salty

Congrats to Mildy, commiserations to the lads - hope all the injured riders are OK.

Have to be in sealed envelopes. As you say there will be a lot of second guessing as TM's try and get favourable match up's.

Good news about the joker not being used in the last 4. Not so sure about the free choice thingy, any ideas how will that be administered to ensure all is above board?

It isn't impossible. Cradley '83 first the others close behind. We've had this discussion before and it has been scientifically proven that I am right.

Given it's the "British" Speedway Forum, it most definitely not representative of the whole speedway population. One would expect similar type forums in Sweden, Poland and Denmark to be even less enthusiastic about Tai's inclusion. I personally don't think British supporters on here are anti Tai, but are open and fair minded enough to realise that GB don't really deserve the preferential treatment we get. My opinion is that Tai will probably do himself justice next year, however, I loathe the fact that Britain gets a pick each year and I don't really think tai has done enough on the international stages to justify one.

Similarly the influence of sponsors will be increasingly a factor. With Monster's involvement as presentation sponsor's, being one of their stable of riders will be just as attractive as a British passport in the next couple of years if you require a pick.

And me.

Hopefully "the word" is well and truly wrong. If Woffinden gets in over Hampel and Vaculik I'll be staggered (and disgusted).

Currently of the 11 we have 3 Swedes 2 Danes 2 Poles 1 Aussie 1 Russian 1 Slovenian 1 American Hampel and Ward certs and Vaculik's performances deserve to get him a shot. Then it all depends on whether the series "needs" a Brit. If it is deemed that it does then I suppose Tai will get it more or less by default, but given his performances in the WTC and at Vojens I would give it MJJ.

Availability bound to be an issue, but would the crowd be any bigger? Seems to have hit a ceiling now and I'm not sure the state of the championship would have that great an effect.

Hardly any passing and when there is the cameras miss it!

Glad to see KK back up and seemingly fit, just to shut up the harbinger of doom that is Pearson.

If i remember that is why he ended up at Coventry.

Assuming Lindback and Lindgren are in and Ljung doesn't make it through from Gorican, the AJ would only be the 3rd Swede. Given his second place last year and the fact that the 9th placed rider always gets a pick I think it would be an injustice if AJ missed out. Especially if a Brit got a spot in his place.

Linback's continued good form coupled with AJ's crash have muddied the waters somewhat for next year. Given his current form it looks likely Antonio will finish in the top 8 and AJ might be relying on a pick. If Lindback also qualifies at Gorican, does his place to go to the 4th in the GP challenge or 9th overall - anyone know?

How can the word "tosser" be offensive? What do they expect when they shove a mike under the nose of a rider who has been badly wronged by the ref yet again? Has Nicki ever accepted that he has done anything wrong?

Don't think any rider should be given a "couple of years". If I remember there was talk last time Tai was in the series that he needed a second year and whilst I can see the rationale behind that I just think it gives a rider too much of a free ride. Tai was quite vocal earlier in the season saying he needed to know as soon as possible if he was going to get a pick so that he can get the sponsorships in place. Personally, I don't think he has really done enough to get a spot in the World's top 15, but his status as a Brit coupled with the poor year Bomber has had means he will probably get a slot.

Unfortunately, the "many, many" fans you talk about are relatively few compared to what they used to be and the numbers following the sport on a weekly basis in the UK is dwindling. A World Champion and a better showing on the international front certainly couldn't harm the sport could it?

No Brit deserves to be in. If the organisers insist on shoehorning one in, then at the moment I can see Tai getting the nod. Bomber needs to put in a very strong finish to the season if he's going to get another free ticket. Wouldn't it be great if we got a Brit in on merit rather than relying on charity.

Hard work for Jarek - you've got him twice. No Lindback ? Agree he (Hampel) should be a pick, but if there has to be a Brit (and I wish there didn't "have" to be) I reckon Tai will get the nod over Bomber unless the latter gets some very impressive scores in the last few GP's.

Well I'm glad for one. When I see threads like this started I always fear the worst I'm afraid, so delighted to hear that Bob is alive and well. He rode in my first ever meeting in 1968.

As I said before I can see your point, but surely the principle is largely the same as having 4 nominations i.e economics, though the nominations can help injured riders retain a place (as they did for Emil this year). How many tracks would run the GP challenge without the guarantee of a home rider?

Not sure on the total numbers but I think Bomber might even out-beggared Scotty. But the fact GB have to rely on charity is embarassing.

Which makes it all the more ridiculous that Tai wants to know early whether he is going to get a pick (as reported in the Star this week). You can' t really plan the picks until you know who the other 11 are going to be. Anyway after your comments regarding the seeding of Pavlic to the GP challenge, I thought you would be dead set against the use of nominated places.

Easier said than done. I think, if it has to stay, then making it an 8 point gap before the joker can be used is a way forward, as that does reduce the possible affect of a 6 point haul. In Event 1 the Russians were able to move from 6 points behind to joint leaders in just one race. When the joker can have such a pronounced affect it is more likely you will see manipulation to allow it's use.