T.N.T.

If there is a starting offence then the riders are not allowed to go back to the pits ..... obviously except the rider that has been excluded !! ..... So where is deemed back to the pits ? At Wolverhampton there is no pit gate as there is a gap off the second turn that riders use to enter and leave the track. This is then leads to a concreted area (road) that runs behind the pits and is out of view of the referee. If a rider leaves the track, he is only guilty by returning to the pits so when does he become excluded. 1 - On leaving the track ? ..... Hard to tell what is and isn't the track really for a small space leading upto the dog track 2 - On entering the concrete road ? ....... where often riders wait during heats next to the ambulance 3 - On reaching the end of the concrete road ? ...... How will the referee know if he can't be seen It is a bit of silly questioning but if the rule is returning TO THE PITS then in either case the rider has not broken the rule and can't therefore be excluded ...... Can he ? If they are not allowed to leave the track say ..... what happens in these scenario's then. A rider touches the tapes and is excluded and returns to the pits where he gets off his bike and say BLAST !! only to be told he will be back in off 15 meters. .... When he returns to the track is he then excluded for leaving the track or put back another 15 meters for delaying the start ? Also what happens if a rider is waiting on the track and his bike breaks down. Is he allowed to run back for his spare bike ? ..... Obviously not then and time will then be wasted awaiting his replacement as he trundles back to the pits shouting BOTHER !! Mad moment over ......

Personally I think the only thing that was possibly wrong when Tai Woffinden did his shovelling during the British Final was that the referee's allowed it to happen in a meeting where there were more officials than normal including one on the center green. After a crash, one rider was back in the pits to do work on his bike so Tai used that time to run from the pits and prepare his gate. If the officials on duty didn't deem it wrong then he did not break any rules and as it wasn't during a race time but a break for mechanical repairs then that shouldn't be an issue really. I can see there being a few arguments at certain times on this, maybe only a few but excluding a rider who dismounts his bike when the two minute time allowance isn't even on or the other riders at the tapes will cause managers to phone the ref to complain, then time spent getting a replacement ready and then a fresh two minutes. Hardly stopping the time wasting is it ? There is one thing that I do feel could be done at all tracks is the track preparation at the starting gates. Apart from when the tractor goies over it, the gates are hardly touched but along the kickboard on the home straight there will be a massive amount of loose shale piled up to it. With at least three people on the starting gates, sometimes more, why can't this be raked back into the ruts after every heat or every other heat ? At the end of the meeting the starting grids are terribly rutted and it only means in the later heats riders have to dig to try and get a decent position by either filling in a rut or trying to find a decent patch to start from. Raking on the start grid every now and then would help stop this and riders can come to the gate each time to an evenly prepared starting position.

WEMBLEY STADIUM or OLYMPIC STADIUM 1 - Tomasz Gollob 2 - Jarek Hampel 3 - Nicki Pedersen 4 - Emil Sayfutdinov 5 - Greg Hancock 6 - Piotr Pawlicki 7 - Matej Zagar 8 - Chris Holder 9 - Darcy Ward 10- Niels K Iversen 11- Tai Woffinden 12- Andreas Jonsson 13- Krzysztof Kasprzak 14- Fredrik Lindgren 15- Peter Kildemand 16- Bartosz Zmarzlik 17- Michael Jepsen Jensen 18- Jacob Thorssell

I am sorry to all those that have been in the competition but due to personal issues and the lack of proper internet connections (lap top had it), I have been struggling this year to keep up with things like this. As I don't know what lies ahead for me in 2015 I can only apologise for this and if anyone wants to take it on next season, feel free and once again Sorry to all those posting. Grahame.

