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Nightmare Team : Mick Ibbotson I have based my dream team on the riders who have been less than successful whilst wearing Sheffield race colours in recent years...in no particular order and nicknamed Neil Machin's Services to British Speedway are:
Bobby Heddon
Thierry Hilaire
Derrol Keats
Tommy Palmer
Sergi Kuzin
Alan Fog
Rob Stemen
This article was first published prior to October 2002
"Both Thierry and Derrol started to come good at MK Knights until injury and mechanical finances scuppered their development which was a shame because both had the guts, grit and determination to challenge even the greatest track specialists. If they was that reckless careers would of been ended fella!" "Thierry Hilaire was a rider who gave 110% every where he rode. I raced him many times at Milton Keynes and I was about the only rider who would go out after a meeting and do starts with him. Thierry's problem was he always seemed to be looking right when turning left and this caused him to usually make 3 corners out of one. I can remember a time when he beat Wiggy at Oxford in a challenge match of some sort and I said to Simon you were quicker why didn't you go round him to which Wiggy replied '' Would you have!!!! ''...Fair comment. Thierry was a friend as well as someone who gave great entertainment and he rode one of my bikes over here in NZ for a summer winning our NZ Grand Prix meeting in 1989." "Derrol Keats was total bonkers. I saw him jump onto a training bike at Sheffield training track with only a pair of jeans and a no sleeves vest kind of top and no helmet on, all this was in front of youg lads who wanted to learn speedway , HA HA guesssss what HE FELL OFF big style in a big heap on the third bend and took off a load of skin right down his left shoulder and arm, the dafty was near the point of crying with pain." "Only saw Derrol Keats ride once on a trip back to the UK at Sheffield. Rode wider every lap until he tried to ride bend two on the race track. Sadly there was a fence in the way. Unbelievable. Kinda like his namesake Derrol Spider Melbin back in the early 60's. Worth the cost of admission though!!!!!! " "Being Derrol's sister and him being nearly 50, he still hasn't changed when he gets his leg over an a bike......Dangerous Derrol to the end." "Derrol Keats. Remember the night he came a cropper at Armadale and it was a fabulous introduction to speedway for our new lady doctor who was an A & E specialist. Limping off the track Derrol was asked by our medic if he was OK. "I've hurt nothing but me a..e love" he grimaced. Needless to say her face was a picture too but she took it all in good part. " "Never heard of any of your team, but very funny."
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