salty

Quote from Bob Radford's feature in the last issue of "Backtrack".... "In 1975 the Speedway Control Board and their contractors made a mockery of track preparation for the World Final on a night where fans infamously grabbed water hosepipes to try and dampen the dust. Happily, Len Silver was brought in to prepare the circuit from 1976 and he ensured that all remaining meetings held there were contested on the best possible track." So you can't blame Len for Wembley 1975, Rye House 2010 might be a different matter though.......

I'll have to check when I get home, but I'm pretty sure Len didn't do the track in 1975. He was brought in to do it for the next two World Finals as a result of the debacle in 1975.

Not a great weekend for the sport. Too many injuries (get well soon to all those concerned) and both showpiece meetings appear to be massive let downs. Even allowing for the re-runs there is no way the Rye meeting should have dragged on for so long in the early stages and the field for the Pairs meeting was a disgrace. Sad to hear the track was so dusty today, can only think they were expecting some natural watering.

Thanks for the pics. Amazing that some of the Brits didn't practice on Saturday, what would be the reasoning behind that?

JB has mentioned a couple of times that the 1977 White City team benefited from a close relationship with the Weslake organisation, which gave them a bit of an advantage over the rest. Maybe that's why he didn't give GK the credit you feel he deserves?

Agreed. Surprised we haven't had the usual calls to hold it at an "Elite" track. Good reward for the efforts at Rye over the past few years. Hope the weather is kind, the crowd is massive and the track prep allows a good 25 heats.

Top win for the Heathens, especially after a poor start and losing Richard Franklin in his first ride. Great effort.

Think you may have called this one correctly. Woffinden would be extremely fortunate to get a second pick, especially as he has struggled this year. BSI must be praying he puts up a much improved show in the remaining GP's to give them a bit more substance to support his inclusion again. Still, lots can happen in the rest of the season. Hancock and Harris showed in Croatia how one good GP can catapult you up the standings. Holta is the one rider in the current top 8 who probably wouldn't benefit from a nomination, but hopefully he will do enough to qualify comfortably.

Fair play to Harris and Hancock, both stood up today and did the business to get themselves into the top 8 with just three rounds to go. Impressed by the track and stands, but the track wasn't the best.

Ok you're right, it's very embarrassing to hear the Brits begging for a nomination.

Following on from the post from "Pandorum", it's a bit of an indictment that British riders have to beg for a nomination. Harris has also been quoted along similar lines in the past couple of weeks and it's a bit embarrassing really. I think one spot at most for the Brits and preferably none, just leaving a wild card for Cardiff.

I'm pretty sure Peter Oakes job role was never described as coach (in fact I just checked - he was Under 21 Team manager). He helped set up the under 15 competition and I seem to recall him arranging a group of riders to attend workshops concerning media training amongst other things. All worthwhile and which ideally would have been complemented by ex-riders providing on track guidance and expertise. It just seems that the structure of our sport does not allow for such positions to be renumerated or the resources to be sourced, big part of why GB continues to lag behind other countries at the top level. Didn't Erik Gundersen offer to help out with British youngsters recently?

Nice idea to talk about appointing a GB youth coach and Mike Lee would certainly have a part to play. Trouble is, who pays for such a set up? A few years ago Peter Oakes took on the role of developing young Brits (can't remember his actual job title) and seemed to be doing a good job of supporting the youngsters and helping their development. If I remember he walked away from the post muttering about lack of support from the authorities (maybe someone else can give more detail), but I got the impression that there just doesn't seem the will to provide the necessary finance.

Philip Rising's exact words regarding Emil were that he "cannot automatically qualify for next year's SGP series. That is one of BSI's wild cards done and dusted". No grey area there and rightly so.

At the risk of stating the bleeding obvious a lot depends on what happens in the last 4 rounds. Most obviously to determine who finishes in the top 8. One nomination will go to Emil and it seems that any 3 from Andersen, Jonsson, Hancock, Pedersen and Harris will need a pick as well. Unless Tai ups his game significantly in the last 4 GP's I can't see how he could be justified getting a pick ahead of any of the above riders. Other imponderables are possible retirements freeing up spots. Is it possible Kolodziej will have a wild card spot at Bydgoszcz to show us again what he can do? Past history has shown that BSI/IMG want to have 2 Brits in the series, but really such a standpoint is becoming difficult to maintain as unfortunately the Brits aren't up to it. I can see a scenario where Tai is given a second season "to grow" into the series, but to be honest I think such a move would make a total mockery of the event.

No chance of that I hope. The guy finished 3rd last year and would have been in the top 8 this year if it wasn't for his injuries. He is a must for next year. That leaves 3 slots and I guess it all depends which riders get in the top 8. Don't really want to see any of Jonsson, Pedersen, Hancock or Andersen miss out to just to let the Brits get 2 in. I also would like to see Kolodziej get in, which would require Lindgren getting into the top eight.

Pretty good meeting. Sped through in less than 2 hours, compare to the Coventry meeting last year that seemed to go on forever.

3 man race-off. Zorro, Lindgren and Kolodziej. Hope the Pole does it, but would be a good comeback after his last in Heat 17.

Laguta does it!!!! Terrific stuff.

Kolodziej has looked so good all night, but now relying on others to drop points.

Any 3 from Kolodziej, Lindback, Laguta and Lindgren, with Zorro still in with a shout. Would love to see Laguta pull it off.

Don't see your logic. No point having fresh blood just for the sake of it, surely they need to be competitive to be a worthwhile addition. I prefer to watch the best 15 in the world (or as near as possible), but I can't see another Brit who would be able to compete at the moment. At least this year Harris is still in the running for a top 8 spot.

I've a horrible feeling Madsen might get in the top 3, which would leave a nasty taste in the mouth after his silencer issues earlier in the qualifying. Ulamek can gate as good as anybody and might also do well. Harris rode well in the WTC Final but I doubt if the track will be the same this weekend. Would love to see one of the Russians get through.

Interesting info, Kiwi. Certainly sounds like it is still a possibility.

Now that is interesting!