SCB

As I said, some do lose out due to it going back to the year befores average for the GP series the next year (so 2 years). He did well last year but in reality, qualifying for the u21s was an achievement, he stood very little chance of getting past the GB final. As I said, there has to be a cut off and IMO its not really bad where it is and there will always be someone missing out.

Alex was born in the UK when his dad was riding over here. It confuses me more how Mason Campton has got a work permit if Sam can't tbh.

Be realistic, we're talking PL reserves with 2 semis, they're not going to make the GPs anyway. But let's assume they had 4 quarter finals, that's 64 riders and we're down to NL second strings but then what about NL reserves? What about midland league riders? What about me? There has to be a limit tbf. I can't speak for all nations but the main ones have some sort of GP qualifier. Now I accept for some rider GP qualification can start 2 years in advance and that's not ideal.

So just to confirm then, you think that the riders in the British semi final, going to the British final and then the first round of the GP qualifiers and so on means riders miss out? The Aussies do the same while the Poles and Danes have national GP qualifiers too. So again, who doesn't get a chance? Because to me it's pretty obvious everyone does. But unlike the good old days of 5 eastern block riders guaranteed a place despite not being good enough everyone gets the same chance these days, regardless of where you're from.

Who doesn't have a chance these days?

Just reading through the star now and there's done wonderful comments. First we have the claim from Richard Frost that BV have a stronger tip end than Eastbourne. So that's BV who's 3rd heat leader Mrockza who averaged 6.44 with bonus points while Eastbourbes 6th rider, Lukas Dryml averaged 6.56 lol. And BVs second heat leader got his average as a second string Then there's Jason Attwoods claim that Kauko is a steal on a 4 point average as he was riding in heat 15s last year. Well firstly he's a 5 point man and secondly you can't pick out two heat 15s and ignore all the riders that dropped his average lol. I've not got past the BV page yet but expect more amusing comments on every page!

Im guessing it's the same as they're both Danish. but if I was going to be saying their name in front of thousands of people I'd make sure I asked them.

Surely Nick Morris who averaged 9 for Tom Armstrong who averages less than one is a massive change? Put Nick Morris into anyones team for their number 7 and they would have won the league.

Thing is, unless he has improved 10 fold since his last riding days, Candy from a baby it will not be! I see your point but I prefer to see it as, "why persevere with someone who failed so badly 10 years ago and is not going to make it as a speedway rider, even at NL level, while I have a hole in my backside"

TBF, you've not experienced the sport of speedway until you've paid to watch Nick Mallett ride

He was saying PEE-DER-SON which is, amazingly, how you say Nickis surname. But British commentators have got it wrong for years. Heaven forbid someone should try and say Charlie Gjedde last name correctly, would confused everyone In fact, my one issue with Nigel Pearsons is his poor pronunciation of riders names and often he has no excuse, the rider are a few foot away from him in the pits.

Morris and Irving (8 and 5 point riders) for Aario and Armstrong (5 and 1 point rider). In effect Nick Morris for Tom Armstrong.

I'd struggle to give a full run down as I've not looked at closesy at most teams but something like thsi doesn't seem unreasonable 1. Somerset 2. Edinburgh 3. Redcar 4. Plymouth (a bit sort of wildcard style. could just as easily 10th, a few risks but I think generally worth taking) 5. Newcastle 6. Ipswich 7. Scunthorpe 8. Leicester 9. Workington 10. Berwick 11= Rye House 11= Sheffield 11= Glasgow I've put the bottom 3 as joint last simply as they're all terrible and all 3 will have to make changes and once you make changes, anything can happen. After the top 3 and bottom 3 I don't think theres a massive amount in it for most teams. Last year was the first time in about 10 years I've not got the PL winners right, in my defence I predicted Newport (with Somerset 2nd) and Scunthorpe made some pretty big changes.

I love the look of this track. I recon if it was used every week it would have amazing races. Big, wide and huge banking. 2 SGPs now and how many actual crashes? they just don't happen due to the space, even on an inconsistent track as it was yesterday/today. OK it wasn't prep'd that well today but I think the potential if it was used for speedway all the time is huge, shame it won't ever happen really. The track should/could be better but if we're going to have a crap GP, make it the first one when we're just waiting for any speedway on the tele and will accept crap. The commentary, I love it. Always been a Johno fan and thought Wade was interesting, funny and a breathe of fresh air but I don't mind Nigel either tbf. Some of his comments had me giggling and I liked how he was quick to notice his mistakes (apart form Zagar being Slovenian and not Slovakian). All in all, the commentary gets a big thumbs up from me. Tai - On the pace, gave it some in every heat and was IMO one of the fastest riders out there, on a track with a few more lines he would have scored a few more points IMO. Excellent start to the GP series but lets not get too carried away, he's in 8th place over all ATM. A crap GP2 and he could be down in 12th! But, a good start that I think he can be pleased with. All in all, worth staying awake for.

Fair play to the lad, 1 GP down and he did well. 9 points each GP wouldn't be a disaster. It thought ti was a good 9 points too, often hasling the guy in front. 1 more point in the heats would have meant a better gate in the semis and then who knows. Looked fast, confident and rode sensible lines well. I may be wrong - that said, one GP doesn't make a series.... I was happy to being wrong this mornning/last night though.

His point is that in the UK it is always either raining or cold and you'll have complains whenever you try to run. But at least when its cold you can still have speedway, when it rains you can't

I was amazed Redcar were so low. I had a top 3 of Somerset, Redcar and Edinburgh personally. Mind you, they have Poole top in the EL, God only knows how!

You forgot black leathers, open face helmets, war crys, jumpers knitted by your nan (although the average speedway fans nan is dead these days :/), riders waving, riders having one bike and turning up at the track in an estate car.

Do I need HD? Or is it SD? Is it in colour? Or do I need to dust down the black and white tele? What screen size do I need? Dont want to watch it on my portable if it's filmed in 42 inch wide screen.

The funny thing is that it's not me, waihekeaces1, OldAce, E I Addio or BWitcher who has used offensive language, called people names and swore. It's not about hunting in a pack, it's about agreeing with each other being on that side of the argument/discussion/debate. I can't speak for the others but I know I enjoy my little spats with sidney (and the others on here), I don't always agree with him, in fact we rarely agree but it's what makes this place more interesting. It would be boring if we all agreed, we'd get no discussion would we? The trick is not to take it personally and not to get personal then this place is great.

"unprecedented at the time" doesn't mean unprecedented in the 13 years leading up to it but in all of history up to that point. You've elaborated now and have a fair point but your first post was technically incorrect so it seems harsh to call someone annoying for reading your post the way most people would have done.

So what if the rider picks his semi date because he's not working but can't make the final because he is working? We're talking a national championship here, if riders can't make it then tough. Or do we have to re-arrange the final to make sure everyone can make that too?

I bet you're fun down the pub It gets to 11pm, "Oi, mate, we can't discuss your holiday, the discussion at 7.30 was the football". Conversation and discussions move on

Mark Burrows. I bet you feel foolish now! Chris Mortons World Final record. 6,8,6,7,8,9,6. Looks very much like a Chris Harris GP scores record to me. Making them very much the same.

Clearly anyone who was once banned by the SCB/BSPA/ACU is banned from getting a work permit. Am I close?