ladyluck

Congratulations to Darcy Ward on a remarkable achievement. An achievement that was enough to get Sayfutdinov into the GPs and we could easily see Ward GPing next season.

So, who'll get the BSI nod for the four GP nominations in 2011? Certainties for nominations are Emil Sayfutdinov and three-time World Champion Nicki Pedersen (Pedersen might yet clinch a place in the top eight, although it is highly unlikely). Darcy Ward's double gold in the World Under-21s matches Sayfutdinov's achievement and that was enough to get the sensational Russian a nomination for 2009, so Ward should definitely be in the running. That could be bad news for the disappointing Nordic duo of Andreas Jonsson and Hans Andersen. Both have been very poor in the GPs this season, especially Swedish champion Jonsson, who after an encouraging start to the season has faded dreadfully after some uncompromising semi-final riding from Gollob and Crump in successive GPs. In my opinion, neither Jonsson or Andersen are deserving of a nomination. The Poles are pushing hard for Janusz Kolodziej's fantastic season to be recognised by a nomination and have given him the "wild card" for the final GP in Bydgoszcz. Another good showing from Kolodziej could well make overlooking him impossible. Then there is Tai Woffinden.

Trust PePe to get GPitis the wrong way around. My "conspiracy theory" is that PePe makes five Poles in the line-up in Bydgoszcz and each one with a subsidiary mission to help Kolodziej's "nomination" cause. Didn't PePe's position in a race at Hamar years ago assure Hampel of a place in the top eight for the following season?

Not a tremendously well researched article, since it seems to be suggesting Szczakiel won in 1974. A shame about Gollob's marital difficulties, but it seems his racing has been a diversion for him.

I didn't agree with giving him a nomination for 2010 and I agree that he shouldn't have a nomination for 2011, but I am confident that he will get a nomination.

I recall an interview with Greg Hancock ahead of one of the Bydgoszcz GPs when he said something along the lines of all the riders liking to watch Gollob strutting his stuff around the Polonia circuit. I think there is universal admiration among the riders for Gollob's ability on a speedway bike.

Cast your mind back to the first time Woffinden was mentioned on Sky as being a potential nomineee. Tatum insisted that if Woffinden were nominated he should be given two seasons. That will be the argument. It is quite a reasonable one too. BSI nominated Woffinden way too early, it would be unfair to drop him after a single season. That said, the second season is often more difficult that the first (look at Woffinden's subdued EL showings this season). For me, Zetterstrom has been the best performing Swede in the series, especially comparatively. Everyone has such high hopes for Jonsson and Lindgren, who always fail to deliver. Zetterstrom has exceeded expectations.

The Polish authorities seem to be pushing hard for Janusz Kolodziej to get a nomination, but it's difficult to see BSI nominating a fourth Pole. However, a storming performance from Kolodziej in Bydgoszcz would certainly strengthen his case. A win would make it very difficult for BSI to ignore him. The top eight looks pretty much decided. The only rider I think is capable of sneaking into the top eight is Nicki Pedersen he'd have to have a stellar GP while either Harris or Holder have a stinker. It's not impossible. Harris recorded four last places at Bydgoszcz last season before winning his last race. I can't see Jonsson doing much. When the chips are down; when the pressure is on you can, with a fair degree of certainty, expect Jonsson to disappear. Look at his dismal showing for Bydgoszcz, at Bydgoszcz, when Polonia needed him to help save their Ekstraliga life. Jonsson really has no stomach for the fight and maybe being shown the door would be a "wake-up" call for him. It's just as well Lindgren qualified, as he certainly wouldn't have deserved a nomination. Remember after the GP Challenge Final? All those Wolves fans confidently expecting a relaxed Lindgren to easily make the top eight. Thruth to be told, Sweden's best performer, reletavely, in the GPs this season has been Magnus Zetterstrom. As for the "plucky Brits", well, Harris ought to make the top eight. If he slips out, then he wouldn't warrant a fifth nomination, but he'd probably sneak one on the strength of his performances in Gorican and Terenzano. Woffinden, whether you like it or not, is a given. He enjoys the powerful patronage of Sky Sports and that will be enough for a nomination. My guess regarding the 2011 line-up is: Tomasz Gollob Jason Crump Jaroslaw Hampel Rune Holta Kenneth Bjerre Greg Hancock Chris Harris Chris Holder Artem Laguta Antonio Lindback Fredrik Lindgren Emil Sayfutdinov Nicki Pedersen Tai Woffinden A N Other Who will AN Other be? One of Jonsson, Andersen (neither of whom would deserve it), Kolodziej or Darcy Ward (if he wins the World Under-21a again). I'd like it to be Kolodziej, but I think it will be Jonsson.

Personally, I think the Gollob renaissance started with his 2008 win in Krsko, which I think was before the crash. He went on to win twice more in 2008. Three wins in 2009 and now - so far - four wins in 2010. My congratulations to Tomasz Gollob on his richly deserved world title and I hope that there might be a couple more to come.

