salty

Tai or Eddy getting a wildcard (nomination) would be a joke. Neither got through their initial qualifier and then when Tai was given a second bite he again failed to make the cut from the Semi. Would make a mockery of the qualifiers if someone got a pick who couldn't even get through one round.

Richardson is doing well in the leagues, but would he be able to make an impression in the GP's? Will be interesting to see how he does in the WTC (if he gets a ride). Pity he pulled out of his qualifier, but I would rather a rider who finished 9th or 10th in the standings get given a nomination than a rider of similar vintage get in purely because there are no other Brits good enough.

Big problem with the nominations is at least one (if not two) get used up to ensure that there are Brits in the series. Surely there can be no justification for having 2 Brits for 2010? Harris still has a chance of qualifying in the top 8 or failing that getting through at Coventry, but with Nicholls way off the pace and no other Brit even qualifying to the semi's by right, let alone the Final, it would be totally unfair to put a Brit in for next year.

Would be cruel if Smolinski missed out in such a way. Hopefully one of the Brits will get through the other Semi.

So supposing all the Brits did fail to qualify. Who chooses which semi only gets 7 qualifiers?

A few surprises in Latvia. End of the road for Bjarne, Schlein and Ales. Eight qualifiers are Hampel, Pavlic , Lindgren, Bogdanow, Miedzinski, Holder, Pepe and Smolinski.

Should mean that Woffinden gets a go. Wright is now in the other one - not sure who pulled out to allow that.

First I've heard that Zagar was put forward (and presumably turned down by IMG). Makes it more of a joke that 2 Brits had to be nominated. Given only Bomber is still in the qualifying process and Scotty is having a mare, surely there can't be 2 Brits next year??? Re Nazza's post - I've not seen anything about a Brit being seeded through to Coventry.

Why's it a mistake? Worst thing we did 2 years ago was qualify directly to Leszno. Far better to get into the run-off and at least give the guys a chance to have a go on it before the final.

Always great to see Backtrack sitting on the doormat when you get home. Quick sift through and have to say I really enjoyed the memories about Reider Eide. When I was a kid he always seemed to ride for a different track each season and now I can guess why! Reg Fearman likes to have the "right to reply" doesn't he? Having visited the Shay under lights I have to agree with John Berry. Also to quote Eric Boocock - "It was the banking that got you round the corners, because it was very narrow going into them and narrow coming out"

In the world of Speedway it is impossible to be too cynical. Have to say that it crossed my mind that Lee's league form around Europe would put him in line for a possible nomination and he wouldn't want to jeopardise that by making a balls up of qualifying.... It would be hard to see anyone else getting a pick after they have all failed to get through the first round of the qualification process.

At least it was a more entertaining GP than the the rubbish we have had to endure so far this season. Rune Holta even won 2 races from the back! whilst there was a lot of close racing for the minor positions. Nicholls/Emil both as bad as each other, but a fine should suffice. No fan of Pedersens, but I thought he was unlucky to be excluded in the Semi. That sort of incident usually would result in "all 4 back" but maybe there is a policy amongst refs to try and stamp out the practice of sliding off after contact.

Seems strange that Richardson didn't ride, he seemed quite up for a tilt at qualification this year. James Wright and Danny King bow out in Austria, which means (I think) that already the Brits are down to just Harris for the Semi-Finals.

Nothing like a Parsloes/Speedyguy spat is there? Actually can see both sides. From Jason's point of view his Grandad and Dad were both riders so I can see Parsloes point of view, But looking from Neil Street's perspective Phil is only his son-in-law so I can see (for once) Speedyguy's view. If pushed I would side with Parsloes on this one. But it would help his argument if he didn't say "Jason Crump IS Neil Street's grand-father".

1. Shawn Moran - some compliment considering I'm a Cradley fan. 2. Penhall. 3. Sigalos. Always came across as a classy guy both on and off the track. But for injury would he have threatened the Hans/Erik stranglehold during the late 80's?

Guess if the sponsor is happy then things will stay the same! God knows what sort of track you were expecting, because although it was better than last year it was still poor.

The ruts in the track made it a lottery, but to be fair for the first few heats when the track was smooth it was very much follow the leader. Pedersen can whinge all he likes but if the roles were reversed he would have been saying "he took my front wheel" - can't have it both ways!

Because he'd rather produce tracks conducive to Danes. Only way I can see the end of Olsen is if fans start voting with their feet. Surely someone at IMG/BSI can see that the slick tracks are spoiling the GP's???

Got a £5 e/w at 33/1. First bet I've had on an outright GP for a couple of years as a lot of the value has gone now the Bookies have become more clued up. Thought he was a stand out value bet, but didn't expect him to win the thing so that was a nice bonus!

Shocking Gp yet again from Prague. Track was a disgrace. I can't remember seeing so many empty spaces down the back straight at previous Czech GP's and its no surprise when they are served up tracks like that. Saving grace was the victory of young Emil, fantastic to see him winning at such a young age (can't remember quite how old). Just what Speedway needs. Glad I availed myself of the 33/1 because I doubt we'll ever see that price for him ever again. One last thought - is it just me but has Millard got even worse??

Agree with the point about Kennett. In the mix for a place, but no way an automatic selection. Bridger and Woffinden are better bets for the future.

Personally I would have expected Iversen to have qualified or at least been in the mix.

Don't know if you remember Chris, but about 3 or 4 years ago, you sprang to Ed's defence about him swerving the World Under 21 Team Cup to ride for Rye one Saturday. My point then was that it didn't matter whether the competition was "Mickey Mouse" or not, but that the experience of riding abroad was all important. Very disappointed that Ed has missed out at such an early stage, but as you say missing out on Poland this year isn't going to help him when it comes to making it at the highest level.

Pretty sure that Malcolm Ballard rode for Cradley at Reading in 1971, could it be him?

Cyril rode in the first match I ever saw at the back end of 1968. For Newport at Cradley, remember him then riding a few matches for the Heathens in 1971. Nice to hear that he is still enjoying his Speedway.