Darcy Ward

[sommelier]

Its funny over the years how people take preferences over riders, i preferred Briggs/Olsen over Mauger Ivan was a legend and often the benchmark from 69 onwards.Also i took Crump/Gollob/ Adams all day long over Rickardsson i was not a fan admired what he achieved though.Back to Ward he in my opinion is the most naturally talented rider i have seen after Lee/Gollob can he win it? of course i hope so.I hope he buckles down and gets it together be mad if he never won a WC but there have been alot of great riders who have never won it so it could slip through his hands.

Yes, Lee,Gollob,Emil like Ward, so good at ther age. One rider i think this year at the same age as ward Ward was at 16, & IMO is as good is Rob Lambert at Lynn

[stratton]

speedway can afford to lose anyone who is either on drugs or over the alcohol limit. The way you talk you make it sound like because Ward is in the top 10 in the world we should treat him differently!

Yes my take on it he has made a grave mistake, but it should not be terminal for his career.Also i believe most of us on here enjoy his ability and in a way it would be robbing us the paying punter the pleasure of seeing him ride.I would say the same if it was a NL rider everyone deserve chances i would much prefer try to help whoever the person was.To be honest nobody on this forum can take seriously what you say with anything involving POOLE speedway you have a problem on that front.Take a deep breath and forget the past and just concentrate on the future if you look back at the amount of your posts slating Poole it is embarrassing.

[pandorum]

As Sidney says on the one hand he must be punished and know he has been punished but on the other the sport can ill afford to lose the Dudeks and Wards it has.

A ban for the rest of 2014 and from GP and all FIM meetings for say the next two seasons until 2017 would be a fitting punishment for someone with Ward's ambition as it would hurt him and still allow speedway to benefit from such a talented rider.

Everyone here makes good points but cutting off the nose to spite the face is not a serious option for a sport such as speedway which sadly barely registers with the rest of the world unless it is to report that some idiot has done something idiotic.

[Vince]

Strange how we all see different things in a rider. For me while Ward has fantastic balance and immense talent on a bike it's his racing brain that has yet to develop, at the highest level he makes more mistakes and bad choices than some of the other top riders. If he sorts his life and attitude out then he has a chance of learning those skills and being an all time great, personally I'm not convinced he will.

 

The revelation of the past couple of seasons has been Woffinden who has developed the knack of putting himself in the right place at the right time more than just about any other rider I have ever seen. A few years back I could see a very good rider but never expected him to reach the level he has now. In contrast to Ward he has got himself on track to be one of the best ever in my opinion.

 

As for punishment I think a fairly short ban and having to go through the qualifiers would be fair.

Edited August 23, 2014 by Vince

[stratton]

Yes, Lee,Gollob,Emil like Ward, so good at ther age. One rider i think this year at the same age as ward Ward was at 16, & IMO is as good is Rob Lambert at Lynn

I like Lambert pray that he pushes through some of his riding at the Abbey Thursday was brilliant.One race i think involving Rose and Morris he made one brilliant cut back hugged the line brilliant throttle control.At 16 nobody compares to Michael Lee a no 1 at 16 in a ultra tough NL,and scored 10 points in the NLRC.At 18/19 he was beating the likes of legends Mauger and Olsen (ect)will that ever happen again i believe not.

[scribbler]

Yes my take on it he has made a grave mistake, but it should not be terminal for his career.Also i believe most of us on here enjoy his ability and in a way it would be robbing us the paying punter the pleasure of seeing him ride.I would say the same if it was a NL rider everyone deserve chances i would much prefer try to help whoever the person was.To be honest nobody on this forum can take seriously what you say with anything involving POOLE speedway you have a problem on that front.Take a deep breath and forget the past and just concentrate on the future if you look back at the amount of your posts slating Poole it is embarrassing.

 

The FIM would not be robbing supporters/paying punters by punishing him...

