Kings Lynn 2015

[stratton]

You and me both mate.

 

Its all very well to say we told you so, but I have never heard anyone acclaim Milik was anything but a Poole rider. His recent behaviour has only highlighted them thoughts. A really bad signing, especially when we needed someone special to cover for Rory and to motivate the team. Even hind sight would have told you that.

 

As for getting in replacements like Dudek, I'm sure, had the dangled carrot, been juicy enough, the riders would give it a go. After all we're only talking about another half a dozens meetings till the end of the season. I sure had the boot been on the other foot, Matt Ford would have found the resources. We obviously don't want to win the League......

 

Plus ...... I have a big problem with injuries... The list of riders getting badly injured grows by the week, and that just drives me away from the sport I love. Where once, injuries were few and were usually restricted to broken arms and legs, now its far more serious when head and backs are damaged. I feel the sport has reached a point where something has to be done. Slower bikes? Better tyres, Better Tracks, something that will make these injuries seldom again, like they once were.

 

You are right it used to be a broken leg /arm and regular broken collarbones but now the injuries seem regularly worse a worrying trend.And when you see Tai at the weekend belting around you can see why,the bikes now are faster than ever. Edited September 1, 2015 by sidney

[Trees]

It's probably up to the riders to change things, they are the ones racing.

[waiheke1]

I really don't think it's true that injuries are worse than ever. Darcy's is obviously horrific.

But look at how many riders from the 80s suffered as bad or worse.

What makes the injury situation seem worse is a combination of worldwide media, riders racing consecutive days in different countries, double uppers etc. the latter two meaning teams are more oftneneeding to replace riders.

Yes safety needs to be a top priority. But its a dangerous sport and not sure there is an easy solution to avoiding crashes like Darcy's, gundersen s etc.

[oldace]

I really don't think it's true that injuries are worse than ever. Darcy's is obviously horrific.

But look at how many riders from the 80s suffered as bad or worse.

What makes the injury situation seem worse is a combination of worldwide media, riders racing consecutive days in different countries, double uppers etc. the latter two meaning teams are more oftneneeding to replace riders.

Yes safety needs to be a top priority. But its a dangerous sport and not sure there is an easy solution to avoiding crashes like Darcy's, gundersen s etc.

 

Lets take the period early seventies to early 90s

 

1972 Alan Clegg Hackney

1975 Gary Peterson Wolverhampton

1975 Tony O’Donnell Coventry

1977 Stephen Defew Peterborough

1977 Kevin Holden Poole

1977 Stuart Shirley Ellesmere Port

1979 Vic Harding Hackney

1981 Tony Sanford Exeter

1982 Denny Pyeatt Hackney

1982 Brett Alderton King’s Lynn

1983 Mick Spiers Long Eaton

1983 Mike Walsh Glasgow

1984 Neal Watson King’s Lynn

1984 Leif Wahlmann King’s Lynn

1987 Ian Hunter Iwade

1989 Paul Muchene Hackney

1992 Wayne Garratt Newcastle

1994 Karl Nicholls Iwade

 

Thats just on British Tracks. Tommy Jansson, Zdenek Kudrna, Graham Banks and many others all perished elsewhere. At a guess there were another 30 to 40 track fatalities around the world in the same period.

 

The sport, although mighty dangerous, is now safer than at any time in the past

 

[BluPanther]

 

Lets take the period early seventies to early 90s

 

1972 Alan Clegg Hackney

1975 Gary Peterson Wolverhampton

1975 Tony O’Donnell Coventry

1977 Stephen Defew Peterborough

1977 Kevin Holden Poole

1977 Stuart Shirley Ellesmere Port

1979 Vic Harding Hackney

1981 Tony Sanford Exeter

1982 Denny Pyeatt Hackney

1982 Brett Alderton King’s Lynn

1983 Mick Spiers Long Eaton

1983 Mike Walsh Glasgow

1984 Neal Watson King’s Lynn

1984 Leif Wahlmann King’s Lynn

1987 Ian Hunter Iwade

1989 Paul Muchene Hackney

1992 Wayne Garratt Newcastle

1994 Karl Nicholls Iwade

 

Thats just on British Tracks. Tommy Jansson, Zdenek Kudrna, Graham Banks and many others all perished elsewhere. At a guess there were another 30 to 40 track fatalities around the world in the same period.

