Dream Team : Roger Hunt

I first went to Saddlebow Road to see Kings Lynn in 1973. I followed the Stars home and away until 1990 when I moved and sadly have not seen a single Speedway meeting in the UK since then. I have a different spin on the Dream Team, in that I have tried to come up with a 'magnificent 7' that could somehow meet the points limits etc that we have now. Otherwise I could simply list Pedersen, Lee, Loram, Crump, Rickardsson, Betts & Gustaffson and say how great they were and no one would really argue. Well, maybe someone would. So here is my Kings Lynn lineup trying my hardest to replicate a real 1-7 line-up and sticking with a 47 points team limit. Let the arguments begin.

Betts	Topinka

Terry Betts
It would be hard to leave Mr Kings Lynn out of any 'all stars' line-up. A lifetime 9.20 D1 average, he could usually be relied upon to get a win in heat 1 at home. As many have already stated before, he could have been world champion if he really wanted it.

Tomas Topinka
Mr Modern day Kings Lynn. A great captain, a superb team rider and only touting a 6.80 D1 average. Unbeatable (almost) around the 'Bow there is no way I can leave him out. Long may he continue to reign at Kings Lynn.

Henrik Gustaffson
Even though he rode less than 100 meetings in D1 for the Stars, he remains a favourite of the Stars crowd. I have only seen him on video but seeing his outside sweeps makes me envious of those who saw him in his prime as a Star. He comes in on a 9.03 D1 average.

Stephen Davies
A solid middle man, never quite reached the heights expected but again, did pull off off some tremendous performances in his career at Lynn (over 200 appearances). He comes in on a 5.03 average.

Michael Lee
I saw Michael's full debut vs Leicester in the snow back in 1975. I doubt anyone there that day who also witnessed it did not think the lad would be a world champion. To this day I have not seen a rider who could try some of the last lap overtakes he pulled off. He was simply, a brilliant rider. He's here with a 9.05 average.

Mick Poole
Another Aussie who dazzled but didn't reach the heights expected. Would do nicely as a reserve on a 4.30 average. I got to know Mick quite well in 1987 as I followed our hapless team across country. He even once gave me a lift to the railway station after a meeting, when I knew I would never make the last train. Top bloke - no worries as they say down under!

Nigel Sparshott
Who's he you may ask. Well, another solid pick at reserve with a 3.72 average. Nigel was always turned out in immaculate gear, although we never knew if it was talent or lack of top notch bikes that stopped him making that leap from D2 heatleader to D1 middle man. Again, a rider who me and some away regulars got to know quite well in the two years he rode for us. A classic 'trier'.

So there you have it - just over 47 points. Not as easy as I thought. Lot's of Lynn stalwarts don't make the line-up 'cos of the points squeeze. Brehl, Gagen, Loram, Knight, Simmons, Cole, and the list goes on. Thanks for letting me play.

This article was first published on 23rd March 2006

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