 

It is Ward's own choices/actions that have the potential to rob the Speedway world of his talents. He certainly wasn't thinking about his career or his supporters when he knowingly drank the night before a GP.

 

 

 

 

One thing that has been niggling me since last weekend... Ward is not known for his gating ability - but every so often he had an evening of superb gating. Before I accepted that it was just a good night for his gating ... now I keep wondering why. I keep wondering if he has taken anything that either makes him a poor gater or a brilliant gater. His inconsistency is making me doubt his 'natural' ability.

[sommelier]

I like Lambert pray that he pushes through some of his riding at the Abbey Thursday was brilliant.One race i think involving Rose and Morris he made one brilliant cut back hugged the line brilliant throttle control.At 16 nobody compares to Michael Lee a no 1 at 16 in a ultra tough NL,and scored 10 points in the NLRC.At 18/19 he was beating the likes of legends Mauger and Olsen (ect)will that ever happen again i believe not.

You talk a lot of sense Sidney

I like Lambert pray that he pushes through some of his riding at the Abbey Thursday was brilliant.One race i think involving Rose and Morris he made one brilliant cut back hugged the line brilliant throttle control.At 16 nobody compares to Michael Lee a no 1 at 16 in a ultra tough NL,and scored 10 points in the NLRC.At 18/19 he was beating the likes of legends Mauger and Olsen (ect)will that ever happen again i believe not.

You talk a lot of sense Sidney

[Gavan]

Can you honestly say hand on your heart that Hancock or Woffinden as a good racing brain than Ward enough though I hate to say it. IMO Ward is by far more naturally talented than either of those will ever be, I know you can say they have been world champions.

far more naturally talented yes he is

 

better rider? No that is jusged on results.

 

was jimmy white a better player than Steve Davis because he had more natural ability? No

Wasnt use of coke, weed and speed in common use by the yanks in the 80s ("allegedly"). I don't remember any of them faiking drugs tests though schwartz was fined for being caught with drugs at Heathrow and of course Shawn was stripped of his silver medal for fsiling a prior test (though that was for something a doctor had prescribed from memory).

 

Ward is nore naturally talented, a better racer and team rider. He is the best rider in the world to watch. BUT you cant argue with results, and they say that both tai and greg are better than darcy, primarily due to their consistrncy and darcys comparatively poor gating.

talented yes

racer yes

team rider? not in Hancocks class

Wards tuner is the same as Woffindens!

Well I have really learned something off you I have only been watching speedway seriously at least 3 live meetings a week since 1967 wow you should really educate me if you think anybody in the last ten years as a better racing brain especially on first turns then I would like to know who. You must be some serious knowledge on speedway, sounds like I could learn from you !!!!!!!!!

Mark Loram had by far a better racing brain then Darcy. how many times did Mark miss the start and have to make quick decisions? how many times did Mark crash when coming from behind as opposed to Ward.

 

Mark won one title. Ward as yet has none.

So people saying Darcy is better than Hancock or Woffy are wrong.

 

Its not about who puts bums on seats. Christ Loram was unreal to watch but Rickardsson was the better rider.

 

At the moment Darcy will not be rembered in 20 years time while the record books will always remember the best

Did nobody watch the Grand Prix before Latvia.

 

Watch Gregs racing brain when he keeps Darcy behind him not once but twice. Darcy was outrode.

 

Cant remember what gp it was but Hancock also overtook Ward in one gp race as well so he can overtake when needed

Yes my take on it he has made a grave mistake, but it should not be terminal for his career.Also i believe most of us on here enjoy his ability and in a way it would be robbing us the paying punter the pleasure of seeing him ride.I would say the same if it was a NL rider everyone deserve chances i would much prefer try to help whoever the person was.To be honest nobody on this forum can take seriously what you say with anything involving POOLE speedway you have a problem on that front.Take a deep breath and forget the past and just concentrate on the future if you look back at the amount of your posts slating Poole it is embarrassing.

give it a rest with the Poole thing it has nothing to do with Poole.

