OveFundinFan

The way it was, with GB best under 21 rider at reserve, it gave GB the greatest flexability, Tai was likely to be riding well (but there again who would have thought Majic, Dudek, Emil would not have been at their best), Cook may have found his form, but in case either of them faltered (and Cook did) then GB had a on form reserve. The alternative suggested has been Tai and Lambert in the team with (under 21) Bewley at reserve. Had Tai or lambert had a poor day, or fell and injured (like Hukenberg) then would Dan be able to rise to the occasion? Lets face it, he is brilliant considering he not been riding too long, but at a senior world championship level - he would be very vulnerable. So, its my opinion, the team selection was correct, and the way the reserve was used was also correct.

I would have thought on the lead up to an international event no one in the lead up to it, say 1 week, would be allowed any practice other then official practice. So good on Phil Morris if watering effectively "neutralized" the track, if indeed that was the case. No amount of track doctoring, whether beneficial to this team or that team, could excuse Poland have two warnings and an exclusion in heat 1. Anyway, some riders say they deem even official practice unnecessary. That's due, it is said, the track on race day is very often different to practice day. If that's the case there is no need for anyone to "spend hours on it" earlier in the week. I noticed on the Polish Friday meeting the riders came out to the "parade" on their bikes, whereas on the Saturday they walked out. So it seems the riders were even being stopped from even having a practice start.

That about sums it up Daniel....its all about opinions, and not just re PC, PC, TW, its about mostly everything discussed on this forum, indeed any forum. Its a pity people cannot respect others opinion - discuss it yes, but soon after (or sometimes sooner then soon after) the abuse starts. Shame really, maybe turns a lot of potential posters off. Just my opinion

Check on here late Monday afternoon.

I stick by what I said in the above post. In my mind, and sadly that's all its is, Tai and Rob were the Best Pair. They were the ones that consistently tried their best to team ride, and to a great extent it worked. Well done. All the other teams seemed as if they were individuals and rode as such. Some not even looking behind at any time (except in the run up to the checkured flag) at all, which was silly because there many the time they could have helped their team mate. True Russia did a little bit of team riding, not a lot. An amazing 2 day final. So many world class quality riders yet there were only 3 or 4 that really shone. Lindback we know can beat anyone when hes firing on all cylinders, but sadly not in this competition. Freddie was a bit below what we used to this last 18 months. Emil is a shadow of his former form, but Artum hit the heights. The rest all failed consistency. Germany rode very well, Smolinski on Friday was a shock, and Hukenberg on Sat did really well and kept the opposition on their toes. In the end, the gold didn't go to GB. Sad, because they deserved it, but good to see Russia has now won a world speedway gold - first time ever.

Whichever team tonight wins the final race will be the official Speedway of Nations champions. Whichever team ends up tonight with the highest number of points (over the 2 meetings ie 42 races) will be world champions IN MY MIND. Totally against the final 2 races, just a nonsense, especially if a team finishes 2nd and 3rd in the final race being declared winners. That's complete nonsense.

After a bit of a slow start (how often do we see that) it turned into a very good meeting with some close exciting racing. GB in a good position I think for a medal and it could even be Gold. It all depends on how Poland, Sweden, Aus and Russia respond tomorrow - and I think they will. Lambert seems to have matured a lot over the winter, at last he has got his gating sorted. Good show from TW, showing the type of form he had in 2013 - looking so easy. Well done.

Do you think so. If that race had been a 3-3 then Australia would have been in 2 run offs and with potential engine failure or a fall they could have gone out. Tai been cruising up until then. Look what speed he had to win against Sweden, and look at the 3-3 Aussie got against Finland. Aussie was in trouble an I see it as Tai helped them out. It could have put GB in a predicament.

Was there 3 Aussies in heat 17?

Its almost a certainty that the track tonight at BV will be a racing track, I am sure the lesson has been learnt for the Friday night WTC! But the format will still be the same, and will we see team riding as its meant to be. The sure certainty is that if Collins/Morton or Holder/Ward had been riding (plus others no doubt) we would be seeing team riding. But times have changed. If team riding is not done at league team level, its pretty sure it wont happen at international level.

