MARK246

Thank you for the support Lyndylou. Nice to know I'm still remembered in the UK. It has got a little colder, hopefully it'll be a better season than last year with the weather. If you or any other forum members are at the ice racing when I'm there, make yourself known as it's always good to see British supporters and the Union Jack.

IMO K Bjerre was trying to find a line on the inside of the track cutting across F Lindgren.Interesting point of note for me was both F Lindgren and J Davidsson went for the same outside line in the rerun that Lindgren was on in the first attempt when K Bjerre hit him. Still it's difficult to tell from the camera angle and the ref had the best view.

The riders are selected by their federations to go to 3 qualification rounds, Stralsund , Lvov, Togliatti. From each of these 10 riders +2 reserves go to 3 semi finals. Brijham, Kerskro, Gorican, 18 seeded riders are also in the semis. From the semi final 5 riders +1 reserve go to the final joined by one seeded rider from the host nation. This competition is run by the UEM, which is seperate from the FIM and is European not world wide.

Nice to see Manu doing well.

IMO the DMSB don't need to worry about BEL or BPL form while making their choice, it should be done on German or continental racing. What happens in Britian is of no real importance.

I know the points still count, but all the riders he beat in his last meeting were reserves. So he's just the top scoring reserve.

Sounds like a GP circus moment, what a joke you can be world champion with out winning a single GP race. 10 points through to the semi's, 5 second places. Second in the semi final. second or third in the final. that is either 16 or 14 points, 11 GP's, total 154 points for thirds circus over.

Spot on post. I have been to GP system meetings and it is flat compared to the old one off finals. There is a choice though no one forces anybody to go. Given the option the 75,000 that went to Wembley is now 40,000 at Cardiff and many at Cardiff eg. the Polish supporters possibly never got to Wembley. Whether you agreed with the winner or not on the one off final it was all there and then much more exciting.

Have to go for the old one off final, got to be better than the "face fits club circus"

Where in Britain would you run another GP, Coventry was used before but the crowds were quite small compared to European venues. If the ACU asked for the European GP as well as the British GP you may get two, but if they don't ask they can't expect to be given more. Most of the GP riders ride in the Swedish and Polish league so there's less home track advantage than is assumed. The schedule is for financial reasons not rider advantage, if IMG think it would benefit them to run in Russia next year instead of Sweden they will go there.

Maybe they want to run two, and have the federations help to do it.

Thought Richard Hall was the best British rider in the qualifiers, why dosen't he get nominated.

Interesting quote. I also heard the interview by Nicki on Swedish television. He said in english that if the GP were anywhere else apart from Bydgoszcz that he would have laid the bike down in the final when Gollob went past. Was this intervew aired on British TV? Also on Swedish TV was Ashley Holloway's interview. Glad to hear he's lost his Wiltshire accent and talked in either Danish or Swedish. I still can't speak Swedish after living here for 2 years and still have my Wiltshire accent, so fair play to Ashley. Was his interview on British TV?

Good for him and abroad as well. If he has a nationality choice he should go British. after tonight in Poland he could be in the GP in 2 years as a permanent wild card.

Sad to see the British learnt so little about Polish tracks at the SWC. Never mind same again next year.

Post 442 don't make for good reading on a British Speedway Forum

Don't think a run off with Penhall would have been a problem for Les Collins,he had already beaten Penhall in race 4 (from the back). As for Carter he lost it in heat 15 in 1981,not much else to say about him really,except his talent never matched his ego. Three world final apperances isn't a lot for a man people call "the best ever."

He's not really lucky to be seeded, he is lucky that there is no British alternative capable of being competitive at GP level.As such he's become self selecting, but that has to be better than just one British representative or none . The fault is not his but the system's, anyone given the chance to ride at the GP will do it. (The wild card riders shows this) While this situation occurs the best thing would be, for other British riders to push their names forward for the nomination. Although like it has been said on this, and other threads, they in turn would only get the same response on the BSF. For all his faults he's British and as such should receive support from this forum.

Glad to see this is being run. Good luck to everyone involved,hope you have a good meeting .

While the riders you name are improving and will become british "stars" without better coaching they will only be british "stars". IMO the problem with british riders is a lack of overseas experience as demonstrated by the poor WC qualification rounds this year, the best brit was R.Hall. British fans and riders think that the only league is the BEL. The world stops at the English Channel, after Coventry the "we can win the SWC" posters were out in force. Then comes Poland and the truth was clear for everyone to see, a sad day for British speedway indeed. Other than the current GP riders and M.Loram who has the experience. A. Smith, D Norris, you can make your own list but these are the people who need to be involved with a serious coaching system if British speedway is to have an international future.

Thats a real shame I was there thursday and it was a great meeting with Solkatterna.Good quality racing all night, plenty of passing and real close finishes. It's a shame it attracts such a small crowd. After watching BEL (division 1) for twenty years the entertainment is much better in Sweden, sad it may be lost.

I thought the heads and barrels for this engine (Hesketh) were the same as the single they used in road racing. I was always under the impression they were 600cc. Not so sure now, but some one out there must know?

Maybe they will use Danish Elite league after Pedersen "wins" the circus this year.