 

any rider caught over the limit should have an immediate 8 month ban the precedent was set.

 

Nothing to do with what team he rides for.

 

The fact this thread has dragged is due to some Poole fans thinking he just needs a slap on the wrist

[sommelier]

far more naturally talented yes he is

 

better rider? No that is jusged on results.

 

was jimmy white a better player than Steve Davis because he had more natural ability? No

talented yes

racer yes

team rider? not in Hancocks class

Mark Loram had by far a better racing brain then Darcy. how many times did Mark miss the start and have to make quick decisions? how many times did Mark crash when coming from behind as opposed to Ward.

 

Mark won one title. Ward as yet has none.

So people saying Darcy is better than Hancock or Woffy are wrong.

 

Its not about who puts bums on seats. Christ Loram was unreal to watch but Rickardsson was the better rider.

 

At the moment Darcy will not be rembered in 20 years time while the record books will always remember the best

Did nobody watch the Grand Prix before Latvia.

 

Watch Gregs racing brain when he keeps Darcy behind him not once but twice. Darcy was outrode.

 

Cant remember what gp it was but Hancock also overtook Ward in one gp race as well so he can overtake when needed

give it a rest with the Poole thing it has nothing to do with Poole.

 

any rider caught over the limit should have an immediate 8 month ban the precedent was set.

 

Nothing to do with what team he rides for.

 

The fact this thread has dragged is due to some Poole fans thinking he just needs a slap on the wrist

Ther was no biger Loram fan than me, was at Pfaffenhoen in 92 when he lost the run off with Adams. was at the last GP im Bydgoszcz in 2000 to watch him lift the title. Was also at Exeter the night he got the track record! as good as Ward, um a tough one that!

[Gavan]

Ther was no biger Loram fan than me, was at Pfaffenhoen in 92 when he lost the run off with Adams. was at the last GP im Bydgoszcz in 2000 to watch him lift the title. Was also at Exeter the night he got the track record! as good as Ward, um a tough one that!

No Mark isnt as good as Ward.....................he was better.

 

he used his brain when overtaking rather than wind it all on like Darcy.

watch how many times he used to line riders up before making a long straight and flying past. got his wheels in line better than anyone i can remember watching.

 

Darcy isnt yet in Marks league for ability from the back. Hasnt yet mastered true control and over rides and crashes an awful lot.

 

Mark has a world crown as well. professional on and off the track. Not sure ive ever heard any fellow rider have a bad word to say about him.

[Panthers89]

So for someone's whos been away for a couple of weeks, has anything been done yet?

[ColinMills]

No Mark isnt as good as Ward.....................he was better.

 

he used his brain when overtaking rather than wind it all on like Darcy.

watch how many times he used to line riders up before making a long straight and flying past. got his wheels in line better than anyone i can remember watching.

 

Darcy isnt yet in Marks league for ability from the back. Hasnt yet mastered true control and over rides and crashes an awful lot.

 

Mark has a world crown as well. professional on and off the track. Not sure ive ever heard any fellow rider have a bad word to say about him.

couple of spot on posts fron Gavan, have to agree with every single word of it.......

[Fromafar]

question? Will the FIM discuss Darcy's case before next GP,or will he be allowed to compete if they don't.

[PHILIPRISING]

If he still has his licence then, of course, he will be able to compete ... will be shocked if the FIM haven't come to a verdict by then however.

 

But they need to provide sufficient time for Michael Jepsen Jensen to prepare should he be required. Of course, there us now the possibility that Nicki Pedersen won't be fit enough for Gorzow. Who's next?

[sommelier]

No Mark isnt as good as Ward.....................he was better.

 

he used his brain when overtaking rather than wind it all on like Darcy.

watch how many times he used to line riders up before making a long straight and flying past. got his wheels in line better than anyone i can remember watching.

 

Darcy isnt yet in Marks league for ability from the back. Hasnt yet mastered true control and over rides and crashes an awful lot.

