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Zoltan Adorjan Sandor Levai Robert Nagy Antal Kocso Pal Perenyi Steve

Exactly. People don't always get it; while there have been MANY superb up-and-comers in sport over the years, it is the attitude, determination, and dedication - rather than simple ability and talent - that makes one successful. Yes, Bast was "good", but he never did anything to show us that he had the desire (or the capability) to become a world-beater. If we are going to judge him by his performances on his home track(s), then 15-year old Martin Dugard's feats on the Eastbourne training track would put him up there alongside Rickardsson, Mauger, and Fundin! Hell, Andy Campbell was a world-beater on a 100-yard concrete track! Steve

I was at Plough Lane that night. It was the week before the Inter-Continental Final, and despite some crazy rumours, Bast and Penhall simply had a few laps in preparation for White City. Of course, a spin round Wimbledon was no real help preparing for a track like White City... Now, regarding Mike Bast's potential on European tracks, it is all conjecture. On that appearance at Wood Lane, Penhall wasn't much better than Bast, and look what happened to him! There have been MANY riders who started their career - or European career - very poorly, but went on to become very successful, and as iris says, Mauger is the prime example. I don't doubt Bast's overall ability, and I don't doubt his dedication - to the American scene. I think he had the potential to become world-class, but not the desire; for him, it was all about the money. I think the same could be said for his brother Steve. The other American who I think COULD have made a name for himself in Europe (and mentioned earlier by Sidney) was Jeff Sexton. Steve

Quite a few choices here... 1 - Jiri Stancl 2 - Toni Kasper 3 - Roman Matousek 4 - Lubos Tomicek Sr 5 - Lukas Dryml Honourable mentions for Zdenek Kudrna and Jan Holub Sr... Steve

You beat me to it... Steve

Thing is, there have been many other riders who have retired mid-season - for a number of reasons. Okay, he was a high-profile character, but it is a rider's right to retire... Steve

Belle Vue, Oxford, Doncaster, Glasgow, Leicester, and several others... My five would be: Ken McKinlay Jim McMillan Tommy Miller George Hunter Gordon McGregor Steve

Dom "McGinty" Perry was one of my mum's all-time favourite riders. Another name I remember from the early 70's was George Fitzgerald; he was one of the top names at Shelbourne, but I am unable to gauge the abilities of the Irish other than Dom Perry. Steve

Spot on, my man! I can't add anything to that list - or that explanation... Steve

You should look up George Pepper DFC; apart from being a very good speedway rider, he was a well known RAF fighter pilot who shot down 18 enemy bombers. He was killed on a test flight. Nice to see Gary Ford mentioned. He lost his life way too young... Steve

What about Trond Skretting and Jorn Haugvalstad??? I would go for: Harrfeldt Eide Lovaas Holta Gunnestad Steve

Steve

Can we talk about flat-track here??? After all, this is the BFTF according to gustix... Steve

That was one of my favourite features in the 1978 progs! I still have the master list of all those teams that Derek Holder gave me. On the subject, anyone know if Derek is still around? Steve

Well, seeing that Stenlund and Milan Spinka were the only ice-racing champs to ride in Britain, that does narrow it down! Steve

I certainly get your points, and I cannot disagree with the fact that could have added more world titles, but the fact is - he didn't... It's always tough when careers are cut short, particularly at an early stage, and whether it is Per, Tommy, Cegielski, Ward, or whoever, comparing potential against achievement is very difficult. I think Kenny Carter is a prime example; as good as he was, he never fulfilled his potential. There are other riders - Bengt Jansson and Soren Sjosten, for example - who, although not succeeding in winning the title, produced a number of excellent performances over a lengthy career. Steve

I never rated Hasse quite as highly as the others that have been mentioned, although he rode well at Wembley in '69. I think another one who could rate alongside Hasse was Leif Enecrona, but I never really saw much of him... Steve

I certainly agree about Bengt Jansson. A pretty impressive World Final record, and several good years in the BL. I know he never became Swedish Champion, but he was up against Fundin, Nordin, Michanek, Sjosten, Harrysson, Persson, Tommy Jansson etc; there were a fair number of world class Swedes at that time... Steve

I was just providing a quick list for people to compare and I did actually intend to include him! Henka could be a fabulous rider sometimes, but he definitely SHOULD have done better. Still a world-class rider, I do think he was one of the great under-achievers... As far as the others I listed, personally I wouldn't have included a couple of them on a short-list for the fifth spot, but I did so because others had mentioned them - or were likely to mention them. I did wonder about including the World Junior/U21, but when you look at the history of that event - and then what they actually made of themselves - it doesn't make good reading! That certainly applies to the runners-up, particularly in the early years; Owen, Jolly, Faizulin, Briggs, Courtney, Bargh etc; all capable riders, but not a World Final appearance between them! Of course, it was Henka's fellow Swede Peter Nahlin who pipped him to the title, but while he had a decent career himself, it wasn't really what he had promised... Steve

Personally, I feel that four basically pick themselves; Rickardsson, Fundin, Knutson, and Michanek. Okay, not everyone will agree there, but... There are many contenders for the fifth spot, but let's compare some stats for the major ones. As moved as I loved Tommy Jansson, I honestly couldn't put him in the list here, and the same applies to Christer Lofqvist, Torbjorn Harrysson, Per-Olof Soderman, and Jimmy Nilsen. Bengt Jansson World Finals - 5 / 54 points (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th) Swedish Championships - 0 (2nd x2, 3rd x1) Soren Sjosten World Finals - 6 / 56 points (3rd x2, 4th, 7th. 8th, 9th) Swedish Championships - 0 (2nd x1, 3rd x1) Olle Nygren World Finals - 5 / 54 points (3rd, 4th x2, 7th, 8th) Swedish Championships - 1 (2nd x2, 3rd x1) Gote Nordin World Finals - 4 / 40 points (3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th) Swedish Championships - 2 (2nd x3) Rune Sormander World Finals 7 / 45 points (5th, 8th, 11th x3, 12th, 13th) Swedish Championships - 3 (2nd x1, 3rd x2) Per Jonsson World Finals 6 / 58 points (1987 pts halved) (1st, 2nd, 5th x2, 9th x2) Swedish Championships - 4 (2nd x1, 3 x3) Jan Andersson World Finals - 6 / 43 points (4th, 8th x2, 10th x2, 14th) Swedish Championships - 4 (2nd x3, 3rd x2) Bernt Persson World Finals - 7 / 40 points (2nd, 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 16th x2) Swedish Championships - 1 (2nd x2, 3rd x3) Steve

Of course, but Polish citizenship gives him every right to represent Poland. Same with Tadeusz Teodorowicz, Bill Landels, Bob Andrews, and even Ronnie Moore... See the idiots are out in force again... You really think I'm Tai when I haven't said "f*ck" once??? Steve

Thanks for making me feel stupid! I WAS THERE IN AMSTERDAM! I remember that Riss incident - the German fans weren't happy with that decision. Yep, that answers that... Steve

Slight difference; Rune Holta is a Polish citizen... Steve

Iris mentioned Wiggy above... Steve

Thank you for mentioning that. Same with Andy Smith. Because they were riding on a German license, they were considered German when riding in international events. Oh, and did they complain about Mark Loram representing GB despite the fact that he was born in Malta? Finally, there was a comment above about Tai being British "when it suits his own needs". Well, surely the same applies to his critics, who class him as Australian when it suits THEIR needs! Steve