Coventry Vs Swindon 18/8/14

[spikethebike]

All the details have been well covered here, but it's clear that despite all the warning signs the sport in the UK has spiralled into a farce where there looks no point of return.

 

Its been said a thousand times but the arrogance of those who govern and despite the weight of evidence, think they know best is beyond comprehension. To continually failed to modernise in all areas and provide a suitable governance framework is just sheer negligence.

 

More clubs will go to the wall soon enough and concurrently those previously loyal fans that now attend the tracks less and less will even stop watching on TV and lose interest totally. I am like so many people I know - 3 or 4 years ago we never believed we would lose interest so quickly in the product.

 

The ref and his pig headed antics would have been unbelievable for any sport - however this is speedway.....

 

All very embarrassing....

 

.

[Fromafar]

Fair play? Seriously?

 

Ok, so if the ref wants to do a system where the clock runs out and riders who aren't ready are excluded, would it not be a good idea to mention it to the team managers at the start? The home side team manager wasn't even aware that there was even a clock there, let alone have an idea of how this system was going to work.

 

Also, why was Gustafsson excluded when he was at the start and ready to race before Jepsen Jensen? Why was Worrall excluded? He was at the start line? The start marshall had absolutely no idea what was going on. Surely if a rider was going against his orders he'd have some sort of idea who was being excluded.

 

Then, in a later heat when Greaves was excluded, the two Coventry riders were not at the tapes when the 2 minutes expired. If Worrall and Gustafsson were excluded earlier, why weren't they?

 

It was absolutely dreadful refereeing. A complete shambles and, at best, biased.

 

Sure, if there is to be a system where riders have to be ready to race at the end of 2 minutes then have that. But it needs to be applied consistently and fairly. Plus, everyone needs to know about it.

 

Stunningly bad.

If you read my post correctly you will see that I stated that I was unclear regarding the clock,but in a professionally run sport surely the Team Mamagers must have noticed this strange object on centre green and enquirer what it was going to be used for alternatively the Ref should have informed the what his intentions were regarding the clock.The sport is a farce and last night was another example of the pettiness between certain people.passing the buck is the name of the game these days .

[stevebrum]

He's more than a bit of a pain, suppose he'll be fit on Friday then decide he's injured and won't bother showing up for his owners, enjoy him until he sees something better like Wolverhampton where he really wants to be.

 

 

 

Really?

[IainB]

You deserve to be pulled for speeding when travelling at 30.0000000001mph in a 30 zone!

you seem to fail to grasp the concept of rules, so what is acceptable?

30.0000000002mph?

30.0000000003mph?

30.0050000000mph?

31mph?

35mph?

40mph?

50mph?

Who decides?

2 minutes 5 seconds?

2 minutes 10 seconds?

3 minutes?

5 minutes?

Anarchy!

[Gavan]

Think the biggest farce was Troy Batchelor. Disgraceful attitude. Made worse by laying the bike down for no reason gifting the other side a 5-0. Track wasnt good but some of his team mates showed him how to give it a go

[speedwaysliders]

Where did this centre green clock from? Knowing the high tech world speedway operates in,i wouldnt be surprised if the ref puts the 2 minute warning on,then the timekeeper in the box sounds the claxon,and last but not least the presenter in the box, when he can be asked starts the clock!!! a few seconds later!!!

[Fromafar]

If you read my post correctly you will see that I stated that I was unclear regarding the clock,but in a professionally run sport surely the Team Mamagers must have noticed this strange object on centre green and enquirer what it was going to be used for alternatively the Ref should have informed the what his intentions were regarding the clock.The sport is a farce and last night was another example of the pettiness between certain people.passing the buck is the name of the game these days .

I am guessing the delay in Greaves later exclusion was because they though he could go of 15mtrs .Could be wrong though.

But then where do you draw the line. Yes you could allow 10 seconds extra, it takes longer to do the exclusion and get going again after all, but then wahat about the guy who is 15 seconds out, its only 5 seconds over the additional 10 seconds so common sense should apply ? OK but then the guy who is 25 seconds later than the two minutes !!!!!!!

