gypilgrim

Impressive showing from Ashley Morris. With his performance for the Saints against Buxton yesterday he must feel like everything is coming together nicely after a disrupted season. I hope he is in the field for the British U-18 Championship at Scunthorpe later this month, should do well.

As I said in my earlier post (170), if anyone thinks we will win the World Cup in the next couple of years, even if Rosco or Jesus Christ Himself was in charge, they are deluding themselves. This week has been a small, but not insignificant, step along a lenghty and rocky road. We undoubtedly need plans and resources to keep up the younger team members's progress. The fiasco of the GB U-21 Team earlier this year shows that we cannot think about International Speedway in World Cup week and then quietly forget about for the other 51 weeks of the year. I hope that ALL of British speedway give Rob and his team all the support they need. If that means riders missing club meetings for International duties then NO whining from club officials and fans - we all have a part to play ! I would gladly pay an "International" surcharge of , say, 50p a meeting at my home track if this money was ring-fenced for young riders on International duty or at training camps in Europe etc . After all, they are representing MY country !

A highly pertinent post, Sandie. I think a repeat of last Autumn's GB-Australia U23 series should be a top priority. Give the matches to tracks that are not in the play-offs, choosing dates that maximise the number of riders available. The present GB-Australasia U-21 series has been a bit of a damp squib and has ended up being no more than fixture-fillers for the National League tracks.

Lee Richardson has gone up in my estimations this week. I think he has been a breath of fresh air. He is spot on with Scott. Hopefully Scottie can come back next season rejuvenated and earn a place in the GB team, rather than thinking he has a place by right (which, reading between the lines, might be part of the reason for his non-selection this week).

GB's campaign is over and, to be fair, the team exceeded my expectations, i.e third in the Race-Off, not fourth. I think that the manager's plan to go with youth has worked to the extent that they now know what it takes to compete at the highest level. Some of tonight's team, but reallistically not all of them, will take the experience and go on to bigger and better things, I'm sure. Let's not kid ourselves we will not win the World Cup in a couple of years. A long hard road is ahead and this was a very small first step. But looking at teams like Sweden and Denmark tonight we do not have that far to catch up. Congratulations to Rob and the boys, you did your best and did not let anybody down. After the last couple of years, at least that is something to build on.

If this is the confirmed team order I don't fancy Woffy's chances in Heat 5. Finishing order = AUS SWE DEN GBR

This happened last year as well. He started the season strongly, peaking at the British Final where he secured a Wild Card for Cardiff. Didn't impress at the Millenium Stadium and then saw his good form fizzle out. For 2008 read 2009 !

Great to see Jason and Matej congratulating each other in the Pits after the race. True sportsmanship.

Battling performance from the home team, but still outclassed by all the Aussies and Poles bar Sullivan. Congrats to Danny King who gave two fingers to the naysayers on this Forum. Fourth place beckons at Leszno on Thursday. Ho-hum. But at least we don't have to go through the humiliation of qualifying for next year's competition. Great meeting, by the way.

Most riders aren't great in interviews. At least you expect it from "sullen" teenagers. My bugbear is Leigh " I might be talking to you, but there is something really interesting going on 20 yard to the right of you, and I can't take my eyes off it" Adams.

The silence from Down Under is deafening.

Now that Pavlic has qualified I think he's nailed on to win the title in his own back yard.

Hard luck Germany. Oh so predictable !

I can now add Finland to the list. I didn't mention Poland, but I would expect their federation to be supportive considering their sporting infrastructure.

Couldn't agree more MARK246. Does anyone know how the Aussie team covered their costs for this meeting, as they would have been the same as for the Brits ?

Thanks for this insight Stephen. I can vouch for Simon's spirit and fortitude. He was giving everything riding for Scunny against Newport just a few hours before setting off for the continent. I also congratulate Tai, Lewis and Brendan for their efforts against all the odds on Monday. Those who chose not to represent their country when it came calling should think long and hard when it comes time for supporters and sponsors to dig into their pockets to help them when they are in need. What will the response be then ? PS good luck to Simon and the rest of the Scorpions tonight at Brum.

This has been my issue from my first post ! The team of FIVE was named a few days before the meeting. All necessary paperwork then sorted out. It does not take "Mystic Meg" to predict that a TEAM member could be injured in a meeting shortly before the side travelled to Germany. A stand-by selection of riders WITH SUITABLE PAPERWORK should have been in place. How much would this have cost the "cash-strapped" BSPA ? I don't doubt that the U-21 Management did their best to get a sub in on Friday, but "fail to prepare - prepare to fail !"

Many thanks to Bob C for a terrific post. More light shed in this one statement than we will get from the BSPA/SCB/ACU in a monthof Sundays. My posts yesterday were made in anger and reflecting today I should have toned down the Lyon baiting a bit! However, both Lyon, and Lynch before him, came into the "Team GB" (horrible name !) manager job saying basically the same thing, i.e. "Yes, we may be crap now, but we will nurture the youngsters, just wait till they mature in a couple of years". Any "maturing" by Woffy, Bridger et al will be in spite of the authorites rather than with their help. The financial backing for the juniors is next to non-existent. Is the total income to British Speedway really less than Sweden/ Denmark/Germany ? All of these countries seem much more supportive of their U-21's. Meanwhile, a country with enough resources to support 28 profesional teams/promotions cannot give over a defined budget for youth development ? We always seem to be "hand to mouth" at these offical events overseas. Lyon (indeed, any GB team manager) is the public face of the British Speedway establishment. Why take on this job without the power to shake up the British "status quo" and actually DO something positive. As far as I can see all that the Manager does is talk to Sky while re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Terrible news My thoughts are with Sönke and all those close to him.

Total respect to a rider prepared to travel hundreds of miles at personal expense to represent his country. "Rob Lyon isnt in charge of the U21, If I remember correctly, isnt that Dave Crouchers job?" Sorry, but Lyon is in charge of the "Team GB" set up and should take responsibility for this fiasco. Don't blame the monkeys when the organ grinder is in control ! All we have heard for the last two years is "let's develop the youngsters", and we can't even field a full team !!!!!!!!

I guess I can now answer my own questions. Yes Mr Nobody Ditto As far as British Speedway is concerned let's all pretend it didn't happen. (Well that will be the attitude of the so-called British Speedway authorities). All due respect to the "Fab 4" who turned up to represent their country today, I salute you. However, once again, the "management team" - yes you, Rob Lyon - who made such loud noises about "bringing on the youngsters" have shamefully let down the team and the whole of British Speedway with this episode! Cue the excuses in the Star on Thursday. Congratulations to Sweden and a big well done to Germany for beating the Aussies, shame that it is unlikely to be enough points to squeeze out the R/U from the other Semi. Rant over.

My two penn'orth. The karma police have finally caught up with Pederson. In recent times NP has shown himself all to ready to "take a fall" or "fence" an opponent when it suits him. In last night's incident I think he did get the short end of the stick from the ref. NP made the straight as long as possible meaning Emil had to bail on his original thought to sweep arround the boards and be potentialy trapped, so he tried the "cut back" to the inside line. He miscalculated and hit NP's back wheel and went down. Not NP's fault ! But........., what goes around comes around.

Is Rob Mear out ? Who will be his replacement ? Which U-21 Brit is prepared to travel hundreds of miles for very little reward ? Why is this farcical qualifying round still happening when everyone knows that only one team will qualify for the final from this meeting while TWO teams will qualify from the WEAKER semi ? Answers on a postcard please!