SwineTown

Cynic! lol

Was it your heart......

hmm

GPs eh? Pride of the sport? The one true international showcase? Greatest PR tool ever? Most exciitng nights racing? or: Create a new breed of Prima Donna fair-weather slick-track gater rider? Destroy the true focus of our sport - the humble leagues and teams that spawned them? Take the key UK race night for ever? Devalue all else? Devalue those that dont make it? Clog the calender with intrusive shedules? Remove the World Champ career path to glory? Introduce a new level of nepotism? Reduce the best to 2nd rate soap opers cast-off?

I'd rather watch Steady or Bomber than Mark - every step forward would be exciting and build up anticipation that they MIGHT break through. Did you see the Danish poster on here saying Bomber beat Nicki P at a track where he'd been unbeaten for 3 years? I'd rather Kennet, Bridger, Stead, Bomber or Lee as a permanent Wildcard than Loram. Mark won't win another GP and wont finish in the top 5/6 so why bother? It would keep some fans happy but even yesterday at Swindon he struggled to beat anyone of note - but looks great on trackand is very exciting - but did anyone think he'd beat Leigh in the runoff? He struggled against Top Cat and even Ulamek on one ride. Lee can still do it in the GPs but IMO needs time out. TBH I dont like the "x number of riders from country y" thing although I see the commercial value.

Nope. Why?

Just wanted to add that neither I nor anyone I know wishes to see Mark back in the GPs. Why? TBH most of the "senior" riders that are competing are in with a chance of winning - or should be - (Adams, Crump, Hancock) and I can't see Mark in that bracket. Gollob is no longer a real title contender and perhaps is the closest parallel to Mark but overall I think it should be the top lads scrapping for the title and the next 10 or so young guns. the inclusion of the following should be non-controversial: Adams, Bjarne, Crump, Hampel, Hancock, Hans, Jonsson, Pedersen, Zagar and then the nationally necessary wildcards - Gollob especially. In fact he probably still fits in the first group. Scottie is possibly the 1st Brit on the list. Besides, that's 11 so far. Then - for 2007, and in an ideal world, the rest would be from the following (IMO and more controversially): Holta, Jagus, PK, Lindback(?), Lindgren, Kolodziej, maybe Pepe - and for Brits its one of Bomber/Lee/Stead. Lee seems to be a disaster this year in the GPs and his whole focus is misplaced. But I still think he is head and shoulders over the other 2, at present, though neither Steady nor Bomber - and I am a HUGE fan of both - looks like a serious World Champ prospect. Mark would have to fit in as the 2nd GB wildcard/token rider and it seems a backward step. If he had qualified that would be different..... I'd rather watch Renat TBH

While his scores possibly dont reflect it, Adrian has been excellent for us this year and I for one would make him my 1st signing for 2007. He looks like a real prospect and although prone to "gate and go" on occasions, he truly seems to be very talented and has already received some very large random cheques from fans for his troubles. Gutted to see him injured and cant wait to see him back.

Thanks for the replies people. It ws Elfield in particular and the way in which that folded. Thanks for the Speedway Plus link - always my favourite speedway site but forgot to check it out for this one! Always makes me sad reading these stories.

I would be interested in anyone who was involved in Speedway or dogs at MK to get in touch - esp those with some or any knowledge of how it all came to an end. Send me a message or post here - or email me on speed_1 @ hotmail.co.uk (take out the spaces!) Many thanks ST

"Gafurov was on his way to pass the entire field on bends one/two but got a long trip to the boards. Gafurov fought like an animal to gain a point but Kosciecha kept his cool for the point. " Good old Renat!

Surprised MAds did so well but then he has had 2 cracking UK meetings on the bounce.

Oh joy - The robins are flying abroad.

He has been riding for Swindon Sprockets and doing very well. Leigh Adams cousin???

I really support Olly and want him to succeed but G The Bee really shows WHY he is not ready IMO. He is not beating anyone serious or on form. I think that he is now starting to do what he was always capable of. Olly is a hard riding lower order rider who has the 1st bend aggression to send more timid oppenents scattering and hes starting to put this back in to action. He has also only ever made very steady -consolidated- but importantly, very slow, progress and even as a fan I think he is nowhere near ready for senior internationals.

Hardly Rocket science picking that list is it? Any dissent at all? Sadly, that, my friends, is it. Barrel scraped too. The Futures bright?

Only just saw this on speedwayworld TV Sad news indeed.

Bloody hell Jim! Bit defensive. All Grachan is saying is that, as the Autorace is DERIVED from "our" sport, then there is indeed an historical connection - and Briggo WAS involved in Far East speedway inititives AFAIK - and finally the oval track, bikes, equipment, anti-clockwise, etc add a further point of contact. IMO I would send a more sensible member of the BSPA on a fact-finder and a schmoozer to see if there is any room for tangible connections. Even a Japanese Dream Team would be cool and a very good stunt. Should be done in Swindon thru Honda - after all they wanted in on STFC but it never happened as planned - maybe the Speedway could give them extra local sport presence- but then that would require BSPA investment in a big gamble. How reckless! Best stick to our fading turnouts, increasing prices, diminishing crowds, ageing audience, etc etc.......

This is a new one to me and sad reading. I recently saw a 1980s video profile of Briggo and he went to a museum which had a plaque with a list - but I cannot remember where it was - maybe Aus. Anyone else seen this vid and remember it? Might be useful. Anyway - site added to the SYP here: HERE Chunky, Please check description is ok. I edited some text from the site. ST

jhkf

REAR WHEEL ROOST DUDE - I can HEAR your anger!

When that GP was called off one veteran (?Who??) said that it looked fine and he had ridden worse happily.

Er - Read the thread mate! you are attacking things I said using other things I said, a little confusing. I said that a cancelled meeting on TV is worse in terms of potential fan impact. I said Leigh and Todd might have been listened too. And I said that as a non-rider I am in a very weak position on this issue. And I remember Ashley - from the 1st page in this thread. And the whole "how many of you ride speedway bikes? " line must DIE! I don't have to work in Burger King to know when my Whopper is rubbishe.

Aussie Rules!

But then many involved have "been there and got the T-shirt" - they have seen tragedy and seen cop-outs - the former disgraced by the latter maybe?