Dave_minall

I just picture an old man saying "all you whippersnappers don't know speedway like I did back in the day" No offence but we live in 2011, these are the cards we have been dealt with. Love it or leave it. By leaving your opinion on how the 'old times were better' won't bring anything back. Just cherish your memories and stop trying to impose them on what speedway has become. In my opinion, I wouldn't change it for the world.

This has only become an issue since Poland introduced the '1 GP rider per team rule' so I can't see how what the riders earn is relevant - they aren't pulling out because the GP doesn't pay well, they're pulling out because the bulk of their league income is at risk if they ride in the GPs. If Poland never introduced the rule, this debate wouldn't exist. It's pretty simple.

Wouldn't work, and once again there is nothing wrong with the current system - it's factors outside of the GP that are having an effect. If poland didn't have the ridiculous 1 GP rider per team rule, this whole debate wouldn't exist. Don't blame the solution, blame the problem.

But it IS successful, look at it from BSI's perspective. We have qualification rounds and one final at a track and that is it - with the current format we have 12 rounds at huge stadia with big support at each, in the form of crowds and sponsors. Just because we have a year when 1 rule by one league has impacted on this years competition we get all and sundry claiming that 'the one off final was better' - at the end of the day, the current system lines the pockets of BSI nicely and because of this, that's the way it will stay. My issue is not with riders dropping out, as they've got every right to, My issue is people claiming that the current system is broken and that the one off world final is better. It just isn't.

My thoughts exactly. People don't like change you see, so they assume that the current era (or times gone by) are the be all and end all of speedway. Granted the oldest rider in the field won the championship won this year, but regardless of the skill or the age of riders, the GP will still continue to be an exciting product and will be for years to come.

It is nice to see that riders seemed to be no better off riding in the old one off world final than the GPs today. Another reason for all of you to stop begging for it to make a comeback, because it won't.

I can't believe people are still tarting about the idea of the old world final making a comeback. Talk until you're blue in the face, it will never happen. Deal with what we have because talking about how you can't cope with change won't alter the current system one iota.

He's played his cards very well, using the media and all hype surrounding him right now. A very clever boy!

Darcy's been one clever shrew during this whole shenanigan. I think he will have used the GP as a negotiating point for bigger earnings in Poland and then accepted an inflated offer. No doubt he'll make more doing this than riding in the GP.

When are people going to understand - the current format is a money making machine for the BSI and they will never go back to the old style one off world final. Think about it - 12 rounds with a crowd at each. Compare that to 1 single round with 1 crowd and 1 set of sponsors. The money making potential of 12 different rounds is far superior and we must all know that each event has a different main sponsor (that goes on the fork covers of each rider). It doesn't make financial sense to cannibalise the current format and take it back to the tired format it used to be run in, and we must all admit that having it spread over the season keeps us all entertained and regardless of the current state of the SGP and Poland, it will still produce some (if maybe slightly second rate) quality racing. Events like Cardiff, Torun and Copenhagen (which are held in incredible stadia) wouldn't exist, and please don't tell me that qualifying rounds could be held there, that just wouldn't work. Making brash comments like 'put it back to what we used to have' simply don't fit with speedway any more. BSI have done an incredible job of bringing GP speedway into the modern world and none of us can dispute that. The fact of the matter is, the GP system itself is not the one to blame here, its league racing that is treading on it's toes that is the problem

In my opinion practice should be abolished full stop - every time a rider is asked about practice we get the same answer 'The track is completely different than practice so we're starting fresh again' what is the point if they still have the learning curve of figuring out setups on the fly? personally I think that no practice will make it more interesting.

Not a bad idea but it won't be as mysterious as most people could identify specific riders by their riding style. I remember seeing Barry Briggs riding an ice bike on the shale at poole about 10 years ago (I can't remember what for) but that was impressive.

When I got into speedway about 14 years ago (when I was about 10) I went to Sittingbourne and I was given a ride with Mick Norris (If I remember right) who took me out on the track then let me go out solo after that - a great introduction and providing he and the track are still there, I'd recommend it to the ends of the earth.

Despite the start time, I still think Sky will probably make us watch it on the red button

Has anybody noticed the little boxes that are attached to every rider's lower right hand fork leg? I don't recall seeing those before. Wonder what they are?

I for one hope that Rune doesn't get a seed for next year. Sure he's shown potential and he's had a few good races, but he's been there an awful long time and whilst he is a world class racer, he's never (in my opinion) showed any kind of potential to win a world championship. He could (and probably will) make way for someone who provides a little more entertainment next year. Of course if he does get through via seed or qualification in the future, and does do well, consider my hat as edible.

I've despised him for years, I really don't know how sky haven't found anyone better yet. He's forever dropping silly comments, making stupid mistakes and comparing it to road racing. Get rid!

Regardless of all of this, we know Bomber provides top entertainment when he's in good form - a true speedway racer in the sense that he never makes the start but his ability to carve through the pack (when he's on it) is nothing short of amazing. We'd all love to see him back to his best just like when he won at cardiff a few years back. Regardless of whether he makes it on merit this year or otherwise, we should all be backing the man to return to what he does best, and that's entertaining us. I'm fully backing bomber to make a return to form soon, when he's at full swing I struggle to find a rider I like to watch more. A true racer

Definitely a combination of a few things but as we all know speedway is a confidence sport and when Harris burst onto the GP scene when he did, he was hot news and as a result he was doing well. I just think he needs to have a few results go his way and we'll see good old Bomber back to his best. Maybe not in what remains of 2011, but I think we will

I didn't think it was that good - The techland offerings were much better but then again they were PC based. Regardless of which it's all press for our beloved sport - it can only be a good thing!

I note that there is a piece of news on the Speedway GP website about Harris and his GP performance in Torun. He mentions that he's got an awful lot of work to do and even mentions a seeded place - A good read for all you bashers out there. He is genuinely struggling this year - I think some folk need to cut him some slack. The article can be found here

I've heard somewhere that this is against the rules. If you were to think about it on a broader scale, if say Jason Crump were to lend Eddy Kennett a bike in the GP that would immediately go against all the pre-approved odds that the bookies put together. I'm sure that this is not allowed. We'll only know in due course!

Isn't our own Andy Smith polish too?

I find the title of this thread to be mis-leading my friend. It seems at a quick glance that you actually know what has been handed out, rather than you asking to know what it was.