Grand Central

If the news from the South Coast' s premier news source is to believed then Darcy has got a sentence that includes a ten month ban. It is ALWAYS the case that bans if this type start from the beginning of his suspension. And completely right they do do. But the single most important point that a established is that the FIM Protocols governing the testing procedure MUST have been found to be in order. We should all be thankful for that.

In most of the other, rather similar, cases I have seen online it would appear that the rider has been given advance warning of the judgement prior to the public being told via an official FIM Press Release. I wonder if Darcy's rather enigmatic twitter post today would indicate that he has heard something of his fate? A ban extending into this coming season but not the whole year would seem likely, Would it not?

At some point in the past someone had the 'bright' idea of introducing the 'Like' button on forums such as this. Allowing people to express their agreement and acknowledge their 'likingness' of a post. Thereby not cluttering the whole board up with post after post just saying 'Spot-on', 'Yes' or 'LOL'. I think this forum could be helped by having two alternate buttons replacing the 'Like' button. Simply 'AGREE' or 'DISAGREE'. This may help maintain the level of discourse and temper on the board if all one did to register dissent was click DISAGREE. Instead of having to make that point time and again with the same posters who repeat 'disagreeable' points.

I think your memory may be playing the odd trick... or at least being very selective. Ivan Mauger actually had a very good attendance at Kings Lynn for most of his career. From 1966 to 1979 he missed just ONE single British League match for his club of the time - 13 out of 14 he WAS there. His missing match was in 1973 when he was on a 'strike' against starting procedures. In the same period of time he appeared in all of his clubs KO Cup fixtures at Kings Lynn and numerous Pride of the East, Supporters Trophy and Littlechild Trophy. It was only in 1980 and 1981 that he missed the two Hull BL fixtures at Kings Lynn; even then he did show up for the 1980 KO fixture. Kings Lynn fans cannot really say they were ever 'deprived' of seeing Ivan Mauger at his best because of any 'Saturdaynightitis' ... that pretty much for sure.

What'sa matta you, hey!

I'd prefer one chorus of Joe Dolce's 1981 hit, especially for gustix. 'Shaddap You Face' ALL together now ! .

So ... Kelvin says that Ward was bullied into his TV interview in Latvia. Phil says that he wasn't even coerced, that in fact, it was his advisers who 'advised' him to do it. You can see why this entire issue is so lost in the limbo between truth and total fiction. Two respected figures Two opposing views on a (sort of) 'factual' matter. Makes it difficult for the rest of us to 'know' anything of what really is going on.

Many people - me included - have, over the years, taken the rather easy option of 'having a pop' at the Star. Sometimes it has been just a bit too much fun to resist such an 'open goal'. They have have made it just too easy sometimes. But this winter their performance has been really rather weird. They have produced a whole range of genuinely interesting historical articles, actually far better than those in publications dedicated to nostalgia. In addition, the Star has produced some really informative features and interviews on contemporary figures of real merit. All real advances on previous winter fare. But all that has to contrasted with the truly awful coverage of the Darcy Ward issue. That has been shameful. I am always struck by the fact that the 'Darcy weekly love-in' never carries a byline. Just about every other item (except the Cradley articles written by Nige) carry an attribution. But never the nauseating offerings that come littered with Muddlo musings. I wonder why?

I get the Star online now as it easier to skip past the items quoting Neil Middleditch. But I was fair shocked at the 'IZAL' nature of the parchment used for 'Classic' this time.

I had to read that more than once to make sure. TUCKS ... Not what I originally thought I read.

Can I commend you. That is the most salient, enlightening and downright fascinating post you have contributed. On any thread. Ever. Well done!

It's up there with all the other classics ... 'With all due respect ...' 'I'm not racist, but.....' 'Some of my best friends are gay ...' All signposts that say KEEP WELL CLEAR ... In NEON on their forehead.

If my memory serves me right Graham 'Turnip' Taylor managed to only lose one out his first twenty three games in charge of the England Football team. But he was still totally out his depth in the job. And found sadly wanting when it mattered Any similarity to Muddlo is entirely intentional.

