#rico

Sometimes everything you think is important pales into insignificance and this week is one of those times. Friends have asked me a lot what's it like covering speedway? The answer to that is it can be the best and the worst job in the world. I've covered football for over 20 years now and can't say I've ever really got close to any of the players or managers I've met along the way. Some of them have got injured pulled hamstrings even broken bones but really the only feeling has been that's a shame he'll miss a few games the rest of the season etc. With speedway though its different every time a rider has a spill its not the No11 you had a quick interview with its someone whose numbers I have in my mobile who I chat to after meetings who I share tweets and facebook messages with and suddenly it becomes personal. That's the tough part of the job these aren't just sportsmen they're people I'm proud to call friends and somehow I have to remain objective when I'm feeling anything but. I can't begin to imagine what Lee Richardson's family and friends are really going through at the moment. I have faced the sudden death of loved ones but every occasional is different. Whilst I never met Lee I still feel it as part of speedways family. Whatever you say about the sport the promoters, stupid rules, self interest, manipulating averages etc its heartening to see at times like this that all disappears as we have a common interest brought together by the sport we love. On Saturday night we'll have a minutes silence at Rye House and after that I'll have to commentate on 15 Heats of speedway like nothing has happened. Personally that's going to be a tough assignment it is though the only way. As much as I feel at the moment that I don't want to go through it I know it would not be paying proper respect to one of a bunch of the bravest sportsmen anywhere who gave up his life doing what he loved. RIP Rico.

Is That Ark Finished Yet?

Don't know about 40 days and 40 nights but I know its been ages since we had a dry day. At one stage my pond was threatening to burst its banks and my lawn was looking like a paddyfield! My next door neighbour has spent a lot of time out in his garden banging about with bits of wood he says its a shed but I think its an ark.
Its all added up to a nightmare as far as speedway is concerned. The latest story doing the rounds is that The Admiral will be back from Oz with a shiny new Visa in October just in time for the start of the Premier League season!
27 heats over Bank Holiday was at least something I suppose. Apart from the fact that its now official that you can't do a practice start facing the wrong way and of course we won Saturday only produced a couple of memorable moments. Talking to Jason Bunyan afterwards I think even he was surprised with what he achieved in Heat 12. Looked a definite fag paper job from the commentary box or Film Suite as Craig is calling it these days. Must also say hats off to young Norman (Jason Garrity; come on that flat cap only needs a prat fall and Len dressed up as Mr Grimsdale) how he accepted the seasons strangest exclusion I saw him deep in conversation with Dave Robinson afterwards and both were laughing which was nice.
Unfortunately Monday turned into a damp squib not only because of the result. When race times are around the 64second mark you know somethings up. Fair play to all the lads for giving it a go though.
So this Saturday we pray for sun as the prodigal Robbo returns. Hopefully he'll have a good safe night and we'll go away with 3 points. As someone said as I was leaving on Monday "you can't believe there's anything left up there." I think I'll reserve judgement on that one until 10 o'clock on Saturday!
Up the Rockets!
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