salty

Read the sentence again Derek. The qualification process is more open! You do not have 5 or 6 place allocated to Continental riders as in the days of the one off final. Agree that only 3 riders can qualfy, but at least you should in theory get a GP qualifier consisting of 16 of the "next best" in the world.

And these World class riders sitting in the stands are? Difference between the old world finals and now is that there used to be approximately 5 spots for qualifiers from the Continental Final (Poles, Russians, Czechs or Germans) leaving possibly better riders from the "West" missing out. Nowadays the qualification process is more open and everyone gets an equal chance. The 3 guys got there fair and square and beat everybody else to do so - fair play to them, much worthier of a place than those who have to rely on a nomination.

Can't honestly see NKI getting a nomination, not with 3 Danes already in. I know there were 4 Danes this year but they had all qualified as of right. I suspect that there might be a call for the young bloods of Holder, Sajfutdinov and Pavlic to be given a go as you say to "freshen the series up a bit". However, there was a similar impetus in the recent past for riders like Zagar, Lindback, Lindgren and KK, but they have all struggled to consistently challenge the top 8. If the likes of Holder and the others have the right sort of backing and support teams then I would love to see them get a go, but it takes serious money to be competitive in the GP's.

Congratulations to the 3 qualifiers. Might not be everybodys cup of tea but I reckon they all have the potential to cause 1 or 2 shocks next season. Hope Kenny B sends Davy Watt a bottle of bubbly because without Watt's travel nightmare to the semi final Bjerre would not even have got to the final. Biggest losers tonight were Rune and the 2 Danes currently in the GP's, Bjarne and Puk. With 3 Danes and 3 Poles now guaranteed for next year it would appear the only hope for these guys is to make that top 8 slot their own. I think Bjarne is too far back and with Puk and Lindgren riding with injuries (as is Holta) it looks like it is a shoot out between Holta and Nicholls. Then it will be interesting to see who bags the nominations....

Which is a joke. What if he finishes one point off 8th place and say wins the Super Prix. How can riders who finish below him be considered for nominations instead? Unfortunately I agree that the ridiculous politics of the sport mean he might miss out.

Heat 17 will be a crunch race. Sulli, Ulamek and Puk fighting it out. Walasek and Kenny B look to have easier races and Jedrezek has every chance of finishing on 11. edited after I realised Ulamek had already won it. Sullivan out, so the door stays ajar for Holder.

No doubting that Holder has the ability to go a long way in the sport, however, it would be wise not to underestimate the level of finance required to compete at the top level. Whether Holder has the team in place to make a season long mark as early as next year is the doubt I would have.

Think you will find that the interviewee is Gollob. Surely it is more disrespectful to try and interview a Polish rider in a Polish stadium in front of a Polish audience and expect him to reply in English. The TV audience isn't just those watching in the UK and Brandon is interviewing for all who take the GP's.

Thanks. I couldn't remember last year but I could recall PK missing out in a final a couple of years ago. Much fairer to do it over the 20 heats.

Why on earth should Gollob attempt to speak in English when the interview is being broadcast to a Polish crowd? Maybe the Gp organisers should pay for a proper interpreter instead of foisting English upon everyone. Gollob was pure class tonight, but blew it with his gate choice in the final. Great cut back by Hancock in the Final, after all the garbage talked about the GP needing new blood it was good to see the veteran show them how it's done. As for the sponsors drink, come on its just become a joke, how can anyone get annoyed by it?

Fully agree. Whatever the merits of this line up at least they have all been through the qualifiers and therefore fully deserve to be described the "best of the rest". Is the format of this meeting a 20 heat affair with a final tagged on?

On another thread it says Mads gets a go instead of Jonas. Thought it would have been Pavlic as he is No 17, but Mads was in Jonas's semi. Anyone able to confirm?

Should be a tough meeting. Who gets through is anyone's guess. You would expect the 4 Poles to be in with a shout, but then again the Danes are always dangerous in these meetings. My 3 against the field: Walasek Puk Kenny B But would love to see Pavlic get through.

Sounds a similar format to the Cradley one that came out last year. I found that a very interesting read and thought it was very well put together. Having said that the price is very much on the high side for what is a little more than a booklet.

I'm not going to bite. I'm not going to bite...... Edited to say but Sub did.

Know exactly the point you are making. I just sense a change in Holta since he won in Gothenburg, last year he absolutely rode his socks off (and was involved in many of the series's more exciting races) but in the past 2 Gp's he doesn't seem to be getting stuck in so much. Mind you he pulled out a good last bend overtake on Lindgren that could be very important in the greater scheme of things, so maybe he is just struggling for fitness. I was so glad he qualified by right last year because as you say he was the only rider who went into that run-off knowing he absolutely needed to get in the first 2 to get a spot for 2008. Hopefully he will be fully fit for Bydgoszcz and reclaim the 8th spot.

Rune's only hope of getting in next year is if he finishes in the top 8 and he needs to pull his finger out if he is going to overtake Lindgren. Can't see him ever getting a nomination, the rumour was he wouldn't even have got one this year if he hadn't won the run off against the 2 Brits. When on form he is well deserving of a place in the Gp's, but his last couple of outings have been below par (though he is carrying an injury) Having said all that he is wearing the red helmet in the Super GP whatsit final, so he may win that and make if difficult for the powers that be to drop him. Politics aside, as you say, he should get a nomination in front of any other riders who a) finish behind him in this years series or have failed to win a GP.

To be honest, reading the Speedway Star over the past couple of weeks it does appear that Holder is a shoo in for 2009, barring any other machinations.

Not entirely sure, but I think Hans had the temerity to criticise some aspect of the GP series (it might have been track preparation, it might have been ref decisions, can't quite remember). Come nomination time he found a rider below him in the standings getting a spot instead of him. Most riders have towed the public line since that lesson was handed out.

Not so sure it would be a "travesty"- lets face it he did have the chance to qualify and failed. But depending on who qualifies for next year it is always possible that politics might stop Holder getting a Wildcard - which would be wrong. For example, if, and it might be a big if, Ryan Sullivan qualifies from Zielona Gora then Holder might find it more difficult to overcome the feeling that 4 Aussies in the Series would be 1 to many. I thought it was interesting to read in last weeks Speedway Star (on a page which had Phillip Rising's byline) that the names Holder, Safutdinov and Pavlic were definitely in the frame for nominations. Given Rising's links to the Gp series it is likely he has his finger on the pulse. The Speedway Star, however, has also in the past mentioned the determination to have 2 Brits in the Series, which might also cause difficulties with the nominations. Personally I would prefer to see Holder or Safutdinov have a go instead of any Brit as I reckon that either of the former would make more impact than any of the latter. Not really worth worrying about the nominations until we know the 11 who have qualified.

Glad somebody reads my posts!!!

That's a good call. I never saw Mick ride and to be honest could barely remember his name, but the article he wrote was one of the most interesting I have read. Would love to read some more....

Seems a bit of a strange decision. Emil would have been good value round Bydgoszcz, but I guess it was always going to go to a Pole. Surprised that Jagus is the pick, I got the impression the GP bigwigs weren't too keen on the little fella last season. Having said that I reckon he will be good value compared to the last 3 wild cards who have been disappointing to say the least.

What a load of garbage! The youngsters aren't breaking through because they are not good enough! Everyone has the chance to qualify, yet the GP Final again consists of many of the old names. Riders like Pavlic, Holder and Safutdinov all had their chance but didn't make it.

Of course Laguta though riding for the Russians in the World Cup is a Daugavpils rider isn't he? Hope he puts on a good show.