Bagpuss

Indeed.....you never know, those missing riders may make a couple of the events closer and more exciting. Certainly makes the Lynn meeting more even on paper.

I meant the year we won at Coventry rather than the year we bombed out, sure it was 2007.

Coventry 2007

Dear me. Until the EL sorts itself out and is more than just a play thing for three or four teams do you really expect bigger clubs to leave the more secure waters of the PL just to lose money in the top flight? Buster & co have spent thousands on the stadium and have applied successfully to host a major event, they deserve it as much as anyone. Agree with the rest of your post though, it plays into the Aussie's hands.

Surely thats got to be a wind up? Fifteen quid (if you bought tickets before July 1st) for 25 SWC races is a bargain in my book. Its a fiver for over 60's!

Awesome :approve:

I'm quite surprised that you've gone for two PL riders over Ward & Schlein.

Loud and clear fella See you there in a fortnight?

I think it would be harsh to rule Stead out for one bad meeting. Barker certainly has something about him and I think he will be a big rider for GB in the future but I just feel that the five pretty much pick themselves this year. Kennett, Bridger, King and Barker haven't done enough over the season to oust any of those five for me.

All about opinions of course but I wouldn't consider Barker to be an NA specialist and Stead is averaging nearly two points more per meeting according to the BSPA site.

Nicholls, Bomber, Rico, Stead and Woffinden. No surprises really.

No Crump or Adams apparently......will surely be Watt, Holder, Batchelor, Schlein and Ward?

The three big guns should be a given. Woiffinden should ride as he is rubbing shoulders with the big boys at the GP's every fortnight. Stead averaging more than the other candidates so has to ride IMO.

Really! Each to their own of course, and I certainly enjoyed last nights GP, but Parken was slightly better. Its refreshing that we are debating over two consecutive exciting GP's after last year

Thought it was very good but not quite as good as Parken for me. Gollob was head and shoulders above everyone else and the likely winner from a very early stage. Would be good to see him win a world title before he packs up and with three rounds in Poland including the final round in his back yard he'll never have a better chance. Good to see Tai improving in every round but not such a good one for Bomber once again who couldn't gate for toffee and made some poor choices in the first bend.

Agree that Kennett impressed in the British semi MrMungo but I guess you have to take into consideration the field he was riding against. For me Kennett and Bridger have had poor seasons so far and unless they do something amazing over the next two or three weeks I wouldn't consider them. Stead had the fifth spot when I started this thread but I think Barker and King have given Rob a selection conundrum since and it will be interesting to see who he goes for. Harris, Nicholls, Woffinden and Richardson shoe ins IMO.

Perv

Not being silly, just stating an opinion. The Swedes could choose any five from seven. The Aussies could probably choose any five from a dozen!

I personally believe that Nermark would be a better pick through his two years riding at Lynn, although Zorro has usually ridden it pretty well too. As far as I know Lindback hasn't ridden the NA before, so maybe Zorro and Nermark could get in ahead of him? And there's always PK.........

The better half and I were discussing Event Two the other day and disagreeing on the team make ups Just wondered who people think will be selected for each country? Will let someone with more knowledge of Finnish speedway than I suggest their line up but if I was team manager of GB, Australia and Sweden I'd pick the following; GB Harris Nicholls Richardson Woffinden Stead AUS Crump Watt Holder Ward Batchelor (no Adams as he has already said that he is likely to sit the first one out) SWE Jonsson Lindgren F Davidsson J Lindback Nermark Let the discussion and sarcastic Rob Lyon remarks commence

So what is the deal with Bridger then? Is he in another round or out of the championship altogether?

Thats a pity, would have been good to see how he fared in what is a very good line up as usual. Happy New Year to you too!

No Alex Davies?

Something Noddy will have to get used to for the GP's though. According to the updates site Holder is champ again, well done to him.

While not totally suprised by some comments on this thread its a shame that some have chosen to be so negative about the choice of venue. Coventry, Peterborough and Reading have all hosted SWC meetings in recent years so I see no reason why the Norfolk Arena can't. Rather than rearding the club for their 'lack of ambition' perhaps it is a reward for the tireless work which has gone into the stadium over the past ten years or so to turn it into what it is today. The track is proven to produce great action amongst world class riders when prepared correctly and will provide a great meeting I am sure. Looking forward to it immensley. Hopefully Team GB will have regular practice at the track and its prepared to their liking for the night!