Jacques Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 For anyone who doesn't get the Speedway Star (you lucky people) here's a brief summary of their (non) reporting of Hancock's cheat-gate. Cover page - Picture of Hancock - headline "Grin, and Grin, and Grin, and Grin" (?) (not sure what that means.... Grin and Grim may have summed it up better). pages 2&3 - Main story (by Paul Burbridge) from Hancock perspective - how the poor sod was "hard done to". how he was "hurt" and "bizarrely excluded from heat 9". (think they mean he was disqualified from heat 9 after bizarrely cheating). It repeats all the Hancock Bull-excrement excuses about the clutch, but doesn't challenge this nonsense with any facts. It doesn't go into any detail about Hancock spitting his dummy and walking out To the left of this main article is "Holder - Shocked" (by Paul Burbridge). Holder is reportedly "shocked" by Hancock's disqualification. It repeats the clutch nonsense without pointing out that it is nonsense. To the right of the main article is - "FIM Stand by decision" (by Paul Burbridge). It basically reports that the FIM investigated Hancock's actions. The jury viewed replays of the race, examined the bike, decided unanimously that Hancock had broken the rules, and disqualified him as per the rules. It doesn't report any FIM comments on Hancock's walking out of the meeting. Mr Burbridge doesn't seem interested in this side of the story. Page 6 - The meeting report (by Paul Burbridge) Tells us "American legend Greg Hancock underlined why he's one of speedway's all time class acts on and off the track as he rose above FIM accusations to celebrate his fourth World title" Yes...Mr Burbridge believes blatant cheating, failing to own up to cheating, and them throwing toys out of the pram makes you a "class act". Mr Burbridge tells us that Hancock's cheating and spoilt brattishness will "vanish into the mists of time" (so that's ok) but his great record in joining Hans Nielsen and Barry Briggs on 4 titles won't ever vanish. (This arse-licking drivel continues onto page 8.) Page 9 brings us an article "Jury Justice?" It tells us "What should have been one of the greatest night's of Greg Hancock's storied career was unfortunately tarnished by the bizarre decision to boot him out of heat 9" It doesn't tell us who wrote this drivel (but we could guess his initials may be P.B.). Basically this is more "woe is me" stuff. It's not Hancock's fault he cheated. Not his fault he spat his dummy....etc etc It is totally the FIM jury's fault for upholding the rules. Page 10 and we have some (selective) social media comments (compiled with a certain bias by who other than the ubiquitous Mr P.B.) Of course we have the tweets of those two empty vessels Middleditch and Havelock, and they are surprisingly joined by Hans Nielsen who thinks the exclusion was a farce. The hundreds of tweets and other social media comments from all of those who thought Middlo and Havvy were talking out of their backsides, don't make it into the Star. The only one who slightly dares to side with commonsense and integrity is Chris Louis who "agrees with the FIM for upholding the integrity of the sport". Page 14 gives us a meeting report from long-serving Aussie correspondent Peter White. His view on Hancock's cheating is... "We'll forget the Hancock issue entirely in this column and focus on the good"...... Well that's bloody helpful! Someone who may be able to give an unbiased opinion ducks out. All we know is that he doesn't rate that part of events as being part of the "good". And that's it....that's all the Star give us. it's almost as if no one cheated......no one gave a bull-excrement excuse for cheating...no one spat a dummy, threw toys or walked out. After all it will all soon be forgotten in the mists of time... Ah, Paul Burbidge,the Poole fan and fawner, say no more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazeaway Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 I still can't believe buy that rag anyway! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 It headlines there was controversy then gives the opinions of those involved. What more were they supposed to do? Can't just accuse people because that would satisfy some people. There are no accusations to make. He cheated. It was investigated. His bike was checked. He cheated. Guilty as charged. He's lucky it's speedway, haven't you noticed the severity in other sports for 'fixing' or 'throwing' a match/game/result? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPNY Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 I never read that the bike was checked. In the Star Holder said "The took the cover off Gregs bike, hit clutch arm came off and the clutch was burnt out" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonzo Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Strange that so many claim to hate the Star yet continue to buy it. Odd. Very odd, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Strange that so many claim to hate the Star yet continue to buy it. Odd. Very odd, There aren't any alternatives, so it has no competition. If you don't like your newspaper you can try another. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonzo Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 There aren't any alternatives, so it has no competition. If you don't like your newspaper you can try another. If you think it's rubbish then the alternative is to stop buying it. Everything is available on line nowadays anyhow. Seems like some just need something to whinge about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 If Greg Hancock "rose above" the accusation is hate to see him take exception to it and react to the situation! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Science Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 I genuinely feel if there was another GP at the Etihad within the next month they would get close to 30k after that racing and of course an Aussie winner. Whether or not it will carry on to 1 years time we shall have to wait and see. Atmosphere was pretty good too. Put it this way there was as much noise when the Aussies did well as there was in Warsaw when the poles did well and it was half the crowd.. Unfortunately this GP venue is showing the traits of many others before it on temporary tracks in big stadiums. Encouraging to start with attendance wise which gradually diminishes year on year eventually becoming extinct, read Parken and Stockholm. As Phil Rising says speedway is a minority sport with the only 2 serious markets being in Poland and Great Britain.There are numerous reasons why Cardiff and Warsaw shouldn't work but they do due the loyalty and enthusiasm of the fans in both countries Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 If you think it's rubbish then the alternative is to stop buying it. Everything is available on line nowadays anyhow. Seems like some just need something to whinge about. Agreed (I stopped). I think some get them out of habit and to catch up on a few things you don't see on line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
