The Voice Of Reason

Chill out son - 'Uncle Bob' Dugard has always been your eight man. So what's the difference?

Plan ahead - create nice long queues and you can 'delay the start'. Turnstile folk to kill loads of time by working to rule; and give change out in two-bob coins!

In the same way that you can establish someone is an utter cretin, by the garbage he types on a Speedway forum?

But justice prevailed in the end. It generally does!

Brilliant performance by Adam tonight. Everyone at Lakeside Speedway Club should be delighted with his progress to date. It can't be long before we have a GB squad rider in our ranks. Well done Adam - you've done yourself, your family and the claret & blue truly proud mate! Let's just hope that the pen-pushers at the SCB in Rugby also take note of tonight's result; and recognise that both Adam, and his club, were basically shafted last Saturday night due to an overly-protective Medical Officer and, maybe more worryingly, a disgrace of a ref that is clearly not qualified to run a meeting, nor make important decisions.

I think you've got a good little track if I'm honest. Mind you, I've hardly been spoilt over the years have I (well, not since Hackney shut anyway).

Really can't see Leicester getting anything whatsoever from this meeting if I'm brutally honest...............unless they bring their Medical Officer!

I believe that Bech is available for the home meeting, but not for the return at Arlington. He's flying home to take part in a 'qualifier meeting' apparently. http://www.lakesidehammers.co/content/?p=7263 So, in effect,........bang goes any chance of an away point.

Unlucky Cov - you gave them a good run for their money and were well worth a point from tonight's tremendous effort. Sadly, your top 2 either gate and score, or else they are trailing at the back looking more like the two NL Reserves; with poor performances actually costing you League points. As a Lakeside supporter, believe me, I know just how you feel at the moment!

10 minutes into the show, and it's already the Chris Holder and Poole show. These two ars*holes really make me want to puke.

Just to clarify TMW that despite a number of contributions on this particular thread, at no time have I inferred that the MO was biased nor bribed. I also do not, in any way whatsoever, doubt his/her integrity; his/her professional ability nor his/her good intent. However, what I do question, particularly as the individual apparently wasn't the regular MO, is their knowledge of Speedway Regulations - and whether the laid down procedures (that I previously outlined) were followed correctly. I would also bring into question whether The Clerk of the Course or, most importantly the Referee, checked this particular point. Both parties undertake regular exams at SCB HQ to ensure that they have a sound knowledge of The Regulations that control our sport. If not, then with all due respect to all parties concerned, we have every right of an appeal in this instance. And, if indeed, that is the intent of our appeal then the SCB will have no option other than to uphold it. If they do not, then basically they will be demonstrating due negligence towards their own regulations. The ramifications of which, as I'm sure you can appreciate, could potentially create utter chaos for the sport as a whole - as some clubs could potentially 'cherry pick' only those aspects of The Regulations that they wish to abide by. The SCB, in order to retain it's integrity (and also potentially the integrity of The ACU) simply has no option in this instance. Moreover, it is also their subsequent responsibility to ensure that clubs (possibly via the BSPA) learn from this issue - in order that this incident does not happen again.

Okay, oh great font of knowledge, we give up. Where exactly is flight MH370?

If anyone looks at the Individual Scorecard from last night's meeting, they'll possibly come to the conclusion that they had!!!!

But surely Raymond, that is not dependent upon the medical advice that was given, but maybe how that assessment was arrived at in the first instance? Speedway Regulations 2014: 8.1.1 Riders must be physically and mentally fit and will be disqualified from participating unless pronounced fit by the Medical Officer (MO). MOs must refer to the ACU licensing requirements for reference and if in any doubt, contact the ACU Medical Panel Secretary. Now, if the MO last night did NOT refer to the aforementioned regulation or follow that exact procedure (and in my experience, they haven't got a clue what this is) then surely we have a right to appeal? Just to add that during my time spent in The Lakeside Pits as a Machine Examiner, I cannot recall ANY instance of medical advice being subject to disagreement; by either the rider nor the management. However, in this instance, there appears to be somewhat more to come out in the wash.

Take your points BUT I don't think anyone knows for certain that Adam's injury was a popped-out shoulder. I think that's only speculation - that some of us have subsequently commented upon. Added to which, even if it was, someone must have popped it back in place because Adam flew out the pits to take part in Heat 9; hitting the 3rd/4th bends very quickly to get to the tapes. The bottom line is that this is Speedway. And whilst we, maybe more than any other club in recent times, are more than conscious of the need for safety (having had to cope with the loss of our Rico) the fact remains that Speedway IS, and always has been, a dangerous sport - and it takes pretty hard guys to make it what it is. If we start adopting a mamby-pamby approach to the sport, or medical staff are fearful of a blame culture emerging, then it really will be the beginning of the end. And the fact remains that if Adam was not fit to ride, then despite his own self-assessment of his condition, our pretty level-headed management would not have allowed him to ride if there was a risk to others; or indeed himself.

TMW - yes, fair point. However, as I said, given Lewis's last ride (too little, too late in many respects) I can fully see Neil Vatcher's logic. I truly believe he made the right call AT THE TIME. And who knows; Richard Lawson may have sneezed or farted in the pits, and was subsequently ruled out of the meeting by the 'wrap them all in cotton wool' brigade.

Seconded Liam. In Lewis Bridger's fourth ride (Heat 13), he really looked a different class - sweeping from third to first around the second bend, then finishing the race about 30 yards in front of Doyley. To this end, giving him the responsibility of Heat 15 was a good call. We know that Lewis is lacking in confidence, and this decision COULD have helped that to grow tremendously if he could repeat the performance. In management, you have to make decisions. Sometimes they work, other times they don't. But it's having the gonads to make those tough calls that make some managers (in any walk of life) different to the 'play-safes'. And with Jason Doyle having been chosen to ride in Heat 15, I can see Neil Vatcher's logic in many ways by choosing Lewis. On hindsight, yes maybe he should have put Richard in. But we all know what hindsight is!

