moxey63

Here we go again. It was within days of Rye House closing, his team, and what respect did this show to their fans? He had the suit made, I assume, because he may have just been relieved in getting another gig and didn't have to quit, as he was fearing because his other team - is it Glasgow - wasn't enough to pay the bills. And that is what I mean about the sport being built on sand. Yet we ask why supporters don't roll up in droves to what we once termed a team sport. As well as his beaming smile celebrating on the cover of this week's SS with his title-winning team mates of Poole, Chris Harris could make it a double-bubble next week after having helped Somerset win the Cup last night. Explain that one to a friend you're trying to try speedway. At least with the GPs they aren't pretending they're not doing it for self-intent.

Harris had a Poole suit made. I know that, and I don't even follow it.

I'll be random. Kenny Carter was often the only rider in the Halifax team who could win races on his travels. I would never miss a match at Belle Vue in which he was riding. Often it was a 30-odd point trouncing, but Carter always seemed to bring extra out of the occasion and there was a definite bite in the heats he was in. It wasn't about the racing. It was about the entertainment and the expectancy, anticipation. Riders didn't care how they looked or what leathers they wore. That is why Backtrack magazine is so popular, and the winter series in the Speedway Star. We all yearn for the Garry Middleton type character, Jack Millen, Steve Gresham, Kelvin Mullarkey, Alan Wilkinson. I mean, it wasn't that long ago we had Nicki Pedersen likely to put on a sideshow to entertain. But speedway has fallen in line with the design of the Grand Prix racejackets. They merely exist to serve a purpose. Riders don't get dirty anymore and look as if they've put in a hard shift, they are so robotic. There is no individuality. They are merely agency lads just riding for the best deal they can attain, and they will roll up at the tapes next March with no team affinity but expect a stadium full of fans (yeah, right) who have gone along in the direction of not really caring who's in the team as long as it's got a chance to keep the Play-Off hopes alive. We have just seen what's wrong with speedway in four short months. Poole bottom, fans not attending, Harris signed, Poole come good, crowds happy, Poole win the title, Harris casts off his Rye House suit and has a specially designed Poole one made within a week. Where is the loyalty? It is no longer a team sport it professes to be. As well as riders having character in the past, the sport had it too.

A lot of the lure for speedway is not the racing but the characters. I suppose speedway having lack of characters has followed the other sports which speedway fans used to find boring and sanitised. I suppose the interesting thing with Tai is when he gets a new tattoo. I'll stand back and await BWitcher to come knocking with a list of facts telling me Tai's tattoos are much better than those from the seventies, more professional and done with many different shades than 50 years ago. You can't compare the two.

Watch what you're saying, my friend, they'll come for you next. I can't stop giggling at the number of in-depth replies I get from people who believe the sport is in fine shape and isn't facing another winter of uncertainty. I too find Tai boring. But I suppose others will try to tell me he isn't boring, he has tattoos.

What am I wrong about - you can't disprove someone's opinion.

My opinion. Move on now. Back to the topic. Racing was not better in the past - my belief in the product was. It is just wild west stuff now. Growing bored by this childish behaviour by grown men trying to prove everything I say as fake. Really is childish.

Really? People are really behaving like children now. When did I say I never had any channels? Please find that post.

I find it quite insulting that people refer to me not going to speedway because I had to pay. That usually comes from people who can't stand the thought of someone having a different opinion to their love affair with the sport and smear 40 years of my life by saying I only went because it was free. If you want to class a few hours work, using all your own material etc as getting in for free, then there is nothing else to say. I supplied speedway with a service and got a complimentary pass. But I had made up my mind that I didn't like the way speedway was going, a few years before I gave up on it and the free pass. But people still use the freebie dig because it strengthens their argument. I just say I saved a bomb, which I did. I still have an interest in the sport. That's why I'm on here now. But sometimes your frustrations with it just get too much.

