Fourentee

I recall interviewing Doc Bridgett at length some years ago about track preparation and one remark that really stuck in my memory was that he puts different amounts of water on the assorted sections of the track at varying times. The reason is that the shadow cast by the big grandstand affects the drying times as the sun moves over. A small point, but one perhaps indicative of his attention to detail. Also interviewed Chris Harris about a particularly stunning pass at Monmore and he said there were three elements: You had to have belief in your own ability, trust in the riders around you not to do anything stupid and faith in the track. Quite a compliment to Doc.

Well, there is that, of course!

Quite. There's also another factor, mentioned by an earlier poster (apologies for not going through the thread to name him or her) -- credibility. The more frequently sides can actually put out their declared line-up (injuries, naturally, notwithstanding) the better for the sport's standing with the non-afficionado (such as it is). Edit: Having checked, it was BWitcher himself who mentioned credibility earlier, so here I am pointing him in the direction of his own post

They'll have had more time on it than Wolves, though, assuming the opener beats the weather. Surprised Wolves haven't arranged a challenge or two somewhere to get the rust out and hone the partnerships, with such a changed line-up.

Correct. Two for use in Britain, two for Sweden/Poland. He's very enthusiastic about the motor, both in its current state of performance and its potential. Time will tell, of course, but the rider himself is certainly in a good frame of mind about the Gerhard and has tested it at least twice in France as well as winning the Olympique on one, as Tommy Sweetman mentioned above.

Indeed, quite correct.

And there was me thinking it was the 420-mile round trip..

I dare say; surely he'd be daft not to? But he's done intensive testing on the Gerhards twice in France, won the Olympique on one last year and will have at least four to campaign on this season. How committed do you want him to be?

Freddie Lindgren will have two for Britain, two for Sweden/Poland.

Apologies for being off-topic, but to address that specific point two things made the Pink untenable (it was the last surviving West Midlands publication of its type anyway when it closed after the 2008-09 season): the internet and Sky. More and more people were migrating online to get their news and Sky moved kick-off times away from the traditional Saturday 3pm. In the Pink's final season, West Bromwich Albion (then as now in the Premier League) played 14 matches in September, October and December and fewer than half started at 3pm on a Saturday. Great days working on the Pink, mind, absolutely manic but a lot of fun. And a 90-year run for a publication is not bad going, surely?

And that's the simplified version. You should have seen the draft! Rather think that's why it's online, where there's a bit of space, rather than in the newspaper!

Honest, though!

E&S also had a piece on Wolves team building in which Adams felt the play-offs were "a distinct possibility". Asked about whether the side represented a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C or whatever (presumably like most promotions, Wolves in the winter have what they consider to be an optimum line-up if they land all their targets, then the next best thing and so forth) he said it was a Plan B from which he hoped to get Plan A results. Plus online, CVS view on the heat leader list: http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/other-sport/speedway/2016/01/13/wolves-owner-defends-heat-leader-list/

CVS view on the heat leader list: http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/other-sport/speedway/2016/01/13/wolves-owner-defends-heat-leader-list/

Depends on the remit (I appreciate you're talking specifically about next year's final). In general terms, and this is not a kick against Rosco because I don't know how the parameters of the job were put to him, I would like to think the job enabled -- nay, required -- the manager to have strong and coherent views across the board concerning the organisation and structure of British speedway, how to develop British riders and somehow return the national team to the top of the tree. That's a far-reaching brief and the GB manager, for me, who seemed to have the surest hand on the tiller was Rob Lyon.

Hostage to fortune there, Steve!

Not to my knowledge, which is rather the point.

Gosh, I think my irony meter just went off...

Must have been my doppelganger!

I think in that case one would need to hold a relatively benevolent view of the word at the centre of the issue, which I certainly do not. But I take the point you make.

I'd been wondering when someone might point that out!

Precisely why one should pick one's words with some care. One wouldn't want others to misinterpret the meaning, would one?

Well, as mentioned earlier, we will have to agree to differ on it. I suspect that neither of us is going to shift from our current position and at least we've had a calm and rational discussion about it ('calm' and 'rational' not being words I bandy about too often on these pages!).

I think it fair to say that it's hardly my interpretation alone. Surely you must acknowledge the widespread pejorative overtones? As a rule of thumb, is it a term you'd be happy to use to somebody's face? Edited for iffy spelling.

Well mate, and much as I respect you, I'm afraid that on this one we're going to have to differ. Context, as you rightly remark, is everything. The context in this case is that SCB, by his own admission -- actually declaration would be a more accurate term -- chose a specific term for his thread title purely to draw attention to it. I certainly got worked up about it. I set out my argument in post 291 in the Jon Cook thread and at times became so emotional that I found it difficult to type accurately; if that makes me an attention seeker, so be it. For the record, I don't support a ban. The term used was, in my opinion, gratuitous, insulting, boorish and has no place in a modern society. Its use has lowered SCB in my estimation (not, rightly, that he should care about that).Through gritted teeth I defend his right to use it. Just don't expect me to be happy about it.