Chris

GB and Czech knocked out Sweden in Hungary and Poland knocked out Aus and Russia in Poland.

Looks as though our captain and "no.1" let the team down in Germany. Very poor. Shame Oakes didn't tell Wright or King to feign an injury to get Tai in.

He did last season.....

Rye are riding Saturday night in the PL. Have to win by 10+ to qualify for play offs. Doubt Len would have let Steve or Tai go.

Thread in international section.

No. Sunday 23rd 2.00pm.

Who knows. The problem is the system. We may as well use him though if he can help us to win the thing.

Can't help with start time, but our line up looks like it is: E.Kennett D.King© J.Wright L.Bridger An.Other(Must be Tai surely) Poles are: K.Zabik© P.Hlib K.Buczkowski M.Szcepaniak A.Gomolski Czechs: L.Tomicek© F.Sitera M.Kus H.Stichaeur M.Vandirek Germans: T.Busch R.Speiser M.Dilger K.Wolbert© An.Other

Would have been home and dry, but for Hans and AJ's coming together in Copenhagen.

Don't think you can look past the Poles of Zabik and Hlib or Saifutdinov. Probably been practicing at Ostrow for weeks and have the engine set up perfectly. Holder may be able to do something, but can't see anyone else winning it. Ed K hasn't a chance in Poland. On a medium sized track like Vojens where you don't rely on top end speed he would have been right up there, but he hasn't got the motors or experience on the big Polish tracks to trouble the above mentioned riders. He'll do well to challenge for a rostrum place. Looks like the home boys have it all to lose.

Cheers. Is the format top two into the final and 3-6 into a semi with first two progressing into the final or straight twenty heats?

Anyone got the draw for the final on Sunday?

Johno usually ok, but was a wally tonight. His reaction when Lindback fell was appalling. After high siding at high speed and smashing head/shoulder/side on track he says to AL " get up and get on with it!" as if it was a nothing incident. Yeah ok Johno. Next time your high sided onto the track and hit head/shoulder and side on the track I'll come over to you and tell you to get up and get on with it. I can imagine what his reaction will be! Thats if he has not already been loaded into an ambulance. Poor piece of commentating and considering he is a fellow rider then his words/advice were disgusting towards AL.

Yes of course he should.

Can remove thread.

As I predicted a couple of months ago, Eds position wouldn't be the one in question when the team was named. If anyone thinks that team can be improved by any other rider then it should make for some comedy reading. Hang on what about Olly Allen? Haha.

Scott Nicholls© Chris Harris Edward Kennett Lee Richardson Simon Stead Reserve-David Howe Good selection by Middlo. Howe has proved what everyone thought, that he's not upto it after his performances in the GP qualifier and at Cardiff where he was outclassed. Stead need to pull his finger out though. Fancy us to get through at Cov if Stead performs.

Brilliant from Harris. Cracking GP.

Year too early for him in the GP qualifiers. Another years experience for him and he can give it a proper go in 2008. Should go close in the under 21 final this season, but can't see him winning it on a Polish track as he doesn't have enough experience on them yet. Can't see past Zabik or Holder.

Anyone found updates? What times the off? Updates on the German site. Kennett and Bridger won their first rides.

Squad announced by Middlo: Nicholls Harris Kennett Howe Stead Rico Allen King Bridger Hall Screen

Team should be picked already by Middlo. As I said the debate wouldn't be over Ed getting in the team, but others being put under pressure because of his and Howes form. Afraid Stead will be the one to drop out again and there can't be any arguments over it. Poor this season and just a one line rider. Really is going nowhere at the mo in his career. Maybe its his move to BV, but looks a rider void of any ability to step up from what he is now. Would have to stick with Rico purely for his WC record as he has been our best rider in the WC for the last couple of years and is still getting big scores round the Abbey. The other youngsters aren't quite ready for that sort of step up yet. King hasn't progressed this season and has dropped back to reserve and Bridger not ready. There inclusion shouldn't be based on a half decent meeting at the British Final. Should be: Harris Nicholls Kennett Howe Rico Stead/Allen at reserve.

Massive question marks remain over Stead as he looked out of his depth at Cardiff and in the world cup last season. He has become a one line rider probably due to riding at BV for a couple of years. Not sure if they can keep the promise of the wildcard to the highest placed non GP rider at the British Final as its not fair as someone who has done well in the first half of the season and probably deserves a shot(Howe, Kennett, Stead) could have a fall or bike problems and a rider like Dean Barker, Rico, Norris, Screen etc who don't need or deserve a wildcard could get the place. Middlo if he is given the option will give it to Stead in all probability as he will probably feels he owes him after dropping him for last seasons SWC final. Personally don't feel Stead will ever get to the upper reaches of the GP's so may as well give it to Ed for the experience and as reward for his good form.

Good even fields in both Semi's. I assume eight through in each as surely the Poles won't require a wildcard?

Some laughable suggestions. Oliver Allen? Come on. Competent reserve/low second string rider, but shouldn't even be mentioned even if Cov is his home track. Just a limited rider if honest. The Cov boys need to take their Cov specs off. Howes average is on the way down now and he won't get any "Karlsson corridors" at Cov or Leszno I'm afraid. The guy just isn't upto be international class. Has been proved all ready in his career. Hopefully can keep up his form though. Why are people mentioning riders like Norris and Screen? Whats the point of them using them? They aren't top riders anymore and are the wrong side of thirty. A complete no brainer picking those two. A waste of a squad place. By all means get them in the pits though. Are they better than Nicholls, Harris, Stead, sicknote and Ed? No. Nail ons are Nicholls and Harris along with Stead and Richardson in all probability. The side should be picked by Middlo by now anyway. After watching Ed these past few weeks he has realised he has got a special rider on his hands. The lad is oozing class at the moment and has rattled up the scores in the last month. As Middlo has said, Ed has it all. Middlo is a big fan of Ed and can see the ability in him. Yes he hasn't set the world alight at Cov before, but he has only ridden there in about two/three competitive meetings and anyway he is a different rider now. He had never seen Bydgoszcz before, but beat Andreas Jonsson around there. Go and ask the Poole fans and riders like Crump, Pedersen and Boyce if they rate Ed and whether they would pick him? To be honest if this discussion took place in a months time then there wouldn't be a debate needed over Ed's team place. We won't win the thing anyway, but we may as well give our brightest prospect for some time on the world stage, the experience of a world cup and anyway by the time the SWC comes around his form will make sure he gets a place.