6 Fredrik Lindgren 6 Kenneth Bjerre 6 Michael Jepsen Jensen (Iversen) 6 Darcy Ward replacement ? BONUS - 50 points = A run off to be held for a Top 8 place

Yes - Nilsson took the place of Andersen Yet again my lap top is letting me down and taken one hour to get on here and bombarded with adverts and add ons so going to post TORUN predictions and come back later to update. TORUN 11 Krzysztof Kasprzak 11 Greg Hancock 10 Tai Woffinden 10 Chris Holder 9 Nicki Pedersen 9 Jarek Hampel 8 Matej Zagar 8 Andreas Jonsson 6 Adrian Meidzinski WC 6 Fredrik Lindgren 6 Kenneth Bjerre 6 Michael Jepsen Jensen (Iversen) 6 Darcy Ward replacement ? 6 Troy Batchelor 4 Martin Smolinski 4 Chris Harris BONUS - So far Hancock, Woffinden, KK, Zagar and Pedersen are safe to finish top 8 and we then have 5 riders realistically battling for the last three assured places with Holder 93, Hampel 87, Lindgren 87, Jonsson 86 and Batchelor 85 well ahead of Smolinski 77 and Bjerre 71 ....... Bomber on 44 is the only rider that can't finish top 8 !! So pick just ONE of the following 30 points = Jonsson to finish Top 8 40 points = Lindgren to finish Top 8 50 points = A run off to be held for a Top 8 place 60 points = Batchelor to finish Top 8 100 points = Holder NOT to finish Top 8 200 points = Hancock NOT to be crowned World Champion 300 points = Woffinden to retain his World Title

STOCKHOLM PREDICTIONS 7 - Michael Jepson Jensen 4 - Jarek Hampel 4 - Martin Smolinski 4 - Chris Harris BONUS; .... pick one 250 PTS = Smolinski or Harris to make the rostrum

I have finally had the chance to get the laptop working (just) and the time to update the scores and there is a new leader ...... me !!! LATVIA; Hilly was top scorer with 135 with Screm next best on 120 while PTW never posted. GORZOW; Pantherman and TNT top scored with 205 points while Incognito and Gavan scored 175 .... JamieE and CJ69 never posted VOJENS; PTW top scored with 115 points while TNT 110 and CJ69 with 100 were the only ones to get big scores. THE LEADERBOARD 1065 = T.N.T. 1060 = Pantherman 1050 = Referee Rick 930 = Icescott 905 = INCOGNITO 900 = Rico 890 = Pyscho3a 880 = Hilly 855 = PTW 795 = Gavan 735 = Screm 690 = Waihekeaces 685 = JamieE 535 = CJ69 Others have been removed if not posted in a number of rounds STOCKHOLM PREDICTIONS 11 - Tai Woffinden 11 - Krzysztof Kasprzak 11 - Nicki Pedersen 9 - Chris Holder 9 - Thomas H Jonasson 9 - Greg Hancock 7 - Matej Zagar 7 - Kenneth Bjerre 7 - Troy Batchelor 7 - Andreas Jonsson 7 - Fredrik Lindgren 7 - Michael Jepson Jensen 6 - Hans Andersen 4 - Jarek Hampel 4 - Martin Smolinski 4 - Chris Harris BONUS; .... pick one 30 PTS = The final being all Swedes and Danes 50 PTS = A new leader with one round to go ? 50 PTS = Lindgren to overtake Iversen in the standings (9 behind at present) 100 PTS = No Danes or Swedes in the final 250 PTS = Smolinski or Harris to make the rostrum 275 meter track, Jarek Hampel is the track record holder but the way he is riding of late, just winning a race would be a suprise, hence his predicted score of just 4 points. With Ward and Iversen ruled out, Michael Jepsen Jensen replaces Iversen while next in line is Hans Andersen to replace Darcy ..... next in line is Daniel King followed by Piotr Pawlicki (broken wrist), Daniel Nermark and Maciej Janowski

If your going back as far as 2007 for Harris then you may as well add Martin Dugard to the list !!! Sadly in my opinion the best place for a second GP over here is Coventry as it's in the midlands, easy to get to and with some money spent on it, they could easily improve the standing area on the back straight to increase the capacity. However the future of Brandon seems to be housing and unlike the mega bucks in football, Speedway does not have that sort of backing and that leaves either the new Belle Vue Stadium, Kings Lynn or Peterborough as only real viable stadiums that are used by the sport at present. However as we have seen in Parken, Cardiff and other ventures, why could we not get a track built in the NEC Birmingham as it could easily hold a 300+ meter track and seating for 15,000 fans plus have other arenas for sponsors like Monster to hold shows during the weekend. As for the GP Challenge, Matej Zagar claiming a top three finish wouldn't be too bad as all that would do is grant the rider in 9th place ..... so you have to ask that as he is safe in the top 8, why should he ride in this meeting ? ...... if he didn't take part then Martin Smolinski is next in line making Jurica Pavlic the reserve I'm hoping that Oliver Berntzon is taking Cameron Woodwards place as he is next in line after Bomber has replaced Dudek from the same semi final ? ..... this would make Adrian Meidzinski a reserve. Hoping the top three from the Final are Zagar, Kildemand and Jonasson with Doyle next and while I appreciate he is worthy of his place in this meeting, I really hope Bomber fails to get through so he can do what he does best ..... league racing !! PS; Good Luck Nicolai

