Dream Team : Graeme Selkirk

Started watching speedway at Edinburgh in the sixties as a schoolboy. After a hiatus of some twenty odd years got the bug again at Hackney in 1989 and now support Rye House. My selections are based on two criteria only --- riders who I have seen in action (hence the exclusion of greats like Collins,Lee etc) and who entertain!

Galvin	Goodwin

Peter Craven
Unfortunately I saw him in his last ever meeting but knew at the age of twelve I was in the presence of a great. His style today would seem quite normal but in 1963 was unique and breathtaking and to this day I can remember the feeling of disbelief that filled Old Meadowbank stadium on that fateful night. Surely he would be involved with the sport today if he had lived - an immeasurable loss.

Andy Galvin
First rider I saw on my reintroduction to the sport. Gutsy, a bit cheeky and always ready to mix it but unfortunately riders like that often end up seriously hurt as was the case with Andy.

Mark Loram
What can you say about this man that hasn't already been said? One of these riders whose presence alone can make you decide to attend a meeting or not. Get well soon Mark and everyone in speedway is hoping to see you on track again.

Martin Goodwin
Another one who doesn't know when he's beaten. Remember him coming out in heat one of the 1992 fours at Peterborough and thinking he's either going to break his legs or the track record. Fortunately he did the latter!

Ivan Mauger
Who???? Seriously I saw him many times at Edinburgh when he was a 'Diamond' and in retrospect it was blatantly obvious even then he was going to the very top. Usually won his races by around a quarter of a lap unless against the top men when it was only by 30 yards! Probably the best ambassador the sport has ever had. An entertainer in the way that Steve Davis was at his peak i.e. so good that you wanted to see him beaten just to know he was human!

Tony Rickardsson
If Ivan was the greatest then this man was the best! That recovery after getting seriously out of shape on the second bend at Cardiff when most riders would have ended up 'by the hot dog stand' is the stuff of legends - and he went on to win. Shame about the manner in which he retired but understandable.

Alan Mogridge
I said at the start that I was only going to include entertainers and 'Moggo' certainly was one of those. Never gave up and I've seen him really whack some safety fences and get up as though he had stumbled on a loose paving slab. At the end of the day anyone who has thrown his leg over a speedeway bike in anger deserves to be in somebody's dream team!

This article was first published on 1st November 2007

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