"There is an entire generation of young riders that have never been to a speedway circuit and have only a vague notion of how their sport started back in the 50s. But once introduced to it they can clearly see how similar the skills they use on the short track with their pedal power are to the motorised version on the shale track." Could a new cycle speedway track in the Scottish borders be a boon for the motorised version?
SIXTY SECONDS...
"We didn't celebrate too much, I just had a glass of Coke. At about 1.00 am I sat down and was zonked. There's a picture of me with my head on my nan (Mary) and mum's (Rebecca) shoulders, thinking I could go to sleep!" Chris Harris recalls Cardiff, 2007 and that famous British Grand Prix.
HE'S GOT IT FIGURED
"You speak to riders nowadays when it is their full-time job and the pressure is definitely on for them. They need to go and score their points, win races and win their meetings to be able to afford to live or to be able to afford to keep going. I'm in a relatively fortunate situation that when I have a bad day on the bike I go into the office on the Monday.” Accountant Mickie Simpson has found a good balance between racing and work.
ALSO IN THIS WEEK'S MAGAZINE
Your club: Edinburgh • Track Review: Berwick • Off the Beaten Track • Harry Weslake • SpeedQ&A: Jack Shimelt • Just Saying...
