jim3751

I notice Sam's coming in for the bashing re pronunciations but surely Pederson has been pronounced 'Pedderson' for years yet along comes Jack and calls him 'Peeederson' What is it about commentators who think they know best? Like Keith Heuwen with his 'Mark LorrAm?'

He was a West Ham reserve when I 1st followed them in the 60s and I went over to Wimbledon only to find we had a weakened team. No guests then. Simmonds came good that night and if memory serves won all his races. Good memories. R.I.P Simmo.

It might be beneficial for Lewis to read threads now but it wasn't after Monday's match when he was getting the usual slagging off. Freddie Flintoff, presented a TV programme about his depression and it included sportsmen like Ricky Hatton Marcus Trescothic and Clarke Carlisle and they said it was the constant pressure of trying to keep up appearances as high profile performers . 2 other riders have been named as possibles already and maybe they're off just off form but while it's our right as paying punters to criticise there must be limits. Physical injuries can be seen. Mental issues can't

As Premier Sports are doing the Swedish League we can see how good their teams are. After all we know the riders anyway. And to all those armchair critics who constantly slagged off the SKY coverage. - how does it feel? PS They're doing F1 stock cars as well

Fantastic for Lincolnshire but it would be nice to see it on the National News. That's the one where they have to be first with the big news and some smiley wannabe spikes their own football prog that follows it.

I can remember a TV meeting at Lakeside when Poole were the visitors and because the entrance was £1 I even took my friend and his wife - and she has no interest in motorsport of any kind. But they loved it. The place was packed out like never before but it was only that one off experience. If SKY do pull out where will the publicity come from to attract the casual spectator who hasn't been for years? I knew someone who was interested in ice hockey but didn't even know it was played here anymore because he hadn't seen it on TV.

So we need to put the kids in? Right.Do it next year and give the critics what they want. Barker used Harris's bike and was immediately quicker. Will the youngsters have the better machinery and who will pay for it? Has Harris got as much sponsorship now as he had when doing the GPs? Is that why he's now on the slide? Middlo clearly refers to the need to gate. Fall behind and you're a dead duck. Harris now openly admits he's a poor gater - after all this time. So did he ever work on it? Tai has applied himself and is now reaping the benefits but even he was caught in the the wrong place at the wrong time on a couple of occasions - shut out on turn 2 - and no amount of speed could catch the rider in front on a track like that. I'll be recording it on Saturday so I should be able to knock it out in about an hour. Slagging off our riders is all well and good but how many Czechs and Russians show up well over here? So bring on the Latvians.

It's only the people who go to meetings who can judge what the riders are like. As was proved by the guy who slagged off Tai simply because he read the reports of some gutted supporters.. I've got a bias for Bridger at the moment only because he's hit top form at Lakeside which is hardly a comparison with a Polish track but the enthusiasm is there. Barker is the same sort of rider. Full of confidence. So what's to lose? Throw them in and prove their worth. Phil Morris can do the team bonding stuff

I watched both recorded meetings on the same day and having seen the competition devalued by the depleted Russian team I lost interest. But I chose Australia in the 1st match simply because of Jason Doyles's performance. Having been a severe critic in the past due to his "tactics" i thought he came through in international company pretty well. Pity about Davey Watt so will he keep his place? As for Team GB (or whatever we're called) I don't mind giving new riders a chance but Craig Cook was simply out of his depth and Edward is always full of enthusiasm but obviously out of form. So when the outcome became obvious I went for the underdog. USA. As far as the GB management is concerned I thought the treatment of Kennett was appalling. No words of comfort from the manager who picked him - just a word from Harris.

I'm recording it too so it looks as though it's volleyball and swimming as well to make sure I get something. And I do appreciate Eurosport taking up the coverage. It's no different to Sky except for guy whose job it is to host it. He went from excited and new to the sport at the British GP and saved by Sophie and Scott then lost his way in the next not knowing one rider from another. Bet the guy's having kittens at the minute

It doesn't matter how Bomber is performing at the moment it's the international experience and pride that will count in the end. Same with Tai. So Worrall gets a max or 2. It's not International experience. An Elite League reserve is just that - a reserve. He's not even in the main body of his team yet he's being talked up to compete against the likes of Niki, Holder Gollob or even an off form AJ. Barker, Kennett and Bridger over ride with their hearts on their sleeves so blow hot and cold and Cooke is a good steady prospect but still not up to this standard yet. So who does that leave? Scotty doesn't want to know which is a pity so what's this about Schlein's ancestry. I don't agree with this kind of juggling about normally but if a Slovenian can ride for the Czech Republic in the pairs who cares?

