steve roberts

Like Kelly Moran he could have achieved so much more. He could easily have become a multi World Champion but having said that Michael won so much during a relatively short career and not many can say that!

I saw him ride as a fifteen year old against Colin Richardson (also 15) at Cowley back in 1974 and Colin beat him, if I recall, twice. However as we know Michael went on to scale great heights whereas Richardson after showing great potential (including winning the National League Riders Championship) his career somewhat stagnated and he retired prematurely (1985?)

Unfortunately there are some on here who have a problem accepting somebody else's opinions. Afteral public forums are all about opinions and discussions on same. Back to the question in hand Ian Thomas often quoted that during his tenure as England Mananger he was paired with Eric Boocock which made the perfect choice. Ian covered the rules and/or arrangements whilst Eric the technical issues with machinery etc...but of course that was during the days when England had a national team competing in the various disciplines that international speedway offered back then...team (including test matches) and pairs events as well as individual. Does Team GB (or whatever they're referred to as now) really need a team manager nowadays?

Of course I was forgetting that Lee won two consecutive British Finals when it was a meeting hard fought and won with so many great riders competing.

I'd agree but the Eastern bloc tracks did present problems during the late sixties and early seventies and were somewhat of an unknown quantity and it took a while for western riders to adapt to not only track conditions but the mindset...although Ivan conquered that as he did most things thrown at him! Riders nowadays, of course, ride regularly in foreign leagues and tracks and/or conditions abroad no longer present the problems that they once did. Good debate!

Fair point alhough he did achieve maximums in three different countries...Poland which was always regarded as a graveyard to British riders back then and the Poles were notoriously fast in their own back yard but were on the decline by then to be fair.

Having read interviews with Peter down the years he makes a case that he could have well won three on the trot. !975 when some idiot was let loose with a hose at Wembley...1978 is a bit more debatable as he didn't qualify for the Final having missed out at the British Final (Iwas there cheering on Gordon Kennett!) when his fuel was allegedly tampered with...great thing discussing speedway. Full of 'ifs' and 'buts'.

Fair comments Sid. I base Collins higher due to his involvement in many of England's successes at Pairs and Team levels during the seventies. I saw Lee's first England cap at White City when England took on the Rest of the World...how things have changed that no one nation could stand up to England back then!

I recall many years ago now when he was riding for Poole and he came up to the third bend terracing to chat to some Poole fans (he wasn't riding as he was injured if I remember) and in front of the Cowley faithfull began slagging us off! As you can imagine the reaction he got!

Both excellent reads too!

Svein was a member of 'The Rebels' at Cowley during my first season spectating. I was quite affected by his death although he had moved on from Oxford by then. May he RIP and will always be remembered.

From the riders I have seen from that list my list would be: 1. Collins 2. Lee 3. Loram. 4. Havelock...of those that I didn't see the one rider I wish I had was Peter Craven. Anybody who could circumnavigate Cowley at 63 secs when the average time during that period was 67 secs had to be someone special.

Presumeably one would be wearing a white helmet colour and the other yellow?

I knew what you were implying...a case of some being pedantic in their observations. If I come across the book on the shelf I may well flick thru' it before deciding whether to buy or not.

I did put the question to Martin Rogers because I feel that John could have made a difference but unfortunately he didn't get the backing he desired and therefore felt that he had no other option but to resign the position...much to the detriment of British speedway in my view.

Something that John Berry used to bang on about!

...and a gentleman.

There was no better exponent pulling wheelies than Hans Nielsen (I recall that he fell off once however!) however Erik Gundersen confessed that he wasn't very good at them...Bobby Schwartz was another who admitted that it was beyond him.

Didn't know that...thanks!

The clip used to appear on the beginning credits of "Screensport"...taken from 1987 if I remember?

Do you remember the occasion Sid when Tommy pulled a celebratory wheelie at Swindon and fell off the back of his machine and got up and bowed to the crowd?

Is it worth a read?

I recall an interview with Olsen some years ago in "Backtrack" and Knudesn didn't make great strides to ask for Ole's advice and guidance after he retired hence one reason he picked up with Gundersen.

I think I saw Erik ride in his last competive meeting at Cowley during the second leg of the Gold Cup Final just days before that dreadful Sunday.

Garry Middleton did a similar thing to Briggo's engine...when Briggo caught him red handed!