I am criticised for having an opinion on Tai Woffinden in the "Is he the best ever." thread. I cannot have an opinion because I have never seen him ride in the GP. But I have the GP on my TV every time it's on. But that's not good enough. My opinion is worthless. It seems it is worthless because my opinion is different than the others who want Tai to be the best. Certain other posters get rude if you have a different opinion to theirs. They gang up and try to sneer at your opinion. But my belief that the last eight years have seen a decrease in talent - we've had a 40-odd-year-old winning the title (we used to laugh when Per Serenius won the ice title at a similar age), we've had a rider who had been a second string much of his career and is now a world champion. It is my opinion, for god's sake. If it wasn't different, then I'd be the same. I'd say we are in a current era that is weaker than the 80s when Nielsen and Gundersen had no one else to challenge them. But that is my belief. What is the problem with that?

I can't stop the demise on my own. Don't put that on my shoulders. It's easy to point the finger at me, but nobody listened to the thousands when they felt the same. That is why we are in this state. We are all different.

Yup. At the end of the day, you are defending a sport that has as much chance of survival as the Titanic. But if that makes you feel better. You have a lot of time to waste. And as for being a freeloader. Who in their right mind would pay for something if they didn't have to? I, sir, am not daft. I saved a bomb. Eighteen years... What are you like - I am only damaging the sport further by posting on here, eh? What have I said to damage the sport? Yet, in another wild statement, you say I am a completely irrelevant entity? Are my posts damaging the sport or am I irrelevant?

OK, Einstein, we've already sussed that. But I must also add that although I don't sit and watch the speedway on whichever channel it's on, it is usually on in the background, so I am more in tune with someone who doesn't care. I also have the Speedway Star every week so at least I still care somewhat So, here's a question for all you would-be promoters looking to attract extra fans. Why do you tell people who don't have the same opinion as you to just go away? Isn't that why the terraces are so sparse and tracks will fold at an alarming rate over the next 10 years. Telling people who have 40-odd years' watching the sport to go away, their views don't count, we know best, is why, in part, we are where we are... I'm an idiot, I still have one toe of interest in there. Thousands took your advice, and there's a thread elsewhere asking why speedway is in such a state and its approaching yet another winter of crisis talks.

Didn't bang your head, did you? That's when your judgement might become impaired.

Gollob is up there. I was just relieved at the time when he won his title. A rider you'd pay to see.

But they didn't have a 15-year gap away from racing and then have a go on the latest machine. Of course, you'd notice the difference.

Go on, I'll keep him busy for another minute or so. When you have ridden your career on what type of machine and then, after a decade or so of professional retirement get on a completely different entity, it will be harder. It could be like writing with your other hand, driving on the wrong side of the road or using a left-hand drive vehicle.

I'm beginning to think, if only we all agreed with BWitcher... who would he have to chat with?

Time machine, is it? I also see a lot of modern-day riders, live on TV, much more than ever before. I keep in touch. It's so easy today. But, eh, keep watching Youtube to glean your knowledge of the olden days. Not unless you really do have a time machine.

You probably didn't watch all the riders you're professing Woffinden to be better than.

Sure you'll get round to it.

How is it strengthening Tai's case? As I said, Tai is the best British rider since he won the first title. You can't doubt that. But the competition has never been so weak. I know, I keep saying it.

So Sam says the same. Both are bound to find it harder, for frig's sake. I'd find it harder kicking a ball than I did 20 years ago. In fact, I find it harder doing most things.

It isn't all about titles being won, but who those titles were won against.

Tatum would say that. He finished his career before the modern machines came about and it is al new to him, plus the few pounds he's added and age of course. But eh, if Kelvin says it... let's take it as read, despite constantly criticising what he and Nigel spout on about on a weekly basis. But if it backs your opinion, let's go for it. On the other hand, Rob Ledwith returned to action without much trouble the other week, 10 points from four starts I believe, despite not having ridden speedway in 20 years or so. It would be interesting to see if he rode a modern bike or an older one. But it does make you think, why spend all the money on newfound improvements for the machines if they are only going to be harder to ride? Doesn't make sense.