teddy2706

I am not sure you are completely correct, a great many Hong Kong residents held British passports but were not granted residency rights in Britain when it reverted to Chinese rule.

It will be interesting in speedway in fifteen years time then, given the amount of Eastern European kids being born in Britain who are entitled to dual nationality. I for one would like very much to see Cameron Heeps' British passport.

We agree on something at least. Can Jayne fit him in?

http://cosgb.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/w-h-smith-son.html The above link shows that the company was called W.H.Smith as late as 2006 and I acknowledge that as an old fart I should move with the times. I apologise profusely and sincerely. However, one hundred and eighteen words, without any punctuation of any description is surely worthy of a solicitor?

I take your point about fast race times and leaders just clearing off and a boring race ensuing. The argument was about whether lap times could be trusted or not, some people think not it seems. The AMCA are an amateur organisation for MX and all of their riders must have a transponder fitted, they are simple to fit with a couple of zip ties, but need to be charged up and paid for. Road racers and race cyclists are thus equipped too. I advanced the argument for transponders, you don't agree for relevant reasons, it doesn't mean one of us is right and the other wrong. However, if the race time isn't relevant, why go to all the trouble of taking it and recording it and how will riders know that they are improving or otherwise on a particular track? Transponders could also actually determine response and start technique times, by showing how long from the official start of the race it took to pass the start line, a useful tool for young riders attemting to refine their start techniques.

If you are saving money by not attending Buxton matches, perhaps you could afford some full stops and a comma or two from W.H.Smith?

Never having been in the officials box I have no idea how races are timed. Why don't they fit transponders to the bikes like they do in other motorsports and even bicycle races, it's hardly rocket science and will do away with all of this nonsense of disputed timings. Or do they do this already?

I don't think I said that Buxton were on a hiding to nothing? They beat Stoke at home a while ago and on that occasion appeared strong and confident, but the previous night appeared lost at Stoke. The reason I am watching them is in the hope that they find their way and at least perform to their averages gaining some self confidence again. Like you, I can only admire Ryan, he falls so often, almost always in the same way, yet usually gets back on and keeps trying often picking a point up. No-one can doubt his commitment, but I wish that someone knowledgable would help him with his technique, he deserves to do well, because he is a brave lad and never, ever gives up. Robert Branford is among the best riders in NL, but at present seems a just little off pace, last nights heat 15 excepted. Buxton are capable of so much better, but batterings like they received last night and last week will only make it harder for them to pick their heads up.

It must be very daunting for Buxton's team to appear at Monmore against such an excellent strong side. When the teams were introduced, Buxton received no applause whatsoever, almost complete silence (no booing though, to be fair). Buxton were swamped from the outset although never stopped trying. I felt very sorry for them and such defeats can do nothing to encourage their riders. It does seem that some Buxton riders are in desperate need of mentors and help. Looking around at Monmore one sees schemes and money making efforts to help the riders, photographic sessions with riders, it is almost like intruding upon an extended family's summer party but what's wrong with that? The shame is that other clubs are not enjoying such cameraderie. Some clubs, appear to actively discourage any sort of relationship between the club and supporters. How many Buxton supporters even bothered to go last night?

Presumeably from the same place that you would get them if another two teams were riding in the NL? None of this is Steve's fault and he was very good at that meeting.

Any views on the SCB statement on Scunthorpe "inadvertently" including Steve Jones in their line up for this meeting?

No-one seemed particularly entertained to me. It was the same Buxton team that defeated Stoke a month ago, but it appeared to have no sparkle at all yesterday. Those lads need help and encouragement.

338metres? Cradley fans must surely know the correct answer to this.

Did anyone better Hans Nielsen's time at Dudley Wood rd. of 60.7 secs 18th July 1990?

Oh, the old red herring about riders can do it, I can't, so I am not allowed an opinion? This may be a revelation to promoters and some slavishly adoring spectators alike, but some of us go to see a spectacle, not a whitewash. There is a good article in this weeks Star about watering, dirt and track preparation, it isn't much different from Dean's view.

The fact that Buxton only won two heats out of fifteen and needed to use tacticals twice to get the scoreline to 56-39, a seventeen point loss? Seems embarassing to me.

The meeting was great, two friends who rarely watch speedway came from Doncaster and said they were very pleased they came, an afternoon in the sun and some hard racing. Ashley zipped around in a brilliant exhibition of speedway riding, an absolute joy to watch. Ross Walters and Liam Carr were fast getting to grips with the place and Ryan Blacklock's courageous efforts sadly didn't earn him all the points he deserved. It was a considerably better and more entertaining meeting than the previous night at Loomer rd. which was embarrassing and not entertaining. Personally, I love to see Stoke win, but they absolutely didn't deserve to win yesterday, just as Buxton most certainly didn't deserve to win on Saturday.

No.

When Tim rode for Edinburgh last season he was in some disarray, he had several falls, suffered a great deal of machine damage and was having issues with one of his engines, travelling to Edinburgh every week was not one of his better ideas, but hindsight is wonderful. The machinery issues are resolved, he raised his average last year with Stoke who could not, or would not, fit him into their team plans this season because of that high average, effectively punishing good performance. This does not do anything to encourage young riders. He was in demand early this season as a guest for NL clubs, which does indeed tell me everything I need to know thank you. Why would anyone want to use an unprofessional foreigner in their team who can't even be bothered to clean his bikes between meetings, particularly when an English lad who lives locally has no ride and couldn't really do any worse?

Tim Webster could easily fulfill this role, he has no NL club and would have low travel expenses for home matches. No brainer.

MR. Boocock at any club is good news for that club IMO.

Ritchie Worrall broke the Stoke NL track record on Saturday night, @ 62.2secs. A blistering ride, well done!

As this is still apparently a thread concerning Tim, I understand that Tim asked on 31st March if he could practise at Buxton but was told the fence was still not complete, so he couldn't. I further understand that one of Tim's sponsors was willing to cover Tim's expenses to practise at Buxton had facilities been available. Hearsay of course as I wasn't present.

Thank you for correcting my misapprehensions, I appreciate that.

Tim's away average last season was not a true reflection of his abilities, but his away average appears to be the reason Stoke released him, even though his cma was considerably better at the end of the season than the beginning. As far as I am aware, he wan't offered any help by Stoke to find a new club, he was simply informed he wasn't wanted anymore, a fate that has befallen many other riders over the years, cast out, often by telephone, yet supporters don't think this is selfish? At that time, I believe finding another club wasn't easy and Buxton offered him a place. He was unable to practise at Buxton and overcome his apparent shortcomings at that track and it appears highly likely that he would have reversed his averages this season by having good away scores and rubbish home scores because of the lack of opportunity to ride there apart from racedays. He hasn't, to the best of my knowledge signed for anyone else, so whilst it does leave Mrs. Moss in a predicament, if he had returned scores of four or less all season the supporter base would have been right up his back with armchair criticism and would be abusing Mrs. Moss for ever signing him at all. One other thing BW Double, I read recently that at Buxton's only home match so far this season, they had to water the track several times during the meeting. Strangely, I don't remember this happening, but I do remember the toilets had no water to wash your hands and I was told that there was no water to shower with either. Care to comment on that?