foamfence

I couldn't imagine them having Suchanek back after all the negative remarks that B Havelock made about him. Anyone but Hall please.

You are right. I got the engines wrong. I did see a very early picture of Ron Johnson on a Douglas.

Yes there were definitely less serious injuries then and no air fences either.

I remember reading that if you rode four 2 valve Jawa's down a quarter mile drag strip, they would all be within a few feet of each other. I think it was Ivan Mauger who said it. It would seem that technology hasn't made things easier.

I believe Wal rode a Douglas. They had an engine with one forward and one backward horizontal cylinders. There were also some riders using Rudge 4 valve engines, although it was several decades before the Neil Street 4 valves came into being.

It also coincided with shallower tread tyres and slicker tracks. Everything is a speed factor. The development of upright engines wouldn't have been exactly the same because they can't be ridden in exactly the same manner.

Yes it was. The main problem was carburettors. the early laydowns would flood and backfire in mid corner. Uprights weren't necessarily easier to ride but the different riding technique probably meant that the rider was further forward on the bike and shut-off more entering the turns. The first laydown that I ever saw was ridden by Martin Hagon, Barry Briggs used to bring one to Odsal for Kelvin Tatum to practice with and test ride, after meetings.

Exactly! Get all three points up and then call for a referees inspection.

What a surprise, very well done Bears!

I expect Diamonds to thrash the very weak Bears side. Redcar will have the opportunity to strengthen soon, meanwhile they are easy meat.

It won't be an upright or cheaper than existing engines though. F2 could yet be the saviour.

I don't think there's anything to stop any team riding in any country, providing it is approved by the local ruling authority (wasn't there a foreign side in one of the lower Polish leagues?) Having said that, If Scotland votes for independence it can **** off as far as I'm concerned.

We should have Nigel and Kelvin running it, then we'd have "proper speedway."

It's said that most overseas track material is more porous and therefore better draining. There have been mixed opinions on track covers, but I'm sure the right ones could help. The other problem is stadium access, some promoters are severely restricted on their time allowed in the stadium. Rain-off's are bad news as is anything else which causes a late postponement.

So do you expect people to pay up and accept mediocrity? How long is the patience expected to last?

I don't usually enjoy meetings at Birmingham but it's certainly not the worst track in the world. I did find a few points of interest, one being the sad sight of Tai Woffinden being continually beaten by riders who really shouldn't get near him. The other being the obvious progress that some Draft riders are making already, well done Joe Jacobs and Paul Starke in particular.

There are too many tried and failed contenders. I would pick a few riders who are improving and young enough to have a lengthy future. I would stick with them for maybe three years, I would have group training sessions particularly on the types of track that they are likely to come across. Currently they just pick the form riders, but many of them have little or no experience of riding abroad or even with each other. We KNOW that we aren't going to win it, so why not use it as a training ground, things can't get any worse?

Sadly, Kennett hasn't been anything like the same since it was discovered that he was using illegally modified silencers. Really he's a much better rider than Covatti but can he reverse his downward spiral?

I agree with your points about the NL. It IS meant to be a development league but Dudley/Cradley in particular have gone too far, they should either be in the PL or out. I disagree with your points about the Elite League, personally I would prefer one big league but if we keep the EL it still has to run within the available finances. I like the Draft, there are already three or four riders who look like future main body members. I too have watched teams packed with international stars but the racing was usually just as predictable if not more so, and big names alone don't attract me. Other countries while starting from higher figures than us, are going the same way, this weeks Speedway Star had a report where most Swedish clubs are running at a loss. Even Poland is developing a reputation for late or missing payments, yet another rider there was featured this week after payment disputes with his former club (did you see the half empty stadium at the last GP). I don't know what the answers are (I'm not alone in that)but further bankrupting clubs isn't the answer, neither is gambling on riders who currently ask more per meeting than the clubs are paying to a full team.

Someone who can't spell?

Which is the Russian bloke?

That would have been my choice of those left available. Seems to be making good progress.

Clutching at straws.

I agree, the problem was that there wasn't a complete list to choose from at the time. I would have the full list available for future seasons and then make clubs stick with their choice. Unless the rider is injured or requests being stood down.

Flu.