AndyM

Should improve, but looks typical for a GP circuit to me. You can't complain about Crumpy's brilliant switch - superb riding!

Nice to see Poole fans are still removed by some distance from reality on a little cloud of their own.

That's right - as if he couldn't be bothered to put in the effort. Complete contrast to the previous time he rode for us, when he won matches by winning races when the chips were down.

Sure he had his moments, but your opinion would go downhill if you'd seen him during his most recent stint with the Aces.

It's still Poland, so I expect this kind of order: Gollob Adams Crump Rickardsson or Hampel

Thanks for correcting me. My memory isn't flawless, and the programme is buried somewhere deep in the bowels of my garage, so I'll happily take your word for it! Still a great match. Glad to see you've got the classic 93 Wolves v Aces encounter. Was I hoarse that night!!

Father Jack, you've obviously thought about this to some degree and come out with several ideas that could well turn out to be positive changes. However, without thorough investigation to consider what the full consequences might be, it would be no better than the rule tinkering the BSPA currently choose to adopt. For examples, who knows what negative behaviours might be induced by changing the tactical sub rules yet again without thorough examination? We need to start with thorough analysis of the problems and the desired outcomes before knocking up more potentially spurious solutions. As far as I'm aware, the BSPA doesn't do long-terms strategic planning, in fact their planning horizon rarely extends beyond one season ahead. Time they started to think about the future of the sport and how we need to get there before it goes any further downyhill.

What is included, Norbold?

I'd like to think he's included the two-leg premiership encounter between Cradley and Belle Vue in 1984(?) Now that was totally classic - PC and Mort overtaking Erik Gundersen and Alan Grahame in the final heat at Belle Vue to lose the match but win the tie on aggregate. Atmosphere totally electric. Great matches!

The best one in recent years was the late, great Edwin Starr. At least he was singing, not miming!

In the absence of a Norwegian GP, there would be almost no other opportunity for an experienced GP rider like Holta to gain a wild card berth, so it would be no surprise if there was heavy pressure to include him. Take your point about the Scandinavian GP, but TV interests don't necessarily follow logic, fairness or reason...

That was December 2003, Malcolm. Don't suppose the BSPA, Benfield or the equipment manufacturers have been beating a path to your door in the meantime, probably because there are too many vested interests to sort out what needs to be done. Yours is an eloquent vision which doesn't uninvent the past 30 years. Where are the visionaries with authority to make it happen?

What about Miedzinski? Gather he's one of the reserves for the Polish GP. Don't think he's ridden in the UK yet, but further info about the lad would be of interest.

Exactly. Detuning is good, extra capacity is throwing petrol on the bonfire!

This is either a fix to hand-pick which riders should go into the GP, or it should be open qualification. Personally, I'd much prefer the latter. It might throw up some surprises, but then democracy never does go quite how you'd expect. It should be an even playing field for all, which is why I'd much prefer all but the top 4 to go through qualification each year.

Presumably Gollob will start favourite in front of his own fans? Always seems to turn it on in Poland, particularly on familiar tracks like Katowice?

A few familiar names scoring well there - Jagus, Kasprzak, Kolodziej. Who's the best of the next generation likely to find their way over to the UK on a 4.5 average?

Yes, Kevin. On another thread there was a discussion about how most speedway riders are at least underinsured (income protection, health etc.) because the premiums would be unaffordable, which leaves them exposed in the event of injury. Is the Speedway Riders Benevolent Fund still in existence? If so, surely it can only provide limited assistance.

Good answer, though I still believe this is all the more reason for buying habits to be standardised to enable prices to be reduced. Bear in mind that selling by component actually makes the manufacturer more money than selling whole machines. And the more specialised those components, the higher the margin over equivalent components on road bikes. Can we use generic components to reduce costs?

Agreed. Last year was appalling - don't know who made the decision, but it seemed to be done by who owed who a favour. Since Simon Stead, David Howe and others have had a go in the past, how about giving an opportunity to the likes of James Wright? Never too soon to soak up the atmosphere of a GP.

How many engines are purchased over the course of a season? Even if the riders of one club got together and placed a single order with, say, Jawa, they should be able to negotiate a discount. The manufacturers have had things their own way for far too long. PS. I am a management consultant, so you couldn't expect me to think any other way. However, don't tell me that speedway is special and unique and that the rules applied to other businesses are irrelevant - cost savings can be achieved everywhere!

The first meetings I remember attending were at Belle Vue in 1972, but my dad took me to both Coventry and Belle Vue in 1971 - great years to be an Aces fan! The earliest programme I collected is for Coventry v Hackney match in 71, but sadly it's not completed. Does anybody have the scorers for this match?

Not if it was done as a competitive tender with a 12-month contract. If done professionally, it could save the speedway industry and absolute fortune. The alternative is for a much stricter machine specification to be issued to all (both) manufacturers and allow riders to select which label was on the box, but without the bulk purchasing element it could not achieve the same cost savings. Whether or not this is desirable is a different question! I think it would be.

One opinion. Mine is that Pedersen will be lucky to stay in the top 5 this year. More likely to be overtaken by middle-ranking riders as they gain more experience.

Would you have said that had he not joined Arena, though?