Martin Ashby

[steve roberts]

Although he spent most of his career riding for the enemy down the road Martin achieved consistantly high averages and was one of England's best during that period but very underrated. He gained two Gold Team Medals but who's to say that he could have been a much bigger threat during the 1968 Individual Final when carrying a very healthy career best average at the time? If I recall he missed the practice due to the non-cooperation of his promoter and had only the one bike which he used whilst on duty with "The Falcons"...didn't have the chance to prepare a special one. Afteral fellow Brits Gordon Kennett and Les Collins came within a whisker of becoming champion during their only appearances at that level so it wouldn't have been inconceivable if Martin had achieved the same.

A tremendous rider and "Briggo" was often quoted as saying that if Martin could gate he could very well have challenged those on the World stage.

Great memories of him riding at Blunsdon and Cowley and I know that Cyril Maidment was very keen on him becoming a "Don" when Martin often deputised for the late Tommy Jansson. That may well have been the impetus for Martin to step up his game but I guess that he felt comfortable at Swindon.

A true great!

Edited November 1, 2021 by steve roberts

[Sidney the robin]

A great rider and it was a pleasure to see him ride everyweek he was often taken for granted.Alonside Bettsy, Willy, and the  Boocock brothers he was a terrific servant and rider for a long period of time.He is in the group of terrific Robins riders we  have been fortunate to see he is there with Briggs, Crump, Broady, Kilby, Adams, Doyle.

[steve roberts]

11 hours ago, Sidney the robin said:

A great rider and it was a pleasure to see him ride everyweek he was often taken for granted.Alonside Bettsy, Willy, and the  Boocock brothers he was a terrific servant and rider for a long period of time.He is in the group of terrific Robins riders we  have been fortunate to see he is there with Briggs, Crump, Broady, Kilby, Adams, Doyle.

And of course Sid in those days the likes of Wilson, Betts and the Boocock Brothers spent the best years of their careers at the one club although starting/ending their careers elsewhere due to track closure/promotional re-location or in Martin's case given a raw deal by Wally Mawdsley.

Edited November 1, 2021 by steve roberts

[Sidney the robin]

13 hours ago, steve roberts said:

And of course Sid in those days the likes of Wilson, Betts and the Boocock Brothers spent the best years of their careers at the one club although starting/ending their careers elsewhere due to track closure/promotional re-location or in Martin's case given a raw deal by Wally Mawdsley.

Yes totally Steve,  Malcolm Holloway who i had followed throughout his career was given his chance.He had never been a world beater at Milton Keynes mainly because he had a few injuries and the top league suited him better even at Mildenhall later on in his career NL never suited  Malcolm.Martin was treated shabbily ( Malcolm fitted the averages 3.53 from 1979 a filler really Martin was treated awful. There should of been a place for Martin// Malcolm crash was offered a position at Exeter and the number 8 position never right.Martin signed for Reading won a title and got his bonus that Dave Lanning had set up chuffed to bits for him great rider nice man.

 

 

 

 

[steve roberts]

11 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said:

Yes totally Steve,  Malcolm Holloway who i had followed throughout his career was given his chance.He had never been a world beater at Milton Keynes mainly because he had a few injuries and the top league suited him better even at Mildenhall later on in his career NL never suited  Malcolm.Martin was treated shabbily ( Malcolm fitted the averages 3.53 from 1979 a filler really Martin was treated awful. There should of been a place for Martin// Malcolm crash was offered a position at Exeter and the number 8 position never right.Martin signed for Reading won a title and got his bonus that Dave Lanning had set up chuffed to bits for him great rider nice man.

 

 

 

 

Remember when Malcolm rode for "The Cheetahs" Sid in 1977 and turning out for Swindon at White City that same year. He had a nice style but perhaps didn't take he sport that seriously? However it was the likes of Holloway who made speedway what it was/is.

Martin, against character, wished he had now thumped Mawdsley when he was offered a team spot in the Exeter team when they dropped down a league in 1980 but got the last laugh at Reading although he suffered with an injury towards the end of that season.

Edited November 1, 2021 by steve roberts

[Sidney the robin]

17 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

Remember when Malcolm rode for "The Cheetahs" Sid in 1977 and turning out for Swindon at White City that same year. He had a nice style but perhaps didn't take he sport that seriously? However it was the likes of Holloway who made speedway what it was/is.

Martin, against character, wished he had now thumped Mawdsley when he was offered a team spot in the Exeter team when they dropped down a league in 1980 but got the last laugh at Reading although he suffered with an injury towards the end of that season.

Yes actually thought Steve,  Malc overachieved at Oxford he was a novice he did well went to White City when ( Kilb took him under his wing) ) was  Jones the team manager then  Steve at Oxford.?  In the  second halves Young usually  got the bettter of Holloway but over the weeks Malc had overtaken Young,Pope, Evans who were always in the reserve skurries.

Edited November 1, 2021 by Sidney the robin

[steve roberts]

1 hour ago, Sidney the robin said:

Yes actually thought Steve,  Malc overachieved at Oxford he was a novice he did well went to White City when ( Kilb took him under his wing) ) was  Jones the team manager then  Steve at Oxford.?  In the  second halves Young usually  got the bettter of Holloway but over the weeks Malc had overtaken Young,Pope, Evans who were always in the reserve skurries.

Yes it was Roger Jones (sure that he used to mehanic for Dag Lovaas?) Kevin Young blotted his copybook when he missed a northern tour to instead ride at Swindon and was immediately sacked. Not sure what then became of him?

[BOBBATH]

It's tough to talk about Martin Ashby without remembering Swindon,  I first saw the Robins ride at Newport in 1965. At that time both Bob Kilby and Mike Keen were second strings-Bob Kilby had been earmarked as the one with greater potential (which of course turned out to be correct) but that particular meeting Mike Keen came through, finishing ahead of Peter Vandenberg twice. Bob had a tough evening scoring zero from two completed rides and being replace by Mike in his third. Does anyone know if Mike is still around-a local lad who lived in Minety..

It was atypical NL-PL meeting- Newport won 41-37 but Swindon were without Martin Ashby. Their heat leaders were unbeatable Briggo scored 15 from 5 rides while Broadbank(s)  11 from 4 rides-only point dropped to Dick Bradley in his first ride.. Interestingly Pete Sampson manager of Paradise Wildlife Park, WSRA  and Speedway Museum rode for Swindon  and scored a creditable  4 points. This was the first time I ever saw Briggo ride.

[Ovalman]

Don't know if he still has his motorcycle workshop in Marlborough,  popped in for a chat a few years ago, he was shocked when I asked for his autograph to send to my bruv in Oz. A quiet, modest guy. Was on the Blunsdon terraces up to about 3/4 years ago, due to failing health. As was said by Briggo could have been world champion.

Perhaps the only time he lost his temper was when someone put deep-heat in his pants in British dressing room when he was captain.