BWitcher

Too much emphasis is being put on the gates with regards to the overall racing in my opinion. Sure, from a point of 'fairness' to the riders, in an ideal world the starting gates would be equal, or as close to as possible (in almost every speedway meeting certain gates are better than others). In terms of exciting racing, equal starting gates could well have the opposite effect, allowing the better riders on the night to hit the front regardless of their gate. As it was, some riders had to work extra hard from the less favoured starts.

So you base it on whether Gollob or Crump can pass? Failing to remember that BOTH of those were indeed overtaken by others, so by definition they simply weren't quick enough. As for most of the passes up the inside.. hmmm I remember quite a few around the outside. Those up the inside generally because the rider in front was on the outside line! There were some absolutely fantastic races, just off the top of my head you had Sayfutdinov/Crump, Sayfutdinov/Nicholls, Gollob/Jonsson. There was a heat where Bjerre went from 1st to last and back to 1st again, with riders swapping positions behind him. Lindgren V Harris in the 2 man race was a superb battle. Lindgren/Holder was a great battle till the exclusion too. There were a number of other good races that off the top of my head I can't remember. I would say the first 5 or 6 races were fairly processional, as tends to be the norm till the track settles down. After that, 1st class entertainment.

Absolutely spot on, I just don't understand how anyone can complain at the event. Growing up, I had missed the Wembley days and dreamed of being able to watch speedway in a good stadium in front of a massive passionate crowd. I thoroughly enjoyed it on tv and I will certainly be there again (if its still there) next year.

Sure, its a good race track, but the stadium is nowhere near big enough. If the British GP goes there, its a major step backwards for the sport.

Its not surprising Steve, I allude to it in my post above. He has a very exciting riding style, has you on the edge of your seat the whole time. He also does (most of the time) come across very well when interviewed. The heat must be getting to me as I am seriously starting to warm to him, in GP's at least!

I have thrown no insults, unless its an insult to ask you to actually offer up an opinion on a subject you have once again invaded. I've not called a group of people 'pompous prats' for having the audacity to discuss a speedway race. As for your accusation of me having 'form' and an 'MO', its news to me. If a forum moderator has a problem then shouldn't they be addressing that matter with me? Unlike you I have never been banned from this forum, or indeed come close to being so, thus I will treat your accusatory comments with the disdain that they deserve. We've enjoyed a superb GP today with a large number of talking points. Many of which were being debated until you decided to launch your attack. Back to the GP itself, I must say I am beginning to grow in admiration for Chris Holder. He is fast becoming one of the most entertaining riders in the GP. His ride around the outside today when he was almost ducking under his handlebars was superb. One of those riders who does things that nobody else does.

If we all agreed on everything, wouldn't be much to discuss. Its all part of the fun and banter.

Dave, I have explained this to you before, but still you fail to understand. It has got nothing to do with 'mates'. You may think you are in a school playground and you have to stick behind your little group regardless of whether they are right or wrong. However, this is an adult discussion forum. I do not know any of the number of posters who agreed with my assessment of the final re-run so they cannot be classed as 'my mates'. Yet again, you have stuck your oar into a debate without even offering up your own opinion. George has an opinion, he has expressed it, defended it, and I and others have debated it with him. Neither of us have called the other 'pompous prats' or indeed any other names. I respect George for at least having an opinion and expressing it, that is the idea of a forum. You, on the other hand, once again have offered up absolutely no opinion whatsoever.

If you are going to come steaming in, to what was up to now a civilised debate, at least work out what the debate was about. Most on here have said that it should have been all 4 back in the first running of the final, if you're agreeing with us, then I guess you are labelling yourself 'a pompous prat'. The debate with George is over the 2nd running of the final.

Of course, he went wide for exactly the same reason as Pedersen went wide in the re-run, to try and stop the run of the guy on the outside.

Ah, and thus giving Hancock and Holder all the room they wanted to sweep by even faster? Good idea.

Not his fault he has plenty to smile about

Funny, yet on my screen he turned the corner, one guy still had the room to go round him and Pedersen finished 2nd when pretty much everybody in the country probably had him pegged to come 3rd in that race. You clearly fail to understand that coming from gate 1,entering the corner at the angle he did (which was the only way from that gate he could do anything) and then moving the riders out, to turn back as you suggested would involved him turning sharply and losing all speed. Very little grip on that part of the track too. Holder and Hancock would both have simply hit the dirt and swept by down the straight. We saw time and time again tonight riders do what you suggested, especially on the first bends and they lost all momentum and ended up at the back.

Yeah he gets roundly booed at most tracks.... What is it about him you can't stand Orion?

Of course. As was Billy Hamill. Wolves/Cradley clashes, now they would have made good tv for Sky. Seeing the 4 americans Ermolenko/Correy/Hancock/Hamill do battle was something else. And throw PK in there in the latter years too.

A simple way to finish 3rd for sure. As it was, he made a brilliant 1st turn to secure 2nd and but for an amazing move by Hancock, would have won the GP. Had Holder been of gate 1 he would have done exactly the same thing.

So you think he would have had a better chance if he had turned hard, scrubbed off his speed and allowed Holder and Hancock a free run around the outside on the fast line? He would have been 20 yards behind before turn 3!!

How? Did you watch the other races in the meeting? Without doing what he did Pedersen would have been swallowed up down the straight as the other two would have had far more speed out of the corner.

Its clear the years since Cradley closed have mellowed my thoughts, but I do hope Greg wins the title this year! Never, ever thought I would say that back in the mid-late 90's!!

Guys.. its quite simple.. they were both not going to give an inch. Neither was at fault and it is fantastic to see such full blooded, committed racing like that.

Get a grip. Its a GP final, in the most prestigious GP event of the year. Pedersen did nothing wrong either running of the final. He rode hard, as did the others. As someone else said, Holder tried to come across him, Pedersen was having none of it. NEITHER of them were at fault. Agree that race should have been pulled back in the first instance and also that should have been all 4 back.

No he wouldn't. Pedersen had next to zero chance of winning the final from gate 1, he rode a superb 1st turn to give him a chance to do it, and in fact managed to get 2nd place. No complaints from the other riders either. Don't understand how some are moaning to be honest. Thoroughly enjoyed that meeting and there was some absoulutely fantastic cut throat racing.

As I mentioned above, a number of riders tried for a long time to get visas to race in the GP qualifying round in Russia last year to no avail. If Russia wishes to play silly beggars with regards to visas, then they should expect the same treatment in return. Clearly, that is what they are getting.

As has been said, 6 riders missed out on GP qualifying last year because of issues getting visas into Russia.

Correct. And Harris caused the race stoppage. Pedersen made contact and moved Harris off the line. A move done time and again throughout the history of speedway. Harris, having been moved of his line had 2 choices. Continue, and likely be overtaken by 2, perhaps 3 of the other riders in the race (incidentally a choice Hancock made earlier in the meeting.. and he got back on the gas and battled his way back to get a pt). Or, choose to get off the bike. Harris chose the 2nd option, caused the stoppage of the race and was rightfully excluded. Anyhow, I think we are going round in circles now, so likely best the two camps agree to disagree!