AndyM

Anything is fairer than closed nominations. Even that most secretive of appointments processes for appointing judges is being opened up for more scrutiny than it's ever had before, so why BSI should be allowed to control access rather than a free and open qualification process is beyond me. It's unfair and denies riders a chance to qualify that they always previously had. Whether it's the version you've invented or any other, we need a proper means of entry to prevent the sport looking ridiculous yet again.

Arnie was a fine example of a rider who should have retired earlier than he did. He embarrassed himself when he made a comeback for the Aces.

That's it, in a nutshell. Welcome to the club, SGE2004!

They said the same about Schumacher. This year they succeeded.

You don't know me very well. Time to be serious and for a bit of levity!

Well said, HS. Just as I admitted I was wrong about Nicholls' performance tonight! We all make mistakes...as the dalek said, climbing off the dustbin!

Very true. How dedicated are our top guys to their cause? Do they devote their entire lives to becoming world champion? On the whole, I doubt it.

Still don't agree with arbitrary awards of points, myself. What you win on the track in the semis should be reward enough, and indeed in the final too.

Your point being? If it's the top 8 finishers who go into the semis, a miss is as good as a mile! 1 point is all it takes. Could be a dead heat decided on countback, that's the rules. Do you have evidence over and above the observations of the machine inspectors, Bernie? Better submit your proof now if you want to start the biggest scandal in speedway history! Alternatively, keep it to yourself and congratulate the best rider of 2005.

Predictable!

Well, that's it. Might as well stop the GP circus for 2005 here and now. Well done, Tony.

Because not so many meetings were filmed in those days. He certainly took when he had to in the golden days at Hyde Road.

...not one Ivan will want to remember, then!

And just to illustrate my point, Crumpie's struggled all night but then flies out of the gate in the semi to win ahead of Tricky. You have to win when it matters most - I hope Scott can acquire that knack.

...and having said that, he's gone and blown the key race. What a shame. Nicholls has got to learn to win the critical races - that's the difference between winning and losing

Yes I appreciate that, but the question is why Jawas should suddenly become uncompetitive in GPs, particularly since they are at least the equal of GMs in EL? What is Guiseppe doing differently?! On a different topic, looks like Scotty's been handed his final place. Semi 1 looks a doddle compared to semi 2.

Great bit of film, Grachan. Where did you find that?

At last a win for Crumpie, but he still doesn't look convincing. Is it me, or is his machinery not as quick?

Wild move - full pelt, straight into Pedersen's bike when there was plenty of room to get past. CC is right - he needs to calm down a bit and his results will improve - play the percentages.

More treatment for Bjarne! Should be an easy decision for the ref to exclude Lindback.

Wishful thinking?

Don't think Andersen won any friends for a blatant elbow on Bjarne. That seemed to knock the stuffing out of him.

Yes, but Crump is underachieving more significantly than anyone else. Doesn't look a shadow of the rider he was last year.

Well done to Scott Nicholls for making me eat my words, but another terrible evening for Crumpie. He seems half the rider he was last year in GPs. Having done it once after being so close before, you'd think he'd get the taste for blood. Apparently not - needs a reappraisal and to come back fighting next year.

Track looks to be a bit hit or miss, when you have riders scoring victories and last places in consecutive heats. Shouldn't have deep ruts under any circumstances. Gates 2 & 4 doing well.