Grand Central

So, in Latvia ... I imagine that the equipment needed for the testing of such low levels at the roadside would have to be accurate, well maintained and well-calibrated. I would also think that it would be administered by well trained and acredited Police Officers who could be relied upon to know, better than anyone, how to perform such testing correctly. I do hope that the Speedway authorities made use of this expertise at the Latvian GP. Perhaps one of these Police officers, who was off duty, could have been employed?

Quite right. Tsunami and Starman have the bizarre logic that an 'unlawful' suspension, that would generate a compensation claim, is best handled by dragging out the length of the suspension as long as possible so that the claim would be much bigger than needed. Odd thinking. The North-South divide is ended. And we have two very strange bedfellows.

Bans never work like that. They operate continuously from the date he was first suspended.

Using your, rather unusual criteria, the top two look worthy of their place. But Nielsen in 1989 is a contender as already stated. But then surely Jan O in 91 merits a slot? A tyre width either way, in a couple of races, in 81 and Brucey may not even have won.

Premier IS wrong. But, it is the way it is. True.

I want to criticise a post NOT a Poster. And do not want to be misunderstood or misrepresented. .You have damned yourself here. The first part of your sentence makes it perfectly clear that others are ridiculing your comments. So they ARE attacking your post not you as the poster. The fact that you seem confused in that distinction is not THEIR fault. So please stop attacking them. .

I find it comical how people are taking others to task for 'winding up' Sydney. The guy was a spring, coiled as tight as possible by his own hand. And one of those that has the 'brass neck' to join this rebuke Is, himself, the greatest 'wind up merchant' on the forum. Can you imagine the cheer of relief all around the Frying Pan in 1950. When news spread that he had got his call up papers. Two years of respite .. Halcyon days, indeed. .

We should all be indebted to posts like this. In a secular world it gives me great belief in the power of redemption. The lame will walk again. And the blind will see. Saints preserve us. Darcy has visited a Gym.

I imagine he does not want to devalue it Mickey Mouse, Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela could all sign up. But any 'Gustix' signature would render it laughable.

Your concerns are reasonable. But as Krsko is in Slovenia the point about Polish Speedway is a little off target. What I find disturbing is the depths to which posters are stooping to defend Darcy. It is not in the lads interest at all. Only rational argument in the tribunal by his Legal team will assist him now. Public expressions of grotesque sycophancy; or tales that include exaggeration, untruth and fantasy will never aid him in his case. It just reduces the poster to the level of idiocy. And ultimately Darcy gets tarnished even more.

Because he remains suspended. Which is just as effective as a ban. I suppose.

That does seem correct. No real need to.I just dont think the judicial side of the FIM see any big deal in either this case or the delays. To the lawyers this is quite normal behaviour. It is only 'us' on the outside, and the sort of FIM chap that would even speak to Philip Rising, who contribute to the feeling that the 'delay' is unusual. Not the lawyers.

Good grief! Have you even been following this debate? How can you come out with such ill informed rubbish after all this discussion. There were NO suspicions about Ward. He was tested along with the others drawn 'out of the hat'. He was the ONLY person of those tested to be 'positive' .. so how could the 'negatives' tested have 'contaminated' it for a guy who admitted drinking the night before?

Absolutely. I can't think of another recent case where a young fellow has been let down more by the older heads that surround him. As a kid he should have had a sound arse-spanking when he did wrong. And then been educated as to how, and why, he should 'do the right thing'. As it is, the 'grown ups' who throng around him seem to keep telling him he is 'special' so the usual rules don't apply to him. I think he may just be a bit too thick to learn these things for himself and needs just someone, anyone, with a three-digit IQ to assist. As yet I don't think he has met one. .

Now I am really starting to feel sorry for Darcy. First we have the terminally bewildered starting up a facebook page. A future (?) World Champion is reduced to being a charity case. How terribly demeaning. Then, horror of horrors, The lead defence council makes himself known. His Honour, The Gustix QC comes to the bar. Wig and all. With people like this in his corner the poor guy is going down for a very long stretch, indeed. .

Which is, frankly, the same place we have been since we started all this. I still feel that Darcy is playing a high stakes game. Pleading not guilty and basing everything on a technicality to get off. That tactic could lead to the heaviest penalty if he loses. An early guilty plea combined with good mitigation and the whole thing could have been over by now. With him back in action by March Just a thought.

I have no idea about this case. You may know more. But there have been many cases heard in the last few years by the FIM where it has been just one single judge sitting alone.

Really? ... Not so sure that it looks that way at all to me. It sounds more that the 'friends of Darcy' are trying to 'talk up' a bit of a propaganda war; in the (probably) mistaken belief that the FIM are listening. I think the truth is that the FIM judicial process is so far removed from the personalities mentioned here that they are of no import whatsoever.. Most cases seem to be dealt with by a single lawyer from the FIM panel in a hotel somewhere in Europe who have next to no knowledge of anyone in the sport or even motorsport. They just do seem to genuinely judge the facts. I seriously doubt whether they would care one jot about other considerations as they do not read The Daily Star, Speedway Star, the Poole Echo or even the BSF! I do think that Darcy will get his justice; whatever that may be. The rest is just flim flam.

I thought from the manner of some posts today. That silliness was the only currency of value here.

.Careful Norbold, you are in danger of using too much intelligent thought on this matter. It will only be held against you. .

It makes me smile to think that the whole of the FIM apparatus on the day. The jury, the referee, the Race Director; everyone, in fact, took the word of a cack-handed imbecile with dodgy testing equipment and almost jumped at the chance of removing the star attraction from the series just an hour before the meeting. What odd behaviour on their part when his lack of qualifications now seems so obvious to so many. I, for one, am eternally grateful to the Daily Star for unearthing such a travesty

Oh dear, we'll leave it at that then

That has to be one of the oddest replies you have ever made. Just re read it and think how daft it really sounds.

Another day ... Another reason for knickers to get twisted. I think we should remember that this is an article in the Daily Star - that revered journal of record - that offers no new information, and contains no attributed comment or quote. It could easily have been written two or three months ago. Must have been a quiet Christmas for PO, methinks.

I thought most people who officiated at Speedway meetings were 'off duty' from their day job. It is difficult to think of anyone better qualified to do a breath test than a Police Officer. Surely? .