tyler42

but, how do you know there has only been two cases? There has been a few drug related problems as well over the last few years.

You forgot to add 'In you're opinion" Thats because as this thread has demonstrated. the debate can go on for ever about who is the best British rider. Of course and rightly so, but it does show it can still go on in the sport.

Team Monster last year in the last round? or does that not count

Why are you comparing Malcom Simmons to TW. How disrespectful. 'won a few medals" Its three more gold medals Than TW has won in a team event!! Of course back then The eastern block riders turned up on horse and carts and rode mopeds and the Swedes would share a bike between them and the Danes all had to ride Ole's hand me downs I keep hearing that todays riders have so much more skill? It sure takes a lot of skill to hold the bike flat out on a slick track for 4 laps!. With a nice little air fence added for extra protection! Just look what happen at a recent GP when there is a bit of dirt on the track. They had there little riders meetings and demanded to have all the dirt scraped off. If they are so skilful, surely they can ride in any conditions? There is a thing called a throttle and it can go both ways! At the end of the why can't we just all agree TW is the best rider in the GP series at this moment in time. As were Ivan, Ole, Rickardsson and Crump were when they became World Champions

I more relevant question would. What hasn't he won?

There has been enough GP's over the years that would fall into that category.

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