Steve Turner

Doesn't look like it Rob, as there's been no Draw yet...judging by the GP site Can anyone tell me... Are there any changes in the rules for this season ? If the first GP in Poland is the 'European' (?!) and the third is the 'Polish', what's the second one called ? And there appears to be no 'title' for the one at Gorican...I assume it's gonna be the Croatian GP, or have they thought of something else ?!

I could probably knock up a season one if anyone wants it...

P.S (and on the side topic) The singles chart... Sales figures are now completely accurate, and proving to be bigger than ever before. 99% are by download and are therefore very easy to collate. The previous Gallup sales system was setup in over 6,000 shops across Britain, and even in the 50's it was more than just "3 shops in London", honest. It automatically reported all sales via barcode readings at the till. Not infallible, but considered by experts to be accurate. As for TV viewing figures...they're formed by using 5,100 carefully selected households, with an extremely detailed system for them to use. Sounds very much like a chore suited to anoraks...meaning that it may well be giving an exaggerated figure when it comes to speedway meetings !

I see people are still comparing non-British riders to Harris and Woffinden. There's no point...but I won't keep repeating meself. Fight Richardson's case against them by all means. I'll pass on that one though Is he even interested in doing the GP's ? For those suggesting Zagar and Lindback...you have to prove they deserve their chance ahead of Lindgren or Andersen. Lucifer Sam, you love your history Rob, and indeed you're using it in this case to attack the selection of Harris...but you can't use history to decide the future. Hmm...I quite like that one Let's see... The man who couldn't get near a point in the last World Final, went on to WIN the first Grand Prix...while the man who WON the last World Final didn't win a Grand Prix for three and a half years ! Surely there are plenty of riders who would rather not be in the GP's, or be selected, if they felt they'd be down the bottom of the chart. It must be demoralising, embarrassing and extremely expensive. They can't just decide to score more points. The nature of the competition means there will be winners and losers, big scorers and low scorers...foreigners and Brits My words on this topic are light-hearted and are perhaps a way of trying to re-awaken my interest in the GP's. Bearing in mind that I haven't seen one for 18 months, or even looked at results from any of this years' series. Having been an avid follower for many years, I became bored with the same old faces in it all the time. Not their fault I s'pose ! But some people seem genuinely angry on this thread, which I just don't get. The main players are in it, and they're in it to win it. That's what matters most. And for those riders who may feel cheated by the selection process...maybe they should have qualified by right !

Nicki for the title, and Jonsson...the Grinch will fade this year as he becomes immune to Monster Zetterstrom...good gating and very fast bikes will be too much for Tai to outscore Holder...if he can stay calm and not override Bjerre...comfortably Lindgren...he'll know now that he's better than he thought he was before !

You both misunderstand, I am not saying there has to be two Brits, but very obviously there is an arrangement in place for that to be the case, always has been. Whether it's in a legal agreement, or linked to sponsors, or BSI, or Sky Sports or an amalgamation of all those things and more. You can't say it must be the 15 best riders in the world, because it's not clear who they are ! There's a system in place which says the Top 8 deserve a place next year, okay...the top 3 from a qualifying series, which is acceptable...and four selected riders, which as can be seen, is open to debate. They are all selected in one way or another...and we can argue about it forever

I'm obviously not taking this selection decision as seriously as many others on here , but I have to say that 21st Century Heathen has got it right when he says that nobody can come up with justifiable alternatives. There clearly has to be two Brits in the Series, that much is obvious. And Harris and Woffinden are the only two it could be ! Nobody can be too surprised by the choices of Hans and Fred. Sentiment put Lindback in the frame and not results...can't work out the Zagar support at all...Pepe, Ulamek, Walasek have all had time in the fringe without stepping up a class...Sullivan is the Aussie version of Richardson...anyone else ??

Zetterstrom and Kennett in the GP's ?! Where can I get tickets ?

I thought Hyde Road was 18,000 full to the brim, which it was a good few times, but I may well be wrong As for British Finals, none of the Coventry ones ever got over 20,000. Two meetings at Brandon stand way above all others when it comes to packin' em in...this Hull meeting and Nigel Boocock's meeting with 23,000 enjoying a sunny Sunday afternoon Including a seven-year-old Stephen Turner being taken round the track sat on Booey's handlebars !

