Ron Butler

Maybe 1.5 British contestants. Jason Crump was born in Bristol, England when his father, Phil, was riding for a an English team. He's also based in the Northampton area. Maybe the British speedway authorities could claim a 50% interest in him on the basis that half a loaf is better than no bread.

Maybe Mr Millard said Sullivan had retyred!

How many Sky TV shares does the afflicted gentleman hold, I wonder!

Professionally a role model for every speedway rider. Particularly the young Conference lads.

At the recent Russian GP the reigning World Champion was excluded. The referee studied the replay several times but, of course, refused to heed the pleas of the rider and his manager. The official received a frosty reception as he left the box at the close of the meeting. Picture here: http://www.funpic.hu/en.picview.php?id=298...5160c522a2e9cfa I read a report of this meeting by Ricardo Frost of the Manchester Heaving Trews. Regrettably I don't have a link to that. Ron

You may be thinking, Mr Simpson, of the World Pairs Championship. This was once won for Britain [or maybe England] by by those aces of Aces Peter Collins and Chris Morton.

A wonderful dream, Dave, but no more than that. There are many towns where 'the general sport viewing public' are unaware of the existence of speedway. Speedway, in this country, is only a minor sport and, I regret to say, doesn't show any signs of changing for the better in that respect in the foreseeable future. I speak as one who has been an enthusiast for sixty years. The 'head office'administrators are slowly but inexorably dragging the sport into a state of near oblivion despite the kicking and screaming of the supporters.

I agree wholeheartedly. Any rider who resorts to this type of tactic should be punished beyond being escluded from one heat of the meeting. Isn't there a well known offence elsewhere described as 'bringing the sport into disrepute' which can incur a heavy penalty? Perhaps there's a case for apllying it to speedway, at all levels, before the thing gets out of hand We all have the right, some would say the responsibility, to be patriotic. Where should we direct our patriotism though to Britain or to the European Community? Since its inception in Britain speedway has been a family sport and now that it is regulary televised all riders should be constantly aware of this and should refrain from swearing when there are cameras and microphones in the vicinity. Do you think these men use foul language in the presence of their own wives and children. I greatly doubt it, therefore they should extend the same courteous conduct to other families and individuals. Don't you feel sorry for the lad? He obviously didn't know whether he was coming or going! Anyway there are those who would say that it's high time a cap was put on Mr Asbo

I'm very disappointed in you, me old saint. When I first read that I thought you were the Chief Referee or, at least, the BSPA chairman and you were going to give the official take on this controversy. Actually it's becoming quite entertaining on here! Thank you for putting the matter into perspective. A little logic is as good as a spoonful of castor oil for clearing out the rubbish Mods: please take note of this comment. May be worth 5% of a warning! "BO" was what Mr Nicholls yelled down Mr Andersson's earhole. I don't think he meant either Body Odour or Bale Out though! Excommunicated? exterminated? Personally, Schumi, I prefer 'expunged'. It's an amusing sounding word and has a sense of permanency! Looks like being a busy time for the mods, bless 'em! An extremely rare animal, Joe. About as rare as a pregnant panda. You will probably find either in a Moscow zoo!

Hi Bunny, Here's a consoling thought - just for you. I don't want you worrying and losing sleep! The consoling[?] thought is that we do have a 50% share in Mr Crump who was born in Bristol whilst daddy Phil was racing here. Well, he probably wasn't actually circumnavigating a speedway track at the time - just the maternity unit! Joy to you, Ron.

...........and neither are referees' boxes. The man had to decide one way or t'other. He was bound to upset some and please others. Great phrase there, Steve old pal. Even the mighty-mouthed Millard himself couldn't better it! I gather that Nicholls made his invective laden comments during a person-to-person live television interview. That being so, it's rather differnet than the Fisichella occasion, surely. No point in e-mailing you a Scott Nicholls Fan Club enrolment form then? Perhaps, Norman, Mr Grodski should have excluded both riders; one for dangerous riding and t'other fer being t'primary cause o' t'race being stopped! Gad Sir! we're not biased we're British. Though the sun has now set on the Empire we do not have to abandon the values of our forefathers, or our empiric principles. Though young Nicholls may, at times, be very trying we must defend him against these foreign walloons!

