Grachan

Except it's generally better to have a lower average rather than a higher one. It's a double edged sword really. Take out the bonus points and you lose out the points like that where you follow a partner home. Then again, you also include the extra points for someone tootling round in third half a lap behind where someone else had an engine failure.

True. But people who know about it in that much detail aren't going to have a problem working out bonus points anyway. On a simple basis 3-2-1-0 works just fine. Can't see a reason to introduce anything that would complicate that. They've already done enough of that with the TR.

I always support British riders in international meetings. I barely notice Troy Bachelor when watching the GPs. I think fans are a lot better at supporting British riders nowadays than they used to be. You used to get quite a lot supporters cheering for the USA against Britain in Test Matches.

Why do you need to work out bonus points these days? they aren't in the averages. I still like to put my little dot in my programme when filling out scores, but its just out of my own interest. You don't need it.

I would think that was more because it was a Grand Prix whereas the Euros are just glorified open meetings. I watched this and must admit that it never really held my interest. There were some good races, which I enjoyed urely as racing, but the outcome didn't mean enough for me to care who won. Hopefully the crowd attendance is an indication that people are recognising that the Grand Prix is the proper championship despite the Russians seeming to put more significance in these meetings than FIM meetings. What a shame that Emil, in particular is not in the GP. He could go down in history as a great rider if he rides in the World Championshis, but if he doesn't he wil never amount to anything in the future no matter how often he wins meetings like this.

That's not a quote from someone who was there. That's a quote from someone who wasn't there.

You can't take the apology back again once you've made it. Anyway, it's pretty clear from people that were at the meeting that nobody felt they were watching anything untoward. I've been to meeting where there have been apparent average reduction attempts and it's been patently obvious to everyone there what is going on.

Should have put Troy out in heat 15 then, instead of a guest rider!

If Swindon are trying to fit Ward in I suspect they are thinking more along the lines of survival and actually having a number one rather than finishing above Belle Vue.

If you allow R/R you are going back to the problem we had before, where people can feign injury or illness to allow better riders in. Just have reserves. If a side can only find 4 riders then they'll have to risk going without one.

Don't forget the tac sub too. You can actually get up to 6 extra points in one race, not just 3.

Agree with others. Just have a reserve. Let the managers use the reserve when they eel like it up to 5 times. Simple. Common sense. If teams don't have a reserve, then that's too bad. they'll just have to face up to having a rider missing if someone pulls out. But the option should be there.

Jeff Sexton. Anyone remember him? Rode for USA against Rest of the World in about 1975 or 1976 at Houston Astrodome and was brilliant. Hair flying about all over the place.

Continuity alert. How come the Lakeside number 6 was in the pits and in the race at the same time?

And if they were going to beat one of them it would, most likely, be in the earlier heats - although the Aussies still had a choice to make anyway so could have picked accordingly.

Yes, I noticed that too. He never turned down Britain. Britain turned him down. Wasn't Nick due to enter an under-21 competition as a Brtish rider but, for some reason, not allowed to or something like that? If he'd been given the opportunities he'd be riding as a Brit now and a certain section of Speedway society would be moaning about us having TWO Aussies in the side!!

I'm not convinced it was the wrong selection in the nominated heats. Is it really wise to leave King and Lambert to take the real pressure ride? Better, surely, to out them against riders they have a better chance of beating. As good a performance as could be expected by GB. Australia simply had more strength in depth.

I think what he is saying here is hat Linus should have blocked the Russian out before he was able to get alongside him.

Ah really? Me too.

My touchscreen typing may well be a bit rubbish, but it's better than your maths.

You only play for the tactical if you've got something to gain from it. Can't believe anyone would thing that might have been deliberate.

Why would anyone have that thought? They would lose out by doing it.

Poland would be a point up if they won that heat. That is better than being 6 down.

What's that got to do with it? My guess would be because Bjerre was an idiot. He had nothing to lose by letting Harris past. He'd have got a bonus point. Why? Because they are on the same team. Well, they are today anyway.

Complain about modern day speedway if you like, but try to keep the arguments real. Team riding is not throwing a race in a team competition.