Last night was a farce to be honest. I really don't know the extent of Adam's problem; suffice to say he came back out very quickly, and was at the tapes, ready to race. And, let's be honest about this, most riders have, and always, will do the same if they are able. And to answer points above about adrenaline; other riders' safety, etc. - So are we now saying then that prior to each meeting, every rider should now have a full medical assessment in order to prove themselves 100% fit? - Are we saying that riders should not be riding if they are recovering from a recent injury? Or if, as often happens, with certain limbs in plaster/support, etc. as they could be a danger to others? - Are we saying that if a rider falls off/crashes during any meeting, he should be deemed unfit to ride for the rest of the night in case he suffers delayed concussion, or is in pain, etc? Utter cods wallop. This is Speedway. Now, for the referee - Peter Clarke. In Heat 9, Most referees would have declared that race a restart with all four riders. In particular, bear in mind, it was also the reserves race - so it makes common sense to allow some degree of error from the younger guys new to this game. NOT ONE of the riders, not Clegg, Perry, Morley nor Ellis held their racing line going into the first turn. Ellis was clearly going in too hard, appeared to lock up and went rather spectacularly over his handlebars, collecting the machine on his way down. Meanwhile, Ben Morley, who was BEHIND Adam Ellis clearly tried to lay his bike down to avoid hitting Adam. Mr. Clarke - how in this world, with your obvious knowledge of this sport, could you have decreed Ben Morley to have been the primary cause of that stoppage? It truly beggars belief. If you were not going to give a re-run with all four, then why didn't you exclude Ellis instead of Morley? Because you probably got the two riders confused, and were not man enough to go back on your decision once it was probably pointed out to you. So therefore, we had a re-run with just the two Leicester reserves. If Ben had been allowed to race in Heat 9, a 5-0 would have become (at worst) a 5-1, and Lakeside would have subsequently earned an away point. Well done to Leicester as they don't have a team of superstars - but they all chip away and score points. Congratulations also to Leicester as a Speedway Club. The track improvements have produced a very fair racing circuit conducive to good speedway and overtaking. And it appeared to be a very healthy gate too. I genuinely wish you every success this season. However, through no fault of yours, we WERE robbed of an away point last night due to what appears to be over-zealous medical staff and a referee that made a very poor call. Lionking - with all due respect, a popped out shoulder can be quite easily (albeit painfully) popped back in. It's happened through the ages in countless meetings. I have never known a rider to be ruled as unfit following this procedure. And if you are inferring that we are poor losers, I'd have to strongly disagree with that statement. Doubt it? Take a look back as recently as last season. Many of us feel we let Poole and Kings Lynn get away with utterly pathetic excuses of why they didn't want to ride against us - due to being under-strength. On both occasions, we took it on the chin. I can appreciate anyone not liking our track, facilities or other aspects of our club. But one thing I will not agree with is us being deemed 'bad losers'. And nobody that I have spoken to perceives you as being a 'little club', here to prop up the rest. And whilst you are more than welcome in The Elite League, I would suggest that you do some homework and learn a little about your competition before making such crass, Ill-founded remarks about us not playing this game with a straight bat; or considering others as scapegoats. We treat ALL competition with respect - both ON and OFF the track; rider or supporter. Notwithstanding this, as a direct result of errors last night, we lost (what could be at the end of the season) a very important away point. We have, as a Club, EVERY RIGHT to appeal decisions we feel were made in poor judgement. Your Club has exactly those same rights. Don't take it personally as these complaints are not being aimed at Leicester Speedway Club; rather at officials who clearly do not recognise how to carry out their duties in a responsible, and fair, manner.

As far as I'm aware, none of our 1-5 have ridden here before; so it may take at least a ride before they dial into the circuit. We will desperately need our 'gating-boots' on, as ably demonstrated a fortnight ago at Perry Barr. Also, we need another excellent effort from Lewis Bridger tonight. Wouldn't like to call it either way - suffice to say I'm looking forward to it. What's the weather like in Leicester at the mo? In Nuneaton, it's gone very overcast with heavy cloud.

Get a life. As Jon Cook stated last season "The Elite League cannot be held to ransom by foreign mercenaries". And, in my book, this pleb absolutely epitomises Jon's statement.

£40 ON the books. 'Cash in hand' back-handers OFF the books. Seriously, what world do you live in pal?

Quote of the year so far mate. If we re-sign Davey Watt, then I truly give up. He clearly doesn't, in his true 'heart of hearts' want to be with us. We are simply a financial 'means to an end'. I truly despair.

Come come now gentlemen. Such negativity from many about Poole's two Brits. After all, let's not forget that they are in the safe hands of a promotion that have capably demonstrated how they forever nurture and develop home-grown talent; and a manager who truly knows how to get the very best results from British riders. Latvians may disagree of course.

What I find so incredulous within the article is how Ford is trying to take credit for Kyle's improvement last season, as a direct result of him being dropped by the Poole Promotion. Another smoke-screen from 'the holier than thou' duo to seemingly justify their error of judgement. Best of luck Kyle in your future career. Let's hope that you go from strength to strength - and that you develop your skills under a promotion where you are treated as a human-being..........NOT as a commodity.

Going to be brutally honest here - but we've heard this before. And Lewis has been around in this sport long enough now to have demonstrated this apparent 'potential' - that everyone always seems to harp on about. At the end of the day, there's an old saying that is pretty much true. "Actions speak louder than words". I'd be more than happy for Lewis to make me eat mine but, if I'm brutally honest, I think it will be yet another season of mediocrity.