E I Addio

Very true Sid, and it is to Maugers credit than he acknowledged that if it wasn't for Mirac and Briggo , who were a few years older , Ivan himself doesn't think he would have got where he did. I don't suppose we'll ever see the like of them again.

If true all speedway fans should be fuming because it highlights once again we have a so called governing body that dosnt know whether it’s on its base or its apex and hasn’t got a clue what it’s doing. This situation would just about be acceptable if it were sorted within a week of the AGM but to dither around for three months in each case puts it beyond farce.

When it was free, which from memory was around 2006/7 people were coming from all over the country, not just Poole , but from places like Wolverhampton, who linked it in with a shopping trip. No way fans like that would ordinarily come down for a match that didn’t involve their home team. And, it has to be said Poole, even in 2006 were more of a draw than most

The fact remains that the BSPA confirmed in writing the averages the riders could be signed on, and Lakeside were entitled to rely on that letter. Then along comes the SCB and says the BSPA letter is not worth the paper it's printed on. Not difficult to work out why the sport is in a mess is it ?

The rule kus not illegal unless and until it is tested in the courts. The general opinion is that it very likely would be deemed illegal but as long as both sides consent to the situation there is no problem. It seems to me therefore, that the real issue therefore is whether anyone is prepared to invest the time and money fighting such a case.

I am just thinking aloud here , but let’s take the scenario you suggest, and promoter A signs a rider out of contract who is an asset of promoter B . What happens next ? Step one, can the BSPA refuse to sanction promoter A’s team, in which case he can’t compete without signing someone else ? That would mean it’s pointless signing the rider in the first place. If not, what would be the next step ? Presumably litigation, but the downside of that is that is would take probably two years and a lot of money the get to court . Next question. what would promoter B sue for ? Presimably his only loss would be for loan fees. I dont know what a seasons loan fee amounts to but if it is less than about £5000 it would probably go to the small claims court with no costs being awarded so employing lawyers would probably cost more than the amount involved. Given the dire state of speedways finances would any promoter really want to to take such a case on ? Would any rider be bothered to when he can get another job easy enough? These are thoughts that I have pondered over for a few years now, not saying I am right but it seems to me that given the state of speedways finances, it seems to me that nobody is likely to have the time, money or inclination to do anything other than trundle along* in the same old way. Anyone else have thoughts on the practicality of the situation?

They haven't been allowed to do anything yet because neither Lakeside nor any other team has yet been approved.

I think you can take it as read that there will be not Thursday race nights. The whole reason Cook had to decline the Premier League was because mid week race nights don't pay. Friday/Saturday have been the only viable race nights for years, and that's what it seems it will be.

What’s going on with Holder these days ? A couple of years ago I would have said Poole was in his DNA but he seem# to have lost his way now, in more ways than one. Has Darcey s injury and Dave Watts retirement got. something to do with it , being without his mates.? Or would I be wrong to suggest th3 younger Holder is a package of trouble and causing problems ?

It’s quite amazing that Philip Rising tells us there are “many” rules that contradict one another but neither he nor anyone else can name them.

There have always been talented 19/20 year olds down the years, many of them travelled halfway round the world on their own to be here. Some went on to become World Champions some never quite fulfilled their early promise. As far as I can recall I don’t think a single one of them had their mother causing trouble wherever they went. The jury is still out on Lambert. maybe he will go on to be genuine world class, maybe he will merely be very good but the sooner he detaches himself from that dreadful woman’s apron strings the better.

Finishing on the rostrum in 8 consecutive World Finals does not, of itself prove outstanding professionalism . Fundin had 12 or. 13 consecutive rostrum finishes and far more than Mauger in total but that is is not proof of greater professionalism. Mauger didn't suddenly come along and drag a rough and ready sport out of the dark ages. He was part of an ongoing cycle of development. What Mauger did was to take ideas that were already developing and take them a stage futher, just as others took Maugers ideas and developed them further. Mauger was the best rider of his generation, assuming you class Briggs , Fundin and Moore in an earlier generation, and the top Danes in a later generation. I dont think you can put it more precisely than that.