I don't know what happened to a post that I put up earlier. No one has told me why it has been removed. So If, perchance, it was inappropriate I have altered it to reduce any offence that may have been perceived.

All the figures in the CHB do relate to ALL official matches (ie League and Cup) and for most years and most teams they are correct. But for some reason they are all shot to pieces for 1965 on the rides column; all the other columns on matches points and bonus seem correct. But of course the CMA for 1965 are consequently wrong for just about every rider in every team ... Except, for some bizarre reason, Swindon where the data for all columns including rides seems spot on. Going back to 1965 and Bryan Seery ... the concept of Calculated Match Averages was pretty unheard of. His statistics that accompanied the end of Season Track Reviews in 1965 only included a match average for each rider; with no reference to rides taken. CMAs did not appear until his reviews of the 1966 season. And it was only when the 1967 season got into swing that his regular weekly column in the Star first had the weekly CMA tables. The problem with the CHB is one to ask Peter Oakes I suppose not Bryan Seery. It would seem that this is an aberration of that particular book as all the statistics Oakes used the 'Whos Who of World Speedway ' in 1976 have the correct 'rides' figures for each rider who rode in 1965. Mind you ... If you are speaking to Peter Oakes an enquiry into the utter 'Bull-rubbish' he wrote in the Daily Star concerning the Darcy Ward breath test matter is more the one I would want answered. But that is not the backtrack/classic era!

Corrected for accuracy.

I thought the Gustix parody on the Bournemouth Daily Echo site was amusing enough. But yet again, if proof were ever needed. The genuine article surpasses all for hilarity.

I think you will find that the guy quoted in the article was not actually directly involved in the Darcy Ward case. A little bit of journalistic Inexactitude will be seen to have been at work here. And the work of google translate could be to blame also. Lars Nilsson is the lawyer representing SVEMO on the FIM Judiciary panel (CJI) from which the judges of individual cases are chosen by the panel's director. There are many members of that panel all awaiting their call. Contrary to what many people believe cases like this are rarely heard by a committee of judges. Most (CDI) court cases are actually heard by a single judge alone. That has been the case for the last couple of years in even the most high profile of cases. The more likely truth is that Mr Nilsson, being the Swedish guy on the eligible panel (but not actually directly involved in this case) who knows the system perfectly has chosen to answer a Swedish journalist's questions about procedure only. And has taken every care to NOT talk about the Ward case at all. As is correct.

Brough is completely correct. The averages for all teams for 1965 listed in the Complete History Book are total bunkum. The rides given are totally wrong ... in some cases they are way out.

I am totally unqualified to say either way. I would just hope that the FIM followed the correct protocols in the appointment. Just in the same way as they would for anti doping personnel in Daugavpils. And that mere attendance of a number of meetings was not the sole criterion. I'm reminded of my mad-cap sister-in-law who has seen Elton John perform live at least 50 times. It doesn't really matter how often she has been in the front row of the stalls at his concerts. Her rendition of 'Candle in the wind' could strip paint.

You are right. Despite all the mood music from the Ward camp on incorrect protocols and off duty Policeman; the spoutings of Middleditch and the Daily Star Exclusives. It is entirely possible that he did not raise this at all come 'his day in court'. He may well have said 'I am banged to rights, Guv.... Do your worst' And just left it that. We still have up to thirty odd days to find out anything concrete. .

Apparently so.

I just wonder which side of the FIM we know about is the MOST credible. Is it the side that appoints Race Directors Ad Hoc from available past editors of magazines. Or The one that follows due process to arrive at a judgement in cases of law that require proper and reasonable consideration. Its a difficult one isn't it?

Maybe, But I think he would have had more chance of that if he had come clean straight away. And not contested the charge. A 'not guilty' plea on the basis of blaming the FIM procedures may not be so good for him if/when found guilty.

.Well, it would certainly give Speedway Star a problem or two. How could they print the weekly 'Darcy Ward Fan Club' newsletter; complete with quotes from illustrious sycophants. If it conflicted with the BSPA party line and 'The World According to befuddled Alex'. .