Fourentee

You don't come on here much, do you?

I learned from the master!

Lindgren said one of the reasons he uses the Gerhard is that it suits his style of riding. Perhaps the same, for whatever reason, simply doesn't apply to Harris. In passing, riders appear to have a shorthand language of their own when describing engine characteristics. Some years back Peter Karlsson tested a new engine after a Monmore match and returned to the pits to tell Graham Jones: "It's OK out of the start, but it's a bit neeeyaaaaoooow (makes aeroplane take-off and banking gesture) in the first corner." By no means the least weird aspect of the affair was that Jonah immediately knew what he meant.

I know what you're saying, but one or two of the riders may also have contributed!

I like that American tyro, what's his name, Hancock. He might make something in later years.

Really enjoyed that tonight; actually it was so good that I'll have to go back as a neutral and watch another! Fair result, would have taken a point if offered it after heat 10 with the scores level. Good to see King find his form once more although from a Wolves perspective he might have done the decent thing and left it a week... I've always felt with Kasprzak that, as goes his first heat, so goes his meeting, so feared the worst tonight and it duly arrived. Never a hardship watching Harris ride while Woryna looked tidy and a real trier, just exposed as a second string. I think tonight told us that Coventry aren't quite as bad as they have looked so far; similarly with Wolves except not quite as good. From the outside looking in I felt Masters' rides could have been handled more imaginatively. Morris could have replaced Howarth (tapes) in heat three with Masters given the Morris ride in the subsequent heat to face Woryna/Bates rather than King/Harris. Similarly, Masters could have replaced Bech in heat 11 against Kasprzak/Garrity rather than in heat 13 to face Kasprzak/Harris. It would have meant him going out four times in five races but hey, he's a young professional sportsman and that's what they're paid for. There may have been other factors and I accept that hanging Morris out to dry in heat three would hardly be a confidence booster for him; perhaps he wouldn't then have produced the fine ride under immense pressure that he did in heat 12. I've left Lindgren to the end; had a lively discussion about him at close of play with a couple of Coventry fans and a neutral. The neutral felt his riding had gone beyond hard to unfair and that he had 'shown the back wheel' on seven occasions. We agreed to differ. On the last race, I felt instinctively that the correct decision was made but was on bend one/two so a long way off. Credit to Harris for taking up the challenge; I reckon 95 per cent would have slowed and tried to cut back rather than keep it wound on. Lindgren has certainly had his moments at Brandon; Wolves fans will recall an epic last lap charge to claim a league draw while the home support will point to a last bend fall that also wrecked Peter Karlsson's race and cost victory in a Midland League match. For me, Lindgren's heat 14 ride tonight was one that goes straight into that ultra-slim volume for fans: 'Were you there that night when...?' To put it simply, I feel privileged to have seen it. Edit: One thing the neutral and I did agree on was that the powers that be have well and truly dropped the biggest of bricks this season. The rolling averages that place Masters (presumably briefly) at reserve are just one of those quirks that you get in a balanced team that's aiming for strength in depth. But a system that allows a reserve to score heavily with easier rides and then expect him to cut it at heat leader is certifiable. How can we help the development of Kyle Howarth? I know, tell him to face King/Harris in his first race, Kasprzak/Harris in his second, Kasprzak/Garrity in his third and King/Woryna in his fourth. Utterly, utterly barking.

That's good to hear. Some of them can be a bit too brave for their own good on occasion. Like Beowulf, will be at the match to say a sad farewell to Brandon. I was utterly captivated by the place when resuming speedway watching in 2006 after a near 20-year gap. There was a real sense of occasion there under lights, with the banners the length of the main stand, good crowds, the view into the pits, watching the riders go from there past the fans and onto the track. Not wanting to fall into the nostalgia pit of 'everything was better in the good old days' -- it was only 10 years ago after all -- but I shall genuinely miss the place and hope that there are still good times ahead for our fellow West Midlands speedway supporters.

Beyond parody Edit: On reflection, beyond parody sadly.

Regardless of our positions on opposite sides of the debate, I have to say my immediate reaction was to take your post on parents in exactly the way as BWitcher did. I'm sure on reflection that you didn't mean it that way, but in the circumstances a little more care in the phrasing (and perhaps a little less stridency in your reaction) would be helpful.

Well, I'm as guilty as anyone in that regard, though if there are any insomniacs at a loose end it would be interesting to know what percentage of robert72's posts are about Tai Woffinden. I nearly typed "what percentage of Robert 72's posts concern Tai Woffinden" but I suspect the answer there would be that none of them concern him at all...

Well, which?

While not necessarily agreeing with it, IMHO a cogent argument. If you're feeling generous enough to pass on a few debating tips, Aces51, I have a worthy recipient in mind...

And there you have it.

Or to put it another way, you find yourself unable to refute his viewpoint.

I'd watch those rash assumptions if I were you.

Yeah, tell Shaleshifter not to start a thread when he clearly didn't know one had been placed in existence all of four minutes prior to him posting it.

Josh Auty, apparently.

Jan O Pedersen would have to stalk for three and three-quarter laps!

Well, given that Nielsen is 56 and Briggs 81 you're probably right.

'Rain' is rather understating the case. They're counting the animals in pairs at the moment.

If the speedway-watching public don't want to take it up, that's their prerogative. Doesn't make the offer pointless. Fair play to the Brandon management for trying.

This has been mentioned by both yourself and at least one other poster (without checking back it might be stevebrum). Here we go: Nov 2015 Express & Star, Tai Woffinden Q&A night at the Cleveland Arms with Nigel Pearson: “I’d be back in British racing along with a lot of the other Grand Prix guys – if they changed the Elite League to one set night per week. “There’s a lot of riders riding in the top two divisions and, looking in from the outside, it seems there is a shortage of riders in British racing. “If they took a bold decision and made a set race night for the Elite League I’m pretty sure the likes of Nicki Pedersen, Greg Hancock and myself would go for it. “Monday wouldn’t be good because we have Poland on a Sunday and Sweden on a Tuesday, but maybe make Wednesday or Thursday Elite League Speedway night with every team racing that night. “I can’t believe the fans are happy about seeing the same teams twice at their home track in league meetings, make it one home and one away and see how it goes. “The least they could do is give it a try and see what happens, but yes I would like to return to British racing one day.”

Nicki is 39, Tai 25. Perhaps you should put the debate on hold until both have finished their careers. I will grant you that Tai is unlikely to overhaul Nicki's admirable tally of four Danish championships.

This is becoming a bit too surreal for me!

You may not care what he thinks, but that doesn't mean you should misquote him.