mikebv

The decline set in well before those two.. What the sport has needed for a long, long, time is to be ran like any other team sport, (with integrity and credibility), yet each different leader and leadership team have steadfastly avoided doing it... The reason in my opinion being that change will impact individuals, so, it is better for all individuals to be happy with what takes place, rather than have some pain during the fundamental and radical change required.. Phil Morris may have all the answers and a terrific plan, however.. If it impacts anyone, even slightly negatively, he won't get to use it... There should be two leagues.. One "super" league with a rider distribution of the best talent that provides genuine relative equality. With the 8 teams with the best crowds running in it... And another league for the rest that has the same equality plan, but runs with rider development as being a large part of that team structure...

Some turn up week in, week out... Many more no longer do... They didn't send emails, they just stopped attending over time..... However, those in charge do know the reasons but cannot, or maybe just won't?, fix the issue.. Tomorrow sees a PO Semi Final in the "Flagship" tournament... Probably not a great idea to plan this meeting in the day before..?

Clearly one of the best ever, maybe even THE best .? But also head and shoulders above all the others.... Lambert probably the only one who could give him a run for his money? When you win a GP series well before the conclusion the gulf is massive . Maybe they need to make him have at least one less GP each year than the rest? 😁

He is in a unique situation given the sports profile in Poland, and is also very much "right place, right time" when it comes to opponents... He is genuinely one of the best riders ever but clearly isn't getting challenged anywhere near the way Trick, Crump, Hancock, Gollob and Pedersen, challenged each other, plus with the likes of Adams too.. For me, the money in Poland won't make any difference to Zmarzlik as he has such desire and almost no fear... But, to the others, (non Poles in particular), I would suggest taking the risks that Zmarzlik takes wouldn't be on their agenda given they wouldnt get anywhere near the financial rewards in their own countries by being World Champ, but they can earn many hundred of thousands a year by ensuring they are fit to ride each Sunday after the GP... And do this for 10 years or more and they have the chance to retire very wealthy men... He really could win the next five at least given no one seems to be "getting close" and there doesn't seem to be any up and coming young superstar to challenge him...

Bartek would still win... But... The minor placings might be a bit more varied.... It's the lack of competion that is the issue... If, indeed, it is an issue...? Many a sports series has a dominant force yet is still successful... As I have said, when you earn plenty more for riding in Poland than you can ever earn in the GP's, then you will always consider "risk and reward".. And, quite rightly in such a dangerous occupation, take the money in Poland before taking too many risks in the GP's .

5 times ... Whatever the standard against him in the "grand scheme" of things... An incredible achievement.. NB. Does Robert know that English is his first language...?😁

Got to like Magic ..😎

You can only beat who is in front of you.. Time to let Laguta go up against him next year... The "lineal" World Champ...😎

Well Done Robert . Well deserved... More likely to challenge Bartek than Dan.... But six times next year I would imagine... A generational talent and in the GOAT discussion..

I agree.. But, the days of being World Champion and getting you "made for life" are long gone.. I am, sadly, old enough to remember the mid 70's when winning the World Title was quoted by Dave Lanning as "guaranteeing" you £250k as a minimum the following year. In 1978 PC got a months ban for arriving back late for the start of the season due a flight issue in the US, and, in his book, he said that the month cost him over £20k 😯 in lost earnings here and in Germany riding long track on a Sunday... Poland pay you the "life changing" money these days, not the World Championships..

Ten years of riding as a HL in Poland can earn you £5m and more... Why risk (literally sometimes sadly), "all" to win a World Championship that hardly anyone in the 7 billion on the planet, will know about.. Bartek is Nicki P, Gollob, Crump, Trick, Mauger, Olsen Fundin, Penhall and Briggs level of intensity and "ruthless" will to win... The rest of the lads can earn a "fortune" without having to take such risks..

Way too deep for me mate.. Halfway down a bottle of Jameson's.........😁

He certainly ain't no Pythagoras... But, to be fair.. I never saw Pythagoras ride a speedway bike...😁

To a certain extent I do agree Dean.. However . In such a tiny global sport, if I could guarantee circa £500k a year (and maybe more), riding in Poland, Sweden and the UK, for ten years or more, and never see my name as the World Champ... I am not sure I would be fussed . Edit.. If Dan became World Champ, he would arrive at the NSS on a Monday night with barely 1800 there to celebrate with him... If Robert became World Champ, he wouldn't even have a UK track to celebrate at..

Lads now earn "hundreds of thousands" in Poland.. Maybe "self preservation" is now a larger priority than putting everything on the line to win a World Title? You win one World Title you earn "x".. You ride ten years at the top in Poland and earn many, many times more..

There doesn't seem to be that "win at all costs" mentality that Trick, Crump, Gollob and Pedersen in particular ran with... Just one generation of riders ago.. Five or six riders went to the tapes at the start of the GP"s each year with a chance of winning.. Now there is one, without Laguta and Emil..

A tremendous rider .. But, let's be honest.. Riding in an era of relative mediocrity based on previous eras.... A perfect storm... The Russians the only ones who could taint his legacy...

Could be a great race track if they just put some more grip into it... When it rains it often delivers some very good racing.. Racers will go out to find the grip, and those less capable will stay on the slick...

Amazing that he continued so long...

Justin Elkins 0 ef.... To give him his full name....

Poor decision... Just because you rear up and straighten, and wipe out an opponent, you no longer get excluded I believe...😁

A brave call... Not too much experience of play offs has Bomber.... A left field appointment if ever there was one.... 😁 Bomber could be eligible for his 27th winners medal.... 😜

I agree... They should have let Torun cherry pick riders from other teams to keep things close......

The way it was going, if Brennan had gone down, he might have been awarded the win..😁

Maybe they should do a "Guest Of The Week" feature.. Covering all the riders who score points for other teams apart from their own..? That would fill a few pages for the UK coverage... Personally, it is still excellent value for money and a superb window into the sport for anyone outside looking in.. They truly do make a silk purse out of a sows ear at times..