DartfordHammer

It'd certainly make more sense to use Greg than an unfit Kasper. Not sure why they decided to do that. If Kasper was fit, then I'd have him in the 1-5.

And the award for Worst Pun goes to..

I was thinking that. Do you not mean Chris Kerr Blazeaway? I don't think you should write off the USA either. You know they won't go down without a fight. They probably won't make it through, but they'll certainly have a big influence on who does.

The way I see it, the Aussies have the big 4 in Crump, Adams, Sullivan and Wiltshire, who's return this season has been fantastic.

Can't see anyone other than Great Britain and Denmark, although the US might push them a bit. Can't see Poland doing much at Smallmead.

Dean Barker has been going pretty well this season, better than Howe for sure, and has a lot of experience. I don't see the problem with taking him. I probably wouldn't use him for the 1-5 but his experience would be useful.

I did a dummy run also on Speedway Meeting, though I gave every rider an average of 8.88 to make it even, just to see what would happen. Turns out Rune Holta, Simon Stead and Janusz Kolodziej qualified, with Matej Ferjan, Wieslaw Jagus and Martin Smolinski just missing out. Hans Andersen finished last with just 1 point! Must have been his injury.

Well I personally feel absolutely gutted for Joonas Kylmäkorpi. Apparently, he's going to miss the World Cup meeting in Rybnik, and as Finland are unlikely to make the Race-Off, it could be that he misses his best chance to make himself an international star (he had to miss the GP Qualifiers as well). I hope he continues his great form from this season for many years to come, so that he might get another crack at both the World Cup and the GP Qualifiers. I honestly think if he had not suffered the injury and competed in the Qualifier, he would have got through to the Final.

Wow, what a final lineup that is. I honestly wouldn't place bets on anyone there, any one of those 16 could make it through. I'll be supporting Hans, Bomber, Steady and the Max! Though I'd be pleased to see Sully, Kolodziej, Holta, Pepe, Smolinski or especially PK make it through as well.

Good of you to come on the forum and explain, Neil. Well done to Bomber and Steady for qualifying for the GP Qualifier Final! I hope at least one of them makes it.

Was just about to say that! The British Final wasn't at Arena, and Lanham finished ahead of Kennett and Richardson. Kennett will learn his experience over time, at the moment he's being given every opportunity available, whereas someone like Danny King is actually seemingly being ignored. I'm not saying King is a better rider, but the way 'opportunities' are being dealt out doesn't exactly scream of fair play.

True but fact is, Lanham finished ahead of Kennett. I really don't see all the fuss about Eddie Kennett, when he starts showing why there's hype surrounding him, I'll understand, but until then, he really isn't ready for this. Good luck to him and all, but think Smith and Lanham should have been choices ahead of him.

He was badly injured at the end of last season but it sounds like he's made a full recovery, which is great news.

I'm hoping to go to this, though not quite sure yet. Gonna have to talk to me dad about it! Hopefully if I do go I'll finally get to meet some of you lot, I haven't actually met ANYONE yet. Maybe it's because I'm shy, maybe it's because me dad's with me, maybe it's because I don't go much! But that's not the point.

I'd say Bird was in there mainly for his expertise around Smallmead. Which in my view, is a good idea.

Well, good luck to Joonas! Would love to see him going up against the big guns!

Yeah, on current form and fitness I'd leave out Max from the Swedish 5 as well. Not sure about Screen in the GB team, I'd still pick Rico, especially after his performance in Poland last year. Although Louis has started to ride fantastically well again, so could be a nice dilemma for Middlo!

True Badge, but to be fair, against the top riders he isn't doing the business at the moment. And I agree about the Danes, although they might be weakened without Jesper B. Gjedde isn't riding well and Bjerre doesn't seem himself either. Could be very interesting this year. I wouldn't write off the Aussies; normally they have their top 3 and two they have to carry, but Shields has made leaps forward and the return of Todd could see them take this!

Surely though, on form this year, Deano's been far better than Howe? I think Olly Allen can feel a bit aggrieved there as well, he's been riding brilliantly for the Bees recently.

The Danes look VERY strong with the Pedersen's, Andersen, Iversen and Jensen there. They're all riding well, especially Andersen and Jensen! We don't look like making the Final at this rate, I hope we do, but can't help being a bit pessimistic. If I was Poland coach, my 5 would probably be: Tomasz Gollob © Jaroslaw Hampel Piotr Protasiewicz Rune Holta Janusz Kolodziej Although going on Pepe's GP form, I might swap him for Ulamek.

To be honest mate, I have no idea - I'm not at school! Seriously though, I was at school last year and none of what you mentioned was covered. It was the same old stuff; I studied the inter-wars period in Britain and Germany, the rise of Nazi Germany and universal suffrage in Britain from 1832-1928. I don't remember anything on communications, engineering, business practices, world trade or sport. I'd imagine world trade is more likely to be studied in Government & Politics than History though, if anything. I remember studying the history of medicine and treatment back at GCSE, but that's about it.

Well it's very kind of you to say so Ron. I apologise for my posting no longer.

Lucky for some, from 9am-3.45pm I was revising Medieval History, including the Crusades, crime and society, towns and daily life, medieval art and social depictions of everyday life, and the medieval landscape. Not any fun I can tell you that - mind you, it was worth it as I took the exam this afternoon and I think I passed it well. Err, sorry for being so off-topic. I think you can count Holder and Bridger as potential GP stars of the future, Bridger's going pretty well already so in around 4 or 5 years I think he'll be at the top of the sport.

I hope that wasn't aimed at me - I'm a big Hans fan and I came out in support of him after that incident in 2004. He, along with Mark Loram, Joonas Kylmäkorpi and Tomasz Gollob is one of my favourite riders to watch, and although I'm sad to see him not in the GP's this year his league form has been great and he's making a great claim to be reinstated next season. If he goes well at Parken, then I think it's almost guaranteed.