Dave_minall

AJ all the way for me!

Click here for the article: http://cyclenews.coverleaf.com/cyclenews/20111213#pg43

the 2nd dullest I think sir. I mean come on, let's kick a ball between 2 posts and if anyone so much as breathes on us we have to fall over and cry.

As an addition to the world cup, this would be awesome. As a replacement, noooooooo

Well this would suck. The reason the current system works so well is that there is no team riding, and it makes for better racing (4 riders going for 1 patch rather than 2x2 riders going for 2 patches) yes speedway is predominantly team based and we all know that, but this is now an individual team based competition, and in my opinion provides the best racing of the year. I love the world cup, it's my highlight of the year and I think that it'd be silly to alter this now so drastically after years and years of development. Yes there are weak teams, but that's their problem. Maybe the rounds should be reduced? Maybe there should be stricter qualifying criteria? I don't know, but I don't think the format needs to change, especially as drastically as suggested in the initial post.

Whilst this may be a very good point, Gollob has shown far more potential year in year out that he could go all the way than Holta ever did. How many times has Holta won the Polish championship for one? Can't really compare the 2 really in my opinion.

Regardless of talent or quality of machinery, I still think Rune will never be a world champion. I think if he was going to be he would have done it a while ago to be honest.

I do almost agree with this - it just may clash with having practice the day before. A very interesting idea though!

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!