You might have been forgiven at the start of 1971 for thinking if there was going to be an Exeter team, and if so who would be wearing the Falcon's vest ?

Martin Ashby, the Exeter No. 1 with a more than l0point match average, was hotfoot after a move. That in itself was a worry, but what was worse was the suggested switch of Martin back to Swindon and Bob Kilby to Exeter was in early jeopardy since Bob apparently didn't want to move to Exeter.

There appeared slight difficulties about Jan Holub, the former No. 3 in the 1970 scoring chart for the Falcons, would the Czechs allow him to return and if so when. As it was, the Holub saga ended in complete failure and he did not appear.

Then there was Wayne Briggs who hab been allocated from Wembley, but according to reports wanting an undisclosed sum of money or else he'd rather not get involved with all the commuting. Exeter already knew that Neil Street had definitely retired, and already knew that Bengt Andersson would definitely not be back. No wonder then that the Exeter camp were somewhat concerned about the starting line up for the 1971 season.

A lot of activity ensued and a team was finally formed. Bob Kilby (Pictured Left) was eventually talked into the move to the County Ground, was made the team skipper and was destined to become a big hit with the Exeter supporters. But amazingly, it wasn't to be Bob who headed the scoring charts for Exeter in 1971, the man who did was Bruce Cribb.

Bruce Cribb blasted to the head of the chart, amazing because a year earlier it looked as though a hideously busted leg might bring his complete career to a full stop. He came back better than he had ever been and with even more promise for the future. Bob Kilby eventually slipped by a point a match over the previous year, but even so, he and Cribby made a pretty fearsome heat-leading duo. Indeed if Holub had finally emerged, Exeter would probably have been fighting for a top placing instead of avoiding the bottom. Wayne Briggs resolved his differences, only to be troubled by a shoulder injury so bad as to affect his riding ability, and indeed to yank him out of the saddle from August onward. Sadly, that was one move that did not benefit Exeter as much as it might have done.

They drafted in Phil Woodcock full time from Romford, gave Bob Coles another run following a few outings in 1970 and relied on reliable Chris Julian collecting a fair and spectacular quota of second-string points. They also crossed their fingers that their latest signing was going to be the star that everyone in Australia forecast he would be. That someone was Peter Ingram.

As it happened he wasn't. Nobody could have been as good as some reports suggested. But Peter Ingrain was very, very good indeed. Over 6 points average a match in his first season wasn't bad, plus a couple of paid maximums and gaining international caps, a third heat-leader rating, and a couple of magnificent victories over the man who was then the triple world champion, Ivan Mauger, not to mention a third placing in the British Junior Championship.

Bob Coles and Phil Woodcock, although not setting Division 1 alight showed they had huge potential. Coles was ridiculously unlucky. An inconsistent season with Exeter ended temporarily when they decided to loan him to Romford to pick up self-confidence and form again. He did, and in next to no time after that had a busted leg to go with it.

Several other foreigners had spells at the County Ground, but it was Sweden's Tommy Bergqvist who was signed. He started like a house on fire, but seemed to slip away as the season progressed. When Tommy failed to show for a meeting (the story was that his alarm clock didn't go off and he missed his plane from Sweden), that proved the end of the road and a succession of guest riders were used.

So, from the results point of view, not much of a season for the Falcon's. But apart from two black nights on August 27th and 28th, when they managed only 19 points between the lot of them at Newport, and even worse, just 16 at Coventry, they weren't as bad away from home as their record (won 2, lost 16) would suggest. And at home again, not as bad a record as lost 4 would indicate-since three of those defeats were as a result of off-track protests.

Other riders not listed who rode in 1971 include Kjell Gimre, Stan Stevens, Tony Childs, Taffy Owen, Colin Tucker and Paul Palfrey who all appeared in one match apiece

Elsewhere in 1971

In the World Final in Gothenburg, Ole Olsen scores 15 points to win from Ivan Mauger 12, and Bengt Jansson also on 12.

Gt.Britain won the World Team Championship held in Wroclaw, Poland. they scored 37pts to beat the Soviet Union on 22pts, Poland with 19pts and Sweden on 18pts. Revenge however for the Polish side when they captured World Pairs scoring 30pts ahead of N.Zealand's 25pts, Sweden third on 22pts, Czechoslovakia 17pts, Scotland 16pts, Yugoslavia 10pts and Austria 6pts.

Ivan Mauger won the British Final scoring 14pts to beat runner up Barry Briggs 13pts and Tony Lomas with 12pts. Ivan then went on to win the BL Riders Championship, again running Briggs into second place with Jim McMillan in third as well as winning the European Final scoring 14pts to beat R.Wilson 12pts and Ole Olsen also on 12pts.

John Louis won the Division 2 Riders Final scoring 14pts to beat runner up Malcolm Shakespeare who scored 13pts and Hughie Sanders third on 12pts Bengt Jansson won the London Riders Championship scoring a 15pt maximum to beat Gary Middleton 14pts and Ronnie Moore 13pts. Ian Turner scored a maximum at Swindon to win the British Junior Championship. Runner up on the night was Dave Jessup who scored 14pt's with Peter Ingram third on 11pts.

B.Vue retain the BL title totalling 51pts to beat Leicester 47pts and Coventry 46pts with Eastbourne clinching the Div 2 Championship. They totalled 47pts to beat second placed Bradford on 43pts and Ipswich third who also totalled 43pts.

Ivan mauger (B.Vue) topped the BL averages on 11.33, second was Ray Wilson (Leicester) 11.05 and Ole Olsen (Wolves) third on 10.96. In the second Division, John Louis (Ipswich) led the way on 11.29 ahead of A.Knapkin (Bradford) on 10.11 and A.Wilkinson (Rochdale) on 9.96

Hackney won the Speedway Star KO Cup beating Cradley Heath 88-68 whilst Ipswich take the Speedway Express KO Cup title beating Crewe 92-64 on aggregate. Pictured Right, the K.O Cup winning Hackney "Hawks". Left to Right, Hugh Saunders, Bengt Jannsson, Eddie Reeves, Gary Middleton, Dave Kennett, Barry Thonas and Laurie Etheridge.