TheReturn

Because it is a four ride match setup for the SWC, so we still need a reserve. It allows each rider to have four races within 20 races (less if a reserve is used). Lets be honest, right now the only teams capable of winning the SWC would be Poland, Aussies and Sweden.

But non competitive teams have no place in the final. A world cup should mean seeing four riders race, not three (if a rider is injured and no reserves allowed). It's really up to other nations to raise their game to compete with the best, not a case of limiting the best so others can compete.

I remember that. It was just after Johno joined Long Eaton from Sheffield, he was still a struggling Aussie at that point at reserve and getting just a handful of points but Long Eaton fans really took to him because he really raced and gave it 100%. If I recall it was a racing accident, I think Johno's fault, but Blackburn just went for him, I think the accident happened on the second bend. Blackburn walked back to the pits and saw Johno at the pit gate on turn three and started hitting him I think. I don't see how you can. It will always go on, it shouldn't but unless you can 100% prove a riders intent was to do it, I don't see how we can stop it.

I have requoted the question from your earlier post. Yep, that's the same incident. It all started the night before at Long Eaton, I think it was the penultimate race (I can't remember fully), Robert (Nagy) was involved in a great race with Matousek and Robert beat him in a hard, but fair race. I think it was clear Matousek was not happy then. The following night the two finally met on track midway through the meeting, the score was close. As they lined up at the tapes I said to my friend the angle Matousek's bike was pointing looked a bit strange, and I actually started to get a little anxious before tapes went up, you could almost see what was coming. Actually I just assumed it would be a good 'fencing', what happened was far worse, the two collided entering the first bend, somehow Robert ended up on the floor against the fence and way in front of Matousek, and then Matousek appeared to just go straight on over Robert. I am sure he could have taken another route into the fence myself. The worse crash I have ever seen. There was talk of eye sockets being badly damaged, and an awful scene I am told. The ambulance was on track for a long time. Steve Johno after walking over to check on Robert on track suddenly sprinted back to the pits (on turn 4) and went straight after Matousek, the two had to be separated if memory serves. The worse part in the re-run, a good hour or more later, Matousek won it, then came around the track celebrating. So Nicki's hard riding style is nothing more than hard riding, it is far from dangerous as others have called it by comparison.

I know there is some 'debate' about what fencing means (well according to one back tracker) but the one incident that sticks in my mind was at Sheffield between Matousek and Nagy. According to the referee that night it was not deliberate because Matousek was not excluded from the re-run. Those Long Eaton fans there that night and who had been at Station Road the night before when the two clashed would have a different view on the exclusion. Was it deliberate, only one man knows but I know what I think.

Indeed, poor little Greg. I suppose the Star will be painting him as the victim this week.

He should not accept a commentating job then if he is not able to be impartial.

I think it was a bit like Gollob in his early days when Boyce punched him. He does have a reputation, so most incidents he is involved in is perhaps nothing more than 50/50 in most cases but his reputation meant people put blame on him, people always think 'oh Nicki again, must be his fault'.

I suspect most riders are guilty of it multiple times per season when you consider how many races they all do, all over the world.

I would agree with that. Nicki does push it more than most, but the fact is most riders are guilty, with the odd exception of Greg who does not know how to pass (joke). So all the other riders slagging Nicki off I find incredible.

Indeed, and many of the same people who slag off Nicki for his hard racing, seem to think Darcy is 'little Mr Innocent' who is misunderstood and should be given a break.

Judging by those that post on riders Twitter feeds, 'sheep' would be a good word for many.

You are joking? That's not a good example to prove Nicki is worse than others. Nicki did nothing worse than what Zagar did to him on that second bend, if anything Zagar is flipping is wheel at Nicki more from the end of the first straight throughout the race!

Well blow me, my understanding of the term fencing was wrong all these years, I was of the opinion it meant take a rider wider and wider leaving them no room and no time to shut off. Or maybe I was right and someone is just back tracking on their earlier comment.

There is another more relevant post somewhere on the thread that tells a different story.

FFS this is hard work... this is a forum, by definition what we write is 99% based on our own opinion. Would you like me to write (IMO) after everything I write? Would that satisfy you?

Yes, we got off topic a little bit with crashes, but the SWC is a good example of exciting racing, riders throwing their bikes at each other, hard riding with reputations ignored, and like someone else pointed out on the thread, Greg could not handle it, being overtaken (as was Nicki). That event was widely deemed one of the best ever meetings seen for many years, we got lucky with so few crashes despite the hard racing but I would suggest some of those moves in the SWC were far harder than what Nicki did to Greg, and people loved the meeting.

I would agree with all of those except Leigh Adams.

You really are clutching at straws now. Would the words 'video best seller' by the production company not suggest a fact that people do like looking at crashes?

Fair enough you don't. but I would hazard a guess many do, if that was not the case then for years the Crashes and Cock Up video would not have been a video best seller!

Nobody wants injuries, but deep down I think fans do like to see crashes. Yes it is perverse, but deep down we like the thrill of it (provided they all get up).

If you had 16 riders like Greg in every GP would you be excited? I know I wouldn't. If there were 16 riders like Nicki in every GP, who to borrow Pearson's saying 'throwing their bikes at each other', would you not be excited to see what happens? I know I would.

I doubt it, he will be too busy looking at his World Championship trophy's. I doubt many top sportsman give two hoots about how their rivals viewed them. Look at Lewis in F1, I get the impression he is not the most popular F1 driver but I don't think it bothers him at all.

It amazes me he is equally completely exonerated for his actions by the vast majority. What he did post race and 24 hours is unprofessional and yet the vast majority seem happy to let him go unpunished and instead put the blame on the other rider.

Don't you know, it's all Nicki's fault... apparently. I was not planning to go to Cardiff due to my own impending John o Groats to Lands's End cycle ride, but I am tempted to go simply to cheer loudly for Nicki, even if I am the only one doing so!