Subedei

Has what, exactly, written all over him?

It's equality that's lacking, rather than top end quality. After all, Messrs Crump, Adams, Nicki P and Andersen all ride in the UK. But there's a yawning gulf between them and some of the other riders in teams. But this is about the GPs, where there's also a gulf between the riders. That's why the same 5-6 riders have claimed the top positions for the last 3-4 years.

Yes, your delusions are terminal. And why should I advise IMG of their folly?

Well, let me see, six GPs in 2000 and ten GPs in 2006? If there hasn't been a rise in attendance then BSI are doing worse than I could ever imagine.

I'm afraid there's no hope for you, terminal delusion has set in.

I noticed that SCB was dismissing the new tactical rules in Poland, where they allow the substitution of an in-from rider for an out of form rider for double points from the start line. I see nothing wrong with this at all. We're often told, by, among others, SCB, that speedway is entertainment. Well, in my view, there's more entertainment in watching a rider on form more times in a meeting than having to watch an out of form rider struggle for three mandatory rides.

Yes, the audiences just get better and better each season. Except they don't. They've levelled off and only expanding to more and more venues allows people to say it's doing well. But the riders on which the GP series has been built are all heading towards the ends of their careers. The top eight in the GPs has been more or less static for years - the same old names, the same old faces. It's getting tired and old. If IMG decide to expand into still more venues, the riders will not be able to accommodate these fixtures and the various leagues. But the leagues underwrite, to a large extent, the GPs, since they provide a steady income for the riders. Time will come when, perhaps, they have to choose the leagues or the GPs. If they choose the GPs, IMG will have to make it worth their while. Are they in the business of losing money?

The GP series will implode, that's why no one is too concerned.

And I care? No, sorry. Chas 'n' Dave? Just confirms what a large section of the population thinks of the sport and its supporters. Better off not having a pre-meeting act than Chas 'n' Dave.

And they need the beggar to make money? They're even worse at promotion than I could ever have imagined.

Poor pre-meeting entertainment, poor track and poor racing - why would anyone want to attend?

Judging by last week, a trip to Zielona Gora won't be for the faint hearted. Who are Zielona Gora riding against? Hopefully not Leszno if everyone decides to go to Zielona Gora.

Lonigo - always a poor GP, so I'll be watching Newcastle at Berwick instead. Edit: Hang on, no I'll not, that's this weekend. But I'll be watching whoever is at Berwick that night.

Hancock is, of course, a teammate of Kennett, so it's possible a bit of team riding was involved.

What an indictment of BSI's running of the GPs a statement like that is.

How about this for 2008 - just up young Shovlar's northern street:

And the Bydgoszcz riders? I mean to say, last weekend was almost a home meeting for Okoniewski and Staszewski, since they rode for Zielona Gora for years.

And the Berwick forum, forever. Probably the Redcar forum as well, since they seem to have control of the Berwick forum these days. And do I care? No, not really, to be honest.

No one. Crump can lose it, but apart from him, no one can win it.

I've already named them. You might not like them. I couldn't care. Fact remains, your hero bottled out of the qualifiers and then failed in the GPs for the THIRD season running.

Exactly. He turned his nose up at the qualification process for 2007, Andersen didn't. Andersen went through the qualifying process and qualified. He also, thanks to TR's retirement, finished in a qualification position via the GPs. Why wasn't the beggar in Vetlanda along with Wieslaw Jagus, PK, Holta and Harris? Could it be that he feared that failure to qualify via that means would adversely affect his "wild card" nomination chances if he failed to qualify via the GPs?

No, your memory is fine. However, the root cause was that Jonsson wasn't a happy bunny. Riding in the UK was a chore for Jonsson and it affected his overall performances. Interesting that only since he gave the EL the shove has he truly developed. I fully expect him to be Crump's main challenge this season.

My issue with Jonsson, as you are aware, is his treatment of the British leagues, which was doing no one any favours. Now that he's concentrating on Sweden and Poland, he's made leaps forward and seems more content within himself. Now, the beggar hasn't made a single stride forward in the last few years. Why not? Could it possibly be that life's too easy for him. His place in the GPs is assured, so why bother seeking to extend and improve? All I'm saying is look at the real strides forward taken by Andersen last season. A journeyman for a couple of seasons, but the shock of removal from the GPs gave him the push needed. Compare that with Lee Richardson, retained in the GPs and had an awful season.

Well, I didn't think he should be in last year. But, you see young Blanchard, what happened to everyone who confidently predicted an easy qualification for the beggar? They don't appear to have any contrition, do they? I was going to be eating my words after his qualification. Trouble is, they didn't eat their words after his usual failure.

Better than the discredited, shamefully shameless Blair.