waiheke1

who got injured? link?

Tai nicki zagar vaculik

Because as you yourself point out, thisd is not the same as previous years. In previous years the run offs were for the last qualifying spot. This year the tie was for the first reserve spot, which while it may end up being the last qualifying spot (due to NKI), is still not the same thing. Either way, I do agree that it bizarre that they wouldn't have a run off for the first reserve spot! I think what the zagar episode (as well as the absence of a run off for the reserve spot, which is likely to end final qualifying spot) is that the GP riders should be excluded form the GP qualifiers. As someone else has suggested above, I think they should go back to the regional qualifying methods. So, as the quarter finals I’d have an overseas final (brits, us, aus and nz), Nordic final (sdes, dane,s finns, Norwegians), and two “continental” semis. Follow this with an inter-continental final and a continental final, then a GP qualifying final, the winner only straight into the gps, places 2-9 into a GP Challnege, here they would meet places 9-14 from the gps, the under 21 champion (seeded), and national champion of the nation hosting the GP challenge. Top three in the GP challenge meeting to the next series, leaving three permanent wild card places available. Hosts of the respective stages to be guaranteed one rider, so the inner of the National Championship (or top placed not in the gp series) to be seeded to that stage, avoiding the possibility of riders being eliminated and then re-eentering the qualifiers.

Plus ermolenko Hamil land crump at least cradley not far behind with penhall gundersen pedersen hamill and hancock

If i had to compare knudsen to someone from that era it would be carter - both had their best result on debut in the 81 final, both were denied a world title by a controversial referring decision, both had careers blighted with injuries. top class rider no doubt, to my mind would be one of four danes in my top ten riders of the 80s.

With things still tight for top 8 finish and wildcat at a premium for next year, i think he would be foolish not to take the opportunity to seal his spot here and now - one crash in or preceding the remaining gps could end his top 8 hopes, and given the injury problems that have blighted this years series, that's not out of the question.

I think the surprise in 85 was his first out win ahead of the much more fancied knudsen . which would have been less of a surprise had it been known in advance what an advantage gate 1 would prove in the early heats. the big surprises that day for me were sudden Sam who made the rostrum and kai nieme , who could have done but for a poor last ride. and going the other way, the performances of lance king and thepre meeting favourite shown Moran.

of course both nki and zagar are likely to finish top 8 anyway, so still three other spots up for grabs. i think kk has to be a favourite, i can see him being joined by one of the danes (Hans?) and janowski . Ideally though id like to see mjj, pawlicki/janowski and batch through, though would be happy enough with kk or lebedev . Of course would like zagar to win it to guarantee his spot for next year

excellent post, but to be pedantic his mid table finish in 85 was about as expected given a favourable draw and presence of 5 continental riders. and in 88 he wasn't involved in the run off for the title. i think he is pretty well regarded on here at least - i ve seen people rate him ahead of nicki when talking about great danes . would u rank him above or below sudden Sam who also had injury problems a title and multiple rostrum spots? - personally id rank him fractionally higher.

The 1990 injury was a go karting accident, so nothing to do with his speedway ability. i always thought gundersen and knudsen equally naturally talented - and certainly tommys career was blighted with injury, Erik i don't recall having many at all until that tragic day at Odual.

I believe he was 200-1 with some bookmakers . i think if he wins it will be the greatest surprise not just in gp history but in the history of the speedway world champs . in fact maybe the greatest surprise medal winner? can't ever recall the rank outsider finishing on the podium. Either way it has been a superb season, even though emil is my favourite rider i have found myself wanting tai to take out the title - and for the first time this season i think he is favourite to do do.

Sorry hancock 150 more lebedevs 50 more jonsson 30 less many thanks

Hancock 200 more lebedevs 50 more Jonnson 30 less

Hancock 100k Emily 50k pedersen 15k lebedevs 10076

Ward hancock pedersen lebedev

not a valid comparison - the world cup is essentially a knock out tournament, albeit one which commences with a round robin phase. The speedy gp is more akin to a league competition. If u want extreme examples though, a team could theoretically win the world cup without scoring a single goal ( outside penalties) - doesn't that seem ridiculous? or tennis where a player could win a major but still drop down the rankings? every sport has anomalies. I think the current scoring system is perfect, and a vast improvement on yesteryear (which has included systems very much like what barrow boy has suggested).

What's the rule if someone finishes top 8 in gprs and top 3 here - does their spot go to 9th in gas or 4th from here? quite possible that nki plus zagar/kk could qualify via both methods.

very unlikely that scenario: could only happen if vaculik makes top 8, which is a very long shot at this stage. 3 out of 4 though is a reasonable shout, id say either ward or an extra pole will make top 8

If it was a "real" test series i'd agree with the criticism, but given that neither side is anywhere near a full international team i can understand him not wanting to lose money in an international "b" series.

TWK - I think you are making the classic mistake of interpreting anti-criminalisation/pro-legalisation arguments, or arguments which point out the hypocricy of different laws, for someone being "pro drug." They are not the same. Certainly, I think there are a range of recreational drugs that should be legalised, put the profits into the hands of the gpvenment rather than the criminal fraternity, and allow that money to be put into the health and education system instead. It oudl also free up police to do "real police work" rather than drug activity. And I imagine if the young folk out on the town were doing pills rather than alochol, the social costs (drunk dirving, violence etc) would be markedly reduced. Sid - if you were to say you wouldnt want the mechanic down the road to work on your car while he was drunk would you be: a) a hypocrite hacing a pop at the mechanic c) Both of the above D) None of the above ah, the old "gateway drug" argument. If there is indeed such a thing, then surely alcochol is thhe main "gateway" drug. As for criminality - i think you are mistaking statistical occurence for causality. While a decent percentage of criminals may use weed, that is far from the same as there being a significant percentage of weed users who are criminals (other than breaking the law around pot smoking obviously).

I'll go a top 8 of: kk nki pawlicki x2 dryml bjerre sundstrom kildemand

I'm pretty confident ward will finish top 8. but if not he and holder are the only certain picks for next year.

I think hammock will finish top 8. holder will obviously get a wild card, i think gollob deserves one too (only a last season people were whining about pedersen getting one). Sweden will get one place, on form u would have to say Freddie should be given that - he,s never gonna bexworld champ but over last two seasons has shown he is a top ten rider.

yeah i got my addition wrong. went through heat by heat and at some point got something wrong and didn't check back that the swing made sense. end result still the same.

under the old tac sub rules i reckon the score would have been 43-47, assuming a 1-5 in heat 8 as result of double tac sub. so yes i think swindon would have still lost. As it is without the double point joker swindon would have lost anyway. though in both cases the psychological advantage of the point swing may have helped the visitors. Strggling to c your point sidney ?