Scotty would be a better bet not just for his speedway knowledge but as a capable presenter/commentator.This guy sounds like an enthusiast whose been thrown in the deep end.

From what I saw on the box it was a good GP but the track was a concern. After any bad publicity the next event is more likely to be better so if it's true as we're told that the material was stored under a rain covered tarpaulin this embarrassment will not be repeated. I know the cynics will say it's speedway but having to rip up the track during the night can't be much fun when they would rather be doing something else. I went on the Channel ferry the week after one sunk because the bow doors were open, Lessons were learned bloody quick. Nice to see a consensus about Sophie and Scott but I think SKY were too restricting. Just answer the question and don't elaborate too much

Nice to see Sophie back and Scott is a revelation. No ums and ahs and and big big thank you for the explanation about bike adjustments for the uninitiated. And he's not short of something to say. What a relief. PS shame about Tai. He was looking good.

Good to see Chris using the technology available even if it's just a filler. Football uses it and SKY has thrown the kitchen sink at GP F1 using it so why not speedway? Just relying on interviews between races was not enough because the riders - apart from the rare characters -say pretty much nothing. I got sick of hearing what Bomber "was there for". I wanted to know what he was doing about his gating. I don't just want to hear that they're making a few changes to their bike. Occasionally I'd like to know what - if it's not a secret. I want to know why Tai has finally dropped the Jawa engine in favour of the GM like so many others and how much difference it makes. The brief update was fine until they told me Lakeside had collapsed

Spot on. That's why Nicki should be taken to task. It wasn't in the heat of the moment when he abused the ref. He had thinking time and he decided it was ok. He should be told it's not. As for evidence of bias that's a old one that goes back to the beginning of sport but the ref is never given the opportunity to prove otherwise. My mate used to shrug his shoulders and roll his eyes.

In our Elite League that's true but that's the equivlient of the Speedway Elite League. Under IIHF rules they get thrown out and possibly suspended. The referee may have been a tosser to a fair number of spectators who agree with Nicki but if he had excluded AJ he would have got similar criticism from those who didn't agree.

Fights are allowed for in ice hockey because it's a a high impact sport and penalised within the rules. Players who keep the fight going get more. There is no open attacking of the referee in the media as there is in speedway with no apparent punishment at all. In football TV companiies goad players and managers into knocking the ref and so called characters like Warnock chance it and get hit with a fine. In speedway our characters can shake their heads and laugh in mock disbelief and get nothing. So what is that phone to the ref really for?

So the ref was genuinely a tosser so that makes it ok then? Perhaps the sport doesn't need refs at all. But if you don't want anarchy how about the riders discussing amongst themselves after every controversial race how the vote should go. Mates and liberals go with Nicki - non mates and discipliarians go against. That's called democracy. For those who don't like long breaks and tractor racing - turn away now. Perhaps one thing should be born in mind. SKY is an American company founded by an Australian and that could be the reason Nigel Pearson has to keep apologising for even the mildest remark in our eyes. Rodney Marsh was sacked for a supposedly offensive joke and one presenter was demoted for months for allowing such an outburst on her programme so what you tolerate and what SKY tolerate might not be the same thing. Speedway and it's stupid phone is really way past its sell by date. If refs won't change their minds what's the point? Showbiz? If SKY wants controversy all the rider has to say is "no comment" and back in the studio they can pontificate for the next hour or even more.

Doyle? Is he the one doubling up in the PL? I would love to see him on the International stage - just to see how he copes with situations those riders have to experience all time. I have the greatest respect for all riders but some are international standard and some are not there yet.

Batchelor? Isn't he the guy who rates himself above Holder? He talks a good game but a half fit Ward will always be a class above. The difference is that Ward knows he's good because he is good.

It's a team that works together and nearly won it. Whether it's a matey selection or not they all get on well and that counts for a lot. Are there better riders? Sullivan's name was mentioned but if he doesn't get on with the others what's to be gained? Who needs animosity in such a small squad? Just think Ballotelli at Man City and Italy.

Good entertainment but this joker manipulation should be stopped by the one who can stop it. The ref. I know a long retired ref who was a right b*****d and proud of it and can't imagine he would have ducked calling it as it should be. Make them call it just as snooker refs have to call deliberate misses and football / ice hockey refs have to call diving. Some seasons back this occured in the EL but wasn't on TV. Here we saw it in all it's glory. Otherwise the best team won and the entertainment was tops. Well done the Danes. Superb team.

SHHHHHHH. you know how touchy that Scottish guy is