salty

Obvoiusly they have taken into account Ed's storming performances at Cardiff over the past couple of years, coupled with his 5 point haul in the Pocking qualifier. Not to mention the 3 points he amassed in the Peterborough WTC round and his fantastic record in the Under 21 Finals. I don't believe Harris should be in, but Kennett!!!!!?

According to an old programme, I have Howard scoring 12 at Brandon early in the 1973 season. Not sure if was a maximum, but he definitely wouldn't have been riding at reserve.

He was seeded through to the semi at Motala because he won the Swedish final last year. I suppose you could argue that therefore the Swedish Championship was a qualifier in itself, albeit the previous year.

Interesting point. I think you will find few people begrudge Zorro his spot, because he qualified, but by the same token very few people would consider him in the best 15 in the world. On the whole people accept that the qualifying system is open to all and those that succeed may not always be the riders one would consider to be in the top 15. However, it is harder to accept a rider who is not perceived to be in that top echelon getting in by way of nomination, just because they are of the right nationality to suit commercial needs. I like the idea of Rob Peasley's to hold early season qualifiers, but accept that the need to put together sponsorship packages etc might mean that is unworkable. I guess most people see the seeding system as a necessary evil given the commercial concerns.

Unless they are Rune Holta. It has been widely mentioned that Rune would have struggled to get a pick if he had finished outside of the top 8. Which is why for the past 3 years he has ridden his socks off to qualify by right. Whereas, as you say, Lindgren and Andersen must be fairly confident of getting a spot, so the motivation just isn't quite the same. I can't really argue with Freddie and Hans getting back in for next year as I feel they are amongst the top 15 in the world, but it would be laughable if Harris, who finished 14th, got yet another nomination.

Holta's comments after the GP must cast some doubt over his participation in 2010. If he decides to give it up, then as far as I understand Freddie gets in by finishing 4th at Coventry. Then that would still leave 4 nominations, Hans would certainly get one and I reckon Lindback did enough in his 2 wildcard appearances to be given another shot. Lindback's links to TR will not harm his chances either. At least one of the other nominations will go to a Brit and it isn't easy to make a convincing case for any of them. Harris and Nicholls finished as the bottom 2 this year and have shown little in the 11 GP's to convince that it wouldn't be the same next year. Harris has never qualified for the GP's by right and though he is the reigning British Champ it would seem very unfair if he got a pick ahead of Ulamek and Walaszek who finished ahead of him in 2009. Richardson would be a step backward imo and Kennett has never shown enough at international level to suggest he could cope at the top level (at the moment). That leaves Tai who got knocked out of the qualification process at Lonigo, got a second bite at Motala and only gleaned 5 points. However, he has improved as the season has progressed and performed with promise in the SWC and showed his ability in the Under-21 Final. With the success of Emil in GP 2009 I reckon the organisers will give Tai his chance. That leaves one spot, which depends on whether they want 2 Brits or not. Personally I hope they don't give the Brits 2 spots (for the reasons outlined above) in which case I would like to see Zagar back in. So if Holta rides I would go for Lindgren, Andersen, Woffinden and Lindback - if Rune gives it away then add Zagar.

Well done Crumpy, great to see him back on top of the world.

Not doubting your memory Andy, but that seems strange. Howard moved to Cradley from Kings Lynn at the start of the 1973 season and I'm pretty sure that he had a serious injury the previous season. If you are correct that it was 1972 then he must have been a guest, but he was a fully fledged heat leader in those days.

Jason Crump Emil Sajfutdinov Tomasz Gollob Greg Hancock Andreas Jonsson Nicki Pedersen Hans Andersen Rune Holta Freddie Lindgren Kenneth Bjerre Chris Holder Leigh Adams Jarek Hampel ....then it gets tough - any 2 from Harris, Pepe, Lindback, Zagar, Iversen, with ward and Woffinden to break into the top 15 in the next 12 months.

Haven't got the time or inclination to trawl back through threads from a year ago, but I certainly don't remember people being disparaging of Emil's chances. From memory, the majority accepted the validity of his wild card on the back of his 2 Under-21 World Championships and felt that he would be an asset to the GP's. Personally, I didn't think he would do quite so well as he has, but I think its fair to say that his previous Under 21 performances showed he was an exceptional talent with a quality back up team. I think Tai, if given a chance, would be competitive at the top level and would be a more interesting proposition than Nicholls, Harris or Richardson.

Look at Rune Holta for proof of that theory. He knows if he finishes outside of the top 8 it is unlikely he will get a nomination (which shows why the system is so rotten), so therefore he rides his socks off to get in the top 8 each year. Nicholls and Harris always seem to relax, knowing that a near miss gets them a pick anyway.

Tai was admittedly unlucky with the tapes exclusion, but the fact remains he finished 4th. Following your logic surely Pavlic or Hougaard should be picked before him....

Agree with that. In the past there have been more Poles already in, but as you say, with only Hampel and Gollob confirmed for next year I reckon IMG/BSI would prefer 3 Poles to 2 Brits. Would be difficult to see anyone brought in before Holta, who has proved again that he is well worthy of inclusion in the top 15 in the world.