Any comparison being made was not between Gollob and Fundin, but between Crump and Fundin. I don't think many riders have "fluked" three and "fluked" being on the podium ten seasons running. However, the intimation that Gollob has "fluked" this world title is a disgrace. Has he "fluked" twenty GP wins? Has he "fluked" all his previous podium positions in the world championship. I'd think of Hancock, Hamill and Loram before thinking about Gollob in the "fluke" stakes.

Try looking at last season's results. Shovlar was on the mark, his view was entirely correct. Two riders not chosen finished ahead of Harris last year. He was picked because he was British. Fair enough, he took his fourth chance. Remember, Harris still has never qualified for the GPs on merit. He is going to do so this year, but he should never have been given the chance.

The meeting presenter did, but maybe he "jumped the gun"? Certainly the result wasn't posted on screen until much later. Certainly Gollob's pit crew and the man himself didn't celebrate until it was officially posted.

Yes, huge congratulations to Tomasz Gollob on finally claiming gold. In 2007 he was fourth, in 2008 he was third, in 2009 he was second and he completed the sequence with first this year. He wants more as well. As for Chris Harris, he was superb this evening and looks comfortable in the top eight. If he stays there he obviously deserves to be around in 2011, but in the unlikely event that he manages to drop out of the top eight at Bydgoszcz, he doesn't deserve to be there. What now for Jonsson and Andersen? Personally, I don't think either should be considered for nominations. A final point about Gollob and Crump. From memory, every time Crump has been crowned, that's more or less been the end of his night. I don't think he's ever gone on to win the meeting, or do very much in subsequent GPs. Nor has he ever defended a world championship. We don't know whether Gollob will defend his title, but he certainly didn't lose focus or concentration after winning the title and he did win the meeting. That said, Crump's dignity tonight does him enormous credit and his record in the world championship is phenomenal. How many years running has he been top three in the world?

Lindgren, Lindgren, always Lindgren. Wherever we find a Wolves supporter we are likely to find someone who over-rates Lindgren. What do both the races you have mentioned(your ideal race and Ht 19) have in common? Three former GP winners and someone who is there because he races for Wolves. Three world class speedway riders and Lindgren.

I think we can disregard Hampel. To be honest, since Crump seems to have conceded, I can't see anyone but Gollob taking the crown.

Hasn't won a world championship yet. Seems certain to this season. Aside from that, you're talking about a rider who has won NINETEEN GPs and only two riders (Rickardsson and Crump) can beat that. No one else is even close. I'm not sure anyone else is in double figures. You are also talking about a rider who has led his country to four SWCs as captain, while so far all Darcy Ward has done in the SWC is manufacture hot air as Australia's challenge fell apart.

Maybe; maybe not. There have been plenty of riders who were going to be world champion, yet weren't. I really think Ward needs to change his attitude. Fact is that he hasn't performed for Torun this season. If he had, Torun might be in the play-off final and Ward might not be throwing strops and blaming other people for his own errors. While Middlo might make exceptions for Ward, Polish clubs and Polish managers won't. Ward will probably be on the receiving end of similar treatment at other Polish clubs. He'd better get used to it. John D Rockefeller used to say that the chicken was the wisest of creatures, for it only cackles when it's laid an egg. Ward would be a lot wiser if he didn't come out with some of the nonsense you quote in your signature. The real class acts of the sport; the Crumps and the Gollobs and others tend to let their track work doing the boasting for them.

He's got no heart; no stomach for the fight. He never has had and I doubt he ever will have. Jonsson is fine in a winning team, when things are going well. He just disappears when the going gets tough. Holta versus Jonsson in a "must win" race for points and it's no contest.

I don't think Sayfutdinov was a regular in the season Bydgoszcz were last relegated, so relegation gave him a big opportunity. He can only have been 16-years-old in that fateful season. He wasn't a double world-under 21 champion, or a GP star.

In all honesty Falubaz, for the second season running, have done fantastically well just to make the final. Unia Leszno are simply a much better team than Falubaz.

No, of course it isn't the rule, but it's easy to understand a manager picking his strongest rider from Ht 1 for Ht 4, unless his other rider in Ht 1 is a bit of a star. For example, Bydgoszcz would always pick Sayfutdinov for Ht 4, regardless of his score in Ht 1. Torun don't have a junior performing consistently well, so the manager rotates them based on scores in earlier heats. Well, until an over-hyped Aussie throws a strop, that is.

Judging from MK's Facebook status a certain Tomasz Gollob is in the Polonia Bydgoszcz pits, so it seems his "suspected food poisoning" wasn't too serious.

...the Falubaz Hools. From memory there was some controversy over items being thrown at Bydgoszcz's Andreas Jonsson in the first meeting at Zielona Gora on their return to the top flight a couple of years ago. The Holiness of Falubaz is a bit of a religion in the Green Mountain town and they have there own radical fanatics.

It's not a question of favouring one rider over another. If Ward had done better in Ht 1 he'd have been in Ht 4 and had he performed well in that he'd have been in subsequent heats. It seems Ward has some hard lessons to learn.

Ward could find himself considerably poorer as a result. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Torun fined him and heavily.