SPEEDY69

Completely agree about qualifying - sometimes riders have really great years which they never repeat and during that year they should have the chance to be world champion. The biggest example of that was NKI last year, 1st 2nd and 3rd in Poland, Sweden and UK leagues.

I don't actually thinks it's that bad an idea. Let's face it, for the first 20 heats the gate positions are a lottery so will one more race make that much difference? If you are unlucky enough to have the worst gate twice in your five rides, and scored poorly then it's unlikely you'd have gotten first pick in the semi's under the old system. Essentially if you are going to win one of these individual meetings, you need the luck on your side. Plus I seem to remember it taking about half an hour just for the last three races - which is why I always watched a recording if I did watch it.

I don't really feel like we're having a debate here as you continually keep diverting the argument into a one-off versus GP issue, which is not the point both White Knight and I are making. Therefore this is the last I'll say on the subject.Referring to the last two sentences of your post, did I say Iversen was the best in the world? However, let's go with it, the evidence to support that suggestion is that he was way ahead of Holder and other GP 'stars' in both the Polish and Swedish leagues and had an excellent World Cup. What else could he have done to convince you that he had the potential to be World Champ this year if he had had the opportunity - which he didn't due to the system of selecting riders this year for next year, up to 4 of whom are for commercial reasons.

But Iversen, arguably the best rider in the world this season (number 2 in Poland and number 1 in Sweden) wasn't able to compete to be World Champion this year was he. Therefore, if you really need me to repeat what I've said yet again, it's not necessarily the best rider who becomes world champion - I don't mind that, it's this variety and unpredictability which I like. I do think though that all of them should have a chance to qualify and fight for the title in the same year.

So, NP was the top rider in Poland this year and second behind Iversen in Sweden. These are the two toughest leagues and you still think Holder was the 'best rider' last year do you? All I'm saying is that whatever system is in place, it's not necessarily the so called 'best rider' who becomes World Champion.

Disagree - for example last year I think Pedersen was the best rider, in 2004 it was Rickardsson - GP or one-off examples can be found. With your determination for the best reider to become World Champ, why are you not in favour of awarding it based upon a world ranking across the season?

Thank you for that. You still haven't answered as to why you want to turn this into a one-off vs GP debate? I have never said I wanted a return to the old World Championship style but there are plenty of other sports where the championis is decided either 'on the day' e.g. Athletics, or by not beating everyone else e.g. any sport which uses groups e.g. Football, Rugby, Badminton. Even with the speedway GP it's possible for a rider to be World Champ without beating one or more of the other riders over the entire series. If you and Gavan simply wanty the 'best' rider to be World Champion every year then simply use a World Ranking system to decide the champion, based around perfomance over the season at all other meetings. What I would like to see is more variety - when I was at Gorzow last year I was cheering, as were most of the stadium, for Zmarlik to win and he did do very well but outside of this one home rider wild card, there is no other opportunity to have this. Ideally I'd like qualifiers in the same season as the champion is decided because who's good this year maybe sh1te next year. Anyhow, I expect next year's World Champion to be either Hancock, Holder, Pedersen or Hampel

You seem to be trying to turn it into a GP versus one-off debate? And why are different winners so important?

Ahh, but that's why I didn't say it was an answer! There is no answer to your question because as we have the GPs, there are only three or so riders actually capable of winning over a lengthy series. Disagree. Many have been there via either 1) wildcards or 2) being in the top 8 from current year e.g. Bjerre, Jonsson, Lindgren (as just 3 examples)

Surely White Knight is entitled to his opinion without people expressing frustration at him? Actually, I agree with him about qualification for the World Championship. I too find the current GP series dull simply because there is little riding on each meeting due to the number of rounds. Therefore it doesn't really matter if a rider scores a zero in a GP as there's plenty of points available to still be World Champ at the end. Therefore, it's the pressure of the meeting and unpredictability which I also look forward to. If we simply have the same alleged top riders in the series then why not simply make the World Champion the rider with the highest combined average or race score from the league meetings - ok, this will never happen of course but if you look at the World Cup, it draws interest because it's not simply the best rated nations seeded to the final - they have to qualify. And in response to Blazeaway's question - I'd certainly be able to name loads who have been in the GPs with no realistic chance of being World Champion

Sent a message to the Speedway Star about this - will they cover it? We'll have to wait and see!