Have to say I share your doubts about Rune Holta being safe for 2010. Two years ago when he qualified by winning the run-off in Germany against Harris and Nicholls it was reported in the Speedway Star that he wouldn't have been offered a nomination, which would have been totally unfair. He just doesn't seem to enjoy the same level of support from the GP organisers as other riders, possibly because of his dual nationality? I fear the only way he will get in for next year is if he gets in the top 8 and even a near miss might not be enough. Whilst I think that would scandalous (every other rider who has finished so high has got a nomination for the following year) I wouldn't put it past them to blank him. Given Philip Rising's inside info in the top echelons of the sport it will be interesting to read the Star this week as they are usually pretty clued up as to where the nominations will go. In the past there has been a supposed "need" for 2 Brits, but surely that can't be maintained given the dearth of Brits able to mix it at the top level.

I thought it was possibly the most entertaining GP of the season. The second semi could prove crucial as it put an end to Emil's hopes of catching Crump and gave Pedersen a second chance which he grabbed with both hands. From looking at just 7 points he ended up with 12 and got back into the top 8. Sure Gollob will give it everything on his own stamping ground, but Crumpy should be able to get enough points to clinch his title. Race for the top 8 will go down to the wire, but realistically whoever finishes 9th and 10th should be given a pick for next year anyway.

Would be an utter disgrace if GB got 2 nominations again. It's tough enough making a case out for one rider to get it, let alone two. Would also mean a more deserving rider from a different nationality missing out.

That means you are leaving out Hans Andersen who is currently 10th.

Refresh my memory - when did Harris qualify?

It seems that the dreaded "commercial" considerations mean that at least one Brit must be in the Gp series. Hope that they don't have to have two (as has been the case in the past) because that really would be taking the proverbial! So who do we pick?? Nicholls and Harris have had such poor seasons in the GP's that it would be a mockery if one of them (most likely Bomber) was to get another nomination. The only 3 I can see coming into consideration are Richardson, Kennett and Tai. Richardson has performed well across the Leagues this season and also did well in the WTC race-off, but against that he has had a number of seasons in the GP's in the past and his last season in the GP's was very disappointing. Kennett has never really performed well on the International stage and fell at the first hurdle of the qualifying this year. I feel he spent too long riding in his comfort zone domestically and has only recently realised the importance of widening his horizons. Hope he gets stuck into the qualifiers next year. Tai also fell at the qualifying stage, but has had a good first season at the Elite level. A good Under 21 Final might convince them to have a punt on him and hope that he can continue his progression next season. My choice would be Tai.

Nice idea, but I can't see them going back to more riders. The move down to 16 riders a few years ago was to cut costs and I can't see a reversal of policy in the pipeline. There seems to be an obsession with introducing "fresh" faces, but the reality is that on the whole those "youngsters" touted are not capable of surviving long term in the series. In recent years the likes of Zagar, Lindback, Lindgren, Kasprzak have all failed to make the top 8 whilst the much maligned oldies like Hancock, Adams and Holta do. Surely the GP's should be about the top 15 riders in the world, regardless of age, if the newcomers are good enough they will qualify of right (like Holder), or if nominated (like Emil) will prove themselves at the top level. Because of the back up required, both in terms of finance and support team, I do feel riders should be given a couple of years to establish themselves in the GP's.

Harris has never qualified in the top 8. Got equal points as Holta and Nicholls in 2007 but got knocked off in the run-off. Pretty sure he got in as a nominated rider in the first place so he has never actually qualified for the GP's by his own efforts. 10 points on his own track last night doesn't mean he should get picked for the 2010 series imo. Add in the fact he is currently 14th then you would be picking him over riders who have perfromed better this season. If there is to be a Brit for next year (rightly or wrongly I am sure there will be) then it should be a choice between Richardson and Woffinden. A strong performance by Tai in the Under-21 Final might just persuade them to go with a youngster over a rider who, although he has had a strong season in League racing, has not set the pulses racing in the GP's previously.

Wouldn't be so sure , he is only 5 points ahead of Holta in 9th place. I would hope that whoever doesn't qualify out of Lindgren, Nicki, Holta and Andersen would be offered nominations anyway, which leaves 2. Lindbacks claims might be weaker with 3 other Swedes now in and it is to be hoped the Brits don't get another 2 picks-surely they only should get one! As things stand at the moment I would give nominations to Holta, Andersen, Lindback and Zagar, but I am sure a Brit will swipe one of those spots.

Good to see Holder get in as of right, with any 2 from Hampel, Zorro and Lindgren looking the most likely to make it with him. Looks like the Brits will have the begging bowl out again.

Not surprising that you should have nailed your colours to the Nielsen mast. No arguing that he was the most consistent rider in most of the years above. However, in those days consistency didn't win you the World Title on the big night. Gundersen was able to peak for those 5 rides and thus got his 3 titles. I am sure if a different approach had been required then Erik would have adapted accordingly and would have been able to compete (and win) over a 6 round GP series.

Not so sure whether the GP's have taken the sport forward, but I do think that they re-energised it when they were introduced in 1995. Unfortunately the old system was at a very low ebb and I dread to think what state Speedway would be in today if the change hadn't happened. One of the side effects has been the negative impact on the sport in GB, primarily the loss of regular weekend fixtures at the highest level. Personally I think the GP's as a spectacle have suffered since the change to the 16 rider format. Whilst I can understand the difficulties of the old 24 rider knock out system in terms of cost, I felt it did make for a better and more exciting event. With regard to the 4 nominations or seeded riders, in principle I am against the idea, but I can see that from a commercial point of view it does give the organisers some input into which riders take part. Just goes against the grain when you see riders of a lesser worth getting picks just because of their nationality.