Hancock is smart. He is adding to his pension pot in a large way if his club has got the money as reported. Hes in the GPs, will realise that he career is now limited, but going racing a safe way to build up his pension. As been said, he gates, doesn't get into many tussles so less chance of injury, not stressing his boday as much, and no doubt the numbers thro the turnstile increase which will please his team. Win, Win all the way.

The meeting exactly as I thought it would be - boring. With Best Pairs you expect team riding - alas, todays riders do not know how to team ride. Opportunities were there but riders didn't know what to do. Even the winners, Russia, team riding was lacking. Racing was dull, and the track certainly didn't help to produce better racing. I recorded the program, like I do the GP's, but as soon as it finished I deleted the recording, watching it again wont improve the situation. Bring back the four man team, 4 individuals racing against each other.

Re car parking - Someone on this thread in the last week has asked about parking and what seemed to be a knowledgeable answer was given. Too many pages for me to go through, but its there somewhere. I cant really see the £19 (cheapest at a "normal meeting") will include car parking as the other car parks are £3, and would they want to loose £3 per car?

Is that where the £19 standing is ie 3rd/4th bends ????

Big difference between a 100m final and SoN two day event with one final race deciding the winner. A 100m final has qualifying rounds leading to a one race final. SoN has qualifiers ie Teterow and Belle Vue, then off to Poland for the final - which is where the similarity ends. Presumably the 2 highest teams after two days get to race each other - THATS the big difference. SoN races 2 days to accumulate a points tally, and the highest scorers may not win. Something not gelling with me with that.

Thats the joker. Terrible decision.

Even the drivers (Hamilton & Alonso the most vocal) say Monaco this year was a real bore of a race. Reason being they were conserving tyres so they only had to do one pit stop. Now if drivers are saying a race is boring then it really must be very boring cause I been bored with F1 for donkeys years. All the excitement that speedway can muster up in a really good 1 minute race and the sport hardly gets a mention in the press. You get virtually every other sport being mentioned but nothing about speedway, even when a Brit wins a GP

Yes there was a camera shot from behind and it was shown couple or more times. It was tight but Tai was not fully trapped, he was still mostly behind. I remember seeing the 2013 crash Emil had when Medinski really did closed the gap, trapped Emil and he took a really bad tumble effectively ending Emils hopes of world champ that year (and maybe contributed to his decision to miss the GP series for 3 years). Some on this forum were saying "the throttle works both ways", meaning Emil didnt shut off to get out of the situation. Well, if that applied to Emil in 2013, then it definately applied to Tai on Saturday in Prague. Had he shut off earlier then the whole situation would not be like it was. I said it in an earlier post, I think Freddies move was just on the OK side, and Tai had an opportunity to pull out..... but then these guys have extra ordinary courage.

I was not doubting he didnt have courage - hes a speedway rider, courage comes with the "job". I said "Craig not got the courage his competitors have. His competitors have more courage then Craig at the moment.

Was a borefest for over half the meeting but lighted up enough to enjoy it. Pedersen out and Janowski out were the correct decisions. Zagar did a great moveon Doyle in heat 10 and that was the turn around of the meeting. Last few races were just crackers. Last year in the GPs Freddie was riding particularly clean (compared to what I seen in previous years). He was ok last GP in Poland, and tonight UNTIL the final. What he did was JUST ABOUT ok, in my opinion, but he may pay for it sometime soon if Tai decides he was hard done to and going to get him back. Gates Red 5 wins, Blue 3 wins, White 11 wins, Yellow 4 wins - very unbalanced. Cook can gate, but he is not showing competitive so far at this level. Bikes not got the speed, Craig not got the courage his competitors have.

Just what Craig needs what with a gp coming up this weekend. Hope he can carry the form forward.

Good photos Jacqueline That should be a confidence booster for Cookie.

If attendance down so much then it perhaps a rethink this year. Once you loose a crowd they may not return.

but the government supports (subsidies) sports and we pay tax to the government. I hear the government subsidies advertising English premier football in China! I would have thought the English premiership has enough money floating around to pay its own way. What I cant understand is the lack of any coverage on TV news. You get some coverage for all soughts of sports, but speedway GP has an English rider top the rostrom in Poland and zilch. Doesnt the BSPA/SCB have a press officer?

Cant believe you said that.... or do you want to change your mind.....