 

The sport, although mighty dangerous, is now safer than at any time in the past

 

Please tell us how you come to that conclusion, with the bikes faster than ever ? Not seeing it myself..

[g13webb]

 

Lets take the period early seventies to early 90s

 

1972 Alan Clegg Hackney

1975 Gary Peterson Wolverhampton

1975 Tony O’Donnell Coventry

1977 Stephen Defew Peterborough

1977 Kevin Holden Poole

1977 Stuart Shirley Ellesmere Port

1979 Vic Harding Hackney

1981 Tony Sanford Exeter

1982 Denny Pyeatt Hackney

1982 Brett Alderton King’s Lynn

1983 Mick Spiers Long Eaton

1983 Mike Walsh Glasgow

1984 Neal Watson King’s Lynn

1984 Leif Wahlmann King’s Lynn

1987 Ian Hunter Iwade

1989 Paul Muchene Hackney

1992 Wayne Garratt Newcastle

1994 Karl Nicholls Iwade

 

Thats just on British Tracks. Tommy Jansson, Zdenek Kudrna, Graham Banks and many others all perished elsewhere. At a guess there were another 30 to 40 track fatalities around the world in the same period.

 

The sport, although mighty dangerous, is now safer than at any time in the past

 

 

I don't see that at all. You mentioned above a period of twenty years and twenty riders getting seriously injured. In numbers alone, that pales significantly to the numbers hurt today. The machines of today are far more technical with much more speed than yesterday's, that have also become harder to control. Coupled to that the poorly prepared tracks, and limitation of tyres, you have all the ingredients you need for tragic accidents......

 

All the i

[arnieg]

I don't see that at all. You mentioned above a period of twenty years and twenty riders getting seriously injured. In numbers alone, that pales significantly to the numbers hurt today. The machines of today are far more technical with much more speed than yesterday's, that have also become harder to control. Coupled to that the poorly prepared tracks, and limitation of tyres, you have all the ingredients you need for tragic accidents......

 

All the i

I think you've missed Oldace's point. His list is of fatalities. It's much longer than the one for the last 20 years (which consists solely of David Nix)

[oldace]

 

I don't see that at all. You mentioned above a period of twenty years and twenty riders getting seriously injured. In numbers alone, that pales significantly to the numbers hurt today. The machines of today are far more technical with much more speed than yesterday's, that have also become harder to control. Coupled to that the poorly prepared tracks, and limitation of tyres, you have all the ingredients you need for tragic accidents......

 

All the i

 

Seriously injured!!!!. Those riders all died in track crashes in a 23 year period on British tracks. Along with dozens of others in the rest of the world.

 

In that same period Graham Miles, Alan Wilkinson, Joe Owen, Steve Weatherley, among others all received injuries leaving the confined to wheelchairs.

Edited September 1, 2015 by Oldace

[g13webb]

I think you've missed Oldace's point. His list is of fatalities. It's much longer than the one for the last 20 years (which consists solely of David Nix)

 

I wasn't aware the list was solely fatalities, so apologies for that.

 

Although I have no facts to prove the point, I believe the accidents of today, involve a bigger percentage of top riders where in the past that wasn't always the case, thus proving, even the riders at the top of their trade, are finding racing these bikes is difficult as well as dangerous....

[oldace]

 

I wasn't aware the list was solely fatalities, so apologies for that.

 

Although I have no facts to prove the point, I believe the accidents of today, involve a bigger percentage of top riders where in the past that wasn't always the case, thus proving, even the riders at the top of their trade, are finding racing these bikes is difficult as well as dangerous....

 

 

Racing motorbikes has always been difficult and dangerous. Peter Craven was a top rider but died in a track accident. Tommy Jansson was a top rider but also perished. Per Jonsson was no mug but a track accident left him in a wheelchair.

 

Whatever any of us think, the fact is that statistically speedway racing is far safer now than 30 years ago. The removal of lamp standards and better helmet technology has seen to that

Edited September 1, 2015 by Oldace

[waiheke1]

You could add gundersen to that 2nd list oldace. Tommy Knudsen had a horrendous back injury that he was fortunate to recover from. Jan o pedersen, Dennis sigalos, Shawn Moran all top riders from that era who suffered career ending injuries.

