rob

Nothing different from Nicholls again tonight. A good rider no doubt about that but a shame he has all the country's expectations on his shoulders. How long before he's back racing in the Elite League?

Didn't see that result coming! Looks like it could be a competitive GP season with the young generation of riders like Jonsson and Lindgren really able to mix it up with the likes of Crump, Hancock & Adams who showed they're far from past it. Nicki Pedersen to win again though. Can't see any likely challenge from the British riders, they're simply not at the same level.

Is Davidsson scoring better in the Swedish league than he is here in Britain?? Perhaps he has an 8pt average, so his selection would be no surprise in Sweden.

I don't think Simon Stead or Chris Harris have ever ridden regularly in Poland, and so will have little experience of Polish tracks. However i believe both should do okay, as both Stead and Harris are big track riders, whose careers got going on the larger circuits. However Mark Loram definitely should ride if fit, even if it means dropping Joe Screen. If Britain are to win, we need the best team. Be ruthless if necessary, this is sport. As the last post says, remember last year Joe Screen told Middlo to pick Havelock for the final. Perhaps he'll do the same thing this year. Screen definitely wants GB to win, with him there or not.

Haven't seen this mentioned anywhere else. At Belle Vue this evening it was announced that Josh Auty and some of his fellow under 15 riders are set to have some demonstration races prior to Saturday's GP. It'll be good for them to get to ride in front of so many people, well done the authorities for letting them do it.

Thanks for the help.

Has anyone used the trains to get away from Cardiff after the GP?? I was wondering whether there were additional services to the timetable, and where these trains were going - Newport, Bristol...??? I can remember there being big queues at the station quite late at night in the past. Did everyone get on the train?? I don't really fancy sleeping rough in Cardiff until 5 in the morning. Can anyone help??

If the TR rule is to be scrapped at the forthcoming BSPA AGM we need another controversial breakdown on the last lap of a major televised meeting so that the TR can be used in Heat 14. Perhaps this will happen in the EL Play-Offs, and then there will be outrage like there was after the Eastbourne vs Poole match. Hopefully this will happen and the promoters will scrap the rule. I hope they are aware of our feelings.

The organisers probably will be trying to spread the riders out evenly between the nations. Taking what Arnie suggested, the current top 8, plus Nicholls, Richardson, Hampel and Bjerre that leaves. Australia 2 Jason Crump & Leigh Adams Poland 3 Tomasz Gollob, Jarek Hampel, and Tomasz the qualifier. GB 2 Lee Richardson & Scott Nicholls Sweden 3 Tony Rickardsson, Andreas Jonsson & Antonio Lindback USA 1 Greg Hancock Denmark 3 Nicki Pedersen, Bjarne Pedersen & Hans N. Andersen (Who'm i missing??) Plus the last seed, which has to be between Ryan Sullivan & Lukas Drmyl IMO. The way they're spread out seems pretty good, not a bad field at all.

Does that mean that Simon Stead will not be appearing for Workington at Somerset on Friday evening?? If so i think i'll give that match a miss as Workington without Stead were beaten easily when the two teams met in league action. R/R didn't do them any favours.

Having less GP riders should benefit British speedway as there will be less fixture disruption. Teams with no or one GP riders could ride on Friday nights if they wished.

What an appalling new rule. We, as spectators, will be the ones who suffer. At Exeter for instance there are loads of teams with riders who are hopeless, and riders who are excellent. Now next year we'll have to put up with 4 rides from Mark Courtney, who doesn't even bother to ride, and won't be able to enjoy an extra appearance from Nigel Sadler, who is excellent. In one sided meetings we look forward to the opposition top riders being out on track, we don't really care how the opposition No. 7 is developing. That's not what we pay our money to see. I reckon this is a pathetic new rule, at least send them back 15 meters, but no, it'll be just the same, but they'll score double for doing nothing extra. Bring back the tac subs, quickly.

See http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forum/view...opic.php?t=4867 Surprised not more comment on this yet.

Look at the article in today's Speedway Star. There's likely to be 16 riders per GP from 2005 onwards. Top 8 from 2004 will qualify + 2 from qualifiers + 5 permanemt extras + 1 local wildcard. No qualification rounds at all from 2005. Sounds good. EL promoters should be happy.

Ole Olsen should be sacked in my opinion. If he's in charge of track preparation then putting down the wrong ingredients is inexcusable.