Ghostwalker

No I am not, but rather that it should be since the rules are unfair. You don't get anything extra for winning the final of leg 1 compared to the extra points received of winning the final of leg 2. That is what I don't like. Obviously points should be awarded for winning the final in leg 1 and not only for winning leg 2 final. And I don't understand why they would have such strange rules but then again this is speedway, the nr1 sport when it comes to unfair rules.

I remember from last year that the point scoring rules were different from event 1 and 2. In event 1 the points from the finals didn't count towards the title fight while the points from the event 2 finals did count towards the title fight, Nicki won the first event but didn't get any extra points, Iversen won event 2 and won the title thanks to the fact that Nicki's extra points was not included, I can't understand why an official federation championship would have such a set of stupid rules? (No offence to Danish Webmaster), On the other hand we have tactical substitutes and jokers in speedway so perhaps one should not be surprised.

You do realize that its an 17 hour drive (approx 1800km) från Gorican to Poole? Would you drive 1800km there and then 1800km back home again if you didn't know if you were going to do a single lap? What if he did the journey just to realize when he reaches Poole that Zagar is there to participate? Then the time and money spent would all be in vain and I do believe that riders have things they would rather do then spending 2-3 days in a van going to Polle and back without riding. The short notices could be at least partially solved by requiring a notification of withdrawal 5 days in advance. Riders who fail to notify a withdrawal within the specified time will get 1 week mandatory rest from the day of the event, An injured rider would still not ride anywhere and a non-injured rider would probably not want to risk missing league meetings because of a missed deadline.

I know Phil & Spook but I still don't like it regardless of nationality and/or reason. Regarding wild cards I definitely don't think there should be two Swedish wild cards, I find it hard to justify even one wild card. I also would prefer to have only one GP then two as there isn't enough people "fill" two GPs. Also If I could pick four riders I would pick Holder, Dudek, MJJ and Grigorij Laguta, On the other hand someones like Lebdaev (spelling) or Poudzuks could be interesting but they would probably need a year or two to get more experience.

Yes he did and I didn't like it then either. This year though there are also allot of other riders who finished ahead of Harris in the qualification who got overlooked/wasn't asked. I am of the same opinion when it comes to Freddie Lindgren, who 5 out of 6 times have failed to make the top 8. Yet doesn't bother with doing the qualifications and for that one can only blame him for not doing it. You could claim that Freddie have a busy schedule with his three leagues, but Iversen is doing four leagues and still have managed to win the Grand Prix.

Actually its not because the gifted riders shouldn't be there in the first place. A rider like Pavlic was denied his go because the "need" of a local wild card. Other riders were also denied their right to have a go because Chris Harris was given a place ahead of them when Zagar pulled out. The whole point of a knock-out tournament is that when a competitor is knocked out he/she is knocked out from further participation of that tournament. Harris was knocked out by scoring only 4p in the quarterfinal but still "miraculously" found his way into the Grand Prix challenge. I also think that the wild cards for the Grand Prix series is slightly different because there is no list in which order the wild cards should be handed out (unlike the qualification process) and Tai have ridden very well over the entire season and he have not achieved his results in an one off meeting but rather in a series of meetings.

Definitely not, You should remember that Harris actually was knocked out in the QF and he was given a pick for this meeting, Besides from finishing 5th yesterday he haven't really shown anything that could warrant a pick. The same goes for Lindgren and Jonsson. Harris (and Lindgren) have had enough wild cards and there are several other riders that would deserve a pick well ahead of him. Riders like,Patryk Dudek, Pz Pawlicki, Michael Jepsen Jensen, Grigorij Laguta. Both MJJ and Pz Pawlicki qualified by merit for the Gp.Ch. however Pz (not Piotr) Pawlicki was injured and could not participate. Regarding late pull outs, surely it would be possible to have a rule that said that they could not ride anywhere else for a week. If the riders is injured it won't make difference since they won't be able to ride anyway while a non-injured riders will be affected. Then like J.T and Philiprising said, those who are given a charity pick for the final should not be allowed to qualify. It should only be those who have qualified that should be allowed to be eligible to get into the Grand Prix.

The only difference is that Kasper actually qualifies by his own performance unlike Harris who have needed a wild card for all seasons except one. In my opinion that makes Kasper a better rider then Harris. I am not particular excited about KK or Bjerre or Smolinski either but they actually got this far by doing better then all the others riders (including Chris Harris) who entered this years Grand Prix Qualification. And they did not need a wild card to get this far unlike two of the riders that participated tonight.

I disagree regarding Bjerre, he had one poor season but rode pretty good the other years. In case you have you have forgotten, he did lead the series after a couple of rounds in 2010. Sure its a couple of years ago but I do think that he still is a good rider.

2p is should be enough since Smolinski got two 1st places while Harris only have one 1st place.

How else would you explain Harris inclusion? A rider that was knocked out already in the quarterfinal.

Why isn't it then? Have all riders t hat finished ahead of Harris been asked or did they just give it to Harris without asking anyone?

Then why are they allowing riders to withdraw with such a short notice preventing riders that have earned their place (as a reserve) from taking part of the GP-challenge. Surely if a rider wants to withdraw he have to do it with such good margin that the reserve(s) can arrange their participation? Have you ever asked those questions?

I though it was a speedway magazine? As a such perhaps it could question why a few riders are keep getting charity picks?

Not really and neither would deserve it, being charity cases.

Yeah right do you honestly believe that yourself? BSI is the promoter of the GP-series and I am pretty sure they have influence of the Gp-challenge in the same way as they do over the GP-series.

Yes I would!! Harris is in Poole because he got another charity pick despite being knocked out early in the qualification process, Pavlic however got himself to a position as reserve by his own performance. Finishing top 8 in the QF and then top 8 in his semi which should have given him a place at the Grand Prix Challenge. However because BSI thinks a Brit has to be in the GPC Pavlic was robbed of his place. His place instead went to Daniel King who also have done nothing to warrant his inclusion rather then being a Brit. Then suddenly on the night before the GPC, Zagar pulls out and guess who gets the newly open charity spot? Yes that's right Chris Harris who has the record in received Wild Cards to the GP series. The very simple solution to these things would be 1. no wild card picks for the Grand Prix Challenge 2. Any riders who pulls out should have to so at least 5 days before the event. With exception for riders getting injured after the deadline has passed.

Luck? NO!!! Charity? YES! Does he deserve it over all of those who finished ahead of him in the qualifying quarterfinals and semifinals. No he most certainly don't.

which he shouldn't be. It would be a disgrace if he qualified. getting in on another charity pick.

which was Prague's slot this year.

Agreed. However riders should obliviously be forced to send a notification of entry or of not coming, lets say one week prior to the meeting so that the qualified reserves can have reasonable amount of time to sort out travelling arrangements and etc. It should definitely not be allowed to pull out the day before the meeting without a valid cause such as injury. Zagar is the one that causes this mess in the first place by pulling out so close to the race. As I wrote above, Zagar pulled out yesterday which means that the other reserves don't have enough time to get to the meeting in time.

D.Ch., got much better riders, you know riders like Nicki P, Iversen, MJJ, Kildemand, Mikkel B, Hans A, Bjerre, Madsen...

TBH, I would predict that the Danish championship will be more exciting and have better racing then the Swedish championship.

Maybe Linda Lampenius?

i think it depends on which riders that pulls out. I would guess Kildemand is a reserve for those who ride in the Dk semi. While Pavlic is a reserve for those who rode in Lonigo.