#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.