False dawn

Think the confusion came from them showing the positions in the final rather than the points scored

https://rs.dmusport.dk/loeb/5114 Shows Birkemose 1st

I think we need a reality check. If we ban all riders, riding on a Russian licence, what do you think will happen next? [hint: Gleb Chugunov]

There seems to be a growing "conflict" between those that "deserve" to be in the GP series and those that are chosen to be in it. Those that deserve a place via their finishing position in the series has been reduced from 8 to 6. Thus, those that can "qualify" via other means has therefore increased. The winner of the European Championship is one way most would support (maybe?). We, in the UK, might be a little biased just now. The timing and allowable entries into the Challenge has been widely criticised and I for one find it a little bemusing watching a competitor in the current championship who could score zero races points in all 8 GPs but still knows that he quaifies for next year's championship. And at the same time, we rip up a perfectly good scoring system because we dislike the fact that a GP winner may not be the top championship scorer on the night. A strange set of inconsistent standards in my view. And then we have the national political view. I'm not talking about politics in the normal sense. Rather I refer to the "need" to have a balanced set of different nationalities in the series. This is admiral in one sense, in that the governing body wish to make this a world series. But we've seen how wildcards have been awarded in the past which are hardly justified from a sporting standpoint but seemily based on ensuring a good attendance at certain GPs. We have to take stock. The GP series has completely supplanted the old one off World Final. The purists can continue to debate the point, but that ship has sailed. There is a political element to who participates in the championship. Some countries (actually one) dominates the sporting panorama just now [temporary]. TV is a big influence. But surely, the concept of fairness has to ultimately rule? We, as fans, many of us for a lot of years, can see a sporting unfairness when we see it. Surely, what we want, without necessarily know how to get it, is to have the best in the World competing for the ultimate goal?

The cancellation of this meeting is due to the rise in COVID cases and the quarantine / transport restrictions. We might get to the end of the week but there is a good chance there won't be any more speedway this year after the British Final.

The email clearly says, "Once we’ve announced the new date for 2021 a further 30 day refund period will be provided with details to follow".

A slightly nerdy aside..... We were reminded on Saturday that the FIM rules don't allow dead heats. If two riders finish on the exact same time, to 3 decimal places, is the ref expected to judge the relative finishing positions to a greater degree of accuracy? Not sure what distance a thousandth of second represents, but it can't be much more than a fag paper! These refs can't be blind after all.

I think this has been done to death before but can I ask (sorry if it's repeat) a question regarding transponders? All bikes at the GPs are fitted with transponders, which measure lap times and race times to a thousandth of a second. Can these same devices be used to measure start time response times? Thus, as in athetics, we could have a scientific measure of starts.

Absolutely. I can remeber but a few riders in the past 50 years that are so exciting to watch. Particularly his all action style. I'm sure I can think of a few but Bobby Ott springs to mind.

Good point. But bottom line, is there anyone out there who can deny BZ the no.1 ranking in the world? Today, anyway?

I'd go further. Your total race points would count towards the world championship and your finishing position in each GP final would only determine your finishing position in that GP. Does anyone have a sense of déjà vu?

And all this discussion about who got what championship points, way after the end of the meeting as per last night, I find slightly amusing. Wouldn't it be easier to just award points according to where you finish in a race? 3 for first, 2 for second and 1 for third might work.

It's a bloke

Under this system, it's theoretically possible to become world champion without winning a race.

That's why Greg always felt at home in Cardiff. I'll get my coat.

That only sorts out two riders in the same semi. It seems that an exclusion from one semi where only 3 riders are lining up, trumps a 4th place finish in the other semi

Be careful what you wish for. If anticipating the tapes was allowed, more riders (all?) would be at it. Then you'd need super slomo to see who touched the tapes first!

What about poor old Vaclav Milik. He managed to finish 17th out 16

I think Doyle gets the nod because he was effectively excluded from 3rd place.

That is the rule. As was said on TV, maybe the ref thought the two jump starts only deserved one warning/exclusion

If you get excluded, you carry a warning from then on.

3 new track records in 6 races

Having been to every round so far this year (with the exception of my local track Leicester, which was held behind closed doors), I can highly recommend this meeting. And by gum, they do get on with these meetings, signalling the 2 minute warning before the riders from the previous heat have even reached the back straight. I hope the timing of this meeting has not escaped the promotion / referee. They have 2 hours to avoid a clash with the GP.

Thanks for runnning the competition R and R. If they keep reducing the number of rounds in the series, I might make it through the entire competition

Maciej Janowski £100 more Artem Laguta £100 more