mdmc82 Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Middlo says in the Star today that Ward had heard the news several weeks ago-and obviously was unhappy since then. That's even worse, not even like it was the night before. Does that mean he had been under the influence the last few weeks. Can see why other riders are unhappy with him. Think there will be a terrible atmosphere towards him if nothing is done. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavan Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 I think it's a pretty traumatic experience to go through tbf, and think it would be the response of more than a few young people. That doesn't make it the sensible response, and clearly not acceptable for anyone needing to work in a zero alcohol tolerance profession the next day. Compare with emils response to his father's death in winning a gp in his honour. Based on nicki pedersens comments though, it seems this is reasonably typical ward behaviour, with or without bad news. I think it's a bit rough to have a go at middlo on this occassion however. i agree with some sentiments. my parents split when i was 6 and i trashed my room lol. However if at the age of 22 your parents breaking up makes you turn to the drink before you are due to do a professional job in my mind makes him a very weak minded individual. Sure your parents splitting up is hard news but to react the way he did is no excuse. As stated Tai and Emil didnt turn to anything and there issues were far far worse. And no its not rough to have a go at Middlo. He knew the reason Darcy had a drink yet seems to think its fine. His comments inflame fury in people and no wonder Middlo says in the Star today that Ward had heard the news several weeks ago-and obviously was unhappy since then. if thats the case then why is he drinking on the saturday night several weeks after he heard the news that makes no sense at all! Seems to me that Darcy and those clowns around him are trying to find an excuse to cover up his inability t be anything other than an idiot. The Saturday he drank was the 16th August Lets say he heard the news of his parents on the 1st August, why wait 15 days to have a drink over it??? Huge smokescreen in my opinion and just makes what he did worse as quite clearly there are NO mitigating circumstances 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 I doubt that was darcy s first drink in fifteen days, but similarly I can understand that its not news you would necessarily get over instantly. Would be interesting to know however whether this particular saturday night was any heavier than a typical ward saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scribbler Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 I've been through far worse in my life than Darcy Ward - including the death of both my parents within a month. Not once have I resorted to drink because it wouldn't have solved anything. If Ward needs to drink because his parents had separated weeks/days previous it appears that he does have a problem with alcohol as he's using it to supress his emotions. The situation - and his emotions - will still be there when he stops drinking. He's on the downward spiral. Drink is now affecting his work life as well as his personal life. He needs help and 'tough love'. Those who 'give in' to him and pander to his behaviour are making the situation worse. I wish/hope that someone within the sport will see his self-destruction and offer the right kind of help. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oleoleole Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Unless I've overlooked it, and apologies if I have, how come this very big news for speedway and the GP's in particular, is not even mentioned on the SGP website? The report of the meeting does not mention him at all and nothing since. I wonder why? More smoke and mirrors and half truths? Has he been abducted by aliens? If you get your news from the SGP website he has vanished without trace. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scribbler Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 And is anyone else annoyed/frustrated at the restriction of 'likes' 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maneacat Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 If he is so upset and concerned over his parents why did he not get himself an air ticket and go back to Australia immediately he heard this news - surely that's what most people would have done and it would have been totally understood by the majority on here. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwalker Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Unless I've overlooked it, and apologies if I have, how come this very big news for speedway and the GP's in particular, is not even mentioned on the SGP website? The report of the meeting does not mention him at all and nothing since. I wonder why? More smoke and mirrors and half truths? Has he been abducted by aliens? If you get your news from the SGP website he has vanished without trace. No you have not. There has been no mentioned it on the SGP site, no mentioning on the FIM website, the only small info we've got from the SGP was a tweet saying Darcy failed a breath test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencebel Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 My parents have just told me, (they have a daily paper) that Ward has been fined and banned for the rest of the season. It could just be paper talk.......Anybody else seen it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screm Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Mr Middleditch is making himself look very silly IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwalker Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 (edited) My parents have just told me, (they have a daily paper) that Ward has been fined and banned for the rest of the season. It could just be paper talk.......Anybody else seen it? Way to mild if that is true. 2 months suspension is nothing, it should be a minimum