten of British riders.But he was good, from 75/79 i see him win the manpower at Reading i think Penhall rode scored 7 pts and Davis was top class 15 pts.What made you pick Davis Colin.? did you see him ride alot because his average for 3 or 4 years was very high but he was not great at the Hyde Rd Belle Vue would gate and he always had good aquipment but PC and Mort would pick him off.

I suppose the reason was eaces1",that i wanted to exclude up to 1968, the old brigade finishing even though up to 1972 Briggo and Moore were still in the top ten to fifteen riders.Very interesting with people's picks Louis was the one i found hard to leave out.

TOP ten no order. Mauger,Olsen,Michanek,Penhall,Lee,Collins,Autrey,Crump,Simmons, T.Jansson.

Yep probably right eaces1, technically he was better after 39 if that is the case the riders"Gustix suggested look good to me!

Improvement hopefully, plus at home he is very good he averaged 8.50 last year i will be mortified and surprised if he does not beat his starting average.

I would agree with all of them, but i certainly would have Duggan in maybe? In front of Sprouts Elder my uncle who i first went with saw Huxley and was a big fan.

What average Matt would you hope Nick to achieve? is 7.70 overall to optimistic? Last year in the last three months he was very good really exciting to watch picking riders off for fun.Maybe it is me but when he got really busy was sharp,he went up three gears looked a different rider massive season for him.

Eh up WK , Mike the Bike winner once, 3rd twice , 4th once out of 6 finals and not being biased Lee could of won 4 finals in 77, 79,80,83.Saying that PC DESERVED to win two titles i enjoyed both of they're careers WK,we were both lucky to see both of them ride bit of banter eh both superb riders.

Andy says so! and the stats say so WK in world finals.Collins was a awesome rider brilliant, but Lee at his best was quick. That year in 1983 to think he was beating legends like Hans and Erik was awesome and people who see him destroy Carter 4.0 in the helmet beating him by half a lap unbelievable stuff.

An impressive list Andy, am chuffed Lee is in front of Collins and Penhall agree with all of them except Pedersen he would not get in my 16.

Soren SJosten was a rider i really enjoyed watching,so exciting to watch great balance i only see him once at the great Hyde Rd which was a shame.See him q uite a few times in international and individual events and at the Abbey and at his peak was one of the few riders that could beat a peak Mauger and Collins at Hyde Rd.

What on the BAST debate? it would be great to here your real view.!

Totally right Grachan and they would of been around for years to come i suspect at the top level.

Thanks for that, great news i suppose,does that mean riders in the top five struggling have a season of woe.?

Great point Norbold it is how you put thing,s (not a strength of mine i know) but i do my best.Gustix i have really enjoyed his posts, but the Mike Bast debate wrangles on if he come clean or explained himself maybe that would help matters.!

Good point Gavan surely these top boys have to meet at least three times a meeting how will the averages work?If a reserve moves up on a inflated average he will be totally out of his depth surely say Ward v Iversen or Woffinden might compensate that. I know not everything has been decided yet but young Brits( if they move up into the top 5? god some of them could suffer will these young Brits have tp move up into the top 5?

You are correct "Gustix" well that clears that little mystery up you can't be Speedyguy in disguise?

Being serious, Bast in my opinion would be rated behind Milne, Penhall,Autrey,King,Sigalos,Kelly, S.Moran, Ermolenko,Hancock, Hamill,as the USA,s greatest rider top 20 rider of all time don't know where that come from.?

Penhall, Autrey,Mauger,Lee,Olsen,Sanders,Sigalos,Carter, all gone by the late eighties a massive void.

John Eglese ! that night put speedway back years,basically ruined Lee,s career i know he contributed himself alot towards that but aged 25 finished.Also Frank Ebdon ruined many a night when he was referee was all about himself stop go stop go no rythem to the meeting.When i first started going the excitement for me was always seeing the visitors no 1 everyone had a good one.And often you might only see them ride once a year unless you went to international and individual meetings. Mauger always got a feisty reception at the Abbey i admired how he took the flak MR PROFESSIONAL always put loads on the gate.Remember a Robins v Exeter meeting when Mauger had Killer Kilby off the crowd went mad and he had to be sneaked out of the stadium great days.But going back to recent years seeing Jason,Gollob,Adams( everyweek) (ect) was just as exciting as with watching Ward everyweek must be also.