"Having looked at this top 20 in 1969, then seen Tracy Holmes suggested supplementary list and read the obituary to Bob Kilby it made me realise that although speedway is a so-called minority sport we have been blessed with some fantastic stars down the years, most of them showing a standard of class and sportsmanship that would be a credit to any sport. Bob Kilby was never quite world class but that does not diminish the priviledge of having seen him compete. "Awesome" is an over-worked adjective these days but it is the only word that genuinely describes Bob off the starting gate.

For a long time now I have been getting tired of the moaners and groaners (probably "armchair" spectators who rarely see a live match ) who want to complain that some detail about points or tatical rides or some other triviality has upset them. For my it has been its been a such a pleasure to have seen Bob Kilby and many of the others mentioned, plus so many that still keep up the sports best tradtions, like Adam Sheilds, Dave Watt, Bjarne Pedersen and many others. So come on Speedway fans, lets look at the positives and put the complaints to one side for a while. Roll on next season !"

"I would only drop 2, Grosskruetz and Kitchen. These 2 would join the 2nd list that would be Freddie Williams, Igor Plechanov, Nigel Boocock, Andrzej Wyglenda, Sir Ole Olsen, Anders Michanek, Peter Collins, Malcolm Simmons, Mike Lee, Bruce Penhall, Erik Gundersen, Jan O Pedersen, Sam Ermolenko, Per Jonsson, Tony Rickardsson, Leigh Adams, Jason Crump and Nicki Pedersen. The 2 that would take their place? Ivan Mauger and Hans Nielsen. "