Having seen Piotr most weeks this season at Monmore ..... adly not every week ..... I can say that he has everything needed to make it to the top. He can gate as fast as anyone but also comes from the back on a regular basis. He has good sponsors, a good team behind him and is dedicated to reaching the top with the right approach. Bartosz Zmarzlik and Pawel Prezdpelski look to be the three big stars in Poland now whilew Denmark and Sweden also have some encouraging younsters coming though too and while Britain has some young riders progessing I can't think of any that you could pick as future GP stars at the moment.that can be a future Tai Woffinden. There are some emerging talents from other countries like Vaclav Milik and Andrej Lebedevs but you can see in ten years time the GP's still being dominated mainly by Poles, Danes and Swedes

Lindgren Harris Hampel Jonsson 200 points bonus NOTE; In the bonus, Greg Hancock counts as a starter so Nicolai Busk Jacobsen doesnt come into the Nicki Pedersen bonus

Firstly I appologise for more delays. Woeking away, computer problems and a few other things has seen me hardly on this site but I will see this updated asap. VOJENS GP PRECICTIONS 12 Peter Kildemand 11 Michael Jepsen Jensen 11 Krzysztof Kasprzak 10 Matej Zagar 10 Nicki Pedersen 10 Chris Holder 8 Tai Woffinden 8 Greg Hancock 7 Kenneth Bjerre 6 Troy Batchelor 5 Fredrik Lindgren 5 Mikkel Bech 5 Jarek Hampel 5 Andreas Jonsson 4 Martin Smolinski 4 Chris Harris BONUS; pick one only 25 Points = Danish winner 50 Points = Nicki the lowest scoring Dane from the starters 75 Points = No Danes in the Final 100 Points = Bomber to score more than Woffinden 200 Points = Greg, Tai and Nicki to miss the semi finals

Michael Jepsen Jensen replaces Darcy Ward Adrian Cyfer replaces Tai Woffinden MY PICKS .... Kasprzak Zagar Pedersen Zmarzlik GORZOW

Due to difficult circumstances at home I have not added the last round scores on yet but will do so as soon as possible. GORZOW PREDICTIONS 12 - Niels K Iversen ....... track record holder 11 - Greg Hancock 11 - Darcy Ward 9 - Krzysztof Kasprzak 8 - Matej Zagar 8 - Jarek Hampel ....... 2013 winner 8 - Chris Holder 7 - Nicki Pedersen 7 - Tai Woffinden 7 - Bartosz Zmarzlik 6 - Kenneth Bjerre 6 - Fredrik Lindgren 6 - Andreas Jonsson 5 - Martin Smolinski 4 - Troy Batchelor 3 - Chris Harris BONUS; There are four Gorzow riders in this Grand Prix in Iversen, Kasprzak, Zagar and Zmarzlik and all four have reached a rostrum in the past .... but how would they fare in a 4TT ? ....... Pick your winner !! 30 POINTS ..... GORZOW; Iversen, Kasprzak, Zagar, Zmarzlik 50 POINTS ..... OZ BOYS; Woffinden, Ward, Holder, Batchelor 70 POINTS ..... NORDIC; Pedersen, Jonsson, Lindgren, Bjerre 100 POINTS ..... GP WINNERS; Hancock, Hampel, Smolinski, Harris Michael Jepsen Jensen is the first rider to be called upon should anyone be missing followed by Hans Andersen, Daniel King and then Piotr Pawlicki ..... at present it looks like MJJ will replace Pedersen while Andersen is on standby for Woffinden.

Due to the cancellation of yesterdays meeting, the deadline is now 12.45pm today and remember its now at Daugavpils and not Riga.

