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Must admit, It surprised me last night, of how weak Wolves are. When Freddie has an off night, they appears little hope in keeping up. Big worry.

Thankfully, life is not all about, black and white, and facts and figures, it is more like Possibilities and Probabilities. Whose to say, one or two clubs get in top rider, or imagine one or two top riders get injured. it would put a whole new complexion on the league positions.

We are now half way through the season and the league table has some definite groupings. Do we see these as final positions, or are there many changes to be made. The top 2 of Poole and Coventry seem all but there, in the race for the play-off placing's, while the likes of Leicester and Lakeside are struggling in the bottom places.. Which of the middle four will miss out when it matters. They say 'Its not over till the fat Lady sings' and I for one don't think she has started singing yet. I think it would be wrong to discount any teams at this stage. All of them are capable of beating others on any given day. Lady luck will move from Club to Club and will have a bearing on proceedings. My opinion on the Stars, We are in 3rd position, although in contention, we are no means certain of a top 4. We haven't performed as well as last year and Rory accident was a massive blow. We need ALL the riders to step up to their potential for PO to be certain, but that could be said about a number of teams. On getting to the play-offs, we are not the certainties, most people seem to think. We have to up our game........ TOPMAN so far: Robert Lambert.

It was suggested many weeks ago on this forum, to change the team positions. Riding Lambert at 2, was silly to think his rides were all done by Heat 10. Porsing needs all the help he can get and pairing him with Niels, as last year, was everyone choice..... The chances are. the order will change again next week when the new CMA are released... Hoping Milik hits the floor running....,,, Lynn track should suit him As seen of late, Lakeside can ask a few questions so it's not the fore-gone conclusion people might imagine. We have a replacement for RORY the rider, but we still need to replace RORY, the motivator

I agree with your comments about Lambert and his juvenile behaviour sometimes, but the instance I was referring too was when he returned to the pit gate during the race, because his seat came loose, only to come back out again to collect a point. A group of home supporter on the Back straight took offence at this and started gesturing and giving him verbals you wouldn't believe. Got quite nasty for a family sport........

In all due respects you knew what I meant about a 3 man team. It's not about what riders have achieved in the past ' its about what they do on the night. I except what you say about Lawson, he is riding well, but you managed to get a guest in Newman, we couldn't even do that...... Rory always goes well there but his RR only managed 3. I don't begrudge Lakeside winning, but everyone else turns them over, there will be a lot harder places for us to go and get a result. We should have done better.... Its unfortunate we have lost Rory. I have never been one to wallow in self pity. I can accept defeat, no problem. What I find hard to accept is not putting in the effort and not bothering...

Not wishing to dampen Lakeside joy of winning a meeting, but bloody hell, if you cant beat a 3 man team at home, then you must be pretty bad. Coupling to that decision in heat 14, you wonder what else would have happened, to ensure that result was forthcoming?? Having decided not to travel for obvious reasons, I am at a lost of the exclusion of Robert Lambert after he had won the race. It said on twitter, the reason he was disqualified was, he had no 'Dirt Deflector'.... Why was this? had it come off during the race??, had it been knocked off?? Was it off before the start of the race.?? Did someone complain?? What rules were broken?? Can't imagine this was an oversight from the Lambert / Stars crew ?? Why wasn't it picked up before the race.?? Who was the REF ?? So many questions and no answers... The last time we travelled to Lakeside to see fixture 1, it was surprising to see the incense hatred some of their fans held for Lambert, just because he was the new man on the block. When something like this happens you have to ponder the obvious. I suppose those pre-mentioned fans went home really ecstatic last night.....

Unfortunately, I don't share your enthusiasm. Last time we only won 3 races in a 51 - 39 defeat. I can't seeing this being as good.. Yes, you're right, I got PKS wrong, was looking at an old CMA sheet..... But being a good gater at Lakeside is essential.... And we don't have many good gaters....

Remembering Lakeside have lost 4 on the spin, this should be a place where we should score a point or two. Everyone else seem capable of winning there, but using RR instead of a decent guest is not the way to do it. How come we haven't a guest? Rory accident was a month ago. This fixture has been scheduled from the start of the season, Peter Karlsson would have been ideal.

