SPEEDY69

Well I watched the GP on Sunday night and have to say frequently 'fast-forwarded' as I found it quite dull. Maybe it's because I prefer team racing than individual events or the fact there are so many GPs. I can't get excited about someone getting a couple of more points than someone else because it means nothing at the moment as it can all change dramatically. I also wish people would stop slagging off riders with the same old arguments used before. They are in the series and trying their best - it's a completely different thing being on the outside to being in the series. Take F Lindgren - having perhaps a poor season outside the GPs but then wins one.

You can learn from scratch with your own bike but please don't spend too much money on it - you might not like it! If you have a bike then there are amateur clubs such as www.southerntrackriders.co.uk or dragons and others. My advise would be go to a school first and hire a bike to see how you get on. You can also attend amateur meetings as they're usually free to enter and talk to people there.

If it is Lanham then this makes them a stronger team, both home and away. One thing I am curious about is the number of crashes which happen at Foxhall these days - is it the crash captial of British speedway? I can't remember seeing many of the updates reports from last season in which 'fell' didn't appear quite regularly. MAybe last week was an exception but perhaps someone who goes to Foxhall could give their views on why so many crashes happen there in the PL.

Just to clarify, this is a Southern Track Riders open practice event open to all, members and non-members. For bookings and further information contact Linda on the phone number shown above or email: linda@southerntrackriders.co.uk

One off final definitely. GPs were ok when a novelty for a few years but too many rounds now and I find them boring.

Ta. Will go for the 8.30 out of Cardiff then.

Hi, can anyone tell me what time the GP is likely to finish now it's a 5pm start? I understand it depends on accidents etc. but just want to know roughly to book travel. Thanks.

It seems to me the sole reason he has quit is because of money and the effect upon his main sponsor. I agree with David Beckham in that you should never retire from international competition - when you are not considered good enough you will simply not be picked. If Gollob had done this when he was 31, look what Poland would have missed out on! Throwing riders into meetings where they are significantly out of their depth does nothing to improve them in my opinion and may have the opposite effect - have Kennett, Bridger, Allen etc. got any better since the World Cup a couple of years ago. It's right that we don't seemingly do enough to support young British riders but when National League level riders demand vans and bikes before signing with a club, does this indicate they want make it to the top - run before you can walk would be my response. Top brits of the past made their own way through and there is not a lot to stop that continuing, other than teams signing untried foreigners in preference to a willing british rider and the average redcution shoudl be more in favour of the latter.

If he qualifies from the challenge, which I think he will, there are no arguments. If he doesn't then he doesn't deserve a wild card pick. He has never qualified by right for the Grand Prix and cannot be given any more handouts - but like I said, I don't think it will come to that. I also think Lindgren & Woffinden should be dropped if they don't make it either.

With Chris Harris pulling out of the EL meeting at Ipswich this Thursday night due to an injury aggravated in Sweden this week (although no crashes reported on speedway.nu), will he be fit for the GP & practice being held in Sweden on Friday & Saturday?

Couldn't agree more. Well done to the Brits, an excellent result and best of luck for Saturday. I hope that Stead improves his gating as it will be vital at Vojens. Couldn't believe Lindgren trying to get reinstated for Heat 1 - clearly minimal contact if any at all and nothing to make a rider fall off. I don't think the Aussies were being arrogant, simply trying to keep relaxed and not let the pressure get to them. Wonder if Lyon will keep the same riding order putting out Scott in the first & last heats - I think it should be the job of the Captain to shoulder that pressure to bring it home.

I agree that with a World Final in Poland Gollob would likely have won one by now. Disagree though about the Intercontinental Final/GP - certainly more pressure in the Inter as you had to finish in the top positions to get to the World Final - no slip ups were possible. One or two poor GPs and you can still be World Champ.

I accept that to win any open meeting is an achievement in itself but I find GP wins irrelevant - it's the title of World Champion they are going for.

I think Harris was on his last chance this year (as he has never qualified for the series, which at least Nicholls did twice I think) but winning the British Championship may save him again if he fails to get through the qualifiers. It's all about becoming world champion and there are plenty in there who have had so many chances - if Gollob doesn't win this year with three GPs in Poland then he never will either. Don't forget Poland's last world champion was in the early 1970s so Britian hasn't done that bad!

Take a look at www.southerntrackriders.co.uk as they have several meetings left this season which don't appear on your list. Cheers

You make some good points there Steve. One problem might be how you cover the smaller countries? As there are only 16 places in total and only 8 available for nomination, where would they come from e.g. UK, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, Poland, USA, Russia, Italy, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary, Norway etc. etc.

The main criteria for the nomination should be whether they can make consistently good starts. As has been evidenced this year overtaking has been rare with most races processional. With the possibility of 3 GPs in Poland next year the organisers are clearly desperate for a Polish World Champion (and the gate receipts!), which despite all the plaudits on their strengths, they have failed to deliver since the early 1970s.

Actually, yes. I went to Latvia this year but wouldn't have if there were no brits to support. The event loses appeal for me. Also, a lot of people are puitting Woffinden forward but isn't he a reserve in the foreign leagues?

I also think there are too many who get in without doing qualifying rounds as such - and I don't mean wilcards, but the riders who finish in the top 8. I think it should be the top three only. There are riders who perform very well in 1 or 2 GPs but poorly in the others but continue to get in top 8. There is too little change from one year to the next and on the current state of motorway tracks & dull racing then the only real points of interest are how the newcomers get on. If this doesn't change I think the series will continue to decline - something I won't be too disappointed about anyway as I've always much preferred team racing.

no need to build for the future in a few years time because by then some new youngsters will replace this bunch and so it goes on - seen it happen in other sports. i think we might surprise a few at peterborough but whatever the ages of any rider, the team should be your strongest one and i don't think it is.

Wow, this must be the first post of yours I completely agree with!! We see it other sports as well, I remeber Cricket went down that road for a long time, putting in players just because they are young. Football the same but that's changed recently and who did most people say was one of the better performers for England - Beckham one of the oldest. You need the best team regardless of age.

Disagree Gemini. I have seen some of Scott's comments on missing the EL and it was to do with a reduced racing schedule, travelling time and time with his family. Poland meetings are on Sundays, Sweden on Tuesdays which makes it fairly easily to plan homelife around. In the EL, you can be called upon to ride on any day of the week, sometmes at short notice due to rain offs and it's this that led to him giving the EL a miss for a year - nothing to do with money.

Ok thanks.

Hi Does anyone know if there is any way to buy tickets for Latvia from the UK other than via a bank transfer (£20 charge!)? If not, are tickest easily available at the track on the day or is this one usually sold out? I have flights and accommodation booked already but any help with this GP would be much appreciated. Thanks Karl

I am a big fan of Scott and of course would love to see him in the GPs again next year - he is certainly one of the more entertaining riders in the series. He has no right to be there next year though as he finished outside the top 8 and didn't do the qualifiers so if they picked others he would gave to accept it, as his fans would. However, the series has nevre been about who are the best current riders in the world - it's a series to attract sponsors, fans & viewers & ultimately make money. The qualifiers for this years series didn't really pull up any trees did they and all three are now out again. Holder failed to get through the qualifiers so if he gets a wildcard, why would anyone else bother doing them? It's not black and white this issue but yes I still think Scott adds to the series and I can't think of many others better who should replace him.