Edited September 1, 2015 by waihekeaces1

[oldace]

You could add gundersen to that 2nd list oldace. Tommy Knudsen had a horrendous back injury that he was fortunate to recover from. Jan o pedersen, Dennis sigalos, Shawn Moran all top riders from that era who suffered career ending injuries.

 

 

I remember Shawn breaking his leg in 1983 but I cant say I recall him copping another bad one tbh

[Hodgy]

1983 Craig Featherby Peterborough. The lamp Standards were all moved back as a result of this tragedy.

[g13webb]

I, like many, believe the bikes now, are way too fast, and for this reason alone, is why the accidents come thick and fast.

 

The introduction of 'Air Fences' have been a godsend, and has reduced the number injuries from the many accidents we see.. One would imagine most of the accident at speedway, happens on the corners. Not wanting to generate any arguments in regards to safety records, but these fences have made a big input on the recorded numbers of injuries. Although the machinery have become technically advance, and generates speeds never witnessed before, some want to forget this important fact, with the pretence that it is now safer than its ever been.

 

On this subject, I have spoken with some aged riders, some were of world standing. But not one relished an opportunity of competing now, acknowledging that racing these bikes is far more difficult now than was in their days.

 

To me, that speaks volumes.

[stevebrum]

Speedway is and always will be a dangerous sport.

The list above shows that there were plenty of fatalities and life changing injuries in the good old days.

Bikes are quicker but facilities are safer.

[oldace]

I, like many, believe the bikes now, are way too fast, and for this reason alone, is why the accidents come thick and fast.

 

The introduction of 'Air Fences' have been a godsend, and has reduced the number injuries from the many accidents we see.. One would imagine most of the accident at speedway, happens on the corners. Not wanting to generate any arguments in regards to safety records, but these fences have made a big input on the recorded numbers of injuries. Although the machinery have become technically advance, and generates speeds never witnessed before, some want to forget this important fact, with the pretence that it is now safer than its ever been.

 

On this subject, I have spoken with some aged riders, some were of world standing. But not one relished an opportunity of competing now, acknowledging that racing these bikes is far more difficult now than was in their days.

 

To me, that speaks volumes.

 

 

There is not one rider from the pre 4 valve days that would say the bikes are more difficult to ride now, the near double rpm makes them much easier to ride.

 

If you are going to make stuff up, make it believable

[therefused]

 

 

There is not one rider from the pre 4 valve days that would say the bikes are more difficult to ride now, the near double rpm makes them much easier to ride.

 

If you are going to make stuff up, make it believable

GRW is the king of making stuff up and then refusing to change his opinion.

[Haza]

One thing that's not been mentioned is the tracks by and large are the same as 30 years ago - with exception of air fences and moving lights back they are the same . Also certain tracks park tractors water tankers and grading equipment right close to the track accident waiting to happen

[oldace]

One thing that's not been mentioned is the tracks by and large are the same as 30 years ago - with exception of air fences and moving lights back they are the same . Also certain tracks park tractors water tankers and grading equipment right close to the track accident waiting to happen

 

They used to park tractors on the centre green. The death of Stuart Shirley at Ellesmere Port was because he collided with the tractor.

[HenryW]

Although I have no facts to prove the point, I believe the accidents of today, involve a bigger percentage of top riders where in the past that wasn't always the case, thus proving, even the riders at the top of their trade, are finding racing these bikes is difficult as well as dangerous....

Not sure when you got into speedway but as others have pointed out, even the top guys have always picked up bad injuries.

 

Erik Gundersen, Per Jonsson, Jan O Pedersen, Gary Havelock and Sam Ermolenko all suffered spinal injuries during their careers, some recovering much better than others...but that is 5 of the 6 World Champions from 1988 to 1993. Extending that to 1996 takes in Billy Hamill who also suffered a spinal injury. You don't get much better than the World Champions. There were many other international class riders who suffered serious injury in the same period, some who have already been mentioned.

 

In slightly more recent times another two World Champions, Tony Rickardsson and Mark Loram, had their careers ended by injury.

 

Top riders getting serious injuries is not something new...Obviously it would be great if we could find a way to stop these injuries but it's wrong to pretend that serious injuries to the best riders is a recent phenomenon.