steve roberts

I've just re-read the book on Tommy Jansson. An excellent, if somewhat poignant, read with many references from different sources. It's clear that many of his rivals held him in high esteem. The likes of Briggs, Mauger, Michanek, Persson, Nordin and Collins all thought that he could have reached the very top. Ivan summed it up perfectly when he was quoted as saying "...that Tommy had everything but luck!" How true.

Unfortunately I have no knowledge of the present heat formula and pairings just basing my observation on the old 13/15 heat formula and I'm guessing that things are very different now which is what I guess this particular narrative is about? Under the previous system having a "Star" rider programmed at Number Four gave you a potentially strong pairing in the last heat away from home during the 13 heat formula. Ivan Mauger occasionally rode at Number Two at the County Ground to off-set any potential tactical move by the away team.

Personally I think that you should be able to place your top five averaged riders in what order you wish and six and seventh at reserve (based on a seven man team) as it always used to be. Allow the Team Manager flexibilty allowing tactics to play a part.

Having watched Martin develop as a rider at Cowley he showed great potential. Personally I thought moving back to Eastbourne was a mistake and as Gordon Kennett was once quoted he should had taken himself off to "Aussie" during the British close season to help his development both as a rider and a person.

...good old Oxfordshire lad!

Just reading the book on Tommy Jansson and Neil Cameron told the story that when he returned to Britain prior to the start of the 1973 season found his car (which he had garaged in Wolverhampton?) totally wrecked by Liverpool fans who had been on the rampage after their team had lost to Wolves!

Have to say that I wasn't that impressed with Ryan Fisher when he rode for Oxford...fell far too many times even when not under pressure!

I personally thought that Dalle Andersen was the most exciting prospect to come out of Sweden in a number of years when he rode for Oxford in 1995. Some of his moves round Cowley were out of the top draw. Made a mistake in returning to "parent" club Cradley in my opinion who rode at Stoke in 1996 and was never the same rider again especially after receiving a bad injury.

I also remember in said book that John Louis stated that Rickardsson's bike was set up totally differently to Tomasz Gollob's during their time as team mates at Ipswich whereby Rickardsson's bike would be "screaming" whereas Gollob's would almost be "purring" as both riders preferred different set ups and handling/responsiveness.

Yes it's something I've just read in John Louis's book when son Chris also indicated that 'Lay Downs" have also played a significant part to the lack of team riding as they prove to be more unreliable in handling.

I was never a fan of this particular ruling as, despite popular belief, the "star" rider didn't always take the best gate available. Also having fixed gates limits the opportunity to team ride whereby the rider generally on the inside (Hans Nielsen was a great advocate) dictated the first turn but I guess that the art is generally less applied nowadays with the more powerful bikes amongst other things? Also fixed gates were never consistant as dirt (if any?) tends to move towards the outside as the meeting progresses thus proving advantageous to those who have outside gates later on during the meeting and vice versa of course.

I saw him at Reading at the end of the 1975 season competing in the Geoff Curtis Memorial Meeting. If I recall he was involved in a three rider run-off against John Davis and Dag Lovaas which Davis won? Tommy missed Wimbledon's visit to Cowley on Bank Holiday Monday that same season and John Boulger deputised in his absence.

I saw him last ride at Swindon losing to Martin Ashby in the Golden Helmet. Prior to that at White City's opening meeting.

I never saw Tommy ride at Wimbledon...infact saw very little of him to be honest. Used to enjoy my trips to Plough Lane and I guess the riders who struck a cord were Larry Ross and Mick Hines during my visits?

The same was often said at Plough Lane after Tommy Jansson's tragic death. Incidently I'm re-reading the book about him.

Yes his 2002 season at Cowley was quite ordinary compared to his pre-injury crash the previous season. The way he beat riders round Cowley during 2001 were sometimes quite spectacular. I never saw much of him after he left Oxford but you're right he did go on to register some impressive averages it's just the way that he scored points in 2001 that impressed me.

That's fair enough...he was simply awesome riding for the "Cheethas" prior to the crash after a very indifferent confidence building season the year before. He was gating and passing at will and was not quite the same force around Cowley after his injury the season following...but I take your point that perhaps he was more of a force on the international stage thereafter?

Yes I would have Chris Morton warrented a mention? Not sure about Andersson's inclusion over Chris?

I would agree. I've been to couple of events just outside Pickering which were basically one-off meetings in a field with no facilities.

That's just on your right before you approach the junction to Moor Monkton (surprised it's not been used for a Grasstack event?) The Trotting track is opposite the petrol garage (Kirk Hammerton) as you turn right towards Nun Monkton. I visited once and was quite a spectacle but it's something I would do only the once...closest thing to chariot racing I guess?

A meeting took place at Green Hammerton on the site on the Harness Racing track (won by Ivan Mauger) and it's still there jusf off the A59 towards Harrogate.

I actually lost a lot of respect for Peter Karlsson when he rode for King's Lynn in 2001 when entering the first bend from the tapes and Lukas Dryml had clearly got the drop on him he drove thru' a gap that wasn't there and both ended up in the fence. Dryml withdrew from the remainder of the meeting with a badly damaged knee which affected him for the rest of the season and was never quite the same rider again in my opinion.

Vastly under-rated rider...and that from someone down the road!

Where I live (at the moment) vast areas of land are being turned over to housing. The road system hardly copes at the moment...goodness knows how it will be when the new developments are completed?

John Berry always maintained that Billy Sanders had the most idealic style. It did alter with maturity.