 

It is far easier to have set parameters and stick to them than have a loose 2 mins that can stretch to 3.

 

Problem being as the rules are always only loosely applied by most refs (you might say they usually use a bit of common sense) then when one comes along who decides to apply them rigidly we end up with last night.

 

I don't disagree with what Dave Robinson was doing but it might have been an idea for him to brief the riders beforehand on his methods.

 

If ultimately it gets rid of the tiresome antics before each race the I endorse his stance.

 

Sadly the early showing on this made a bit of a mockery of a TV match.

 

Shades of Frank Ebdon in 1984

I find it unbelievable if he did not tell anybody regarding the clock situation ,but like yourself I would like to see it brought in at ALL tracks and adhered too.

[SCB]

When I say scripted I just mean Dave Robinson because the Coventry riders and Management had nothing to do with it. Dave Robison is just a pathetic man holding a grudge against Rosco.

No, Dave Robinson is just a rubbish referee. He's always been terrible.

[houdi]

I dont see what the ref did wrong?

 

its about time riders stopped messing around and get on with it, Worrall wasn't at the tapes before the two minutes, it was quite clear from where i was, obviously he had made it plain he wants all riders up at the tapes for two minutes.

 

in the later heat when greaves was excluded, the clock wasn't on and the starting official was on his phone to confirm only three riders.

 

batchelors attitude stank the place out the pathetic fall was so childish.

 

the two minutes is the rule well done to the ref for actually using it!

 

on a different point im sure heat two only had three laps can someone check?

I believe the main problem is that the ref didn't appear to have warned both sides that he was going to enforce the 2 minute rule as rigidly as he did. Normally at most meetings riders seem to come onto the track at their leisure, and take seemingly an age to 'settle' at the start. Meetings drag on for ages with often huge gaps between heats.

Heat 1 was systematic of what generally happens, Morris excluded for touching the tapes, and immediately the other 3 riders return to the pits.for no apparent reason.

Personally I would like to see all meetings run at a faster pace, and riders would quickly learn if they weren't 'ready' to go within 2 minutes, they would be excluded, then they would soon adapt. Indeed last night after the 1st few heat shambles, the last few heats ran pretty smoothly, with riders on track and ready to race within 2 minutes.Any attempt to speed up meetings should be applauded in my book, however I expect other refs will carry on running meetings at a snail's pace.

[New Science]

I'm sorry but the track is pants as has been the whole meeting. It's a shame because this should've been a good match to watch rather than a joke referred by the joker.

Poor advert for speedway on what used to be a good race track.

Not sure even the Coventry fans will painting their placards with "Save Brandon" after this farce.You know its bad when Pearson is embarrassed and he takes some embarrassing !

[mdmc82]

Not sure even the Coventry fans will painting their placards with "Save Brandon" after this farce.You know its bad when Pearson is embarrassed and he takes some embarrassing !

Ref had nothing to do with Brandon and it was the ref he was commenting on.

He said there had been some good racing and Louis also said that the track wasn't that bad and both implied that Swindon needed to get over their negativity.

[SPEEDY69]

Think the biggest farce was Troy Batchelor. Disgraceful attitude. Made worse by laying the bike down for no reason gifting the other side a 5-0. Track wasnt good but some of his team mates showed him how to give it a go

 

I've never really warmed to Batchelor as it alwasy seesm he's only ever interested in himself - when the Bellwe Vue meeting was cancelled at Swindon earlier this year I remember he played a good acting part in that as well.

[bigcatdiary]

No, Dave Robinson is just a rubbish referee. He's always been terrible.

Unfortunately he isn't the only one.

[MrMungo]

Only just caught this meeting on Youtube - looked a lively affair.

Highlights were Harris' riding and Rosco's interviews!

 

The track at Brandon is in dire need of some sort of overhaul. It's been pretty shocking all year. Had various meetings stopped at the start of the year, it improved for a while, but now seems to be going worse again.

The sad thing is that it didn't seem to be as bad as it has been.

 

It's a shame for Coventry, as I genuinely feel that on their day Coventry could win the title over 2 legs. They've got a great team spirit, riders who can step up for the big meetings, they've always been strong away from home, but what is missing is a semi-decent home track. That is what I suspect will cost them come October time.

