Blazeaway Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 In many parts of the world there is zero tolerance on drink-driving. The UK has one of the more lenient drink /driving laws probably because of the political strength strength of the brewing industry. .. As I said before there is probably not a branch of motor sport anywhere that has anything other than zero tolerance. For example , from the start of 2014 there are mandatory breath tests for all competitors in the British Touring Car Championship. This is a section of the website explaining why :- " As any amount of alcohol in the blood stream can affect a person’s ability to drive and make decisions, a strict ‘zero tolerance’ limit will now be imposed by organisers TOCA to ensure the maximum levels of safety are maintained at all times" One can only hope that speedway is not trailing behind the rest of the world on this Some people obviously take delight in the fact that its Darcy but the reality is there is a breach of the rules and if he gets lenient treatment why shouldn't the next one? Unfortunate for Darcy but the sport has to be seen to be bigger than any one rider. Why is that I wonder... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Given my level of cynicism about the sport it wouldn't surprise me if he gets a token ban, alongside a more lengthy suspended one. Just don't feel that the unhealthy relationship between sponsors (both of individual riders and events), authorities and the GP promoters will allow him to be left out of the series for next year. Can't base my feeling on anything other than a general cynicism with the way the sport works, but I suppose we'll find out soon enough. Don't think a gentle slap on the wrist will do him much good unless he uses this opportunity to change the people around him and give his talent a chance. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Lady Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Some people obviously take delight in the fact that its Darcy but the reality is there is a breach of the rules and if he gets lenient treatment why shouldn't the next one? Unfortunate for Darcy but the sport has to be seen to be bigger than any one rider. I take no pleasure in Darcy's plight. However having seen many riders seriously injured and one lose his life, I am wholeheartedly on the side of anything that enhances rider safety. I'd feel the same whoever was involved, and incidentally think Dudek should be banned. If a high profile rider like Darcy gets banned and it makes just one youngster stop and think before drinking and riding something good might come out of this. Some people obviously take delight in the fact that its Darcy but the reality is there is a breach of the rules and if he gets lenient treatment why shouldn't the next one? Unfortunate for Darcy but the sport has to be seen to be bigger than any one rider. I take no pleasure in Darcy's plight. However having seen many riders seriously injured and one lose his life, I am wholeheartedly on the side of anything that enhances rider safety. I'd feel the same whoever was involved, and incidentally think Dudek should be banned. If a high profile rider like Darcy gets banned and it makes just one youngster stop and think before drinking and riding something good might come out of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Darcy reminds me a lot of nz cricketer jesse ryder. Everytime it seems he has turned the corner, he stuffs up again. I suspect hes not helped by his circle of mates - certainly the darcy crew I was sat next to at western springs were all trollied by the start of the meeting. Maybe he needs a manager who will tell him when he's being a dickhead. Hope his ban is not too severe though. Rehabilitation rather than punishment for the sake of it - a meeting if he had a low level the seadon if he was over drink drive limit. Would be a real shame to be missing both emil andcdarcy next year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluPanther Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 You do know that most energy drinks contain caffeine, which is actually dehydrating, don't you? Darcy surely not that stupid???? ROFL! Your right there, 'energy' drinks are probably the worst non-alcoholic drink anyone can pour down their neck. I can't believe people drink this poison... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Your right there, 'energy' drinks are probably the worst non-alcoholic drink anyone can pour down their neck. I can't believe people drink this poison... An increasing number of otherwise fit and healthy young people are suffering heart attacks and it's being linked to energy drinks. The one causing most concern? Monster! If i was a sportsman it'd be the last thing I drink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Mic Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 I can't believe anyone is actually defending him here. He drank, clearly more that enough, the night before he had an afternoon race meeting. He was breath tested & failed. End of story. It matters not if it was Darcy Ward, Tai Woffinden, or even, for example a junior rider at NL level. There is no excuse & there should be no mercy. Whoever it is should be punished severely, which should include a lengthy ban. FFS, they race motorcycles with no brakes, inches away from three other people at ridiculous speeds - isn't it dangerous enough, without racing with dulled (however slightly) reactions? As for Middlo, what a prize bell end. There are no mitigating circumstances. I also agree that Dudek should be banned. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pugwash Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Didn't stop him last year in the restaurant and bar of the hotel in daugavpils, he was staying in the same hotel as the travel plus group! It was commented on then that he was in the bar 'til 2 in the morning! So what, i've seen riders trolleying it down in a nightclub at 4am with a GP next day, including one who's been spouting on tv that he should get a ban. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandorum Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 (edited) In no way am I defending Darcy Ward but I do think he could be the unlucky one here, we've all seen or heard about riders having a few beers after a meeting and then riding the following day.... Yes I have had a drink after a meeting with more than a few riders. Most of whom had to go to work the next day as they were not professional riders and did this as a hobby rather than a way of making a living. Not excusing them but that was what people did 25/35 years ago. I used to drink at work and that was pretty silly when you were wandering around on a scaffold or a bridge. To quote hawkwind it was simply 'the spirit of the age'. But to offer that up as an excuse for Ward is not really acceptable as nowadays these guys are fully professional speedway riders and you can't tell me Tai Woffinden or Nicki Pedersen go on the p#ss before or after a meeting because I would require incontrovertible proof to believe such a thing. His entourage and supporters are getting ready to play the mitigating circumstance card which is frankly a load of bollox no matter what the circumstances and he should be judged on the offence not the reasons for committing it which are spurious at best for someone in the sport he participates in. If he was that upset he should have done what Emil did when his dad died during a SEC meeting, took a couple of days off and came back stronger than ever as the Russian did by winning the next GP. That's character, sadly Darcy has none and is just a grubby little individual who now is desperately hoping his mealy mouthed excuses about NOT hydrating will get him off with a fine and a kick up the arce. For the sake of speedway's last few vestiges of credibility I hope not. I would not advocate a total ban as he is one of the best in the sport and giving him a two year worldwide ban may lose him from the sport forever. Ban him from the GP for the rest of 2014 and tell him he will never get a wildcard or a pick ever again and so if he wants to be in the GP he will have to qualify for 2016. That to me is a fair punishment and add to that the fact he will be tested at every GP/SWC/FIM meeting he takes part in and if he repeats this will be banned from such meetings for life. The lad wants to be World Champion. This is a way of showing him he needs to shape up and maybe it would be the jolt he needs. Speedway needs Ward but it has to show he can't walk all over it because he is one of our best. Hit him where it hurts most and give him a chance to grow up. In no way am I defending Darcy Ward but I do think he could be the unlucky one here, we've all seen or heard about riders having a few beers after a meeting and then riding the following day....another example is when a rider wins a meeting, nice bottle of champagne on the rostrum, a few bottles with the pit crew/sponsors etc etc... And you KNOW this how? So what, i've seen riders trolleying it down in a nightclub at 4am with a GP next day, including one who's been spouting on tv that he should get a ban. And you can prove this of course? Edited August 18, 2014 by pandorum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wackie Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Poor Darcy, always in the thick of it isn't he. Alleged sexual offence - drink related Brawl/thuggish behaviour in public (Torun) - drink related Injured in an altercation outside a public house - drink related Evading police whilst under the influence - drink and drugs related Caught with a higher than permitted alcohol level in his system - drink related Anyone else see a pattern here? There's no doubt that Ward is one of the most entertaining and talented riders in the world at the moment, but that doesn't excuse his behaviour. Again, there are no mitigating circumstances that could excuse him of failing a breath test at this weekends SGP. If whatever news he received was that bad and took his mind away for a few hours from what he should have been concentrating on (preparing for the following days meeting!) was that bad that only a skinful could resolve it, then you have to question what sort of place his head is in, and whether he should be riding at all at the moment. It wouldn't matter if it was Tai, Greg, Nicki or whoever - they all know the score regarding the FIM rules and regulations on their anti-doping policy, and the consequent penalties that could be passed out for breaking those regulations. If a precedent has been set for a similar offence (Danno) then a similar punishment must be imposed. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stadia Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 An increasing number of otherwise fit and healthy young people are suffering heart attacks and it's being linked to energy drinks. The one causing most concern? Monster! If i was a sportsman it'd be the last thing I drink. Me too SCB, I would rather have 6 or 7 pints of Stella!..........oh doh! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 Fact 1: if I have had one too many last night and get breathalysed today I would lose my licence and not be able to work in my present job for probably 5 or more years because of companies being unwilling to pay the extra insurance costs. Shelf stacking in a supermarket would be beckoning and everybody would be correctly thinking that it served me right. Fact 2: The court may fractionally reduce my fine if the were some truly exceptional circumstances. The minimum ban is fixed and would not be changed. Fact 3: I would think I had been bloody stupid for having a drink. I wouldn't think my problem was not drinking enough water to help mask the effects. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 (edited) An increasing number of otherwise fit and healthy young people are suffering heart attacks and it's being linked to energy drinks. The one causing most concern? Monster! If i was a sportsman it'd be the last thing I drink. Damn that Greg Hancock!! Such a poor role model for young riders!!!! and lets not forget the Hampels and Sayfutdinovs and others of this world who take Red Bull! ps I hear the Man from Del Monte is lined up as a wildcard at a future GP. Edited August 18, 2014 by Skidder1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OveFundinFan Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 When he was being interviewed at the meeting and he was explaining he had some really bad news, he didnt look like he had some really bad news, and the lines where he said he should have hydrated seemed well rehearsed. If later, as Phil Rising says, he was distraught then just maybe it was sinking in what he had done and the reality of what may be coming. Bring it on, no excuses will do from him or any of his ill advising cronies. Damn that Greg Hancock!! Such a poor role model for young riders!!!! and lets not forget the Hampels and Sayfutdinovs and others of this world who take Red Bull! ps I hear the Man from Del Monte is lined up as a wildcard at a future GP. Do the sponsored riders actually have to drink the stuff, or are they simply obliged to hold the can up for the press and sometimes pretend to drink it? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDY69 Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 People mature at different times in their life and no-one can really force another person to stop this or that if they are intent on doing it. Other riders consumed alcohol the night before this GP but in moderation and will have made sure they ate a big brekafast/lunch to ensure all alcohol had passed through. It's food that helps the body dissipate alcohol quicker than water or any other liquid. Random testing for alcohol, when it's not expensive to carry out, should be changed to compulsory. If the GP had taken place on Saturday night of course then this wouldn't have happened. I don't condone his behaviour but it's a real shame for the sport - what a weekend. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DutchGrasstrack Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 I would not be so suprised if they have just water or some other liquid in the bottle.... if not then I'm sure they have some special sponsor deal with their local dentist as well I suppose lol. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stadia Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 People mature at different times in their life and no-one can really force another person to stop this or that if they are intent on doing it. Other riders consumed alcohol the night before this GP but in moderation and will have made sure they ate a big brekafast/lunch to ensure all alcohol had passed through. It's food that helps the body dissipate alcohol quicker than water or any other liquid. Random testing for alcohol, when it's not expensive to carry out, should be changed to compulsory. If the GP had taken place on Saturday night of course then this wouldn't have happened. I don't condone his behaviour but it's a real shame for the sport - what a weekend. As someone else on here alluded to, you do wonder whether Darcy was singled out for a test, as a result of a tip off. The way Scott Nicholls put the 'boot in' during his commentary........who knows? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agrotron Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 No the riders don't have to drink the stuff its just a liquid holder with a sponsor on so the camera can pic up on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluPanther Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 As someone else on here alluded to, you do wonder whether Darcy was singled out for a test, as a result of a tip off. The way Scott Nicholls put the 'boot in' during his commentary........who knows? But then again, why would you waste a test on Greg or Nicki when Darcy is nearby... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 So now it's a conspiracy by those in charge against Darcy too. No doubt they have done it as they're "Poole hater" right? LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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