FACTS? You wouldn't know what facts were if they slapped you in the face. Facts aren't opinions, they are precise details that all people recognise. Strange you talk about some, so-called facts and only mention those that highlights your opinion. So lets have a few more facts: 1. Greg Hancock is the most respected Speedway rider in the world. Not just in this country, but the World over. Be it fellow riders, fans or media. Nobody has a bad word to say about Greg Hancock. Having met him on numerous occasions he is the complete genuine person, a fantastic ambassador to everyone and everything, he is associated with. He is the sort of person who would make a perfect role model for people to imitate. 2. Nicki Pedersen, has a name of being Selfish, Dirty, Hard, rider. He cares for no one but himself. Someone who is always involved in controversy. On the riding circuit he has but a few friends, and supporters don't flock in their thousand to watch him. I saw at first hand the depths he is prepared to take to win when he Tee-Boned Kenneth Bjerre, (a fellow Dane) at the a televised meeting at the. EESG, a few years back. Even his home fans jeered in disbelief of his antics. He then, in response to the boos, rode round gestating to the crowd with his thump and fore finger. A real gentleman!!!!!. doing that in front of families and children. When Tatum and Pearson took him to task of his behaviour he just smiled and wasn't interested. Tatum actually said at the time it was probably the worst piece of dirty riding he had ever witnessed. No, I wasn't there at the meeting, but have seen 3 different recordings of the incident, all from different positions around the track, and each of those Pedersen is clearly at fault. In a race, when the meeting is all but over, Hancock was leading, when Pedersen, some distance adrift, straightened up on the corner and got good drive out. From the extra speed, Pedersen could've picked any line he wished. But getting to the front wasn't his prime aim. he wanted to interfere with Hancock's line forcing him to ease off or else. That all very well when you allow them the space to do that . but Pedersen's intended line said he wasn't taken any prisoners. The whole incident is dictated by Pederson forceful riding. There are too many accidents and people get hurt in the sport now, riders need to remember this. Had the positions been changed round there would've no accident because Hancock would haven't done that. Whether there was any contact, only them will know, but it was to close, difficult to see from each of them videos, but the movement of Hancock handlebars suggests there was. For a calm and placid man, the reaction from Hancock tells me he thought Pedersen had crossed that line. I don't condone Hancock's retaliation, but you have to realise it's them who put their life on the line. How anybody can justify Pedersen's behaviour is beyond me. Footnote: I am part of a syndicate who have a sweepstake at each SGP. We pick riders at the start of each year for the whole campaign. This year, my rider is NICKI PEDERSEN

No !!!!!! ...... The score will be level after 8 heats when the rain comes. In heat 9 Poole have 2 riders that fail to score, and in protest Poole refuse to ride in heat 10, knowing the meeting will be stopped. Then we will have 100's of pages of poster moaning a point of view. But contrary to the Coventry match, now the posters views are changed, and its the Poole fans who are moaning about the decisions.....

In preference to Hampel and Ljung? or don't they get one??.

Wonderful exhibition of the sport we love. I'm sure if all meetings were like that, the crowds would be flocking back. A track you could race on, Riders giving that extra yard, Mistakes by the bucket load, and controversy all the way. Brilliant........... Not even the use of that stupid Joker could spoil it.... Just one question though: If the teams were not allowed a 5th man as a reserve, Why at the presentations, were there 5 medals for each team???????

To answer the title of the thread, it would have to be John, to me by some distance. No disrespect to Chris but John was a bit special. Considering it was late to start riding, he achieved a great deal in the short time in the sport. Like it has been said the sport was different then. but quality is a bit like the cream in the milk, in that it always rises to the top. There are lots of differences in the sport, far too many to mention. But my No1. hate now is the CMA. Back in the days when all riders rode against similar opposition, their average was a direct indication of their ability, and the position they held in the team. The 3 heat leaders were say between 7.5 and 11, The second strings say 7 to 5 and the two reserves were 4 and below. There was a direct comparison between all the riders. Now the whole scenario is a joke with all riders CMA within 3 pts of each other. We have 2nd strings with higher average then HL, and Reserves, some even higher than that. Depending on the position they ride, the easier it is to score pts. It was mentioned John Louis average over 11, and that was exceptionally high. There weren't many with a 11 average. Trying to compare that with today you would place him in the top 2 or 3 riders. (Todays CMA, approx. High 8's or low 9's) Its all very well looking at relevant CMA for an indication of ability. but my evaluation comes from within. Having watch speedway for 50 yrs. I've seen some wonderful talented riders. All with their own merits. and make assessments on that basis. I find it difficult to know how people, who have followed the sport for only a few years, can cast opinions based on a few video clips. The sport has changed beyond recognition, Bike are faster, Times are quicker. It now played the world over. Is it better.... No not really........ The empty stadiums answers that question.... Do I still enjoy it........ Of cause I do...

Can you believe it, Even when another opportunity arose through Auty's injury, the BSPA still deny Lambert the opportunity to race in the British Final. Bet, if his name was 'Woffy' he'd been chosen. What's the point of having a Wild Card entry, when its not utilized. No doubt Rosco has annoyed the BSPA by selecting him for the SWC team...

Following the surprise of Sweden winning last night and Poles having to go through via the play-offs, it puts a different prospective on the Lynn meeting. My first thought were GB, closely followed by Australia. Even if the result was the other way round, I always felt the team that missed out would gain entry to the final by the back door. But that has all changed now, with Poles favourites to win the play-off. So, it's a 'must win' meeting now, which should make it even more exciting. A real : £hit or Bust meeting ... where the winner takes it all If we can't win this at home, we stand no chance away against the Poles......

