The White Knight

Cheers Tony. :)

Cheers Eddie. :)

IF memory serves me correctly I THINK John Louis (Ipswich) defended the Silver Helmet (successfully) at Sunderland against George Barclay sometime between 1971 and 1974. My pal (scarletrider) reckons that Dave Gatenby (Sunderland) challenged for the Silver Helmet at some stage too. Sorry tmc - that's the best I can do.

GROW UP!!! I'm not keen on Carter OR Penhall as Riders - but - your last statement is pathetic and childish. :angry: Who appointed YOU judge and jury???

Excellent reasoned reply IO. I suppose I am one of those folk who believe that Traditions are important. I was brought up that way. However change is OK as long as it is for the good of the Sport. I don't feel that the BSI/IMG deal is good for Speedway though. As you say, perhaps I am living in the Past. I do HONESTLY believe that Speedway in the Sixties and Seventies was a far superior product than it is today. For me, anyway, it meant more excitement, racejackets that meant something and not advertisements quite as prevelent on the Leathers as they are on the Kevlars today. The days when you could look at a Bike and know who rode it purely by the distinctive set ups are now gone. Nowadays they are all the same apart from the colours. Perhaps I am an old 'fuddy duddy', a reincarnation of Victor Meldrew, but I know what excites me at the Speedway. The Sport is STILL basically good - only - not as good as it used to be. That IS my opinion, I'm afraid, and I can't change that. To Quote: L.P. Hartley - from his book: The Go-Between. "The past is a foreign country, they do things differently there". Perhaps I belong there too.

Alan - I don't think British Speedway is in a position to insist on anything. The Grand Prix Series is now out of the hands of BSPA and other Motor Federations - it is SOLELY in the hands of BSI/IMG. They can appoint Riders, dish out Wild Cards, get their Track Consultant to produce slick Tracks, decide where the Races take place and rake in all the PROFITS. It seems to me that the BSPA and others just have to hold out their hands and take what is given them. When I said Speedway had sold it's soul - I meant it.

Thank you for your kind words. I don't think you are right however.....................

SO - it's all about ENTERTAINMENT and NOT fairness and a level playing field for aLL..... THAT makes us no better than the WWE - but - at least they are honest about it. I too would like to see the top QUALIFIED Riders in the World Chamionship - at present we are NOT getting that. WE SHOULD BE!!! Three questions :- What BENEFIT does Speedway get from the GP Series, having sold it's soul to BSI/IMG?? Does Speedway make any money out of the GP Series OR do the profits all go to BSI/IMG?? Why should BSI/IMG have ANY say in who is riding in the GPs?? They are no more qualified than you or I to decide who rides. In fact we are probably MORE qualified as at least we are Supporters of the Sport and NOT just in it for the money. We are a Sport, supposedly, we are NOT the WWE.

I am aware that we ALL know this - but - I was infuriated by the quote from Chris Harris on the SWC Website. I quote the following from the aforementioned article: SWC Website. THAT highlighted piece shows what is so wrong with the Speedway World Championship today. Obviously, from this direct quote from Chris Harris, BSI decide WHO rides in the World Championship. If this doesn't devalue the World Championship - I don't know what does. Qualification should be the ONLY way to win the World Championship - NOT a GIFT of a place. It shouldn't matter to BSI WHO is in the World Championship as long as it is won fairly and squarely. They should have absolutely NO input as to who actually rides and who doesn't. They should remember - they are ONLY the SPONSORS - and - they are NOT the Sport's Governing Body. IT STINKS!!!!

As is the selection process.

EXACTLY!!! Thank you for that - I must admit I did not know that. I STILL believe it is WRONG though.

Once again a Debate that NEVER took place when you had to QUALIFY for the World Final. GIVING somebody a place for ANY reason is MORALLY wrong and cannot be justified in any Sport. This 'we must get the best Riders in the G.P's' makes me sick. A CONTRIVED System that ends up with a CONTRIVED World Champion. Top EIGHT automatically Qualify the Rules say - no they don't - they are GIVEN a place the following year. For those who say that they 'qualified' by getting in to the 'top eight' I would say - they got in to the Top eight THIS year. THAT has absolutely NOTHING to do with NEXT year. B****y FARCE if you ask me.

Just finished watching this. Well Done A.J. miles faster than anyone else. Hope Greg can improve in the next GP.

What a lovely piece. Thank you for Posting the Link Philip. :approve: I do really hope that Greg can win it again this Year. :approve: Best of Luck Greg.

I remember watching Viktor Trofimov and Grigori Khlinovski in the World Final in 1972. I was most impressed by Khlinovski. :)

Damn!!! Thank you very much for that racers and royals.

I must admit to enjoying the GP this evening. Great entertainment. Perhaps someone on here can confirm for me - I think that Greg Hancock was 22 Points ahead of Tomas Gollob when the Meeting started - NOW he is 23 Points clear of Jarislaw (sic) Hampel? So actually by getting his ONE Point in the Semi-Finals - he has improved his position. Go Greg!!!

Wonder who is checking the Silencers???........................... Perhaps I should have kept silent.

Yes - exactly - if they are not qualified, they should not be there. Local Riders are only given Wild Cards to put 'Bums on seats'. Those places too should go to Riders who have 'Qualified'.

You only need ask Dave Jessop- about that. Yes - the Sport IS getting more publicity - but - at what cost??? The beauty of the 'Old' World Final was the element of chance. How many times, with the advent of the GP's. have we seen the whole thing over BEFORE the FINAL Grand Prix has been run. I don't care if it does show the most consistant Rider as World Champion. What about when Mark Loram won the World Championship - he NEVER actually won a GP that year. How anti-climactic is that??? I am, I might add a big Fan of Mark and rejoiced when he won. Was it right though? - I think not.

I only have to mention a couple of names - Jack Young as a Second Division Rider and Jerzy Sczakiel. Certainly in Sczakiel's case - he wasn't fancied at all. Nowadays - neither Rider would get in. SO - how is that fair?

So - you are more or less admitting that Speedway is no longer a SPORT - but is actually a business enterprise. I know that I am old fashioned but I really did love it when Sport was played on a level playing field - and EVERYONE had a chance. Money corrupts MOST things - certainly has in Speedway. Sold our soul to BSI/IMG - whoever they are? Nobody 'FIXED' it for Peter Craven, Ivan Mauger, Peter Collins or Ole Olsen to be in the World Final they either QUALIFIED or....................................they didn't.

You reckon??? B****y Hell!!! - I give up. :rolleyes:

Who knows spook? Nobody else gets a chance. There is always the possibility of a real surprise from one of the lesser lights. I will trot out my favourite mantra again - Jack Young who won the World Championship as a Second Division Rider would have NO CHANCE nowadays. How can you justify that?

IF that is the case then the Speedway World Championship is DEAD!!! Putting Riders in because of Financial implications, whilst more worthy Riders are left out would make a MOCKERY of the whole Sport of Speedway. Since when did BSI/SKY decide who is to be World Champion this is supposed to be a SPORT - that means the Championship SHOULD be won on ABILITY - NOT - CHARITY or FINANCIAL INTEREST!!! :mad: