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Lets Talk:- This is the page where you can let every one know how you feel about things in general. All we ask is that you supply an email address with your letter. MXGB do not necessarily agree with or support the comments posted on the LETS TALK pages. To submit a letter just click on letstalk@mxgb.com

04.06.01 Hi its keith again been awhile since I had anything to say (most unusual for me!), any way a couple of messages in the guest book section has prompted this, in particular one that refers to the events section and suggests info on cost's, location, classes etc. I agree and would love to be able to supply this information, getting hold of it is another issue entirely. When I started this site I sent out over 100 letters of introduction to clubs outlining the website and asking for club details etc, how many replies did I get 1, yep that was the grand total a big fat 1, and that was from a club that we are involved with. I would like to be able to offer on-line booking for events but if the clubs will not send details of their events what chance to get this level of contact. All of the above is offered totally free of charge and to any club regardless of governing body. So if you would like to see this extra info ask your club to contact me via this web site and I will be pleased to post the info. Keith MXGB  

30.04.01 I'm a mother of a motocross-crazed family. Talk in this household is nothing if not repetitive, every other sentence is 'when motocross starts this year..…..'Although I enjoy the sport (and it keeps my fingernails short when they are competing), I think I would go insane if it was not for web sites like MXGB and others, plus the television coverage of the sport. These at least relieve some of their frustration and energy. (Although it doesn’t do much for my sofa). At least it keeps them occupied for a short time.

 I know that the closure of the tracks is necessary for our farmers, but couldn't the organisations have staged something in the mean time, for example an extra motorbike show, or indoor training sessions. Anything to help fill the enormous void these kids??? are feeling or maybe DIY lessons, so at least they could catch up on all those indoor jobs that they never get the time to do, and just think how creative they will be once the season starts!!

23.04.01 Well after all the emails to the ACU & TMX we did not get to practice this weekend as Bryn had developed a very bad cold and we decided not to risk anything by going out practicing, this brings up a point to bear in mind "why do you practice". On the face of it the answer is obvious to improve your riding ability, but how often do you go out and practice properly? like most of us just having a fun days riding is sufficient, but to improve you should really make use of your practice sessions by trying specific area's where your riding is week. Also aim to ride in sessions that replicate your race meetings ie if your race meetings consist of three 10 min races then tailor your practice sessions to suit, why ride at 1/2 to 3/4 pace for three 45 min sessions?

I see that we are sniping at each other, reference the letters in TMX, I know every one is pretty fed up with not racing but the organisations that have sanctioned races should not be shot down in the press, as long as they have followed ministry guide lines what's the problem the Government tell us that the countryside is open for business as usual should that not include MX as well, after all a quick wash with disinfectant followed by a good power washing when you arrive home must pose less of a risk than moving horses around the country.

14.04.01 Reproduced below are the emails that I sent to Geoff Wilson chief executive officer of the ACU and the Trials and Motocross News and Geoff Wilson's response sent to myself and Mannix Devlin from T&MX News. From Geoff's response I will be taking Bryn practicing from next weekend, this will be on proper practice track probably Washbrook Farm if open? Any centre official that threatens us with a ban can take it up with Geoff Wilson directly. Please note this is our decision, only you can decide whether to risk an ACU riding ban or not based on your appraisal of the facts and how they appertain you. 

04.04.01 Well we are into April now and still no motocross, what are you lot doing to stop getting bored stiff? Well I have pulled my Honda GoldWing from out of its winter hibernation, gave it a wash and polish, amazing how dirty and crudy they get even undercover. Then it was a quick 180 mile trip to blow the cobwebs out of the engine sun stayed out for most of the journey. What else have we been up to, ah yes took out a Honda VTR1000, wow rocket ship or what 0 to no license in about 4 seconds, amazing acceleration but how anybody can ride one for more than a few miles I just don't know my wrists were killing me after just a few miles. Took that back and tried out a Honda VFR800I, now that's much better less weight on my wrists, not such a fiery engine but still amazing acceleration. Now I am in a bit of a quandary do I sell my 1500 GoldWing and buy the VFR, stick with the GoldWing and buy a Suzuki SV650S (I forgot to mention that I took the SV out first) as a commuter bike? I want to have all three but Lynn said I can't, don't know why though, she said something about money or the lack of it, still it does not seem fair to me? Any way hopefully we will all soon be back MXing. Keith MXGB 

This week 12.03.01 I have received this response to my comments about the ACU and the Foot and Mouth issue posted on this page earlier. This letter raises some very interesting points, so come on lets here your point of view. Thanks also to Martin Cole and Vincent Wakerley for the photo's these can be viewed on the picture pages. MXGB

To keith at MXGB

I fully endorse your sentiments about the treatment meted out to the sport by the ACU. I had not been aware there were threats of licence suspension for riders caught practicing - but this just goes to show how airy-fairy they have been over the Foot & Mouth outbreak.

