British Under 21 Semi _plymouth Sat March 16th

[Roger Jacobs]

An appalling decision by the powers that be to hold such an important meeting so very early in the season, when few of the riders have had much track time. It looks like they were all going for it on a track which catches out experienced riders at the best of times, let alone when it's been rained on. Given the inexperience of the riders (e.g. Ellis had never seen the place before) there may well have been a lot of falls even if it had been dry.

 

Certainly not a meeting to judge any rider on - and it must be a real bummer for those on the fringe of qualifying that it was abandoned before the final four heats could be raced. To be fair, the meeting ought to be restaged - the "declare after heat 12" rule shouldn't apply to individual meetings - it's bad enough applying the rule to team meetings when the result is not conclusive.

 

Is Knuckey under 21?

 

Martin Knuckey's dob = 4th September 1992.

[TMW]

[quote name=Roger Jacobs'

timestamp='1363535398' post='2254036]

 

Martin Knuckey's dob = 4th September 1992.

 

Thanks I wasn't sure.

[gaptooth]

Better to talk sense as opposed to nonsense here.

 

Firstly at this time of the year and the weather conditions, where have they had time to practise?

 

Riders have to race on wet or dry tracks, rutted up ones or smooth ones, grippy or slick ones and the only way to do this is get on with it and dont whinge.

 

If we had to wait for a decent track as you mention, probably half the meetings in a year would never take place.

 

These youngsters learn by mistakes, who never made one?

 

if your kid had been there getting knocked about through no fault of his own getting his bikes knackered and jepardising the league season ahead your opinion might be a bit more reallistic

 

This should have not taken place in my opinion.

 

The Devils team didnt practice in the afternoon,as it was too slimey.

 

Fair play to those who tried get the track raceable.They did try to remove some of the slime,but nowhere near enough.Putting fresh dry shale onto slime,made things even worse.

 

The track was rideable,just,but certainly not raceable.One or two lads tried to race,but ultimately paid the price.There were 3 or 4 ocassions when a rider fell/excluded when it wasnt their fault.Others getting tangled up forcing others to lay it down,yet the referee didnt seem to see this.

 

A case in question:

 

Adam Ellis was giving it everything.I can see why people rate him.Yet he paid the price with several exclusions.Maybe he should have settled for what he had.He failed to qualify.Yet was extremely exiting to watch

 

Matt Williamson only pottered around at the back,at least a full straight behind the others,yet by simply 'plodding' and staying up right,he goes through! Im NOT having a go at Matt.In his interview,he said this was his first ever meeting.Good luck to him.

 

Very impressed with Josh Bates and Max Clegg,who were both value for money.

 

Overall though,it was a very long night,with gawd knows how many reruns

 

Oh and where did the promotion get that 'Screeming Lord Such' of a so called presenter? Bloody awful.

 

your dead right it shouldn`t. it was a total disgrace.

[montie]

 

 

Better to talk sense as opposed to nonsense here.

 

Firstly at this time of the year and the weather conditions, where have they had time to practise?

 

Riders have to race on wet or dry tracks, rutted up ones or smooth ones, grippy or slick ones and the only way to do this is get on with it and dont whinge.

 

If we had to wait for a decent track as you mention, probably half the meetings in a year would never take place.

 

These youngsters learn by mistakes, who never made one?

 

I have seen hundreds and hundreds of laps at scunny this year,Leicester have run a lot and .northside has be open loads,so plenty of time and places to practice,

Couldn't agree more that riders have to ride in all conditions,but these youngsters,many racing there first ever meeting deserve a decent track,not a wet slimy mud bath

[gaptooth]

all the lads in the Plymouth team said there was no way they would have gone out . But the young lads were given no choice.

[Jonny the spud]

Still bloody annoyed this meeting was allowed to run. Rider safety did seem to be put on the back burner.

[Fromafar]

I wasn't there but without detracting from all the young riders who went out and gave "it a go' this a problem with modern day speedway ,wet tracks ,slick tracks heavy tracks with too much dirt seems to be always the topic.Speedway like other motorcyling sports is meant to be about throttle control and taking the track conditions into account. Modern technology has made a speedway bike a "handful" unless the rider has a proper "set -up" and are in control of their machine which nowadays a lot of rider seem to struggle with.The weather plays the major part in track prep IMO but the sport is really suffering from riders being unable too ride to the track conditions that confront them. Me might aswell race on tarmac ovals then at least you know what to expect.It is little wonder the sport is struggling to attact "new " fans and keep them.

[TMW]

[quote name=Fromafar'

timestamp='1363602422' post='2254293]

I wasn't there but without detracting from all the young riders who

went out and gave "it a go' this a problem with modern day speedway ,wet

tracks ,slick tracks heavy tracks with too much dirt seems to be always

the topic.Speedway like other motorcyling sports is meant to be about

throttle control and taking the track conditions into account. Modern

technology has made a speedway bike a "handful" unless the rider has a

proper "set -up" and are in control of their machine which nowadays a

lot of rider seem to struggle with.The weather plays the major part in

track prep IMO but the sport is really suffering from riders being

unable too ride to the track conditions that confront them. Me might

aswell race on tarmac ovals then at least you know what to expect.It is

little wonder the sport is struggling to attact "new " fans and keep

them.

 

Well said :)

[Jonny the spud]

The home team refused to ride on their press and practice day as they deemed the track unsafe. Where does that leave your argument ?

[GARRYH]

There cant be any argument after the prem boys didnt want to go out on track in the afternoon and then more rain came. there was a total lack of regard to rider safety and the people involved should be asking questions of themselves

[TMW]

[quote name=Jonny the spud'

timestamp='1363615672' post='2254372]

The home team refused to ride on their press and practice day as they

deemed the track unsafe. Where does that leave your argument ?

 

On the fact that 4 or 5 lads in the field didn't fall once.

[gaptooth]

4 or 5 out of 16, yeah right mate

[Jonny the spud]

7 heats finished with two riders I think one heat finished with one. Heat ten was restarted 4 times

 

Funny how a lot of criticism comes from people who weren't actually there

 

7 heats finished with two riders I think one heat finished with one. Heat ten was restarted 4 times

 

Funny how a lot of criticism comes from people who weren't actually there

[gaptooth]

it was a dire meeting that shouldn`t have gone ahead simples.

[2ndbendbeerhut]

Thing is "young lads" with little experience will be pushovers unfortunately as they possibly would be afraid of an authority figure saying they HAD to ride. Says it all really that PL riders refused but the Under 21 were made to ride. Fortunately no one was injured.

[MARK246]

 

7 heats finished with two riders I think one heat finished with one. Heat ten was restarted 4 times

 

Funny how a lot of criticism comes from people who weren't actually there

 

Last seasons U21 semi final, was held at Stoke and abandoned after just 12 heats.In those 12 heats there were 9 reruns,8 heats had 3 or less finishers, heat 12 had only one rider completing the four laps.

Perhaps it's the standard of the riders not the weather.

[Jonny the spud]

I wasn't there last year so can't comment. I was at Plymouth and saw the debacle

[gaptooth]

The standard of riders at plymouth had nothing to do with it. As has been mentioned many times already, the plymouth boys refused to take to the track and that was before more rain fell. The fact of the matter is that the track was DANGEROUS. Those in charge should hang their heads in shame instead of hiding behind the excuse of no other dates. They should of had the balls to call it off.

[GARRYH]

100% agree with your last post Pitstop

[NJT]

A few photos from the meeting http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicktruscottphotography/sets/72157633078346835/with/8587465000/