Greg Hancock Niels K Iversen Krzysztof Kasprzak Andreas Jonsson 25pts Lebedevs to beat Holder DEADLINE IS 5pm as programme starts at 4.45

Suprised to see Tai at second place considering some of the scores he has had this season in Britain but also suprised not to see Piot Pawlicki up there as he has been far the top rider at Wolves this season home and away and had some good meetings abroad too and likely to be World U21 Champion this season.

For many years I have had in my posession a leather bound Autograph book that contains hand drawn pastel pictures, poems and a frienship wall but most of all it contains a large number of signatures of speedway riders from 1928. There are a number of well known riders included like Vic Huxley, Billy Lamont and Sprouts Elder plus many many more like Gus Kahn, Colin Watson, Beu Unwin etc and it has a date of August 12th on most saying it was an England v Australia meeting. I haven't been able to pin it to one meeting or venue as I can't see any test matches this early in England but do know that at the time there were a number of meetings held around London at Crystal Palace, Stanford Bridge and other tracks so it could be from that. To me its a special piece of Speedway history in a small well kept Autograph book and I could easily keep hold of it for some time more but may be tempted to sell it for the right price so inbox me and I will get back to you when I can and say yes or no.

LATVIA PREDICTIONS 11 Tai Woffinden 11 Greg Hancock 11 Niels K Iversen 11 Darcy Ward 10 Nicki Pedersen 10 Chris Holder 8 Jarek Hampel 7 Matej Zagar 7 Krzysztof Kasprzak 6 Fredrik Lindgren 6 Andreas Jonsson 5 Kenneth Bjerre 4 Martin Smolinski 4 Troy Batchelor 4 Wild Card - Lebedevs 3 Chris Harris BONUS POINTS Andzejs Lebedevs has impressed before in tough competitions and will no doubt score points here .... but will he beat any of the big guns ? ...... (only in the programmed rides) Pick just ONE from these below 50 pts = Beats WOFFINDEN 45 pts = Beats HANCOCK 40 pts = Beats WARD 35 pts = Beats IVERSEN 30 pts = Beats PEDERSEN 25 pts = Beats HOLDER 20 PTS = Chris Harris beats Andzejs Lebedevs

Life has been made too easy for British riders by allowing them to ride in the EL and PL instead of riding in Sweden or Poland. Ben Barker, Craig Cook, Richie Worrall etc should be looking at one league here (EL) and getting positions abroad but I can't fault them for getting money locally and ending up in their own bed each night as its decent money ...... but that's not the way to be as good as you possibly can be

If you were a bookie you would be a poor one at those prices. ..... Australia could mix it but Denmark and Poland looked the better bets before had so if you had put £1000 on each you are gaurenteed to get either £3000 or £3500 back within a few hours Australia won the most races ............ but finished third Denmark at 15/8 at 5pm in Corals so a £10 bet

LEADERBOARD after CARDIFF 740 - 590 = Pantherman 730 - 615 = Icescott 725 - 725 = Referee Rick^ 660 - 575 = Rico 645 - 480 = TNT 645 - 475 = INCOGNITO 605 - 490 = Pyscho3a 605 - 465 = Gray 585 - 470 = Hilly 580 - 450 = PTW 530 - 385 = JaimeE 510 - 375 = Gavan 485 - 400 = Waihekeaces 475 - 320 = Screm 330 - 270 = CJ69 MDMC82 scored 115 ---- RICO you scored 135 but I have not included the 50 for posting as it was after the scheduled start of the TV coverage so you scored 85 instead Hunty = mdmc82 .... score to be sorted ..... refereerick never posted Ommer Um has been taken out after missing third GP

Speedway in Britain could only survive with people coming through the gates but in other countries, especially Poland some have very good sponsors and those that turn up to watch is virtually the profit margin which explains why some teams have so many big earners in like Torun. Speedway in Britain needs people coming through the turnstiles but it most certainly needs the money from Sky to field riders of a certain standard and wage demands.

EL matches would be mainly or always Mondays All other leagues would be on any night that track wishes apart from Mondays due to doubling up riders and at present there are no Monday PL tracks any way

Tracks own their stadiums and they dont have various race nights so don't have to pay for as many flights to pay for and they also have bigger sponsors.