tyler42

Since 1954, Only two riders were imo shock winners. Jerzy Szczakiel and Egon Mullier. Who else would you say were no where near the best rider to win it from 54?

Would you say that speedway in the uk today, is of a higher standard than back in the 70's/80's?

It sure is tough if your a Polish rider. Back in the 80 and 82 world long track finals German riders filled the top three spots. So the FIM introduced a two rider policy. In effect stopping the final from being full of German riders. Unfair IMO, but best for the championship i suppose, so a bit like what we have in the GP's today regarding the Polish riders.

and there was i thinking the world championship was suppose to be for the best riders not nationality's

Not 100% true, as tonight result proved. TW won the meeting scoring 5pts less than Laguta

BZ Seems to blow it when it comes down to the crunch time. How many times is that now where he has scored 14 pts or more but has failed to reach the final . Congratulations TW showed a lot of courage and a will to win deserved champion.

i think with track slicken off now, it has not helped BZ chances he has looked pretty average last 2 rides

Yes, but surely because it has come down to the last round and that TW has not wrapped it up yet. The home crowd have still got hope that there boy has a chance, but one bad ride from BZ and its all over.

As has been stated, you cannot compare eras. I'm sure all the top riders of today would have just been as good back in the day and visa versa. People who say the old world finals were pot luck, are not showing the respect the riders back then deserve. People with long memories will remember how hard the British final was. I think there were a lot of casualties over the years of top riders not progressing to the next round. Have a look at the 1970 early to mid 80s stats. only Ivan 3 times, Michael Lee twice and Kenny Carter twice were multi winners. Total different mind set needed in both eras. Back then the pressure of qualifying to get to the world final was fraught with danger for the top boys. Every round could throw up a banana skin and if you did get to the final, you only got 5 rides to get it spot on. one mistake and generally speaking it was curtains. Today is all about being consistent, you can have a bad meeting and it will not affect you too much. To win over a season you still need the whole package and TW has certainly proved that. Anyway lets all enjoy TW success and say he is the Best British rider in the GP era, but of all time? open to a never ending debate.

It was such a shame really. You had a full house, some fantastic racing, then you had this clown who had no idea about the sport he was commentating on.

I think that would be a bridge to far

I agree 100% The race where Lambert jumped, he was at the back in the re-run he and his partner got a 5-1.Still can't understand what the ref called it back for. That one decision must surely have cost Rybnik a lot in terms of money.

Absolutely terrible decision by the ref to call that back. Lambert moves, yet the ref calls it back, when the away rider is away!!

Why would i be watching the GP in pub. Very strange comment.

On the other hand. It's quite farcical that a rider scores say 5 pts less than another rider over 5 rides, but then scrapes into the semis and ends up on the rostrum. where the other rider bombs out at the semi stage. So you have the ridicules situation, where the rider who has scored the most points is not declared the winner!!

Do you mean in the GP era? You can't compare a 10 round GP series to a one off world final ......... Both totally different. consistency needed for GPs. Pressure cooker and no second chances in one off world final. One mistake and its over. GPs you can even have a stinker like Woffy had in the GP one before last and still become world champion.

Yes i agree, but the riders all want it slick as a board. So there can be no moaning from none of them

I think Iversen and Zagar will be rueing their choice of gates there, both giving up gate one.

Normal track conditions have resumed DUST!!! Still got to keep the top riders in the world happy

i think you're being generous there. I would say 100%

Agree 100%.

Totally agree. I'm sure Smudge along side Tatum both made their Division one debuts in 1983. Both went straight into the top league without any 2nd division Experience. As you say Smudge was anything but a slow burner

Well you could have said that about Cook and Fricke earlier on

Doesn't say a lot for Premiership speedway then if a 2nd division rider is your best rider! or is he a 1st division rider? I get so confused these days!

You could never compare British Finals. That is one meeting where the standard has dropped quit significantly. If a 2nd division rider qualified back in the day it was a rare. Now it's the other way round!! and that is not because of DU riders