Col

It is raining in Wolverhampton this morning and it looks like we've had a fair amount over night.

Lindback & Lambert both had poor 2019's compared to 2018, I expect them to be perform better in 2020. Neither however deserve a permanent wildcard in the GP's at this time.

Probably because Lambert proved himself at the top level with silver in the SoN & bronze in the SEC. Drabik & Smektala may have outperformed him in the U21 but just look at the careers of Robert Miśkowiak, Karol Ząbik & Dawid Kujawa all U21 Champions that careers plummeted once they were no longer protected by being Ekstraliga reserves.

Yet it was the closest contested GP series I can remember, World Championship decided in the semi finals of the final GP of the series.

Not checked but I'm sure his Swedish & Polish league averages put him as one of the top 15 riders, plus a second consecutive SoN gold, but from what I've seen he's little other than a gater. If there is a gap that might get closed he doesn't go for it & simply isn't aggressive enough to compete at the very top level.

Michelson is most deserving of a Wild Card after Woffinden. I think Hancock would have to prove himself in league speedway before he gets back in the GP's but maybe he'll get one. There is no obvious deserving rider. It's no to an Artem Laguta Wildcard for me.

Securing the tickets was easy enough for this years Warsaw GP, figuring out how to pay for the damn things was a pain in the arse! If they use the same seller as last year make sure you use Internet Explorer rather than any other browser, their website wasn't exactly compatible with Chrome as the payment link didn't appear. Most of the site is fairly well translated but not all, I was very glad I work with a Polish girl because I'm not sure I'd have found the link had it not been for her.

Leicester are tough nuts.

AFAIK Michał Gruchalski won't be eligible for reserve as he'll be too old.

Looks like Torun are determined to get back in the Ekstraliga at the first attempt. Wonder which senior Poles Czestachowa will look to sign, losing Miedziński and Przedpełski was hardly banging in big scores.

Do those riders not ride in their domestic leagues? If their countries have domestic leagues! I know Denmark do, I assume Russia do. Yet, I don't believe a rider has become World Champion while only riding in Poland. Obviously I am assuming here that Zmarzlik will be crowned champion on Saturday.

Not that I'm aware of. Holder rode for Torun who were relegated a month ago at least. The only remaining Polish fixtures are the playoffs. Gorzow v Ostrovia & Poznan v Lodz.

If you're still stuck there in 10 days, your beloved Robins will be in town.

Pretty awful meeting entertainment wise, heats 8 & 9 aside. Poole riders with the exception of Grajczonek & Covatti just couldn't ride the track. Klindt was alright but only when he gated, when he gated & someone was close he expectedly lacked any bottle. Now I'm fairly sure I've not watched a meeting from Foxhall for many years but I doubt it is normally prepared like that. I did begrudgingly hope Poole would get through only because I can't see the Witches giving either the Robins or Wolves a contest in the final, but as soon Holder withdrew my allegiance switched. Hats off to James Sarjeant, a rider who has annoyed me his entire career, considering the quality of the other riders on track he did well. Chips down, Pirates go glug.

Was slightly better than the SEC meeting at the same venue last year, there was some (few but some) races. Felt for Woryna. Strangely the runoffs were probably the highlights.

If Ernolenko says "mam made track" once more. Tell me Sam, is there a naturally occurring Speedway track?

FZG were rather hindered with Pedersen missing through injury replaced by Smolinski, they seemed to lack any belief fight without Pedersen.

Sand. Its. An. Ostrich. In. Like. Head. The. With. Dudek will probably ride like a novice at the final GP in Torun, just as he did at the recent GP in Cardiff. And recent Swedish Playoffs. And in the recent Polish playoffs. An in form rider, is an in form rider. Regardless of location, league & competition. Just as an out of form rider is. I have no personal objection to Thorsell. Is there anything about him to object to?

He scored Ok, once the result was in longer in doubt & Smederna were simply seeing the meeting out. Piotr Pawlicki & Dudek & Berntzon were equally as awful. That is true.

Regardless of which country he is riding in, if he rode Ilke a novice on Tuesday & Wednesday, he is likely to ride like a novice next outing. Or is his form dictated by longitudinal & latitudinal lines?

WTF was that? It was little other than a total farce on an awful track. Who did Ipswich sign NKI as replacement for? It's with a heavy heart I say this because for a time he was my favourite GP rider but bring back whoever he replaced because that was the second awful showing from him that I've unfortunately witnessed in a couple of weeks. Could no one in the Ipswich side of the pits figure out that Middlo's genius team talk was? Tell the Poole riders to set their bikes up to gate & ride the white line, while telling the track re+grade team to scrape the nitro boost near the fence exiting turn two? Middlo is clearly more genius than Hawkins & Louis. At least the Pirates should make the final a contest. The Witches would be steam rollered by either Wolves or Swindon.

Did you watch the Eliteserien playoffs?

When they look at Jason Doyle, I hope they hang their heads in shame.

Ekstraliga & GP'd only in 2020? Not convinced a less busy schedule in any way increases a riders performance.

How come? Another great performance from the Blacksmiths, congratulations to them. Awful Dackarna performance again, probably worse than previous night. Janowski & Jacobsen the only riders who can be mildly satisfied with their performances.