RPNY

I hope they at the very least alternate years. SWC proper every 2 years will make it a touch more prestigious if nothing else... Also wont be a huge shock if OneSport do some sort of Team Version. This might play into their hands actually.

I would prefer the current format, however you are right Phil, this does give scope for someone other than Poland to win it. They have been adjusting the format gradually to make this happen anyway. From 5 man teams, to 4 man teams, to host getting seeded to the final. This is another throw of the dice I guess. Alas, despite what I've just said, I think there's a fair chance you are right there...

Outside of messing a few tracks and then shirking responsibility for it I dont see what they have done wrong. F1 for example isnt without problems they mess plenty of stuff up. I enjoy GPs - you obviously dont, but I dont defend it blindly. I've had pretty heated discussions with John Posstlethwaite, Paul Bellamy and even Nicola Sands over the years after traveling long distances to GPs only for them to be canceled. But on the whole they have upgraded an already great product. Not just the stadiums, the whole presentation, before, during and after is just so much slicker. Any friends Ive taken to a GP have absolutely loved it then gone to a league mate and thought sod this. You cannot just rely on the racing anymore, it has to be an event. BSI to their credit have done that.

With so much space there why dont they build a proper track?!!

Well there are always 2 sides to every story. I'm sure there are some valid points in the original post, however as I say it is merely one side of the story. BSI have made many mistakes over their 17 (?) years in charge. And yes be in track problems, access to stadium, acts of god, they do like to point the finger...However on the whole I feel like they have run the GPs brilliantly. The old World Finals and pre BSI GPs were dated, no pre/post entertainment, old stadiums. It definitely needed modernizing and I feel they have more than done that, The Saturday night/ruined the British league argument is tough. To my knowledge, all World Finals were held Saturday nights so we cant use that argument. And, as I've said in previous posts the day Hans Nielsen opted out of riding in Britain the writing was on the wall and sure enough most riders followed suit. Some have fluttered in and out of riding in Britain but I cant think of one top rider who hasn't opted out of riding in the UK at some stage. Tines changed. When we dominated world Speedway we basically only gave the Poles Sunday. As it turned out, that's a great day to watch sport and now British Speedway is paying the price.

Donr Torun and Warsaw twice, both brilliant cant fail with either IMO

Shame about Stockholm maybe of had Riga instead of 2nd Swedish round. I like 10 rounds tho, no more needed.

As I said previously you cant just assume previous seasons form will translate into how it will go next year. A lot of us thought Sayfutdinov & Zmarlik would be in top 3 this year. Few of us thought Holder or Lindback would drop out after their end to 2016. Likewise few thought Magic or Lindgren would do much this year... Cook and Laguta biggest question marks. Yes wide assumption is they will be near the bottom but we shall see..

Well if the Etihad dont want to stage it after 2 Aussie winners and the crowning of an Aussie World Champion, that could be that...

Should definitely get Linus back would be a proper #1 for us.

Good to know. With Coventry gone need Belle Vue to be stronger than ever. Back on topic, I hope both PC and Mighty Mort are both regulars at NSS for years to come. As you say Phil both legends of the club, country and sport.

Did actually BV make money this year or at least break even?

Its actually not an excuse they do genuinely need the full winter to get everything in place. Not fair if some of the field have that time to prepare an others dont.

What developments Phil? A roof I hope!!!!!

Keeps being mentioned Holder has has tough time off track but been saying that for at least 2 years now. Surely at some point that excuse runs out?

I think it was a massive learning curve for Emil this year. I definitely have him top 3 for next year (not that means anything!)

Hardly any Monster Wild Cards over the years then.

I agree with you both, dont think he deserved a Wild Card. Just saying its not that ridiculous. Just a bit of a shame and ammo for the skeptics out there

I wouldnt have chosen Holder but it's not like they've picked a raw novice, some reaction here a little over the top. One thing I would say, we have no idea really how certain riders will perform next year ever after a great season. After his finish in 2012 assumed Antonio would have a killer 2013, he did nothing. Woffy the opposite, everyone expected to come 15th & he won it. Little to no one expected Kasprzak to finish 2nd in 2014, Not many of us expected Doyley to last more than one season when he qualified. Not many were happy with Magic getting in for this years series. On the flip side a lot of people though Emil;would be a minimum of top 3 this year. In short, as displeased as some of us are (myself included) with the picks, lets wait and see how it all pans out...

Wouldn't be at all Surprised if Greg and NP finished top 5 next year. That being said, fully understand why many here are unhappy with their picks. Nicki for me doesn't deserve a wild card but understand why he was the chosen Dane. '12 2nd, '13 5th, '14 3rd '15 3rd. even 2016 his form was improving and he won the SEC. Now I am not a fan of his by any stretch, But it's not like the days when they used to put Bomber and Scotty in (huge fans of both by the way) purely because of nationality not results. Holder on the other hand, may have finished 4th in 2016 but really that was a tiny bit of a false finish. Doyle didn't do the last round and he had a massive final, home GP which made it look like he'd had a much better season than was reality. 2015 made top 8 by skin of his teeth. Kildemand nearly pipped him having done 3 less GPs that season. 2014 and 2013 he was way down the pack. Not helped by injury but fact is he hasn't really pulled up any trees since he won the world championship Vaculik, not that fussed. Would rather have Milik or Ļebedevs but I guess his place is warranted. But as someone mentioned earlier, whats the point in having top 8 cut off if 9th and 10th keep getting the nod for the following season... Just my opinions.. Not that they mean anything! Also, out of curiosity, anyone know How many "Monster" picks have there been since since 2012?

Surprised by that, it worked well in 2016. I think alternating the competition from Pairs to SWC year on year is a good solution. I love the SWC but it's just becoming slightly stale, few GP riders using it as an excuse to have a mid summer break. Changing it up every other year might help. I bet Hancock would ride if he thought there was more chance of being on the podium...

They are good points. Having your team represented in every heat is very important as a spectacle. 2016 at Belle Vue, it was amazing atmosphere after Tai won his Joker ride then King and Cook won their rides, you just couldn't wait for the next heat. With regards to potential collusion, the Aussies did that 2000, stopped GB from winning. (another reason I never want them to win anything!)

Agree about Holder, with regards to sponsors being involved, really not that unusual across a lot of sports. Not that would make it right of course. However, I certainly think having a major sponsor like Monster is a good thing tho. And case in point is this years world champion is not a monster rider...

Yes I make you right,. but Id like to see that at the very least alternate every other year with the Traditional SWC rather than just become the norm.

Will be a tremendous shame if the SWC was axed for a Pairs competition. It always throws up incredible racing and I would agree pairs competitions are rarely that well supported. It is indeed apoor relation to team events. And cant justify 2 riders as a 'team' really IF it was in Manchester this year the Brits with 2 home track riders and Woffy would be very strong. Poland winning 2 years on the spin would be a sad reason to stop the competition. Just stop staging it in Poland...