Subedei

In saying that, an English phrase I've heard over the years is "there's more than one way to skin a cat". And there's more than one way to make the GPs. In fact, there's three. You can qualify via the GPs, you can qualify via the qualifiers and you can qualify via begging. Now, I don't think Harris is the sort of fellow to consider qualifying via the qualifiers as beneath him and with GP experience behind him, he could well come through the qualification process.

I fear Harris could be a lamb to the slaughter. He'll give it everything he's got. A more honest and industrious rider you'll not find. But I think his failings could be exposed at the GP level. Assuming that Nicholls is a "sure-fire" GPer, regardless of his constant failures, I think Harris will be elbowed aside if the "Bomber" bombs in 2007.

I think the quiet, unassuming "Blueberry" Wieslaw Jagus has the ability to shock a few people. He's not going to win the thing. But it wouldn't surprise me to see him on the podium 2-3 times.

My stance on Jonsson may have mellowed a trifle. And at the end of the day, he did prove me wrong by winning a GP last season. And he also always qualifies, unlike some I could mention. Personally, I don't think he's got what it takes to be champ, but I could be wrong. I think his talent and ability will be eclipsed by Crump's relentless will to win and determination.

Danil Ivanov joins deposed champions Tarnow. What a lot of Russian riders are starting to emerge. How long before one of them is knocking on the door for a GP place? Gafurov and Sajfutdinov certainly appear to have the talent.

Now, come on young fellow, I never once doubted Jonsson's talent or ability. I'm being consistent. He has the ability, he has the talent, but has he what it takes? That's always been my view.

We could be in for a treat. If Andersen is up for the battle, Jonsson finally realises his vast potential, Nicki P gets himself into the mix, Hancock confounds the old Mongol again, Hampel follows Jonsson's example and finally hits the big time and Tomasz Gollob gives us a few more magical moments before he heads off into the Bydgoszcz sunset, we'll be in for a treat. Or Jason Crump could take an early stranglehold and grind everyone into submission with his unmatched desire to win. Frankly, the SWC has provided a much more satisfying treat than the GPs for the last 2-3 seasons.

I think the man to watch out for could be Andreas Jonsson. The guy has so much natural ability and talent - possibly, probably more than Crump, but has he what it takes? Gollob had the talent, just like Jonsson, but he never took the crown.

I just don't know about Andersen. He certainly had a point to prove last year. And he proved it. But he wasn't left out of the GPs for spite. There was a reason. That reason was he'd under-performed in 2005. And he wasn't setting the world alight after he'd confirmed his place for 2006. Could he challenge? Yes. But he could also revert to the under-performing Andersen of 2005.

Can't see anyone but Crump winning it - he's head, shoulders and torso above the rest at the minute, as far as I'm concerned. Nicki P might win the odd GP, but I don't think he has the consistency to trouble Crump over a 10-11 series. I can't see Leigh Adams triumphing - there'll always be someone who just wants it more than Adams and is prepared to do whatever it takes to win it. Adams' machinery is also an issue, in my view. I've written Greg Hancock before and had to wipe egg off the old face. But surely 2006 was his last hurrah?

It does look as though a couple of GP stalwarts, Leigh Adams and Tomasz Gollob, are set to step aside after 2007. And it was beginning to look like that would be the only way to shift them. What does that say about the longevity of speedway careers in this age of lay-down engines and slick tracks? Or does it say more about the up-and-coming riders that can't break into the GPs on merit? Tony Rickardsson bowed out on more-or-less his own terms and Adams looks set to bow out definitively on his own terms. Gollob, on the other hand, having seemed to in some form or other intimate that this would be his GP swansong might struggle to raise his game. I hope not. Leigh Adams is a hugely gifted rider and could, no doubt, have carried on in the GPs for a few more seasons. But, realistically, as gifted as he is, I get the feeling there'd always be someone who just wanted it more than him.

In the short term, agreed. But in the long run, it could be a benefit, since necessity would become the mother of intention and Britain would have to fall back on her own resources. This should, in the long term, lead to a renaissance in the Elite League based on home produced riders. Hell, Britain might actually uncover someone fit to ride in the GPs.

As far as I'm aware, it's a free-for-all in Poland, with the only proviso being that what we would term the "reserve" positions must be taken by riders 21 or under (juniors). It used to be the rule that GP riders could only ride in the Ekstraliga, but that's fallen by the wayside now.

What about Gdansk and Rybnik? Gdansk can boast Bjarne Pedersen, Tomasz Chrzanowski, and Krzysztof Jablonski (European champion, lest we forget), while Rybnik have kept together the bulk of their squad from last season's Ekstraliga and have Chris Harris, Renat Gafurov, Rory Schlein, Rafal Szombierski, Martin Smolinski and Roman Povazhny.

Certainly I think Bydgoszcz desperately need the Andreas Jonsson of 2004 to show himself again in the coming season.

And can you provide a guarantee that none of my hard-earned will end up in the pocket of BSI.

What's happening with Robert Sawina - he was excellent for Bydgoszcz in 2005, although not so good last season?

Robert Miskowiak definitely staying in Leszno and on a two year deal - Leszno will be hoping Miskowiak recaptures the form that saw him take the world under-21 crown not so very long ago. Is Rafal Dobrucki the mystery signing by Rzeszow? Is Rune Holta destined for Torun rather than Tarnow? The good news for Tarnow is that Janusz Kolodziej looks like staying.

An interesting idea. I just can't understand this latest rule regarding Nos 1 and 3 - what purpose does it serve? Okay, the merit of the rules regarding Nos 1 and 5 was that in Ht 13 you had the big guns of both teams in the race. But that's no longer the case and your third heat leader is faced with the prospect of riding with a reserve in his first three outings. It's crazy. Now, how about this for a crazy, ridiculous idea: why not let team managers pick the team? If Middlo wants to have his fifth best rider at No 1, why shouldn't he be allowed to?

Anyway, leaving aside the Ekstraliga and Liga I, is there nothing happening with Rico's beloved Wanda Krakow?

But Tomasz Chrzanowski signs for Liga I Gdansk, where he rode in 2005, for the 2007 season.

Changed, at your request.

Perhaps he likes the Trans-Siberian railway?

The more one hears about Holta, the more one is thankful that he's never sought to ply his trade in the UK.

But Lukas Dryml leaves the Tarnow fold and moves to Czestochowa. As expected Leigh Adams signs on for a 12th season (I think) at Leszno, where he'll be joined by Damien Balinski Snr and Croat sensation Jurica Pavlic. Leszno are looking a useful side.