Bagpuss

Couldn't agree more. In fact I would have just one 'wild card' for the series and make the rest qualify. If they feel the need to make that one nomination a Brit then give it to someone different like Kennet, Bridger or Woffinden.

I'm suprised that it hasn't been mentioned before now on this thread. Its a real pity that Pedersen has to resort to those kind of moves. I'm all for hard racing but that was naughty and Crump did well to stay on board, unlike Nicki in Lezno. Looks like the Championship is bubbling up nicley, all it needs now is for Pedersen to have a stinker and it will be very tight at the top.

PLRC last season If it was anywhere other than Coventry I would agree with you, but Stead and more especially Allen should be considered first as they ride it every week.

He and Bomber have the same problem, they just aren't good enough over the first lap of GP races. We saw it last night when they had favourable gates which everyone else had won from, when either a poor gate or bad decision on the first turn costs them dearly, and Scott in particular doesn't seem to learn. Bomber at least is only in his second season so has time to get better at it although he hasn't shown much sign of improvement this year on last. Don't think that slick GP tracks help their cause either. Why oh why do they have a grippy circuit for practice then a slick one for the actual GP for every single round?

Absolutely, nothing to do with Nicki's past, just how I saw it last night. Pedersen knew Crump had got him so made sure that they made contact and he went down

Nicholls and Harris are just not quick enough over the first lap and never will be IMO, not enough to get anywhere near a World Championship rostrum anyway. Its an unfortunate Britsh trait, doesn't have too much to do with set ups or professionalism, its just reactions at the gate and choice of line round the first two bends. How quick you are over the last three laps is irrelevant if you are out of contention after the first one. Pedersen definitely took a dive and his play acting up by the fence had me shouting at the TV. Our sport is turning into football! Like Grachan says you can't really balme him because it worked but it left a sour taste for me. Racing was OK but more dirt would have made it even better. Slick tracks for GP's are starting to grate on me a bit.

Why was Mitcell Davey not in the field?

Go Kozza!

Yep thats the end of the matter for me Trees. My original point was very little to do with the riders who did compete, but instead about those who didn't Hopefully a few of them will decide to enter next year

<sigh> Yes I would because Troy winning it rather than Noddy would not change the fact that fourteen (the twelve I named plus Craig Watson & Matt Wethers who I thought of earlier) top Australians were missing from the field. And I would also have made the same posting had it been Kevin Doolan, Trevor Harding, Kozza Smith or John Oliver who had won it! For the last time because I am now getting bored of saying it I am not criticising Chris Holder so I think you would do well to grow up a little and stop this incessant Noddy defending when there is nothing to defend him from

Again I agree that Noddy has 'it', he's a special talent. And he probably would have been challenging for a rostrum place in a full field. Doesn't alter the fact that it was a very watered down championship though!

Can't argue with that either. Just thought of two more, Sullivan & Lemon. In theory thats three quarters of arguably the strongest possible line up (not counting foreign guests) missing............

Don't put words into my mouth Theresa Any title won without all eligible competitors present is hollow to a degree. Can't remember there being nine or ten riders absent when Adams won his title(s) though. I'm not pretending that I have an answer to the problem either! But what a great Championship it would be if all the top Aussies competed.

Appreciate ALL of that Bryn but you still can't convince me that the Aussie Title doesn't lack something (quite a lot in fact) bcause of the non participants! Once again though well done to Noddy (and Troy) for five great performances. At least Bryn your reply was constructive

Read my post again Mr # Name Removed # Nothing but admiration for Noddy, I think he is a super talent and I wasn't criticising him. My point is that its a shame so many good Australian riders are not competing. And get off your high horse while you are at it

Indeed and congratulations to him. A very worthy winner having won all five rounds. However how seriously can the title of Oz Champion be taken when you consider how many rides didn't compete? No Crump, Adams, Watt, Shields, Schlein, Doolan, Johnston, Parker, Lyons or Henry to just name the ones who pop into my head. Of course its not Noddy's concern who does or doesn't enter and I am sure he would have beaten many of those anyway but I just think its a shame so many very good riders didn't compete. Devalues the whole thing for me.

A bloody good question! Have the 1996 GP challenge from Prague (?) on video somewhere and what an awesome meeting that was, great speedway in more or less every heat. Doesn't get much more cut-throat than a GP Challenge.

If he finishes in the top eight then great, see you next year Scotty. If not then he should not get yet another seeded nomination. Would like to think he will hang on to eighth but can't see it with Hampel, Jagus and Holta breathing down his neck. Would agree that he looked nowhere near quick enough on Saturday night. Considering he was as quick as any at Coventry last evening that smacks of a lack of preparation / professionalism / knowhow which needs to be put right for any future GP seasons.

Not a bad GP but could have been much better if they hadn't made the track so bloody slick! Astonishing first lap by Gollob, just a shame that Adams wasn't in the final to take the title to the wire. Pedersen once again class.

Would love to see Adams win the thing this year simply because he hasn't been World Champ yet, but you have to hand it to NP, he has been unbelievably consistent and can only throw it away now Agree Laguta was like a breath of fresh air and looks worth a punt for a British club possibly

Yep he certainly made himself look a pillock with his reaction. Would have done exactly the same to Hans if it was the other way round. Don't particularly like either of them but big up massive respect to Andersen as he always shakes hands after getting beat, must have been pick sick after lousing up the final but congratulated each of the other three on the warm down lap. In that respect a true sportsman.

Lots of Brit bashing on here as expected but I thought it was a good job well done by the Brits. Should have won on paper and did so with a fair bit to spare in the end. Russia were excellent entertainment and JD showed what a great rider he can be on good kit. Hancock apart the USA were a shambles. Personally don't think GB have much chance of winning the final but the good thing is that the team is full of youth this year which makes things a bit more unpredictable and gives hope for the future. Like others I can't really understand Nicholls' comments about finishing top three. May well be realistic but sounds defeatist, if the riders don't think they can win it (unlike me!) then why bother riding? Possibly the BSPA press office misquoting again? The race off should be very interesting tonight and won't surprise me if its a better meeting than the final.

Agree that he was very unlucky tonight but that is sport for you, ups and downs. I think we will have to agree to disagree lupus Can't beleive I am defending Nicki P

I'm by no means Nicki's greatest fan but I think people are being a bit hard on him here. These are GP's and the racing is cut throat stuff! Accidents will happen. If he had cut up the inside cleanly and won the race (which could easily have happened) then we would all be saying what a fine ride it was. The margins are like fag papers at this level.

Personally I don't think he is good enough, as he has consistently shown since being in the series. However I agree that he gets slagged off far too much on here. No need for people to join the hate campaign. If you don't like him then support someone else!