IainB

I did copy and paste it from our ai overlords, I could remember it had happened in the past, just couldn't remember when and who.

From 2007 to 2009, the FIM introduced a rule that gave the reigning World Under-21 Champion a direct, automatic permanent spot in the following year's senior Speedway Grand Prix series. Only two riders ever successfully took advantage of that specific golden ticket before the rule was scrapped: Emil Sayfutdinov: He won the Under-21 World Championship in 2007 (and successfully defended it in 2008). Because of the 2007 win, he was handed an automatic full-time spot for the 2009 senior Speedway Grand Prix series. He exploded onto the senior scene that year, winning his very first GP round at Prague and finishing 3rd in the world overall as a rookie. Darcy Ward: The brilliant Aussie won the Under-21 title in 2009, which technically qualified him for the 2010 Grand Prix. However, because he was still so young, he and his management chose to turn down the full-time spot to focus on his development, opting to take a couple of wild card appearances instead. The FIM quickly realized that throwing a 20- or 21-year-old straight into the brutal, high-pressure world of full-time Grand Prix racing could sometimes do more harm than good to a young rider's career. It was a massive financial, physical and mental jump, and if a rider wasn't truly ready, a tough year in the GPs could completely shatter their confidence. By 2010, they reverted back to the system we have today: making the juniors qualify through the senior GP Challenge or earn it via performance-based wild cards. Parnitskyi has, of course, been given his spot due to DJ Woffy pulling out.

1 Will Cairns 2 Harry Fletcher 3 Freddy Hodder 4 Senna Summers 5 Vinnie Foord 6 Jody Scott 7 Max Perry 8 Seth Norman 9 Luke Harrison 10 Cooper Rushen 11 Ryan Ingram 12 Harry Sadler 13 Ace Pijper 14 Charlie Southwick 15 Jordy Loftus 16 Ollie Binns Reserves: 17 Stene Pijper 18 Lee Harrison.

11 teams in 2025 vs 6 teams in 2026

Maybe, but they still had huge track grading breaks and were even watering it on the 1st night

We used to... it's being phased out though

And there was me thinking that there was nowhere near as many as the night before... it very much depends on where you were, everybody must have moved up to the 3rd turn after @Neila's rave reviews 😁

Same for me, I kicked the habit when they hit £1 I think... try it, it's so liberating... a bit like kicking social media 😂

If it was an instruction it's a very bad instruction

That was so noticeable! They all come across as aloof prima donna's I'm afraid. I know it's a World Championship and they all want to really take it seriously and win it, but let's be honest none of them are going to, with possible exception of Kurtz while Zmarzlik is about, so they might a well just enjoy themselves. To just bugger off straight back to the pits head down after you've just won a race is not really acceptable to fans who have paid around £100 a ticket for each night... mind you Oasis seem to get away with it 😁

I've said before I'd do away with programmes, they're an atmosphere killer too many folk with their noses buried in their programmes to join in with the rest of the crowd... but at £10 a pop they're a nice little earner.

Jack Holder's last 3 meetings at the NSS, 4 points for Sheffield on BHM and a double GP finalist 🤔

They watered it just before the parade and it really didn't need it

I've spent a bit of time around the place these last couple of days and I'm sorry to say the impression I got was that it's a gridlocked 5h1thole (like many British cities these days), I'm sure the centre is probably okay but I doesn't go to that.

A Glasgow GP will be a financial disaster, people won't travel to Manchester so you can forget Glasgow!

Clever racing from Jensen

Not Leon Madsen unless you're a blonde with big knockers 😁

A safe bet with an FIM meeting... it wouldn't be pretty though if it did rain.

Looks overwatered to me. Who on earth could have done that 🤔

I wonder if it's wise to announce over the pa that somebody will be collecting £1,000 in cash outside the Speedway Office at the end of the meeting 🤔

Zmarzlik, Brennan, Fartnitskyi and F*uckenback in a World Championship race... you couldn't make it up 🤷‍♂️ Fair play to F*ckenback though 👏

I wonder if he's going to make any changes 🤔... if only somebody would ask him 😁

Unbelievably Parnitskyi looks worse than last night!

To drown out the inane drivel?

Yeah, I know what you mean, it's borderline for me £64.50 per night... but, I drove by Stonehenge the other day, it was £29.50 entry!