chunky

Funny... As you mentioned it, I just decided to check his figures. It does seem that after 1989, he just went backwards. Not something I'd ever thought of before...

I certainly think he would have achieved more had he not broken his leg...

A little later I know, but there was also Valeri Klementiev, who lost his life way too young... Interesting that you would mention Sokolov, as he is largely forgotten. I do agree though, he was certainly capable of making a huge impact.

Following on from the discussion about Mike Bast, who (from years gone by) could have become a true great, had they ridden in Britain? Or at least come to Britain earlier than they did? Okay, he was a great rider as it was, but how much better could Edward Jancarz have been, had he started riding in the UK in the late 70's? Staying with the Eastern European, what about Gennady Kurilenko? Or even Igor Plechanov? I know why he didn't, but what if Egon Muller have stayed when he first tried out? One American I would loved to have seen here was Jeff Sexton.

And he makes more bad decisions. However, I agree.

Again, however likely it was, there is no guarantee. The history of speedway world championships is littered with copious "what ifs", "if onlys", and "coulda, woulda, shouldas"...

Lindgren and Doyle aren't enough for you?

So, you want speedway to become a contact sport? The more riders in hospital the better, eh?

Oh, I agree. As I said earlier, while Fricke has been disappointing this year, I do think he has been hard done by. I feel exactly the same as you with wildcards, but it amazes me some of the stuff I read on here. People want the "strongest" lineup available, yet they want Woffinden and Doyle out, because they are "past it". They want "new blood", via the qualifying system, then they complain about Kim Nilsson and Jan Kvech getting in! I will admit, next year's lineup does look weak, but sometimes it happens. It used to happen in the World Final days too. The problem is that there is a gulf between the top few, and the rest. On this year's form, Janowski shouldn't be anywhere the GP's, but to be honest - he is (or should be) far better than his results show. Dudek shows flashes of brilliance, but can't do it consistently. Leaving Sayfutdinov and Laguta out of the discussion, let's look at the top 25 riders in the world. From places 13 to 25 (approx), there really is so little to choose between them, and it's hard to say who would "improve" the series, and who wouldn't. Again, this has happened before, and I'm sure it's only temporary, but it just doesn't look great right now.

You have to stop making sense on here. The posters don't understand...

Which also indicates that the "better" riders either finished Top 6, or received wildcards. And these "better" riders are the ones that people want to see kicked out to make way for "new blood" - like Kim Nilsson and Jan Kvech...

You do know about the drought and floods they've been having, don't you? Costa Mesa is still going, but not quite as regularly as it once was.

He also had his say on the Zmarzlik deal in Vojens. And your point is? Just because he was a rider doesn't mean he is right...

Yeah, I see no reason they couldn't have two or three - even if they were in Poland. 24 riders, 2 meetings each; sounds okay to me...

As it did in the old World Final days... Perhaps the answer would be to have the SGP Challenge run as a series also?

If I saw some crazy mo'fo' on a motorbike coming towards me at full speed, I'd get the hell out of the way too!!!

Oh yeah, I remember Bast complaining about the weather - and the whole experience, actually. Sad when you learn that the rest of the world isn't like Southern California... I was at Plough Lane that night.

And at least one qualifier, also...

Interesting, although I do love the typical American slant on just awful the UK is... Maybe it isn't "American", more Californian! I always have arguments here in Cincinnati, when people - people who have never set foot outside the US - tell me how much it rains in London. On average, Cincinnati has 30 days more rain a year, with getting on for double the accumulation!

He's been disappointing this year, but I have to agree...

I think Jack may be ready next year...

If you want the strongest lineup, then that is always likely to include riders who finished outside the Top 6.

At least everybody rides against the same quality of rider every round. At least everybody rides in the same number of meetings. At least qualification isn't based on where you live.

And that's because it was never designed to qualify all the world's best. If it had been, you wouldn't have had the continental qualifiers. It was designed to get a variety of nations represented, regardless of how good the riders were. People today still don't get how flawed the old system was...

And Eric Boocock was above everybody in the 1969 averages except for Briggs and Mauger. And that proves what, exactly?