Kester

He was certainly rather subdued after that, and who could blame him.

A decent meeting without being a cracker, Lakeside did enough to keep it interesting. A big congratulations to all on the centre green who were looking the right way and had quick enough reactions to avoid a possibly nasty incident.

I agree with you on most things but not this I'm afraid. What about if I take a job with a new employer doing the same job I do now? Am I 'turning my back' on my employer? Should I not take that job? Am I beholden to my existing employer as they trained me in that job and gave me the skills necessary to do it? What do I owe them? Nothing - they paid me to do a job, I did the job and took that money. Loyalty means a lot to fans, but ultimately means a lot less to employees - which is what riders are.

I have been a semi-regular buyer of Backtrack in the past. I have the same impression as you, I am sure I have read several articles with riders stating that they went from training to riding in the team within a few weeks.

His statement read спидвей вентиляторы толщиной сводит меня с ума

Although in this instance we have had an ill-thought out rule. Which has led the need for another ill-thought out rule. The exact details of which were then kept under cloak and dagger. Then when they are seen, it clearly isn't very sensible. Then anyone who questions any of this beautiful process is called a thick idiot. This sort of problem doesn't need an independent body, just people with enough brains to think about the future properly rather than leaping from one reactive measure to another.

Amongst his better ones then. Or just tag on the end '...and what's wrong with that?'

The various aliases?

Thank goodness you're here Steve with your legendary even-handed and balanced views. Thankfully, none of your 27000+ posts have led to banal squabbles, otherwise your post would be ridiculous.

The reality is that 'characters' are often harked back to, not just in speedway but across all sports. However, whenever a modern sportsperson acts like one of those 'personalities' from the past - often involving booze/drugs/birds/mild violence/minor crime - they are vilified for their lack of professionalism etc. Look at Darcy, if he had been around 40/50years ago folk would be reminiscing about his cheeky antics legging it from the cops etc. How would George Best be viewed these days? The press react with hysteria at any deviation from the ultra-professional model, so it's no surprise that nobody does deviate from that model. A fact which the same press then moans about.

Ours does manage to be dreary and pompous all at the same time. I'd rather sing anybody else's.

It's no wonder the terraces are packed with this kind of attitude. Well done Neil, you sum up everything that is wrong with speedway.

It was hardly 15 years ago that it happened. I don't see how his experience has anything to do with it.

The EU weren't trying to clamp down on ISAs, though it'd be a great pensioner-scaring story for the Daily Express. It was 'aggressive' tax avoidance schemes that were on the agenda.

This from the Nigel Farage/UKIP lover. That's the Nigel Farage who said that tax avoidance is 'ok'. So you'd be quite happy to vote for someone who thinks tax avoidance is 'ok' and who's party voted in Europe against tax reforms aimed at stamping out tax avoidance, but are up in arms if a sportsperson does it. That's a strange set of values you've got yourself.

He's never had to, he's just had to offer them something or make sure they're no worse off. Look at 2010 as a classic example.

A truly heartless bunch. Unless of course they're some sort of Amish folk, in which case the lack of technology may be understandable. What isn't understandable is why they'd tell him his dad was injured, but not exactly how or by how much - maybe they're making North play some sort of guessing game, a kind of injury related Cleudo - 'Was it his hand in the threshing machine in a barn?' etc etc.

Maybe not. But I'm sure most Poole fans would rather win the title with a 5-1 in the final heat. And for the rest of us, we can all the remember the great Grand Finals, this one will slip from the memory pretty quickly.

It's a bit of a shame that, whoever you want to win, it looks like Wednesday's meeting will be a damp squib.

I've heard that the Queen threw the remote at the telly and shrilled 'I've had it with speedway'. Seriously though, why are you fiddling about here - haven't you got some trolling to do on the Darcy Ward thread?

It's clearly a ridiculous rule that allows manipulation to take place. However, I haven't got over the stink from Heat 1, so if you could explain that one for us?

I've no idea why he was in the re-run in the first place. And goodness knows what was going on after that - it's no wonder Poole are considered dodgy.

This line of defence - known as the Poole Fan's No.1 choice - doesn't really count though. As you well know, if Batch was deliberately dropping points nothing could ever be proved.

This is disappointing. I really enjoy the unintentionally hilarious commentaries of the previous Speedway Grand Prix games. Let's hope it's a decent game.

I just find Porkie so aggravating. I've nothing against his enthusiasm, but his actions and demeanor remind me of a drunk uncle you wish you didn't have (I don't have a drunk uncle, but if I did that's what he'd be like). Plus, he bellows over the last lap which I always find annoying. York is dreadful, a cut-price Mike Bennett, I like the way he seeks out riders for interviews, but by the time he's done them I've generally stopped listening anyway. I liked Chris Simpson when he did Birmingham. I know he's a little on the old-fashioned side but I really like Kevin Long (is he still about?), he gently guides you through a meeting with a bit of wit, a nod and a wink.