Chris

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.

Line up in individual meeting section.

Unlikely as Hancock finished third behind Ed and Jonsson(unless it was a poor piece of team riding). Claiming the scalp of Jonsson around Bydgoszcz on his first visit to the track is commendable knowing how good Jonsson is around there. From my limited Polish the Czestochowa fans seem very pleased with him. He needs more time to develop on the big tracks, but his start in Poland bodes well for the future. Will the Polsat Sport coverage be on the net anywhere?

So in that case Bryn why wasn't Steve Boxall selected? As you have all the answers it would be good of you to answer.

Any rumours about some of our youngsters like Kennett, King and Bridger getting rides in the Swedish Elite League this season?

Masarna?

Schlein has to toughen up physically. Looked like a little kid in with the big boys when he was embarrassed in the world cup.

Nicholls rode with his head up his backside all evening. Wasn't that quick and was riding the wrong lines and stuffing himself up. That cock up when he made his only gate of the night off one and tried to take Hancock wide when there was no need and saw everyone go by him and he ended up stuffing his own race up just sums Scotts problems up. He kept heading for the dirt on turn 2 and was continually passed up the inside. Why did he not learn? Anyone who says he is not in the top 10 riders ability wise in the world is not worth arguing with, but he is mentally weak at the top level and for me I hope he doesn't get a wildcard next year as he needs a kick up the arse. Mentally he has to become tougher and have more ambition. He is in a comfort zone knowing he will get wildcards as there are no other Brits to challenge him at the moment. Make him watch the GP's next season so he can see what he is missing out on like Andersen this year and so he can improve in the areas he is weak on. Get rid of Havelock in his corner for a start as he is as bad as Nicholls with making excuses for him and being happy with just squeezing into semi finals. Do his team have no ambition? As I say on ability and talent he is a GP rider, but hopefully no wildcard for him as he doesn't really deserve one. Support Scott in the GP's as he is English and a good racer, but is frustrating to watch as he doesn't help himself on occasions like tonight. Personally don't think we deserve any of our riders in the series. Cracking GP though.

Sorry, but that track is a disgrace. There is more dirt in my underpants. What excuse can Olsen give for this shambles? We know he likes the slick, but come on! Absolute mickey mouse.

Not a fan of the fella, but he has been head and shoulders above everyone else this season. After Hancock waved him past in the second and third GP's he hasn't looked back. He has certainly had all the fortune this season as well, but as said he has been the best by a distance this season. Hopefully someone can put in a challenge next year as don't want someone who has a personality like Crumps to go down as one of the greats.

Thought it was one of the poorer GP's this season. Lacked atmosphere and racing wasn't that good. Maybe something to do with not having Nicholls to support. As much as I don't mind Rico I can't get behind him in GP's. Referee was dreadful. Where do they get these fat, hairy Polish refs from? They are awful. They are on a par with our awful women referees. Nicki Pedersen does exact same thing as Crump did to Lindback and Pedersen excluded. You couldn't make it up. How he didn't stop the Rico and Zagar coming together just shows how incompetent he is. Crump should have been chucked out of the race where he came off behind Bjarne. He roared in too fast and although Bjarne lost control for a split second it was Crumps fault. No one touched him and he was the cause of the stoppage. Crump has had everything go his way this year in terms of ref decisions. Good old Nicki reared his head again. Thank god as I thought he had gone into his shell abit this season. Certainly gave old Hans a brown pants moment when putting him in the backstraight fence. Good old Nicki. Millard comment on the Millard thread. All in all abit disappointing. Don't think the rain helped the track.

Millard is dreadful, but I always gave him a chance as he is an old boy who is trying his best and providing comedy value of the highest order on a Monday and Saturday night. I personally don't think he has a clue about the sport and has limited knowledge even after being in the job for years. Some of his cock ups tonight and in past years have been nothing short of hilarious. The best one tonight being when he was ecstatic for a whole lap when he thought Richardson was at the front and then realised he was tailed off about half a lap behind. Brilliant. I just think tonight went that bit too far in terms of ruining the coverage for us with his what seemed like a cock up in EVERY heat. Sorry Tony, but time to go.

Yes Justice was done. All the old and young ladies will be gutted now.

Andersen wasn't in the lead on contact. They were level on contact and there was only contact when Hans turned left on Scott and tried to ride him on the centre green. Hans' comment on Chris Harris seems abit silly now. This isn't the CL you know Hans. You can't lay it down like a fairy you said. Have no problem with Hans as a rider as he is good and causes controversy, but as a person he is an ar*e

Crump exclusion. Poor refereeing. Crump gave Lindback no room to race and stay on. Doesn't matter one bit that there was no contact, as if Lindback wouldn't have laid it down and moved his front wheel then Crumps back wheel would have smashed into his front wheel resulting in a big get off. Some of Crumps moves this season have gone over the boundaries of fair riding.

