SammyR

I've made a bit of a boob, having arranged to visit a friend in Canary Wharf in London at the weekend. Does anyone know of a pub or anywhere I might be able to watch the GP on Sky? Sam.

Never mind the "I love/hate Lindback/Andersen/Norris" twaddle. If the organisers insist on semi-finals and finals, which I completely understand, to build up to a big climax, then points scored in the heats must be added to points scored in the semis to decide the finalists. Then the points scored thus far must be added to the points scored in the final to determine the final outcome (as it was in the long-track), even if you double the points in the final to create greater incentive to win that one race. It's a nonsense to have an 8/9 point guy qualify in front of a 14 point guy. Sam.

If Johnston and Shields can chip in with a few points (unlike Lyons the last two years), Crump, Adams and Sullivan can win it for the Aussies again. Denmark and Sweden have both been highly motivated recently and are capable of doing the business. Team GB are an enigma; they've been dreadfully unlucky with injuries for the last two world cups, but must have a genuine chance this time. I'm sure they'll be the four finallists though. Poland fifth and the Czechs sixth, with Italy and Hungary totally outclassed. Shame that Russia with Darkin & Povazhny, Slovenia with Zagar & Ferjan, or Finland with Kylmakorpi & Laukannen can't be there to provide some meaningful competition. And a huge shame that we can't see Hancock, Hamill, etc. to represent the Yanks. I'm on my way down from Manchester on Monday to watch the racing - let's hope for a week of dry weather! I've booked my accommodation in youth hostels, thus qualifying for the title of the oldest youth hosteller in the world. Sam.

They obviously stopped the GP Challenge in 2002, because the last grand prix was in Australia in October, and it would have been far too late to run a challenge after that. The GPs are running 'til October again this year, so I guess they decided to scrap the challenge for the same reason. Sam.

The EL promoters are in a quandary; they just don't know what to do. Clubs like Poole and Coventry will want to retain the status quo, but others like Ipswich and Peterboro' seem to want to be rid of expensive GP riders. Either way, I don't see the EL surviving, unless a sustainable solution to this problem is found - and I don't mean the tinkering of the last couple of years. Sam.

May I use this thread to ask if anyone has a spare ticket for Gothenburg? I'd rather buy one here than try to get one at the last minute at the stadium - my command of the Swedish language is somewhat limited, to say the least. Please e-mail with any info. Sam.

oooooooops, got my quote back to front.

still on a brighter note tha Auzzies did not win

I wonder how the Aussies are feeling about poor old Jason Lyons' contribution. Just a few points from him and the title would have been theirs again. How the Swedes won without TR is incredible. Max and Ljung especially were tremendous. Sam.

Surely John Perrin's team-building skills make him an ideal candidate for GB team manager. Look at the team he put out for the Aces at the start of the season - Larsen, Manchester, Ales Dryml and Jesper Olsen, plus two and a half heat leaders. Is this guy the Alex Ferguson of speedway, or what? Sam.

Rickardsson is NOT riding tonight !! Why on earth do people suggest he's 'swinging the lead' or scared of five-man races. I'm sure he would love to lead his country, and am convinced that his withdrawal is genuine. Not only has he been the best rider in the world for a number of years now, he's also a very brave rider. Let's acknowledge his contribution to speedway instead of people slagging off a great sportsman. Sam.

The Scots and/or the Welsh would NOT be allowed to put their own teams out, because they're part of one sovereign nation - the United Kingdom. Otherwise the Aussies could ask for a Victoria team, a Queensland team, etc., and the Yanks could decide to represent California, and so on.

It's all mind games tonight now. With Ricko out, none of the top five GP riders are involved, and only two of the top dozen, Dryml(6) and Nicholls(10) are riding. These guys are well capable of beating each other, and it'll be the teams with the most self-belief and determination who will qualify. Sam.

My God, it IS true. That throws tonight's meeting wide open. The other teams must feel their chances of qualifying have soared. Sam.

Possibly the Czechs, if they're ALL up for it but, after Kylmakorpi and possibly Laukkanen, I can't see any of the Finns scoring points. But you're right, the Swedes and Brits had better be focussed, or else.... Sam.

He looked alright on Tuesday night, laughing and joking. I hope you're joking.

I'm willing to bet that Thursday's Race-off and Saturday's Final are both great speedway meetings, which will raise the sport's profile and increase its popularity. Sam (but what do I know; I'm only a bar manager).

Stop pinching my predictions. Should be a cracker tonight if the Poles and the Russkies are up for a battle with the Swedes. Sam

So, should Belle Vue and Ipswich have been kicked out of the Elite League in, say, May or June for "not being up to standard?". Maybe the Elite League itself is pointless and should be run less often. Aren't low crowds in Britain not doing any favours for anyone? When it comes to pointless......

In the qualifier or in the final ?? Only joking ! I think you'll end up 4th behind Australia, Denmark and Sweden, but ahead of G.B. But it's all to play for, and anyone could win onthe day. Sam.

The British boys rode their socks off last night, and fully deserve all the credit they've received from the supporters. From the play-offs, I expect Poland and Britain to qualify for the final, eliminating Czecho and two also-rans. Sam.

Well, that was a great tip-off; 'Sullivan out of WTC'. It certainly looked like Ryan S. on my TV screen last night !! Sam.

A lot of the racing on Sunday was good - I certainly found it entertaining. Yesterday was spoiled a bit by the USA's no-show; obviously Italy weren't competitive, but the battle between the Aussies and the Brits was riveting stuff. With a bit of tweaking, the WTC will be a great competition, and a great addition to the speedway calender. Just like the GP's, it's here to stay and I, for one, will be delighted. Sam.

Where has this information come from? I can't find any confirmation of it anywhere. Sam.

An Elite League, by definition, needs G.P. riders. But the Elite League, in its present form, suffers too many absences, too much disruption, and has clubs who aren't viable, whilst G.P. riders are the backbone of its teams. Ipswich, for one, have had enough, and Perrin constantly threatens to pull the plug on B.V.'s E.L. future (although he contradicted himself this year with his steak and chips statement). The Elite League looks doomed in its present structure. The conundrum for the promoters now is to find a blueprint for the future, which safeguards all tracks' survival, wherever possible. Let's not look back wistfully wishing for a resurrection of the old British and National Leagues, and let's not imagine that a salary cap is workable, or that promotion and relegation can be implemented in this country. Bold initiatives are needed to ensure that speedway in Britain has a healthy future. I believe that we have to start by excluding G.P. riders from our league teams, and creating two viable divisions where teams can operate according to their income. This is not to drive a wedge between Britain and the FIM/BSI, but to safeguard the continuation of a number of tracks in this country. The BSI boys are very bright; I'm sure that they would come up with a plan to give the G.P. riders enough meetings to satisfy them, so that everyone would be happy with the outcome. Sam.