SPEEDY69

Is that for real? They're not that far apart.

The Saturday race night will restrict the choice of rider at the top of the team due to Poland. However, Doyle proved that it can be done and there were many rider years ago who used to ride Sat nights and then Poland on Sundays. The flight situation is now easier than ever - I can only think they must earn so much from Poland that it makes UK racing not worth their while. What the BSPA should be doing is ensuring the continuation and growth of speedway by looking after all clubs. I don't have the information to say that this has not been done but they have implemented rider control before! By the way, is Buzz owned by Rik Frost, now of Poole? Have to agree with others, the opacity and subjectivity of the HL list leaves us all guessing a bit - they have a habit of doing this with various lists etc.

He could but that's very low level and haphazard. Who's to say they're the best teachers, or have the best ideas, or access to tracks and overseas organisations etc. That is the point. How many ex/ageing riders have said the same - loads. It would be good in the BSPA could get someone like Nielsen on the books to formulate a structured plan or similar as he was one rider who had everything needed to be successful at the highest level. A lot of the low-level initiatives simply fade away. I seem to remember Jan O starting something, Phil Morris, Les Collins, Loram/Havvy/Screen and countless others. Next year with a new National Stadium it would be a shame if it's not put to best use.

According to Scott he had a two year deal at the start of last season so hasn't he already joined?

Agree with the last para. I won't be crying about it but I do stil prefer EL racing. Racing at any level can be strung out or close and riveting, don't think that makes much difference. What you do get at lower levels are more basic mistakes and falls.

Agree. Funny how people make 5 from 2+2! The issue was much more complicated than that and centred around support for British riders from their federation e.g. development opportunities for youngsters with test matches or training (for example like the danes do when hiring Lynn before the season starts) and the like, Euro Champs but principally for those starting out as they need more help. It's all a litte bit more complicated than "shown no interest".

I think this thread is about the best USA rider ever. Now that's a subjective question! For me, Hancock has shown his consistency and as an ambassador and exempler to others there is no-one to match him. Those that criticise for the fact he achieves only because he makes great starts (which is not down to luck of course) need to see this years GP series where he has frequently come from the back, including last to first in Aus. His lack of serious injuries - whilst there is a strong luck element of course, (definition of accident), there are things riders can do to minimise the risk and Greg has proven to be very skillful in this regard. Other riders people remeber as greats, such as Mauger, Fundin, Briggs, Nielsen, Rickardsson, Lee, Jessup, P Collins, Simmons and others also had long periods without injuries. For me, there are a few USA riders I'd highlight - Autrey, Ermolenko, Penhall, Sigalos and Hancock. Autrey kind of paved the way for USA riders to compete in Europe which got the ball rolling. Ermolenko had strong periods of dominence and could have won more than one title, especially if he'd remained injury free so has to be up there. Sigalos too looked set to get better and better until injury affected. Penhall of course won two world titles but I'd place him below Hancock (Les Collins was very unlucky not to win in 1982) because Greg has been at the top, on and off the track for so long, on any surface, length or location of track.

It's a new audience with BT I guess that have yet to see speedway on TV so it may get them interested, although not in big numbers I don't think. I will still take out Sky Sports in April for the EL as team racing is my preference. To be honest, although I've watched the GPs this year it mostly hasn't been live and I won't really miss it as it's become all too predictable & same old faces. The World cup I will miss but will try to get along to the UK round.

It's not about who I'd like to see in there - that would have a vastly different look! It's about fairness. Lindgren and Milik finished ahead of Lindback in the official qualifying event and in my view that puts them ahead on a 'playing fair' basis.

Disappointed with the wildcards but have almost lost interest in GPs these days - there's too many of them and they're too predictable. AJ has been favoured so many times now - he'll never be world champ, (unless they bring back rolling starts!), and has had numerous chances. Lindback failed to get through qualifiers Kildemand failed to get through qualifiers Hampel fair enough but he's dull to watch Drop the seeding, except for serious injuries and promote more from the qualifying event is much fairer in my view. But as we all know, the series is there to make money and commercial decisions are inevitable.

That's true, but it does annoy me that it takes 31 days to cancel but less than1 day to add any package

Both legs of the final made for great TV - think we all saw why Poole avoided Belle Vue in the semi final! Just for fun thought I'd check the averages for the final: Poole Holder 7.11 Watt 6.00 Gomolski 5.50 North 5.78 Janowski 7.11 Starke 7.11 Newman 10.00 Belle Vue Zagar 8.00 Fricke 5.00 Gracjonek 5.00 Nicholls 9.78 Cook 10.00 Worrall 3.00 Nielsen 3.00 So, the three best riders were British - who'd have thought

final race devalued due to inept ref. Nicholls had to lay it down due to someone out of control in front of him - amazed they stayed on. Would have been a good batlle between King, Wilko and him otherwise. Some tired looking riders at the end.

Can't imagine what you might be referring to

Coventry should win this with comfort. JK replaced by Lindgren makes them even stronger in my view, I'll go for 50-40.

People do get hung up on engines/tuners. Speedway bikes spend a lot of time with the back wheel skidding and therefore it's not all about power. It takes a skilled rider and mechanic to ensure the bike is set up well for the track and delivering the right grip/slip combination to be as fast as possible. Things like gearing, ignition and jetting make a huge difference and Tai/Greg seem to have this sorted.

I much prefer league racing as well. Individually, I don't really care who wins.

The crucial difference of course is that qualifiers are for the following years' GP, not that year and as KK has shown, a year can make a big difference! I've re-read my post and I don't think that's what I said. Two examples of potential wildcards for next year were Hampel and Ward, neither of whom contested qualifiers but would have deserved a pick in my view. The other wildcard places, if we have to have them should go to the next highest finishers in the GP, so 9th, 10th etc.

Agree, except the bit about Vaculik - he seems to have hit a plateau and don't think he'd add much to the series. Anyone who enters the qualifiers but doesn't make the top three should not be considered for a permanent wildcard in my view but I think this will happen with Kildemand and Lindback (at least he's Swedish Champion so has more of a claim)

I can just imagine the track staff rushing to pick up these wedges, wherever they've landed, before the riders come around for the next lap! It's reasonably easy for the ref to see if anyone is moving before the tapes rise. In the UK they can be 75mm from the tapes, 100mm in Sweden I think (there will always be a gap to allow for the tapes to move in the wind) so there's always room for them to creep.

Lindgren has been a big let down this year for Wolves as surely everyone expected him to be in double figures every match. When that doesn't happen for your number 1 it puts added pressure on everyone else and the mood in the pits changes. As people say, sport is often as much about mindset as anything else and losing becomes a habit - someone has to be bottom, or 8th from top!

No wonder there's so much inconsistency! There's also been more than one exclusion for moving this year, sometimes in the same race as someone else touches the tapes. It should be a simple sport - no moving at all or excluded would be clear.

Was pants against Swindon though wasn't he? Shame about Zagar but if they do pick Harris then on the new engines I'm sure he'll do his best. If the rest of the Aces do the same they have a good chance of winning. Still fancy Wolves to nick this one though.

I think the same as you really - all down to money, nothing else. Yes, deserves his place next year. He hasn't been in there on merit very often (last year was knocked out in the quarter finals of qualifying) but this year there can be no arguments. At least he's not a gate and go merchant and that's the type of rider I prefer. Not sure Smith EVER relied on a pick?

Well done to the qualifiers and pleased harris has done it on merit this year. Lindback and kildemand will both get wildcards - think they knew that.