Garry1603

So, who do you think will return for next season? Assuming the rules stay similar of course. I'd want to keep Fricke (if he rides in the UK), Kurtz, Brennan and Blodorn and maybe make a move for Ellis if he were surplus to requirements at Sheffield. Presume that Zagar might be too expensive to return which leaves Wright and Etheridge as options depending on the average limit.

Lashed it down 6 miles south of the stadium at about 2-15, but it's stopped now.

What's really spooky is that I said to my friend before the afternoon match that it would be 47-43 (!)

Can't see the Aces getting anything tonight - hope I'm wrong but I think t will be around 50-40

It could have been good television to have the three riders racing at Cardiff in the afternoon for the British Title - maybe over three heats with each having different starting positions for fairness. The winner (if not Bewley) would go into the GP and the other would go home. At least they can say that they had a chance.

No one was a winner tonight - Bewley, Brennan and Harris will obviously be disappointed, but the real losers again were the poor spectators who had to wait for the inevitable result in the rain, and most of all the sport itself (again). How can they not have hard and fast rules in place for a meeting called off after 12 heats, it's not like it's the first time it's ever happened. What would a casual tv viewer have thought of that I wonder?

Surely it should be rerun, but if not the fastest heat winning time of the three eight pointers should prevail? Not great, but it's the only fair(ish) result.

Raining again about six miles south of the stadium. Weird weather!

Really enjoyed that. Belle Vue were certainly 'on it' today and were fired up from the off. The return of Zagar has given the club and crowd a real lift and he didn't disappoint - a real showman. For the Panthers, there were two or three that are starting to ride like their age I'm afraid. Comes to us all. Maybe a season too far for Harris, Nicholls and Andersen?

Good first GP of the season with more passing than might have been expected, the coverage was very good to be honest. Kelvin stepped up to the plate (Nige wold have been proud) and the general presentation was fine. I liked the heart rate graphic, even if wasn't maybe 100% accurate (maybe!) We're in the Zmarzlik era though and it will be hard to promote as he's a few percent above everyone else at the moment (Laguta and Sayfutdinov's absence doesn't help obviously), but that shouldn't detract from the event'. To me he's like a Schumacher of the early 2000's - great equipment obviously, but also a little bit better than anyone else. Let's respect that even if it detracts from the promotion of the sport to the wider public,

Looking forward to this, my first meeting of the year. All the Panthers seem to go well at the NSS, but I still think that the Aces top 4 (plus Brennan) will be enough. 48-42

Such, such sad news. I loved his enthusiasm and knowledge of the sport and he could make a boring race interesting. Some commentators are synonymous with their sports, Murray Walker, Sid Waddell etc - we've sadly lost ours. RIP Nige and thanks for the memories, you will never be forgotten.

I think that there's no doubt that Simmo was the better rider (certainly in individual meetings) but Betts was the better team man. I think given the choice, if I were a promoter, I'd rather have had the latter.

Yes, you're right. In the past a Best Pairs event )which this effectively was) would be won by a 'Star' rider getting 16/17/18 points with a back up getting around 10 points - that would be enough for victory, but this system of 'avoid getting a last' encourages a more consistent second rider to win - and we did it very well. Well done Team GB

Yes, and we did it well.

The format really rewards the team that has a very good / consistent number two rider, which Team GB certainly had in Woffinden and Bewley.. There's no denial that Zmarzlik was head and shoulders above the opposition, but Magic, was a bit too inconsistent. It's all about not being last in a 4-3-2-0 format especially in the latter stages, so it's a well deserved win in my opinion. (albeit a bit lucky in the final when Janowski came to grief).

Brilliant result and what a boost for the sport. As always the Belle Vue track was the real star of the show and the real winner is the sport itself. Pity it's the end of the season because any casual viewers can't fail to have been impressed.

The Eurosport coverage was disappointing again. What annoyed me was that every reserve change (Pedersen, Palin, and Brennan) were shown as 'rider replacement rides' on the graphics as they came to the tapes. Annoying for a fan of the sport but any newcomers would have been totally confused.

Loved the Ivan and Ole feature. Two true superstars in the history of our sport.

Congratulations to the Panthers, they were the better team over two legs (and worthy champions over the season to be honest) Maybe it was a 'last hurrah' for one or two of them, but they came up with the goods when they needed to, Gutted for the Aces and I think that there will be a lot of changes for next season. I don't think that the Worralls and Wright are going to improve so they need someone younger with the ambition and talent to progress. No doubt we'll go again, but another 'so near yet so far season' leaves it a sad end to the campaign

Don't they all?

There's not much wrong with the sport when you get meetings like that. You don't need superstars to make it interesting, just close, exciting racing on a well prepared track. Well done to the riders and all involved.

Great meeting and a good atmosphere. Hayley Bromley and Chase the Ace kept things ticking over while we were waiting for Eurosport to allow the races to start. I thought that the Aces had cracked it when they went ten in front with rides from Bewley and Steve Worrall to come, but fair play to Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris who rolled back the years - can't deny that they were brilliant. Not over yet, but it's advantage Panthers for me.

The resurgence of the Worralls has given Belle Vue a decent chance, but a lot for me will depend on which Charles Wright turns up

Very sad news. I always had the greatest respect for him as a rider when he used to come to the old Hyde Road. A great rider, but a greater person. RIP