Seb the Snail

Woeful track, pitiful commentary, disappointing Laguta, awesome Crump. Shame it seemed to take the entire weekend to run the meeting.

I agree that Holder should definitely be a Wild Card for 2009, and don't think that Nationality should come into it one bit. The 15 permanent riders in the series should be the best 15 riders in the world, and if that doesn't include a Brit then it's fine by me. Quite frankly, at the moment, I don't think that it does.

Excellent stuff from the Great Untarnished One last night - he's back within one good meeting of the Top 3 again, which is surely the best that he can hope for now after too many evenings to forget earlier in the series. A smart move on Hans in the final followed his comprehensive win in the semi. Hats off to Nicki too - even when he's below par he still makes the rostrum. He'll be a deserved champion.

Like clunsey I'm already looking forward to the Swindon meeting, although I can't believe that Tai has been selected as skipper of the England team. Who's decision is this? "Hand gesture" Lynch? Or Pinky and Perky as seen on Sky on Monday?

First chance to post since the meeting. Passing was certainly at a premium after the opening exchanges, but you can't argue that the best man won. He must be a very short price now to retain his title. I think that the plug for "The New Inn" by Johno was my personal highlight; I'll bet it got a great cheer although I couldn't make it down there this time. Apparently the Forum members were conspicuous by their absence this time. Apart from that, a typical GP performance from Clean, who looked deadly in his first 2 rides, ran an absolute stinker in his third and then bowed out in the semi-finals for the umpteenth time. He'll do well to creep up any higher than his current 6th spot this season, which is a major disappointment after coming second last year. Apart from that, I hope that all the Forumers in attendance had a great weekend.

Can you please change my captain from Leigh to Jason until further notice? Many thanks, Seb

No problem hatcham; I'm not wound up - well not by you anyway!

hatcham - I didn't say that Troy was going to achieve anything specific, but then again you only asked who they have "for the future". If he keeps progressing then I can see him being a 9 point man in the Elite and a GP regular. He's certainly improved hugely in the last season and a half, and not just because the league has been diluted.

Batchelor for starters.

Last night was so bad that it was almost funny. At least the company in the pub was good, or we would all have been slitting our wrists by the middle of the meeting. I do feel for anyone who paid £23 or even £35 for the privilege. What was that track all about? Totally unsuited to our riders' style of racing. We'd still have been 3rd but that track played into the hands of the Danes in particular. Apart from that, highlight of the night was definitely Rymel's ride - incredible stuff from the Berwick man. Oh - and a question for Mr Tatum - how exactly does a team "stretch its lead to 1" as he commented at one point? Surely if you are "stretching your lead to 1" then you have no lead at all? Roll on Thursday - Big Jim's last meeting in charge.

I think you'll find that he's closer to Crump than Adams so I don't quite know what that says about Jason's anatomy! I don't think that the Mighty Rosco would lead us to World Cup glory in 5 minutes flat, but he could hardly have done worse than Calamity James last night. Lynch should stick to hand gestures; he's clearly far better at them than he is at managing a speedway team.

I'm not a big fan of the Wembley idea. The traffic access is pants, there's not a great choice of pubs, and in the stadium isn't it about £8 for a burger and £4 for a beer? I'd far rather go to Edinburgh if we were looking to use a temporary track in a large stadium; now that it is a great place to spend a weekend!

I'm very surprised and disappointed that Mads didn't make it through. It looks as though he only needed a 2nd in his final race and somehow managed to get beaten by Nermark and Stead. It doesn't say much for the level of talent trying to come through that the highest scoring qualifiers were the likes of PK, Rico and Jesper B who have all dropped out of the GP series in recent seasons. At least the Swindon fans have a few ex-riders in the line-up I suppose; I'd have far rather had Mads though. And as for Davey Watt! Not only did he screw up his own chances, he also let the only rider ever to choose which days his leg was broken go through. Rubbish.

Very sad to hear your tale of woe Rob, but at least your misfortune explains why you didn't get your round in at the pub! Looking back, I think I must have been too busy drinking to eat anything all day apart from a few Revels.

Good. I just hope that Mr Clean's view that he should be officiating in the Conference League doesn't come true now.

First of all what a great day! I felt like a bit of a "Billy No Mates" heading down on my own after all the years of undercover operations with the Swindon mafia, but yesterday was definitely my best Cardiff ever, and that was before I even saw a wheel truned in anger. Within 2 minutes of arriving at the PoW I was deep in conversation with Silver Bee and Babe619 and I don't think I stopped talking 19 to the dozen until I finally fell asleep on the coach after midnight. To cap it all, when we got back the the old Snail charm pursuaded the driver to drop me at the Abbey rather than the County Ground so that I was staggering distance from home. I think I met 22 new Forum members altogether, although I'm sure that I may have forgotten 1 or 2 as the "Brains" count headed towards double figures! I'll update my list when I get a minute. It was also great to see so many "old faces" too, especially Sandie (who sorted out my ticket), Dorset Delight (who bizarrely remembered me comparing Zabik's appalling attendance record with Grange Hill's Gripper Stebson), Paulco (who bought me a beer even though I was deep in conversation with shazzy and TNT) and Queen Bee (who looked so pleased to see me that I thought there must have been a real hunk stood just over my shoulder). As for the meeting, well I've seen it again sober and there is no doubt that it was ruined by the referee. Leigh wasn't having a good night anyway, but quite what he did wrong in Heat 17 was beyond me. If he'd have made the semi final then anything could have happened. Nicki should have been out, end of. For the same thing to happen to Bjarne shortly afterwards was inexcusable if not altogether surprising. At least the best man won the meeting, and not just because the Snail millions were invested at 9-2. Good on ya Jason, finally back on the gas. Credit to the Brits too - Eddie battled gamely in every ride, Bomber was brave without quite hitting last year's dizzy heights and Scott was quick all night even if his bottle went just at the crucial moment. One day maybe? Roll on 2009!

The referee was the villain of the piece last night, not Nicki Pedersen. IMHO he relishes in the "bad boy" image and good luck to him, it's not his fault that the officials were completely inept. Love him or hate him, he's still the best speedway rider in the world (well, since rabbit hung up her kevlars anyway).

Having watched the meeting again today with the benefit of all the angles, his performance was nothing short of a disgrace. I'm sure even the most amateur fan can spot when a rider hits the tapes or knows who is to blame for causing the stoppage in the majority of incidents, so how someone allegedly at the top of his profession can get such basic decisions wrong is inexplicable. Cardiff '08 must be his last GP if the series is to retain any credibility.

I thought that overall it was excellent, although even Belinda Carlisle sounded good after 4 hours in the PoW. The proms bit was definitely the best, although there were plenty of other highlights too. Well done.

News to me too! Presumably whoever was sat next to godess can lay claim to the best one?

We'll see about that tomorrow! Hopefully I'll see you for a cider at some point.

Same team please, but Jason as skipper for Cardiff please in place of Leigh.

Well done Mads. Clearly that slick new haircut is doing the trick.

A Brit to finally win a heat! As for the Final: Crump Adams Andersen Jonsson

Definitely proud, and I bet you didn't even have a hangover either.