salty

Bit harsh on Steve Lawson. As far as I recall he ran the family farm and wasn't a full time Speedway rider, so one can't really blame him for staying as a big fish in the National League. I remember him riding for Cradley in late 70's/early 80's and I reckon he would have made a good BL rider if he'd been able to commit the resources needed to be competitive at that level. Having defended him, I have to agree that he is nowhere near the top 20 of the decade. As for the top 20, interesting that there is more debate than the 70's list. Haven't quite got round to posting my full list yet, but no surprises in the names. It's just sorting out the order that is proving difficult.

Of course the wild card at Cardiff will be a Brit and I dare say Danes, Swedes and Poles will be chosen when the GP's are staged on their shale. Hard to see Gorican without Pavlic, but I would imagine the Czech and Italian events may be more flexible. One would think Darcy Ward might benefit from the change. Having said that I can see Ladyluck's point - the Brit wildcard at Cardiff has made little impact in the past few years.

What a shame that this initiative has stalled.

Andersen's comments made me smile as well. The actual quote was "Kolodziej missed out in the qualifier. If he had been so good, he should have qualified" Ironic doesn't do it justice since Hans finished 12th.

This weeks Star has Philip Rising discussing the nominations as such: "Can there be any further doubt about which four riders will be awarded wild card places for the 2011 places?" He then goes on to name Emil and Nicki as "shoe ins" before giving the remaining two slots to Kolodziej and AJ. Finishing the piece with "end of story". No mention of Tai.

A two year gig, as you put it, would be totally unprecedented and totally unfair on all other riders. Why should Tai be given such preferential treatment? For what it's worth I reckon Laguta will ruffle a few feathers next year. He may have the odd poor score, but will also win races. At least he qualified and didn't rely on a nomination to get him in (let alone a two year one!).

Chris Harris very nearly won the Gp with just 7 points from his programmed rides. In fact after 4 rides he only had 4 points.

I agree, what's the point in having 2 Brits if the second Brit is just making up the numbers. I fail to see how that can benefit the series.

If he was fortunate enough to be offered another nomination, I would hope he would turn it down and use the 2011 season to re-group. The experiences of 2010 should stand him in good stead for the future and he can go away and concentrate on qualifying by right. If he is given a nomination it would make the whole thing a mockery.

Have to agree with the above. I reckon AJ and Kolodziej should get the nod along with Nicki and Emil for next year. AJ missed out by just 1 point after 11 GP's and his win tonight should be enough. As far as I recall he has only needed a pick once before and that was after injuries had ruled him out of some of the GP's, so it's not as if he's a serial "beggar". Kolodziej has got to 2 Finals, got a WTC winners medal and was only pipped in a run-off in the GP Challenge. That's enough of a CV in my opinion to get a slot in front of a 2nd Brit. No Brit has done anything near enough at any level to be given a pick.

I'd have found a place in the top 20 for Bruce Cribb and Garry Middleton. Bruce was a heat leader in the top flight throughout the decade as well as notching a WTC medal. Middleton may have lost his way as the decade wore on but for the first half of the 70's he was a top rider in the British League. Nothing against Bob Valentine, who was a big favourite of mine when he appeared in Heathens colours, but I don't think he did as much as the two above.

Thank You.

Anybody know any more details of the Golden Helmet??? How come Darcy Ward didn't win?

Which would be a disgrace. No way should Tai (or any other Brit) get a pick ahead of those two or Kolodziej.

Well done to Ward. Can he be looking at a nomination for the GP's next year?? Would be a just reward for two Under-21 titles on the bounce.

I can understand the theory behind giving Tai a second year, but I don't agree with it at all. If that line of argument is used to give him a second year, it gives him a chance that no other rider has been given. Whilst other Brits like Bomber and Scott have been serial beneficiaries of the nomination system at least they have generally been competitive in the series. Apart from a handful of promising rides in the WTC Tai hasn't really shown enough in my opinion to be given a second go. His qualifying campaign never got near the final (again)and as yet there has been nothing to suggest he should be picked on merit ahead of the likes of Jonsson, Andersen, Kolodziej or even Ward. If he wasn't a Brit there would be no chance of him getting a pick for next year and with Bomber looking safe the wild card would ensure 2 Brits at Cardiff. How much sway do Sky actually hold over BSI/IMG?

Delighted to see Gollob crowned World Champ. To be honest I never thought he would make it under the GP format, but he has been irresistible this year. Crump deserves a lot of credit for the way he has carried himself this year, nice touch with the race jacket. Top 8 look done and dusted as well, with Holder in 8th a fairly impregnable 11 points clear of the next.

Just to point out that the quote which looks like it was attributed to me in Humph's post above is actually me quoting Dirt. Wonder if anyone has taken him up on his challenge to find a worse book than the Penhall tome.

Generally agree with you about name calling but Mr Caunt is too easy a target. The guy has been a councillor for 40 years so hopefully he may be near the end of his tenure. Whilst most councillors have been verbally positive about the Heathens over the years (whilst not actually doing much-if anything) Mr Caunt stands out as the one who has been particularly negative. Dudley used to have a County standard Cricket ground as well as a good non-league Football ground for Dudley Town, not to mention the mecca that was Dudley Wood. It's now got nothing. The Town Centre has to be one of the most depressing in the country as the Council allowed the Richardsons to make hay at Merry Hill, without a thought for the wasteland that would be left behind. I would love to see the Heathens return to the borough, but to be honest I can't see it without a major shift of will in the Council chambers.

Having listened to the cobblers he has spouted about the Heathens over the years, I can confirm that it is indeed with a silent a. He has been a councillor for centuries and has helped preside over making a Dudley a Town Centre without any shops and also the largest metropolitan area without a professional sports team.

"I challenge anyone to find a worse book than Penhalls offering! What a pathetic disgraceful attempt at producing a readable book. I now have mixed feelings but certainly a lot of hate for the man who by writing a book should have been gaining admirers, not creating enemies. you have to laugh at how anyone could publish this thing. Anyone off the street could have written a better book on any subject. I dont know how he managed to do so poorly, on a subject that I love. This book should be called Mission Impossible. 0/10, the few pictures are even poor. and who the hell would want to read about his power boat racing and how he won a world championship at that. I couldnt care any less. Thank god ive got some better offerings arriving soon to get this over rated gutless yank out of my system. cheers." A quick search finds this diatribe, which I would hesitate to call a review, that you posted last December. I'm sure the author was delighted to read such well written constructive criticism. You still didn't actually explain what you didn't enjoy about the book. I've got the book by the way, no classic granted, but tells the Penhall story well enough. Also as a Biography I reckon it's important to talk about Penhall the person, not just what he achieved on the track.

Interesting point Rob. Going into their last races the Moran brothers were on 6 and Siggy was on 5, so there was always going to be one rider left vulnerable on 7 points.

Think you'll find that Penhall didn't write that book. The clue is in the fact that it has the author's name (Steve Johnson) on the cover. You can ask Steve about the book yourself he posts on here quite regularly I think. Would be interested to know what was so wrong with the book? Not enough mentions about Darcy Ward???????

I'd agree that there needs to be a greater transparency and mors stringent checks of machinary. If only to reassure us that everything is above board. The whispering campaign against Emil last year is an example of what can happen without checking. I'd like to see Kolodziej in the GP's next year, I'm sure he would be competitive and it seems daft if he gets excluded just because of his nationality.

Given that Gollob won at Terenzano last year and that the final GP is in his own backyard then it's looking promising.