What exactly was Mauger doing that Ronnie Moore wasn't doing in principle 10 years earlier and or that Tommy Price wasn't doing before Moore even arrived here ?

There are quite a few riders who didn't exactly think it was a bundle of laughs riding on the same track as Fundin !

Perhaps it’s horses for courses though. Briggs form was more erratic than Fundin (or Mauger for that matter ) but when he was on form and really had his head in the right place he was IMO completely unbeatable. You only have to look at the footage of his World Final win in Sweden in ‘64 or ‘66 (cant remember which ) when it rained furiously throughout and there was more sawdust on the track than shale.Everybody else was all over the place but Briggo waltzed home as if it was perfect conditions. The other thing to remember is that in the Briggs /Fundin era they didn’t earn the money they get now and towards the latter half of each career they both had outside interests which must have been a distraction, and with the financial incentive of the modern sport they both may well have ridden longer with undivided attention and achieved even more than they did. Finally, as I have said before Ivan Maugers words : If there was no Barry Briggs there would have been no Ivan Mauger. What he meant was to be World Champion he had to study everything Briggs did and build on it, just as Olsen and later generations took Mauger as their example and built on that, so it’s really a bit futile to put one against another from different eras.

Hope not. Paul is ok as a rider and a competent mechanic but too hot headed IMO for TM

Its confirmed in Speedway Star that Scott Nicolls had agreed terms with Lakeside before being told he wasn't allowed to ride in the CL. So just to be clear, Lakeside were not allowed to sign a rider that finished last season on a PL average of 7.78 , but it was ok to sign a rider that finished on an average of 8.87. Anyone fancy having a go at explaining the logic behind that ?

No mention of Kelvin coming back. I hope I 'm not reading too much into the fact that he hasn't been mentioned but he has a big role to play especially with the younger riders. . I hope Ken Driscoll is back doing the track next year. A lot of riders were praising his track prep last year .

Spot on its horses for courses. Personally I never really liked National League racing last year but some enjoy it so I don't see why others feel the need to knock it, If people don't like the racing at any track nobody is forcing them to pay to go and watch. BTW, admission for next year set at £17 for those that are interested.

If true it's no different to Glasgow trumping Lakeside's deal to buy Richard Lawson a few years ago. Stuart Douglas has always run a very tight ship financially, so Morris would have been offered a fair deal but it wouldn't have been over the odds. Also, in Morris' case he knows Stanstead is only 40 minutes away so far easier and more convenient for a flight Poland. That is exactly the point. It's not at all clear what this information could not be given straight after the AGM . The promoters know the rule so there seems to be no reason why if can't be published.

The rules haven't been published yet so nobody, except the promoters know for sure how the averages will be calculated. I stand to be corrected, as I can't remember the actual wording but I think at least one, possibly two of the young Brits will get 2.5% reduction. Good team though. Not sure if it will set the world alight on the road but capable of picking up points here and there with a fortress at home. Solid top two in Lawson and Morris, and decent reserves, with Zak, Ben and Max probably swapping all swapping places at reserve at various times. Best thing for me, after last years disaster, is that in heat two we won't be pencilling in 1-5 against before the tapes even go up, in fact there should be quite a few occasions where the resrves carry the match.

Probably because Speedwáy Star comes out on Thursday and the announcement will give the club some wide publicity. That may indicate that it may be a relatively big signing , although that's just my guess.

I don't know where you got that from. All that was said by Jon Cook at the end of season meeting with the fans was that mid week meetings never were financially viable and the Sunday meetings this year were financially disastrous, so that narrows it down but nothing was said about Saturday being preferred over Friday. When you consider that Nick Morris for one will be wanting to get off to Poland, and Zak and Adam if they come will have continental commitments I doubt whether there will be many Saturdays

I take your point but the fact is there will be something like 40+ riders doubling up/down next season now that most of the foreign imports have gone. We simply don't have enough riders to go round unless we reduce the number of tracks,mAnd nobody wants to see that.

I doubt if there is a more loyal servant of British Speedwáy than Scott. If they keep him out and let his peers in it will be one of shoddiest pieces of gross mismanagement this lot have ever been involved in