RPNY

My opnion for what it's worth (nothing thats why it's free ;-) ) is that life always works in Cycles and at this moment in time, GB have few - if any world class riders. In the 90's the Americans were very domminent and Aussies hardly had any top riders. Look at it now. Who in the 80s would have thought anyone but Denmark would have a chance at world honors... Difficult to blame people for lack of young british talent. Speedway is not a cheap hobby for a kid to get into plus most kids wanna play football, rugby, cricket, basketball, vidoe games, watch tv before trying things like Speedway. Sad, but true. Saying that, there is definately more we could do to have a youth set up like the Scandi's and if you see on youtube the Billy Hamill academy in Cali, you'll see the efoort thats going in there to produce young talent. With regards to seeding Bomber (or another Brit) next year... Difficult one. On his day he can be great. The World Cup he was fantastic, Mallila he was very good. Torun, was disgraceful, I mean shameful. 0 points unacceptable. But when he's on form he does add something to the mix. But if he is seeded and Holta, Niki, Ward someone like that isnt, then I can see how people would be annoyed. But there are no other Brits worthy of a place in the series right now. People mentioning Barker is a little far fetched. Great kid, bags of heart, but would be even further behing then Tai was last year. Tai, seems to be the one who could 'make it' but needs to sort out his motors first. Just doesnt seem to have the speed on the big occasions. I personally believe the qualifying series should be at the start of the year anyway as a lot of 'form' riders miss out. A la Hans Andersan in 2006, Loram 1999, Joe Screen 1995...

Im a Middlo fan but did he really just put a Joker in against Emil??!

Been every year to the Cardiff GP, I still say Edwin Starr singing WAR as the riders came out was the best. That guy could sing.

Category 1(£87) Tickets for Cardiff SGP for sale: Block M6, Row 11, Seats 9-12 Let me know if interested. Regards, TEx

It's the bigger picture that worries me. Look at the U21 World Cup last year, at Rye House, we had a poor team, bad organisation, when there was a chance to really put in a good performance. See our set up to the others that day,it was woeful. And before people say the money isn't there etc, I will tell you now that Team USA Voulenteers - not even the AMA, are putting together a massive effort to get their U21 competitive. It's been 11 (I think) years we've had EL on Sky Sports and I've seen NOTHING in the way of money going into grass roots level speeday. Are you telling me they couldnt have bought 20/30 2nd hand mini bikes from Sweden / Denmark, and then for eg put 4 at Rye House, 4 at Wolves, 4 at Scunthorpe, 4 at Sheffield, 4 at Glasgow etc & brokered a deal with wulfsport for jnr rider clothing/protective gear so that we could have different centres to train and entice youngsters into out sport? Its ridiculous, look at what Billy Hamill's academy is doing on Youtube. BSPA, be ahsmaed.

I just read why he's quit on the SGP website & I have to say I don't blame him at all. The BSPA are becoming more of a joke everyday. Thats's now our National team Manager & 2nd best rider telling us what a disappointment the BSPA have been in recent weeks. We'll be lucky to make the race off in a couple of years it's very sad. And it's not just the World Cup its the thats a let down, because of the lack of talent coming through, the British final is getting poorer & poorer every year, soon we'll be Premier league standard at best compared to the rest of the world. Such a shame.

It wasnt the worst decision & he made it consulting the whole team, can't really argue with that just a shame it didnt work out.

Very true we would struggled had those 3 been riding for their respective nations, but you can only beat the opposition put in front of you. I think all in all, we did well last night. We were never going to win it but we didnt have a great deal of luck. Outside gastes in the 1st 4 heats, the joker gaining us zilch, but we in no way were a disgrace. Bomber was fantasic, Rico was impressive at times as was Tai. Scotty I thought rode his plums off for little reward, just didnt have the speed & poor old Steady didnt really have the chance to get going. Although in Rob's position probably would have made the same decisions. At least we were at the races last night wich is more than we have done for a few years. Seems to be a lot more positive vibes from the GB camp in general. let's hope it continues. More importantly, what a cracking meeting...

getting to the olympic stadium would take me 15 minutes - I would still rather go to Cardiff. I'm sure the stadium will be top notch but the area is a S**** hole!

I think the current format is fine, much better then a few years ago when there were 3 qualifiers & then a race off. Definetly need a change of venue tho. the Poles are strong & keep getting home advantage, that to me just doesn't make sense. Sweden should have a final soon, GB deserve a final & the way Russia are going they will be deserving of a final soon also. To keep alternating between Poland & Vojens is a) unfair & a wee bit monotonous... Tex

Apologies if this has already been talked about on here, but will the British team consist of Bridger Woffy etc even tho they are likely to be in the snr World Cup squad too? With it being on home soil this yr would be good to have a strong team.

Who do we think should be in it in 2010 who isnt? No one really jumps out at me, was wondering what others on here think.

Ah right, tks for the info.

When was a one off World Final one by someone who wasnt one of the top 4/5 pre meeting favourites? And that is a genuine question Im not trying wind anyone up.

I do love the Cardiff GP, year in year out I think its a fantastic day. I also really enjoyed Krsko, although the year I went (2006) was widely regarded as one of the best GPs ever. Think its a shame that its no longer on the GP circuit. Copenhagen was a lot of fun. great stadium, good track and 20 odd thousand drunk out their mind Danes were v good entertainment. One I thought was awesome tho was Stockholm. It was a cracking GP, nice little stadium & a beautiful city to visit. Couldnt believe it was never used again.

I can accept Vojens staging a GP but the World Cup & the GP Challenge too... Unfair on a lot of other tracks. It ALWAYS rains there too!

So the final just rotates between Denmark & Poland now? This competiton becoming well and truely de valued. Why dont UK get another go? How about Sweden, havent staged it at all to my knowledge. Czech deserve a chance, Croatia I could go on...

One that we're gonna win this time.

Couldnt agree more WJM

is it better then the other 2 Polish venues?? Im not so sure. Poland having 3 GP's is a total P take imo.

Cannot be true!

IMO Lezno, Malilla, Vojens & the Itlaian round should either be replace with a better venue or not in the series.

It pains me to say it but there is not a single Englishman worthy of a seeded place in next years GP. However out of all we have at the moment, it would seem Richardson would probably do the best out of them given his form in the leagues/world cup this year. Thats just my opinion... I would love to see a return of the GP challenge with 8 qualifiers and the bottom 8 at the end of th current GP season fighting it out for the remaining GP places. Those meetings were immense.

Poor Tai, looks like he was very unlucky...

Does anyboday know why such a talented rider was lost to British speedway at such a young age? And did he continue to ride in California after his European career was over?