Fourentee

So if GB win they're stuffed because the Danes will have had a good look at Vojens in the run-off. If the Danes win GB are stuffed because the track will then probably be prepared one way for the run-off and another for the final. Seems as if GB's best chance is if Sweden win tonight! Surely the Danes wouldn't switch preparations if they were in both meetings?

I certainly think it affects his riding – it makes him better. He's clearly one who thrives on adverse crowd reaction. This from the Express & Star in September 2006, when asked about the home fans' response when he rides at Wolverhampton: "I love it every time they come and boo me," he said. "They only boo me because they actually are jealous I don't ride for them. "It makes me stronger. Then I can go out and show them I'm definitely the best in Wolverhampton – and that's nice!"

Exactly. A selection theory that fails on all sorts of levels. One, many people will not be convinced that Stead/Allen is stronger than Kennett/Woffinden. That, however, is the team manager's call and fair enough. Two, if you want to blood the youngsters surely you do it in the home round in welcoming surroundings. Then, if they take to it (and the team progresses) they look to step up a level in the race-off or final. The first experience shouldn't be abroad with elimination likely – that's not going to breed confidence. Three, what kind of incentive is it to Stead/Allen anyway? Bust a gut for the flag and then be told: Thanks, but no thanks?

Blood? Carnage would be nearer. It's hardly going to improve their confidence if that team gets massacred. Put one or two in, by all means – fitness permitting I would go Nicholls, Harris, Richardson, Kennett, Woffinden – but the idea is also to qualify if possible, is it not?

Yes, well done Hungary. How gutting for Germany though. If I read that correctly Heffers beating Tabaka into second in heat 25 sets up the run-off and the Germans must have been pretty hopeful with Kroner going to the tapes for it and in such good form. Hope Heffers can carry some form into tomorrow's Belle Vue match too.

It's surely a given for commercial reasons that GB will have at least one, more likely two, riders in the permanent field. At the moment I don't see anything out there better than Nicholls and Harris. Are their places likely to be threatened by a wave of Brits storming through the qualifiers? No, thought not, much as I'd like to see it.

Rare are the occasions when I find myself in Steve's camp but this is one of them. Jonsson clearly moves out as Gollob sets up his line. Tough, but there you go.

I should have been more specific. I heard the commentator say riders' names and total points scores, but don't know enough (or, more accurately, any) Polish to have a clue what the numbers were. I was rather hoping for a visual chart along the lines of: Daniel Nermark 1-3-2*-3-3 -- 12+1 or whatever. They do put up heat scores and team running totals between races. Edit: Must learn Polish for 0-21!

Nah, just give me a ring and stream live commentary to my phone! Seriously, though, an excellent highlights package. Decent camerawork, the heats follow on quickly without too much faffing about and I'm sure the commentary is fine! Any chance of a scorechart (I was bumped off the computer pretty much as soon as the last heat finished, so I'm assuming there wasn't one before the end titles)?

Pleasant surprise in the final heat commentary: "Blizzard of consonants, blizzard of consonants.....Workington Comets....blizzard of consonants." Love it!

Had a call from the father of one of the riders immediately after this meeting which got me thinking. The gist of it was: "We've just finished, everything's OK, so his mum and I can relax tonight after the drive home. He's really enjoyed it, desperate for another go. Oh, and by the way, he scored x points so he was really pleased with that." I wouldn't mind betting that this sentiment broadly reflected the view of every parent there. How appalling it must be to have a child who wants to ride speedway – that parental mix of 80 per cent encouragement and support for your offspring's dream mingled with 20 per cent of blood-curdling terror every time he or she throws a wheel over a bike. I would dread it were any of my four that way inclined. But, given that desire – and there's no way you can eradicate it from the human psyche – how fortunate that so many people give of their time and talent to ensure proper training under appropriate conditions for these youngsters. Congratulations to all involved and I trust the news on the injured rider is better than it appears.

Mervjankefanclub, great shout there for little Guy Wilson, how could I forget him? Immensely popular at Workington, fantastic out and out trier and top personality too.

Wot, no Terry Kelly??!!

Wolverhampton Express & Star is running a competition, 10 pairs of tickets.

Thanks Iris, but the results from the link have Tomicek third and Hefenbrock fourth?

At risk of a slight digression, Terry Kelly – what a character! Remember him going out four times in five heats for Workington at Paisley to turn a match. And also recall him at home for Workington against Glasgow, when flags of all nations were displayed on the centre green. At the pre-match introductions, after much deliberation, selecting and rejecting flags, he eventually removed the saltire from its socket and wiped his boots on it. The visiting fans went wild but it was all good knockabout stuff.

Hotshoe, as a student in Harlow I used to visit Rye House frequently and saw John Jackson in fine form there one sunny Sunday afternoon. If memory does not play me false (and it was the late seventies), the stadium public address system failed. JJ was brought out as a tac sub (old style!) and Len Silver walked all round the track carrying a board with "Y/B J. Jackson chalked on it", pointing it out to the fans. He got back to the pits gate, where the four riders were sitting next to each other on their machines ready to emerge, stuck the board in front of the Rye pair and pointed out the change to them too! Happy days.