Here are my comments on the first six pages of this thread. Having read that far I'm getting a little bored - time to move on. I may be back tomorrow. You are an * deficient. The word is spelt F-l-i-p-p-i-n-g! I fail to see what a hyperdaemic needle has to do with the incident - unless your eagle eyes observed that which no other person did! Wanna buy a copy of The Oxford English Dictionary of Invective - two for the price of none until 31st February next.

I agree, Steve. How often do we see contributors to this forum saying that youth should be given a chance. Now is the time to suit actions to words. People such as Loram and Richardson have had many opportunities. The fact that Mark was the World Champion some years ago is totally irrelevant. Now British speedway needs to look ahead toward its younger men. Men such as Chris Harris, Simon Stead et al. Hopefully in years to come they too will be supurceded by young riders who are just at the foot of the British ladder. Riders who are the future members of the British international team. Men such as Lewis Bridger and James Wright. With respect to Mark Loram I feel he should now step down from the national team and the Grand Prix circuit. He is still a highly vauable contibutor to the Elite League and I feel he should content himself with this and not try to renew his past glories. Speedway in Britain must progress in every respect if it is to regain the status it once held in the national sporting environment. Status which was lost some years ago and is still far from being regained.

I agree, Garf, but - sadly - I don't think it will happen.

Jason rode a great tactical meeting by doing enough to qualify without putting too much stress on his injured foot. The maestro of speedway racing. Here, from the Manchester Evening News, are his comments on his performane; particularly his battles with Hans Ansersson: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/spo...l_too_good.html Read and rejoice! Ron.

Ah yes! the great Bertola. Sadly, 'tis not only the memory that dims. The optics become a little misty too. I must strive to remain optimistic - even with misty optics! Thanks Steve, Ron.

Steve, I recognise this rider as I face I often saw. Regrettably memory dims with age and I can't name him. Rabbit and I know you are a gentleman of the first order I will name him. Thanks you, Joy to you, Ron.

There are men I love. There are no men I hate. I have no respect for Scott Nicholls as a man, I've long been aware of a measure of arrogance in him. However, I have a certain amount of respect for his ability as a rider. He is the best England has - at present!

Can there be such, Home Straight, surely the terms 'permanent' and 'wild card' are contradictory in this context?

Bunny, When my daughter was about eight years old I used to take her to Hyde Road. She soon learned how to recognise the Belle Vue riders. Whenever an opponent was battling with an Ace she used to bring into play her favourite term of contempt and shout, addressing the Belle Vue rider by name, "Knock the squid off, go on, knock him off!" Fortunately the opposing supporters were always very tolerant of her childish enthusiasm. She soon reached a level of childhood maturity where she realised that the comment was infra-dig and ceased making it. Regrettably there are those amongst us today who do not seem to have attained that status. How very sad. Maybe we should pity them rather than condemn. Ron

What an intriquing comment, Shazz! The implication is that you don't stand by all of your friends. That can't be so surely. Perhaps I've missed some little intricacy of feminine logic which far trancends the intellect of the male of species homo sapiens?

So as we, the supporters, have sacked Neil Middleditch, who - apart from Chris Louis - are we the supporters nominating as his replacement?

Ian Thomas was assaulted by Nicholls and it was given wide publicity at the time. I've no desire to rehash the episode. Suffice to say that Mr Thomas being the man he is contented himself with approaching Nicholls on the centregreen later in the meeting and suggested that he [Nicholls] might like to pick on a younger man next time.

Scott Nicholls, Now isn't he the 'man' who assaulted Ian Thomas after he was excluded from a heat at Kirky Lane last season? I can't say I have any respect for the views of a young 'man' who would assault a man in his sixties, even if he was under pressure at the time. Nor have I had any respect for Nicholls as a person since that time. Ron.

Loyal Royal, "well for whats it worth," Could I respectfully suggest that you never begin a post with those words. You put yourself down by doing that. Your opinions and comments are as valuable as any which I've read on this forum. In fact they are better than many. I hope to read many more. I completely agree with your comments on track preparation. Joy to you, Ron.