Grachan

Was Lindback supposed to be there though? He was stand-by reserve if someone dropped out but that's not neccesarily the same as being the meeting reserve. I really don't see why Lindback and Zagar should get a place having not even qualified for this meeting.

Had no reason too. I had originally made a post saying Rico should get the Wild Card for Britain, but seeing the score Harris got in this meeting I accepted that there could be no argument if he got it.

He probably will, yes. So Harris and Pepe would be the top two outside the qualifiers and be genuine cases for a Wild Card.

Yes it is. If either of those two got a wild card there could be no argument against it either.

Nothing. But a Brit will get in, and his points here mean there can't be any argument against it as far as I'm concerned. Was all for Rico getting the British Wils Card, but if Harris does get it now there can't be any real argument against it. And at least he was in the meeting - which is more than Richardson and Zagar managed. And I'm much more a fan of Rico and Matej than I am Harris for obvious reasons.

No it won't. His points in this meeting would make his nomination legitimate if he gets it. Simple as that.

I see Harris finished on 10 in the end and just behind the qualifiers. So if he does get a wild card I guess there can't be any complaints. He may have just saved himself with that last heat win.

Thank Christ that was sorted out before midnight! At least we have 3 proper qualifiers instead of one of the current GP riders getting in and having to wait and see what happens in the remaining GPs. Holder and Hampel - two worthy additions. Zetterstrom? Blimey! Can't see him doing much! But he's there on merit so fair enough. Glad Miedzinski didn't make it. Should increase the chances of seeing him at Swindon next year! Rico must be on for a wild card now then with Harris presuably out.

It does if you say "out" in a very posh voice.

Is that genuine?

I went to that meeting and have the footage on a video tape somewhere. Haven't watched the Youtube, but guess it's the same footage. Does it have the bit with Ole and the young Danish kids? Wondered if any of them a recogniseable. Always thought one of them looked like it could be Brian Karger. Ole's refusal to go where he was allocated was, I believe, influential in the demise of Rider Control. He refused to ride for Oxford in 1975 too insisting he wanted to go to Coventry after being allocated to the Rebels.

Ah, but would he have won if it had been a one-off World Final?

Maybe Hans Neilsen in 92 and 93?

Who me? Or you? Or maybe it's different depending on the region. Definitely said 3 hours speedway on SS Xtra on that site though. EDIT - And still does. http://www.radiotimes.com/ListingsServlet?...earchTime=18:00

Yeah. Radio Times. It's a website that shows you, like, times of radio programmes and television ones. you know the sort of thing. And when I look it still says 3 hours of speedway at 6pm on SS extra.

Not any more apparently. Radio Times has 3 hours of speedway on SS Extra with Spanish Football on SS3 as a rescheduled programme.

6pm - 9pm on Sky Sports Extra according to the Radio Times website. Spanish League football on Sky Sports 3 from 7. Super League getting just one hour from 6-7.

Wasn't it 1975 when Phil Crump emerged with his 4 valve? Nobody could get anywhere ner him, let alone beat him. He'd have had the championship almost wrapped up by the time the others caught up equipment wise. I'm pretty sure Crump would have won in 1975 - a time when he also still performed well in World Championships. Even after other riders got on board equal equipment he would still have been scoring decent points in the closing rounds. Ivan Mauger has always claimed that he felt he was the best rider in the World in 1976 and Peter Collins was in 1977 and that they got those titles the wrong way round. 1973 - Ivan Mauger 1974 - Tough one! Mauger again? 1975 - Phil Crump 1976 - Ivan Mauger 1977 - Peter Collins 1978 - Ole Olsen

Fine by me. Crump, Pedersen, Sayfudinov, Jonsson and Holta have, between them, hardly ridden in Britain this year. Let's get rid of them too shall we? Let's get rid of the whole lot of them actually. Let's bring 16 new people in. Keep it exciting.

I sort of get your sentiments regarding riders getting out before they struggle, but I'm confused also. Are you saying Gollob and Hancock shouldn't be in the GP because they have been in too many finals this year? These two riders may be getting a bit long in the tooth, but they are also currently lying second and third in the series. I just don't see where you're coming from on that score. You may as well say get rid of Crump as he is winning too easily and making it boring. Adams was in the GP this year on merit and fully deserved to be in there. This year he's unlikely to make the cut and - if so - could well find himself out next year. But that doesn't make his inclusion this year any less warranted.

Reckon I might have to sit out a few of these for a while. Apart from my fantastic im-depth knowledge of 1967, I'll probably have to wait until Phil Crump's obvious GP victory in 1975 to give definite answers.

A fascinating piece of random trivia! Having looked it up on Wiki, the other 3 must have been Jack Biggs, Bernt Persson and Craig Boyce. I assume they didn't have run-offs in the days of Eric Langton.

Briggs, without a doubt. He was far and away the best rider in the World that year, and pre-final it was pretty much a question of who would come second to Briggs on World Final night. Admittedly he fluffed it a bit on the night, but over a season he'd have had no problem - even riding with injuries I reckon. Mauger was almost there, but not quite. Banger? Nah! Was never going to be World Champ. More a Simmons, Kennett, Autrey type.

He wouldn't have won it in 1967 though.

I think Neilsen's problem was that, at a crucial point in the World Final, he'd get into a paddy and over-ride. Even when he finally won the title he did this - and was let off by a shocking refereeing decision after bringing Knudsen off. In a GP he'd have just plugged away scoring points without having to deal with such do-or-die crucial situations. We could have been looking at a 10 times World Champ if the GP had been around then in it's current form. I'm convinced of that in my own little world. If the GP had been around in its previous form with the KO rounds I think it's more likely he might have blown a few. Gundersen might have had a bit of an edge in those with his "big race" mentality.