June01 Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 (edited) ...and they are surprisingly joined by Hans Nielsen who thinks the exclusion was a farce. Perhaps not so surprising when you consider he wouldn't use Denmark's best option for the World Cup race-off squad, and the reasons he gave for that decision, which ultimately cost Denmark their place in the final. Great rider, but questionable opinions. Edited October 27, 2016 by June01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodgy Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 There are no accusations to make. He cheated. It was investigated. His bike was checked. He cheated. Guilty as charged. He's lucky it's speedway, haven't you noticed the severity in other sports for 'fixing' or 'throwing' a match/game/result? As did several others that were smarter than Mr Grin, it was obvious but more difficult to prove. In addition the WTC couldn't have been more fixed in certain races, did the culprits become 'ineligible'? The rule is not CLEAR (using your favoured word) but as we learn you know best. You've made your point several times, created your own thread campaign, but what do you want? Hancock to be disqualified (oh,,, that wasn't in the rule but expect your usual response) so your golden child becomes the champion by default? Going into Melbourne Hancock was the deserved WC after the sad loss of Doyle's participation. Albeit concluding in a severe impact on his reputation. I think that's enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 I never read that the bike was checked. In the Star Holder said "The took the cover off Gregs bike, hit clutch arm came off and the clutch was burnt out" Funny that it never stopped the bike though,next he will be saying it was dangerous but he nursed it to the finish.He certainly dug a big hole for himself with his excuses. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert72 Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Should Greg be charged with putting riders at risk if he had knowingly had mechanical problems ? It's a shame that a great career has been ruined over the last two years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r8gdp Posted October 27, 2016 Report Share Posted October 27, 2016 Just a thought what if the polish promoters don t like the fact that Hancock helped holder trying to get him in the top three if they decide to get together and block Hancock from riding in Poland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted October 28, 2016 Report Share Posted October 28, 2016 What more should they have written? Not being facetious, genuine question. John Leslie has written plenty but here is my Q&A. Why no questioning about why GH appeared to gain speed after Holder went past him. Why no questioning about why GH rode tight with Holder around bends 3 and 4 on Lap 4 when he stated he went wide in the race in case he lost a chain, fell and got run over. How can he question the FIM jury's inspection of the bike as they know what works on a bike, what doesn't, what slows it down. They didn't believe GH. A less bias article you will struggle to find but if you see Burbidge's twitter feed you'll see why. He loves his mate Grin. It was poor journalism. There are no accusations to make. He cheated. It was investigated. His bike was checked. He cheated. Guilty as charged. Correct 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldRacer Posted October 28, 2016 Report Share Posted October 28, 2016 You've made your point several times, created your own thread campaign, but what do you want? Hancock to be disqualified (oh,,, that wasn't in the rule but expect your usual response) so your golden child becomes the champion by default? Not disqualified, ineligible for the championship. Which is in the rule. Obviously the powers that be have interpreted the rule differently, but trying to pretend that isn't a reasonable reading of the rule is deliberately obtuse. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodgy Posted October 28, 2016 Report Share Posted October 28, 2016 Not disqualified, ineligible for the championship. Which is in the rule. Obviously the powers that be have interpreted the rule differently, but trying to pretend that isn't a reasonable reading of the rule is deliberately obtuse. 'Considered' and 'Remainder' always conveniently left out. Hancock was guilty in my opinion but so were a number of others that changed / fixed the outcome. Why no campaign to ban them all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poole keith Posted October 28, 2016 Report Share Posted October 28, 2016 read speedway star last nite have to say very very poor reporting of the gp, totally biased and unbalanced, the articles could have been written by the monster (ugh) pr dept.No questioning or analysis of hancocks bewildering and somewhat ridiculous explanations.ps will not cancel my subscription as i invariably thoroughly enjoy the publication Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted October 28, 2016 Report Share Posted October 28, 2016 'Considered' and 'Remainder' always conveniently left out. Hancock was guilty in my opinion but so were a number of others that changed / fixed the outcome. Why no campaign to ban them all? People are referring to Hancock pulling out of the meeting, not engineering the race positions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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