You were doing well until you uttered that immortal sentence and gave your game away. The old "I am ashamed of us as a nation". No one can condone the actions of a handful of p!ssheads, but methinks you would have come on here and complained about something else the English fans would have done last night, as you have shown your true colours and have said you are ashamed to be English. You would have criticised us no matter what.

Stead proved he wasn't ready for big world championship events in the British GP, when he was tossed around like a little boy and basically made to look like a weak and poor rider when riders behind just dismissed him and made him look slow and ordinary. Thought Stead was meant to be a racer as well? Seems that move to BV has ruined his racing technique. If he didn't make the gate he just poodled around the white line and he never let the bike go into the deep stuff and didn't look to have the technique to ride what dirt there was. He needs to work on areas of his riding and after this season he must move away from BV as that track is doing him no favours. He has proved he can get round it, so job done.

Apologies to you Rabbit as I think you are a good poster and contributor and know what you are talking about. Sorry, but I find the other women on this forum and this thread in particular that you can't respect their opinions. Thios thread shows they have no idea what they are talking about.

This thread sums up why women should have no part in speedway and why their opinions should be taken with a pinch of salt and not respected. We have a silly little girl start this thread slamming a rider, who could have been very seriously injured for not shaking the riders hand and accusing HIM of dirty riding. Scott was hard, but fair in his overtake and left Hans room and didn't stuff him in the fence like Andersen tried to do. If Scott wanted to do Hans, he would have ridden him wider and put him in the fence. Then we have some old women laying into Scott and accusing him of being unfair and to tough on Hans. Unbeleivable and women wonder why they aren't respected on here and in speedway.

On Planet speedway yesterday Joel Hufford announced that the capacity was only going to be 3,000 due to health and safety. If thats the case there are going to be alot locked out tonight and Saturday.

Superb meeting after the first few heats. I do enjoy the world cup week. Can't think of one world cup where we haven't seen tremendous racing. The race off is always the best meeting as well, so hopefully a good one on Thursday. We'll win the race off and be up there in the final, but are going to fall short as we don't have enough world class riders when it gets to the pressure heats. Aussies will win it, but the bonus is they all have bad barnets. Wiltshire, Sullivan and Adams going bald, Boyce is bald and Crump has a ginger mullett(dear me!).

Don't think Eastie meant Ed should be in the team, nor do I for that matter, but questioning why Silver Cheetah is laughing. Was he looking at Oxfords league position when making that post? Oh and by the way Shazzy he is in the EL and has been for about 6 weeks now. Started to score nicely now as well.

It's got to be Carol Smillie at Ipswich. What a team manager! The ultimate motivator and tactical genius.

Not in this case though old boy. Top four qualify and two don't fancy it. The BSPA decided that Middlo makes the choice. It was never stated that 5 & 6 who didn't actually qualify would get the spots. Take it up with the BSPA. You shouldn't assume in speedway old boy. You have been around long enough to know that. The times are a changing. Lee Richardson finished below Hans Andersen in the GP rankings last season and Rico was chosen over him. Other examples as well including James Wright last season when he got an under 21 wild card. Why didn't the rider below the cut off mark not get it? Bit stumped old man? Many other examples as well. Get over it, it happens. Sending Smith is a waste of his and our time and your golden boy was given a helping hand last season. Two words for you, hipo and crit. Get up on your stat work as well. We in the PL take PT and PL averages into the equation and Ed is on 8.89 and Wright on 8.82. Anymore? Think you can take that particular Under-21 world final with a pinch of salt. Track was flooded and only 3 rides each and winner decided by toss of a coin. Proper championship eh? Give him a chance in the EL as he has only had a few meetings back at no.2. Can't judge him to early. Oh and he had an EL average alot higher than Wright has ever achieved last season. Oh and you look the fool now by the way. Who would you have chosen old bean?

Hmm bit of a nightmare for the Brits with Wilsons injury and the Kennett camp fiasco. Would imagine old Dave isn't in the good books. Situation didn't need to occur though as Ed should never have ridden at Eastbourne last night. Was always going to cut it fine and one mishap and no time to do anything. Appreciate Ed wanted to ride for Eastbourne, but should the BSPA do what the Germas done with Hefenbrock and pull him out of meeting? Would have been the sensible solution. A shame as Ed would have qualified from the meeting imo. Very embarrassing having only one rider in the final. Still think its farcical having a wild card for a world final. Just have top8 from both meetings and no Italian wobbler getting a ride. If the Italians can't support the meeting then give it to countries that do.