This is potentially a good idea and there are already some these types of events occurring - in the last two seasons STR have held team matches against Scunthorpe and Stoke, home and away. However, many amateur riders will ride at more than one clubs' meetings - there is no ownership or contract and they pay to ride, so selecting riders for a team becomes difficult. Also, due to the number of clubs/tracks hosting amateur meetings/practices, sometimes it can be a struggle to attract riders to particular meetings, introducing a competitive aspect to ensure the financial viability of that club. Some clubs/tracks, such as Scunthorpe, race primarily at one venue whereas others, such as STR or Dragons, hire tracks to hold meetings. The latter are not affiliated/related to one track - look at the STR calender for this season and you will see that they held most of their meetings at King's Lynn but also at Sittingbourne and the Isle of Wight - therefore associating Dragons to King's Lynn is incorrect. I will pass on your views as appropriate because I know clubs are always looking to hold meetings which appeal to both riders and spectators alike (although there is no charge for spectators at most of the amateur events) and do look to build team based meetings into their calendars.

I don't really have a top 8. If we simply go by averages across leagues then that will give you a top 8. I just think seeing the same old faces riding against each other year after year in a n individual event to be boring - I like speedway which has a level of unpredictability to it. The track wild cards do at least give a little bit of this - such as with Zmarlik last season.

That's fine but that was a world final not a GP, which is what we're talking about here. Whether or not people liked the old world finals is for another debate but they were unpredictable because everyone had to qualify. As for GPs, it's the same as any other meeting in that there have been many many dull ones on poor tracks, as well as exciting ones but next season's line up I find uninspiring because it's the same old same old as too many riders are the same as last year so it's not fresh.

The STR club held its first presentation night last Saturday, which was very successful and a great time was had by all. The evening kicked off with the introduction of the guest of honour - David Howe, who went on to present the awards and trophies. This was followed by a raffle, which had some real quality items such as complete sets of luggage as well as speedway related items and more traditional things like booze! The excellent buffet and disco provided the backdrop as we held an auction of Speedway gear such as a professional tool chest, helmet, Lee Richardson print and pit shirts and body warmers - many thanks to thsoe who bid/won these. There will hopefully be some pictures and possibly video footage on the STR website (www.southerntrackriders.co.uk) in due course. Well done to all those who organised the event and attended - I'm hoping it will become an annual event. Any enquires about club membership and meetings for 2013, please either see the website or contact Linda on 07875140019.

Maybe. I also think the pressure in each meeting is less nowadays

In my opinion it's not the best ever line up. I preferred the days when qualification was more important. Having Nielsen & Rickardsson etc. was a strong era.

So now you can win a GP and still have less points than someone who finishes last in a semi-final. Doesn't seem right to me but as I'm not that bothered, I'm not that bothered!

I have been to Cardiff almost every year since it started but only to see the British riders. If there weren't any in it (or I had no affinity with them) then I would save my money and not go.

Godd luck to Tai for next season, I think he will spring a few surprises. The GPS are about having the money and the committment - it's never been about the best 16 riders in the world. I'll be watching the league racing next year as always - never been a big fan of individual meetings. So whomever he rides for in the UK next year, I hope he gives them 100%.

There hasn't been any conscious decision not to, and in fact several of the meetings have been advertised in advance on this forum. It just relies on someone using their free time to do it - don't forget some of the amateur clubs such as STR rely totally on volunteers.A good many of the riders do not access the internet at all so get their information via direct contact to Linda (07875140019) or another rider. If anyone is aware of a meeting that's not posted on here them I'm sure the club would be glad if that person posted it Thanks to Bryn for posting the dates of a couple of upcoming meetings.

Simply because the three riders who finish outside the 'automatic' qualification places are usually considered for wild card picks, along with other candidates - no other reason really. The wild card picks are still a bit of a mystery to me but there are obviously commercial considerations as well.

In answer to the question posed on this thread: Has he qualified? Is he the National Champion? Is he a Champion at another event e.g. World U21? Is he in the current GP's top 11? As the answer is no to the above then in my opionion it has to be no overall.

I think the GP series is tired and it's time to change qualifying so that riders can get in in the same year. Also cut it down to five or six rounds max. However I've always preferred team racing so those who love individuals may think diferently.

I don't think Sweden would hold any fears for us in a test match - they were shown up badly in the World Cup final a few weeks ago.