 

Mark has a world crown as well. professional on and off the track. Not sure ive ever heard any fellow rider have a bad word to say about him.

I take it you dont no Norrie Allan very well then ???

If he still has his licence then, of course, he will be able to compete ... will be shocked if the FIM haven't come to a verdict by then however.

 

But they need to provide sufficient time for Michael Jepsen Jensen to prepare should he be required. Of course, there us now the possibility that Nicki Pedersen won't be fit enough for Gorzow. Who's next?

I would love to see Laguta strut his stuff in the GPs!

[Ghostwalker]

If he still has his licence then, of course, he will be able to compete ... will be shocked if the FIM haven't come to a verdict by then however.

 

But they need to provide sufficient time for Michael Jepsen Jensen to prepare should he be required. Of course, there us now the possibility

that Nicki Pedersen won't be fit enough for Gorzow. Who's next?

 

I don't know how far down the list they go, nut Hans Andersen is next in line after MJJ; http://www.fim-live.com/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/CCP_2012/2013/501-06.pdf

[Gavan]

I take it you dont no Norrie Allan very well then ???

I would love to see Laguta strut his stuff in the GPs!

yes i probably know Norrie Allan better than yourself seeing as my uncle used to sponsor Mark when he was 15 at Hackney right through untill he moved to Kings Lynn in 1990. We followed Mark almost everywhere from the early days until he moved to Wolves and Exeter and from our base in Essex it was to far. Both Mark and Norrie Allan cam to my aunties funeral in February 2000 and yes they got on fine. Until Norrie demanded more money from Poole to keep Mark there and he ended up losing his spot to Tony Rickardsson. As i say name me a rider past or present who has a low opinion of Mark. Im still waiting?

yes i probably know Norrie Allan better than yourself seeing as my uncle used to sponsor Mark when he was 15 at Hackney right through untill he moved to Kings Lynn in 1990. We followed Mark almost everywhere from the early days until he moved to Wolves and Exeter and from our base in Essex it was to far. Both Mark and Norrie Allan cam to my aunties funeral in February 2000 and yes they got on fine. Until Norrie demanded more money from Poole to keep Mark there and he ended up losing his spot to Tony Rickardsson. As i say name me a rider past or present who has a low opinion of Mark. Im still waiting?

its not a who knows who better but yes we were close to the Loram family. We still sit with the same family at Ipswich whose youngest daughter is married to Jeremy Doncaster's son. His step sister is Joanne Louis who was Marks partner in the 90's. Mark is often at Foxhall and always stops for a chat to ask how the family all are. As i say professional on and off the track, Darcy has a lot to learn

[screm]

For the good of the sport the FIM must come up with their decision before we get to Gorzow next Saturday.

[stratton]

yes i probably know Norrie Allan better than yourself seeing as my uncle used to sponsor Mark when he was 15 at Hackney right through untill he moved to Kings Lynn in 1990. We followed Mark almost everywhere from the early days until he moved to Wolves and Exeter and from our base in Essex it was to far. Both Mark and Norrie Allan cam to my aunties funeral in February 2000 and yes they got on fine. Until Norrie demanded more money from Poole to keep Mark there and he ended up losing his spot to Tony Rickardsson. As i say name me a rider past or present who has a low opinion of Mark. Im still waiting?

its not a who knows who better but yes we were close to the Loram family. We still sit with the same family at Ipswich whose youngest daughter is married to Jeremy Doncaster's son. His step sister is Joanne Louis who was Marks partner in the 90's. Mark is often at Foxhall and always stops for a chat to ask how the family all are. As i say professional on and off the track, Darcy has a lot to learn

Do you know Ward ? Mark you are right what a great rider great bloke and i followed him from when he was the Hackney team mascot.As a example how can you compare different eras a different time.

[ColinMills]

M

oops....Mark Loram is a rider you would pay to watch, whoever the other 6 members were!..what a privilege for the fans when he missed the gate.....still play the cd "cant stop that man loram"......