The meeting was a bit of an anti-climax to be honest. I remember it well, despite being just a boy... Worth pointing out though, it was actually 26,500 that paid to get in that night. Fantastic occasion

Well none of that grabs my interest Too many GP's...as it has been for too long. Having 3 in Poland is ridiculous. Pure profiteering. Maybe I'm very much in the minority, but it's just so uninteresting. St.Petersburg, one of the most fantastic cities in the world...but it would be like Prague, where going to the speedway 'ruins' a great weekend.

Harry rode for Newcastle (and Gosforth) right from the early days of the sport in this country. A good rider, despite his massive height. Just under 7 foot in his boots and helmet ! While checking him out I read about a couple of match-races he had with Wally Lloyd at Birmingham. The crowd couldn't stop laughing as the riders shook hands before their first race, as 17-year-old Wally was only 5ft 3in ! Wally won 2-0 mind Harry passed away in 1995 aged 88, soon after having his wish granted to sit on a modern bike. A Reading junior, Mick Hester, was kind enough to take one up to him at home.

I'm going for it... I believe Harry Huntly must be the tallest ever rider. 6ft 8in - beat that ! I have details if there's any arguing

Sorry to those who wanted it at the start of the season, but I had no interest in the sport never mind the GP's... Anyway, for those who'd like to add this one to their collection from previous years, they can download a copy via this link, click Free Download, scroll down, enter the code, open and save. The details should be correct, feel free to check, and add to the comments ! Let me know if there's any glitches...

Picture does look fake... But I'd pay to see a 'fight' between Richardson and Sullivan. Granted, I'd need earplugs...Can you imagine the high-pitched squealing from those two !? I'm amazed though, that at least one of them didn't cry off sick just before it kicked off !

This was a truly awful meeting, livened up only by some spectacular crashes. Embarrassing winner. Holder superb. Lindgren looked tired. Harris left his talent in the back of the van...until it was all too late of course. Massive crowd must largely have left disappointed. But thanks to the mate who shared the evening with me, I still had a good time

You are probably right Zetters, I'm not sure about either Pole

Rider's don't ALWAYS use the same tuner for every engine or every type of track, so some of these are favourite regular tuners, rather than specifically for the Swedish GP. And I'm not certain of all these either... Chris Harris - Brian Andersen Jason Crump - Dad Phil plus Maxwills Nicki Pedersen - Brian Karger Hans Andersen - Brian Karger Leigh Adams - Peter Johns Rune Holta - Fleming Gravesen Bjarne Pedersen - Anton Nischler or Brian Karger Greg Hancock - Bill Nilsson Niels-Kristian Iversen - Kenneth Mickelsen (I think !) I don't know who's doing Scott's engines now, maybe still Dad Tommy...and I think that both Tomasz and KK generally do their tuning 'in-house'. Dunno anything about Lukas Dryml's engines this year.

I think it's his third season with two racing licences, one Russian and one Latvian.

Well it's always been that way in Poland. There isn't the same amount of 'dirty' money that there used to be in the 80's and 90's...but the reality is, at least half of the clubs still depend on receiving regular payments from sponsors, (I think that's the politically correct way of writing it ) and sometimes it just doesn't arrive. Gate receipts don't cover the cost of a big number one rider, with one or two exceptions.

Gregorij Laguta has both a Russian licence AND a Latvian licence. And they love him at Daugavpils...he's the only choice as far as they're concerned

You should really try and keep up with British speedway Obvious answer, Poole. A contracted date overrides a re-arranged fixture every time. I can't say that your question requires this 'answer'... But there are a lot of money issues involving Swedish clubs at the moment. I know of four non-Swedish riders, from three different clubs, who are owed considerable sums. And because of that, when they DO ride, they ride without their own bikes/mechanics. Other times they just say 'No thanks'...

Does it mate ? I've not heard Presumably Peter's turned it down then !

that may be pushing the luck just a little too far...