OveFundinFan

Thanks Eric. 2016, yes, and probably some time before, and before that too. Definitely need some standardisation at UK national level, the sport is almost dead in UK. Reduce costs for riders, encourage fresh ones to the sport. That is one problem in UK speedway, attracting crowds back is something else. But here we have one of the top players on the world scene. Either he is niffed that a fellow countryman is possibly going to take the prize he has wanted or he maybe he is the first to make a noise for change. The sums of money top riders have invested in high tune ups, that is money already spent, and they will keep spending it. Standardisation will mean cost saving every year in the future. If standardisation is the solution what should it look like. Or are there other problems?

Please read https://www.speedwaygp.com/news/article/9206/sayfutdinovs-final-frustration When you read the whole article it is clear to see he is very frustrated in how speedway is run today . To quote he says "speedway is now like F1 I think,. Its just decided by the engines and not the riders. Even if you spend a lot of time training it doesn't help if you have had bad setups or bad engines. We are going the wrong way" Is it the engines, and if so what is wrong and how is it rectified? or is it something else, say the track material, depth, not enough on the inside, whatever? I can see Emils frustration that for the last 10-12 years or so he has been the Russian boy wonder, but he hasn't won the World Championship, and now, this year, Laguta is in with a hot chance of doing just that. Maybe though, Emil has a point. A standard speedway engine should be a winner. But it seems riders are spending loads of money on top of a new engine to get it to higher levels, What do you guys think, and what is the solution, if any is needed.?

Is that a fact, or just what you might imagine will happen. Are you saying hotel prices in London, Manchester, Sheffield, Glasgow, Newcastle etc do not go up when there is a “big act” in town. Of course they do, it happens every where all the time, and not just in the UK. I understand the Welsh government pays BSI handsomely to take the GP to Cardiff. If that would be the same in any new agreement, and the offer as a whole is better then anywhere else I would think Cardiff is the place. Having said that, put the temporary stand up on bend 3/4 at NSS and get 9000 in, stream the event at £20 and get 30000-40000 round the world paying to watch and it’s made money.

This is what Craig Cook said… https://www.speedwaygp.com/news/article/9202/cook-ready-to-return

He could have been, many people do it. Though, some 12 years ago I got a reply from an email I sent him, and he was very respectful to Peter, and I think that was genuine. On the track they put complete trust in each other’s riding, you could see that, the closeness of the racing I saw at BV was incredible at times - without touching never mind barging.

Peter was indeed a very clean rider, I cannot remember him doing a dirty on anyone. Despite his short height he wasn’t an easy pushover though. Fundin, on the other hand, was considered to not ride cleanly all the time. Having said that, I never saw Fundin do anything dirty to PC. I think he had great respect towards Peter. PC was a man for the fans, always willing to sign autographs and have chat when he could. I remember the shock and sadness in our household when we heard Peter had passed away.

Peter did indeed have a great talent. We know his nickname was “the wizard of balance”. I think he was 5’ 2”, so small. We see many photos of him with his head as low as the left handlebar. Not always his riding style, more when he was riding the inside line. Remember that in the 50’s/60’s handlebars were wide and often upswept. This made it the more incredible his style of riding. Getting his head down low would put centre of gravity low, which no doubt helped his balance. Whilst a great talent, and one of the famous five ( Knutson came good 1959/60), his performance in the world finals was perhaps not as consistent as the others. For example 1959 9th, 1961 10th, and 1963 10th (his last world final). Fundin, Briggs, Moore and Craven were pretty much same age…. All born 1933 or 1934, so they were all rose to their peak at the same time, and about to start their decline (the Mauger years staring in 1968). Whether Peter would have won any more world titles we will never know, but I would say it was not a cert. I never heard Fundins eulogy at Peters funeral, but I don’t understand where it is said Ove said he would not have won as many world titles as he did if Peter had lived. Ove won in 1963, Peters last final (Wembley). when he finished 10th, and Ove only won one more world title, 1967, meaning Fundin had already won four. This is taking nothing way from Peters record, it’s just a fact.

I would be hapy to leave the points the way it is at the moment, concentrate on 1) decent race tracks, and that includes GP Challenge where 3 of the following years riders come from. 2) cut out time wastage ie a restart due to tape infringement, riders go direct to start.

I agree Zmarzlik is more spectacular in his riding style then Fundin, Moore, Briggs, Craven and Knutson. But I prefer the riding style of those 5 (and others of there era) then Zmarzlik. The 5 made winning look easier, though I sure it wasn’t. I do wish development of laid down high revving engines had not happened. I still prefer to watch racing from the 70’s

If the world championship was decided by one meeting Doyle would never be world speedway champion. Only championship he would win would false start-tape breaking.

Seems reasonable. I would just tweak the final to 25, 20, 17, 14. Makes it worth fighting for every place. A 5 point gain is worth fighting more then a 2 point.

Re Sczakiel, I think it was in one of Ivan Maugers books where he was praising JS as a top rider that was underrated by the many. Yes, Ivan spoke highly of him. Maybe he would have done well in a GP series. Muller was a fantastic long track rider, and a very good speedway rider, capable of being a spoiler.. I would expect him to finish about 10th-12th in a GP series though.

So you missed the interesting bit of the meeting…… they did show a comparison part way through…… Laguna would have been leading by about 5 I think it was.

My rider of the night...... got to be Anders Thomson. He was in places he hasnt been before and looked comfortable.

Nothing wrong with the effort from the racers last night, they gave 100% as usual. Track was to blame.

Already wiped this meeting off my BT recording. It went the same way as the GP Challenge last Saturday. It was a foregone conclusion this meeting would be rubbish.

Will Vojens but much better?

Biggest bore I seen for a long time. I give the commentators 11 out of 10 for sticking enthusiasm. Anything less and they would get the sack.

Is it time the two children should be in bed.

Don’t think it’s going to work this time. It’s rubbish. Same for GP Challenge and SON final in past few years. It is after all an ice speedway track, long straights and they don’t broadslide.

Think it was the GP Challenge final there a few years ago, and also SON final…… was not impressed as a racers track.

Sad to hear. I remember him starting off at Belle Vue, a steady rider, and outstanding with his machine preparation.

Sorry to hear this, was only reading a Backtrack mag about him remember the other week, I remember him in his early years at Belle Vue, steady rider, and his machine were always immaculate.

Grass track racing on a speedway track is a good way to introduce grass track riders to speedway, with the hope they will take it up. Crewe used to do Saturday mornings where grass trackers could roll up with their bikes and have a go…….. one of my regrets was I didn’t go along when I was grass tracking.

My opinion is Tai should be in the team, no doubt about it. He is currently 6th in the world championship, that’s a big qualification factor, on top of all his experience. Its a toss up between Dan and Robert. Dan has more experience on the track, but Robert more experience at the top level. Think I would go with Dan. pis it stil an under 21 for the reserve? Who is in consideration?