So What?? A team of 5 riders, all of similar high ability, should make little difference. It was once thought of as a Team Manager duties to make changes.. With a 5th rider, there could be restraints on the number of rides they are allowed, but not to have cover is unbelievable for what ever reason. Just imagine, in those races of only three riders, one was excluded for tape infringement , we would have had, only 2 riders left to race.. How pathetic would that have been ???? The JOKER makes the sport a laughing stock. Seeing riders slow down to let other pass, as seen many times before, is contradictory to the whole essence of the sport. Is just me ? or has this sport lost all its common sense ???

Whoever makes these rules ??? A World Team Competition, The Top riders in the world, A Full House of fans, Television there to project the event to the world , AND. AND we have to watch 5 races with only three riders... Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.......... Its that unreal,. you couldn't make it up.... Thinking back, 10, 20, 30, 40 years ago, we always had reserves in as cover in these events. I've always thought the JOKERS are ridiculous, but Reserve Rider cover is essential.... as tonight proved....

I'm never been enthralled with GSI involvement with British Speedway, especially at league level. I fail to see their relevance in a sport that struggles financially to survive. To me GSI just another hand in the pot. The main issue I see from the scenario that the statement refers to, is the bit about the '48 hrs notice'. Speaking with personnel employed by Sky, to rig out the stadium on these outside broadcast, in readiness for a meeting would cost approx. £25K. The live show costs are additional to this. When a meeting is cancelled on the day, Sky still have that massive installation bill to find. So yes, in that instance 48 hrs notice is understandable. My query is: If the weather for a planned meeting was suspect, why cant the SKY transmission be cancelled and replaced by another in the future. BUT still give the Club the opportunity to still run that meeting IF the weather so allowed. Just because Sky, understandingly, wanted 48 hrs assurance of weather problems, doesn't mean the meeting can't be run?? Seems to me BSPA have handed over the sport, and now SKY and GSI hold all the Aces. Edit: Corrected.

I finding all these arguments quite unreal now, the way posters are going on about unsafe track and whose fault it was, is beyond belief. Up to heat 7, the scores were fairly even and the wet track riding as one would expect. In Heat 8, Everything changed when advantage fell into Poole's lap, thanks to an unchallenged 5-0. No, it wasn't Poole fault, they just excepted their good fortune. Of Coventry's problems, Garrity's off, was caused through his bad decision, not the weather. and if Danny King's bike had started, he would probably had won the race and the meeting would have continued, with no reference of unsafe track at all. He actually looked quite at home in his previous races. Would Havvy, or Middlo, complained after heat 8 had the sides been level. And in answer to that, I don't think either of them would. So this whole scenario was caused by the points situation at a particular time. Of cause the track was wet, but nothing new there. (See: 1977 World Final) Had the scores been level after that race, then no doubt, the meeting would have continued. So we ask ourselves, was the track really that bad....

Probably he feels he is too big and you have to pay for his opinion now. When he was on stage with sidekick Tatum at the Speedway 'Talk-in shows' recently, he seemed free and at home with his opinions then.. .... But then he was ample rewarded......

People like T and P will always be bias to their employers, if not they would be out of a job. So any questions asked of them, should bear that in mind

Speaking with my son last Monday when watching this fixture, he said there would be more 'POSTS' on the forum, talking about it, than actual people who attended it. I replied, in jest, looking at the tele screen, they'll be more 'PAGES' on the subject than people there..... Now on page 50, I'm surprised to say, I think I was the nearest.... I wish more of these keyboard warriors would actually attend meeting more often....... Sure as hell the sport needs you there !!

You obviously know very little about Speedway when you come out with a statement like that. Team Racing is about a unit, a group of riders who races together each week. There usually is camaraderie, jokes, team spirit, banter, so much more then one's ability on the track. To lose, one rider is not too hard, but to replace 3, is very difficult to maintain any form of team spirit all. When one of those missing is your King Pin, Your leader, Your mouthpiece, the person you look to for example then trying to replace him is near impossible. That's what the absence of Rory means. He probably score good points himself, but he encourages a lot more from his fellow riders. No one man can replace that. So your comment about Lynn being a stronger team with guests is utter RUBBISH. I've always thought everything in our league, conspires to benefit Poole. This match was no different. It was always going to be a one sided affair. For it to have been any different, we needed a full team with everyone riding at the top of their game, Even then we probably wouldn't have won, but we wouldn't have been disgraced.. Middlo said when interviewed, how important it was to have a regular side every week pulling together as a formidable team.....agreed. Riding as they did last night, Poole are very strong and showed that Lynn's strength has to be improved. ....I've been preaching for 3yrs now about the magic of Maciej, and each time I see him I marvel at the way he progresses. Some of his moves last night were top drawer..... Its frightening how good he could become. .. He could become the rider, who stops Darcy from ever winning the World Championship.... Now, that's a thought....

What's the main objective that can be achieved from tonight's meeting ? 1, A good competitive meeting, that could go either way, so that Sky can publicise the positives of our sport. 2. Close exciting encounter resulting in an opposition win. 3 . A boring home win in a processional one sided match. I've place them in order of my preferences, because as always, to me the sport has to come first. When you place them in your preference, you will find out what you place first...... NB. We know what Matt Fords first choice is, because he has told us many times...