of 12 months. Edited August 21, 2014 by Ghostwalker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazeaway Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Mr Middleditch is making himself look very silly IMO. He does it so well though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandorum Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Middlo says in the Star today that Ward had heard the news several weeks ago-and obviously was unhappy since then. But did not Ward say on the TV during the GP that he got some bad news whilst having dinner and had one too many whilst not hydrating? He seems to have lied about his test reading and if this is true seems to have lied about when he got his bad news. The bloke deserves all he gets frankly and any sympathy I had for him is evaporating fast. He seems a pretty pathetic childish figure who needs to seriously grow up as his excuses are nonsense compared to what befell Tai and Emil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hampshire3321 Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Personally i think they should ban him too - If it means he gets a wake up call it can only be a good thing. He is out of the hunt to be world champion now so what else has he really got to race for?? A couple of things that seem odd to be about the incident- 1- Obviously he has said he had bad family news and thats why he had a drink, but im surprised he wasnt with anyone who could have stopped him. 2- Having obviously had a few the night before he must have known he was likley to fail the test, so why not cry off with a fake injury and save himself all this drama? Rules are rules and im sure we'd all be up in arms if he had hurt someone as a result of riding with drink in him. In my younger days when i raced motocross i went out the night before and had a few and we went out testing the next day and i felt fine - After a lap or two the adreniline kicked in and i felt pissed again - needless to say the bike went back in the van and i learnt a lesson. It would be a shame if he pissed his talent up the wall, but unless he has good people pointing him in the right direction i fear he could throw it all away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 The actual quote in the Echo from Darcy was “I got some bad news yesterday when I was having dinner and a couple of drinks. I didn’t eat properly and I wasn’t hydrated unfortunately." This sort of contradicts the reports that he has been aware of the split for some time. Maybe there was a final confirmation over the weekend but hardly anything that can be classed truly as mitigation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavan Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 My point is this: 1.) If you feel you need to have a drink because of the break up of your parents then so be it. 2.) You would expect that to turn to drink would be something you would do ALMOST IMMEDIATLY 3) We now hear he knew about his parents breaks up WEEKS before the 16th This can only mean 1 thing Darcy Ward is not in control of his drinking and is a danger to himself and others on the track. He got caught out at the gp but if he is blaming it on his parents break up we are led to believe then that he has been drinking for the weeks leading up to the 16th as if he wants to blame it on his parents why wait weeks before you indulge? The fact his parents split up 'several weeks' before he got caught out is no excuse for drinking on the 16th. Nicki Pedersen has alluded to him being over the limit before and now we can all believe him. If his parents split up weeks ago and he is using it as an excuse then it must be possible he has ridden under the influence during the weeks from the split to the 16th? Maybe he was under the influence in the World Cup as he was shocking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 (edited) Ward has shown no remorse over this. He has lied about mitigating circumstances and his only concern was 'not being hydrated' which as has been pointed out makes no difference to the alcohol levels in your system at all. It seems it has not dawned on him at any point that perhaps he should refrain from drinking before a speedway event. Also, let's bear in mind he was already out and already drinking BEFORE he received this so called news. Zero sympathy should now be given to him. Edited August 21, 2014 by BWitcher 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavan Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 The actual quote in the Echo from Darcy was “I got some bad news yesterday when I was having dinner and a couple of drinks. I didn’t eat properly and I wasn’t hydrated unfortunately." This sort of contradicts the reports that he has been aware of the split for some time. Maybe there was a final confirmation over the weekend but hardly anything that can be classed truly as mitigation. so whose lying? 1. Darcy heard about his parents on the 16th. 2. Middlo says he knew about his parents weeks before 3. There is 'other' bad news we dont know about. Such a smokescreen around this no wonder people feel he should have the book thrown at him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheReturn Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 Mr Middleditch is making himself look very silly IMO. When it comes to defending the indefensible of Ward, what's new? It would be nice if some people gave it a rest on this thread instead of constantly repeating themselves .... It's newsworthy, so people will discuss. Don't like it, don't read.. simples. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinsgirl Posted August 21, 2014 Report Share Posted August 21, 2014 My parents have just told me, (they have a daily paper) that Ward has been fined and banned for the rest of the season. It could just be paper talk.......Anybody else seen it? If this is what it turns out to be then in future he should be tested more often and any transgression it be a lifetime ban IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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