My family, like many others, is disappointed about racing being cancelled, but it follows that if racing is stopped there should be a clamp-down on all riding. What we need from the ACU is strength and consistency. Also - No racing means NO RACING, and that should include every branch of the sport, including national and international events. Let's face it, the UK has been free from this disease for over 30 years - who is to say that it wasn't reintroduced from the continent by a visiting MX racer? That may seem unlikely but it is as plausible as any other explanation currently being forwarded.

Foot & Mouth does not affect many of us personally, at the moment, but it will when the food prices rocket through a shortage of animals. We need the ACU to act as a lead and to control its members. Angling clubs have asked their members not to go fishing and I haven't seen masses of fishermen lining the river banks since. They are largely respecting the situation.

In the long term, our suffering may not turn out to be worth a damn. People still have jobs to go to and shopping to do. The total movement of people and vehicles cannot be stopped - so we would also be justified in asking "what is the point?" If the virus can be carried on a tyre it can just as easily be carried about by a football supporter or a sales rep.

At least our sporting community will have been seen to acted in the general good for the sake of the country and, not least, the beleaguered farming industry.

I have to admit, that due to pressure from my own two, impatient, motocross-mad urchins, that we did go practicing last weekend. I hadn't really considered the consequences until we arrived at the Gonerby Moor circuit near Grantham and had to pass over a disinfected straw mat. The track is on farmland and very close to grazing, not to mention woods where deer move about freely. After we went home I considered what we had done and felt it had been a mistake. I won't be taking them again until the all-clear has been given to resume competition.

Suffering is not so bad if it is shared. The ACU must be consistent and either allow all events to be run or it should stop everything. That means World Superbike events at Donnington just as much as PJMX at Fengate Martin Cole 

Attention PJMC members and ACU licence holders

Good news at last, there is a new track for young moto X'ers opening this weekend (foot & mouth restrictions permitting) in Basildon Essex. Alf Viccary a former veteran speedway star has finally managed to get his track up and running. I can not remember how far back Alf tried to get a track up and running but it must be at least four years ago that I spoke to him of his plans to start a track on an old golf course near basildon by the Tesco supermarket just off the A127. This venture seemed doomed from the start as the complaints from the retail park regarding noise and dust etc persuaded the council to refuse planning permission. Most of the problems seemed to stem from illegal riding of stripped down road bikes you know the type no silencers etc. As this was uncontrolled they were there most days of the week until dark, of course the council seem to be unable to tell the difference between casual users on stripped down un-silenced road bikes and a properly controlled club running MX bikes conforming to current noise regs. Any way all I can say now is well done and good luck to Alf and his new venture. Keith MXGB 

So Frank Dixon the ACU motocross committee chairman claims that the ACU did not pull the plug on events last weekend, then who the hell authorised the withdrawal of the PJMC race permit for sunday 25th Feb. Many PJMC committee members had taken time off work to ensure the new track layout was in top condition for the first meeting, only to be told that the permit had been withdrawn due to the foot & mouth disease. This in spite of the fact that the track at Fengate is actually on Industrial land on an industrial estate. I wonder how many businesses stopped trucks from delivering  or collecting goods from their premises? I know we all want to get on with racing but this terrible disease must be stopped, and if this means no racing then so be it, but to read the comments from the ACU defending their actions in allowing Hawkstone Park to run and then to say that the action to stop the club racers from enjoying their sport is just a rumour  is beyond belief. Does anyone at the ACU have any control over what is going on, or are we left at the discretion of the centre's. This foot & mouth issue is of national even international importance and yet the ACU claim not to have stopped racing, thus presumably supporting a piecemeal action by the centre's in deciding whether or not to pull permits. I don't know what's worse, stopping the clubs from racing and allowing the international to go ahead, or the claim that they sat back and did nothing. Well that's my personal view on this issue, do you agree, or totally disagree with me, please send me your thoughts on this or any issues you wish to air. Keith MXGB letstalk@mxgb.com

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