[bluejigger]

Ref had nothing to do with Brandon and it was the ref he was commenting on.

He said there had been some good racing and Louis also said that the track wasn't that bad and both implied that Swindon needed to get over their negativity.

And Louis proceeded to show us a deep rut on the track and then said the track was ok. Unbelievable !

[Champion2010]

I have seen a lot worse meeting even televised ones.

Think the coventry management did well to get it on after the weather they have had there and as Chris Louis commented the track wasn't that bad. Harris, Howarth and Garrity had no problem and produced some great racing.

 

The ref decisions in the first couple of heats with exclusions at tapes was a joke but his exclusion of morris for going through the tapes, Hans for not coming out and the exclusions in the crashes were all spot on.

 

The most important part here though was the difference in the 2 teams seeing as they were both meant to be pushing for the play offs.

 

The bees turned up with no home advantage and Hans & Bomber both riding through injury. they didn't moan even when it was their riders being brought off and injured including their star reserve. Instead they dug deep, found the set ups from the gate, raced hard and looked every bit a team.

their team spirit is one of the best I have witnessed in the league this year. Against Poole and Eastbourne they were losing but never gave up and fought hard for a win at Poole and point with a depleted team at Eastbourne

 

Swindon on the other hand looked to have the worst team spirit I have seen this year. You can see why they have thrown away a lot of meetings as what kind of inspiration and motivation would you get from Batchelor and Rosco. They should have spent less time sulking and more time supporting their team and raising team spirit. Have seen it too often this year with those two on sky where losing and come out sulking and moaning if drop of rain. felt for Worrall, Gustaffson and North who gave it a good shot. If Swindon miss the play offs which I think they now will they will have only themselves to blame.

[Gavan]

And Louis proceeded to show us a deep rut on the track and then said the track was ok. Unbelievable !

Because back then riders rode on all tracks not just slick smooth ones. Im an Ipswich fan and Chris was very much a white line merchant who didnt always like it rutty but ive seen him win a British Final on a very wet track and his run off with Loram showed he could ride.

 

To many riders today not prepared to risk themselves like they used to. Batchelor being one

[bluejigger]

Does Coventry's pursuit of points justify the dumb interview by Havelock on Sky talking as if everything was ok with thousands of viewers knowing different. Come on, the points were being won on the track - let us have an honest interpretation on the referees blunders, as Peter Adams of Wolves would have done.

Because back then riders rode on all tracks not just slick smooth ones. Im an Ipswich fan and Chris was very much a white line merchant who didnt always like it rutty but ive seen him win a British Final on a very wet track and his run off with Loram showed he could ride.

 

To many riders today not prepared to risk themselves like they used to. Batchelor being one

But Bachelor was not the only one having problems with track. Why single him out for critiscm ?

[Woz01]

Only just caught this meeting on Youtube - looked a lively affair.

Highlights were Harris' riding and Rosco's interviews!

 

The track at Brandon is in dire need of some sort of overhaul. It's been pretty shocking all year. Had various meetings stopped at the start of the year, it improved for a while, but now seems to be going worse again.

The sad thing is that it didn't seem to be as bad as it has been.

 

It's a shame for Coventry, as I genuinely feel that on their day Coventry could win the title over 2 legs. They've got a great team spirit, riders who can step up for the big meetings, they've always been strong away from home, but what is missing is a semi-decent home track. That is what I suspect will cost them come October time.

Just like to point out it hasn't been shocking all year. It's been in pretty good shape the past few months, yesterday was bad I admit. The

 

The schedule at Brandon used to be speedway on Saturdays apart from 1st Saturday of the month for Stock Cars, the track used to have a week to be prepared properly. Now we have speedway Friday and more Stock cars on Saturdays and occasionally Speedway Monday, it's not enough time for the track to recover it seems especially with rainfall.

[bluejigger]

Does Coventry's pursuit of points justify the dumb interview by Havelock on Sky talking as if everything was ok with thousands of viewers knowing different. Come on, the points were being won on the track - let us have an honest interpretation on the referees blunders, as Peter Adams of Wolves would have done.