salty

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.

Not quite true, though you are right Dag was unavailable for the whole season. The facility awarded was season long Rider Replacement, with very few guests utilised. Paul Gachet was injured very early in the season and his absence was covered by NL riders. When you consider that riders like Kennett, Geer and Niemi were taking extra rides all season it was some feat to hold on for the title. I am sure I have read somewhere (probably by John Berry) that it was the Dugard's links with Weslake that was the key factor in the Rebels triumph.

Touchy, touchy! Haven't Raynes Park Vale got a game tonight?

Maybe you are thinking of Frank Taylor, who if memory serves became the Mirror's leading Sportswriter? Frank McLean who did the Belle Vue reports did so until a ripe old age I think.

No, but there used to be a writer called John Hyam

John Berry's book "Confessions of a Speedway Promoter" covers the fatal accident and aftermath in some depth. Berry was standing on the centre green when the accident occurred. Also quickly on the scene was Preben Eriksen and it was these two who removed Brett's helmet. Then to quote the book "We both looked at each other. Although Brett was fighting for breath, and therefore still alive, we both knew the score there and then." Can't believe it is so long since this happened - 1982 was a bad year for our sport.

I might be wrong but I was under the impression that Speedway Star man Phillip Rising was Assistant Race Director, anyone else know for sure?

Issue 15 of Backtrack showed a modern day picture of Ray Wilson posing next to a streetsign for "Stadium Rise" (which had another sign called "Parker Drive" underneath it). Caption for the photo read - "the only sign that speedway was ever staged in Leicester"

There was a lot of discussion about this on the Cradley web site a few years ago. some were in favour of some sort of recognition, but the vast majority felt that we wanted nothing to do with anything that Barratts "built" on the site.

Cradley - Horrible cheap and nasty housing estate. Wembley - a very expensive Football stadium Wimbledon - a track used for dogs and stocks Oxford - ditto

I enjoyed reading that article, but was surprised that Dag Lovaas didn't get a mention as a Reading Great. I know he was only there a relatively short time (3 seasons?), but I thought he would have warranted a mention at the very least. Amongst those "also considered" were Pierre Brannefors and Peter Glanz and without wishing to belittle their achievements in the winged wheel I reckon Dag's contribution to the 1973 Championship was worthy of some mention.

Makes the whole thing a bit of a mockery. Harris must be the luckiest rider to ever get a nomination, seeing that he finished well behind Puk and Bjarne last season. If the nomination system has to be used I wish it was to ensure the next best 4 riders were included, not to even up some arbitary national quota. I would like to see Holder get a wild card opportunity in 2009, but can't see him getting a go in front of any of the home nations. The best idea would be to see him at Cardiff, but I reckon the system which gave us Howe and Kennett over the past 2 years will stay in place.

Think you will find Tai didn't ride in the World Cup Final, GB failing to qualify from the run-off where he scored a creditable 9 points from 6 rides ( though I think you will find he didn't beat any current GP riders). Maybe you are talking about the World Team Under 21 Final? Again GB failed to qualify though Tai did top score with 14 in the Semi. Or maybe you are talking about the World Under 21 Final when Tai scored 3 points? Clearly Tai is not ready for a full GP season yet. Vast majority of people including Tai himself would see that, but don't let that get in the way of having another pop at the GP's!

To be fair to Zagar in his first full GP series I'm pretty sure he qualified in the top 8. Found it tougher 2nd time around, but at least he has shown he can cope with the step up in class. Anyone know what the score is with Holta? It is the first I had heard he might step down for2009.

Come on Tony, Sam Fox was so '80's! Funny, but I can't remember any "celebrities" finding their way to Dudley Wood in the 70's! Things I remember fondly... Webster's Speedway Mirror (4 editions published I think?) The start of the Speedway Yearbook series Studio Publications Full colour on the back and front cover of the Speedway Star. 19 Teams in the British League Going to the first home meeting of a season, buying the Star and finding out which riders had moved clubs or been newly allocated (what did we do without the net?) Belle Vue coming to Dudley Wood on Saturday nights with a massive following. Going to Monmore on a Friday and cheering for the opposition. Gulf Oil and the GOBL Staying behind to watch the second half and getting autographs as the riders loaded their cars.

Of course we should have guessed - it is all the fault of that dastardly GP series. It wouldn't have happened using the old system! watch the race again and see how much ground Harris makes up on Greg - he clearly had the speed to overtake. I'll agree that Hancock could have maybe defended the line better, but to suggest that he let Harris through deliberately...next you will be saying that Lance King and Shawn Moran let Erik overtake them at Bradford in 1985! Still waiting for anybody else to come on and agree with your "version" of events.

Now that is a good idea. I reckon Middlo has just completed his 10th season as Team Manager so a good opportunity to right a wrong.