SWC 2026 location

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

Oly Allen what a team manager 

[IainB]

14 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Oly Allen what a team manager 

He's no Peter Schroeck 😂

[mikebv]

15 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Oly Allen what a team manager 

100% success rate....

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

1 minute ago, IainB said:

He's no Peter Schroeck 😂

It close though 

[Colinspeedway]

Does Kelv know when he goes silent and starts talking to the production team off mic that we can still hear him 

 

[tyler42]

3 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Surely now give cairns a ride 

Yes, I agree. Meeting won, so why not give him a run out? I think Allan's thinking was: "By not giving him a ride. "To be fair, the lad most likely would have been a bit off the pace!"

So Allan chose not to use him and, in the process, it stops him getting any stick!!

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

GB were lucky, lucky they didn’t get drawn against Denmark 

[mikebv]

56 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

GB were lucky, lucky they didn’t get drawn against Denmark 

With Poland having the final...

Maybe Bewley and Lambert were a pair that they were "very pleased" to see qualify?...

With potentially still adding Woffy being the icing on the cake..?

[Bagpuss]

Woffy & Thompson for Flint & Cairns in the final please.

[IainB]

9 hours ago, tyler42 said:

Yes, I agree. Meeting won, so why not give him a run out? I think Allan's thinking was: "By not giving him a ride. "To be fair, the lad most likely would have been a bit off the pace!"

So Allan chose not to use him and, in the process, it stops him getting any stick!!

If he'd put Cairns in for a race who was going to make the teas? 🍵🫖

8 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

GB were lucky, lucky they didn’t get drawn against Denmark 

I doubt luck had anything to do with it 😉

[Wee Eck]

First of all, and I’m not sure if anyone has said this yet, congratulations to the GB team for making another big final. The success of those running the team is a fair reward for all the effort they have put in, turning a cheap pizzas and beers operation into a professional looking and performing team. Some might try to detract from the result due to the nature of the opposition but you can only beat what’s in front of you.
Secondly, I hope people picked up the not too obscure comment made by Ollie Allen of picking the best team available to him. Much has been made of Dan T missing but Dan chose to ride for Edinburgh rather than his country. I find that disappointing especially as I gather - though hopefully I’ve been misinformed - that Dan is missing Berwick tonight because he’s headed off to Poland. 
Thirdly, we do need a strong fourth rider if we’re not going to finish fourth out of four in the final. But it has to be someone who will fit into the ethos of the GB team and not just be someone who, having previously turned down chances to ride for the team (and there are a few of them) now fancies a bit of the glory that has been brought about by the hard work of others. That has to make selection difficult and controversial. Do you want someone like Adam Ellis who’ll ride whenever and wherever he’s asked or (insert your own chosen name here) who’s first question is “how much will I get paid?

Fourth, Will Cairns selection. He was willing and able to be there, and maybe his dad helped with the team finances, maybe not. But who else would you have? It was a shame that, unlike the other teams, he didn’t get a ride but (a) unlike other teams, GB wasn’t built to use the reserve tactically (b) the other four did the job and (c) to put him out cold in the nominated heats on a gaters’ track would only have got his bikes and himself mucky. Will’s day will come, it just wasn’t yesterday. 
Finally, and this repeats my first point, congratulations to the team, not just the riders but Ollie, Vicky, Rob, Chris Neville, Steve Williams and all the sponsors big and small. No more “plucky Brits bringing up the rear” but World Cup Finalists. Again. 

[Bavarian]

I was at Landshut last night, and Team GB thoroughly deserved theri triumph. They were head and shoulders above the rest, even though it was strange for us to see Leon Flint struggle to score points on what is his Polish league home track.  

Germany was genuinly believeing we could beat Great Britain at Landshut. Our hopes were dealt a blow when Erik Riss fell ill again, and currently neither Hausl nor the newcomer Skupien are adequate subsitutes for Riss. Huckenbeck and Blodorn did what was expected of them, Wolbert was not quite as good as expected, and in the end even the Czech wer placed ahead of the Germans.

There was not much excitement for the 5,100 crowd last night at Landshut. They had expected a better fight for the victory, but the track was once more put under water by Phil Morris, and even when it began become better (the best race of the night was the Lambert v Blodorn battle in heat 7), another extensive track grade after heat twelve seemed to spoil it again and destroy the possibility for the riders to overtake manoevres on an outside line.

I was a nice evening, the weather was good, the organisation of the event nearly perfect, but there was not a lot happening on the track last night. Less than a handful of genuine overtakes, and all in all not much good racing, unfortunately. It could be exactly the same for tonight's SGP, if they are unable to prepare a better track.

 

[Fromafar]

21 minutes ago, Bavarian said:

I was at Landshut last night, and Team GB thoroughly deserved theri triumph. They were head and shoulders above the rest, even though it was strange for us to see Leon Flint struggle to score points on what is his Polish league home track.  

Germany was genuinly believeing we could beat Great Britain at Landshut. Our hopes were dealt a blow when Erik Riss fell ill again, and currently neither Hausl nor the newcomer Skupien are adequate subsitutes for Riss. Huckenbeck and Blodorn did what was expected of them, Wolbert was not quite as good as expected, and in the end even the Czech wer placed ahead of the Germans.

There was not much excitement for the 5,100 crowd last night at Landshut. They had expected a better fight for the victory, but the track was once more put under water by Phil Morris, and even when it began become better (the best race of the night was the Lambert v Blodorn battle in heat 7), another extensive track grade after heat twelve seemed to spoil it again and destroy the possibility for the riders to overtake manoevres on an outside line.

I was a nice evening, the weather was good, the organisation of the event nearly perfect, but there was not a lot happening on the track last night. Less than a handful of genuine overtakes, and all in all not much good racing, unfortunately. It could be exactly the same for tonight's SGP, if they are unable to prepare a better track.

 

Morris certainly like to spoil the entertainment with his over watering.

[Fromafar]

1 hour ago, Wee Eck said:

First of all, and I’m not sure if anyone has said this yet, congratulations to the GB team for making another big final. The success of those running the team is a fair reward for all the effort they have put in, turning a cheap pizzas and beers operation into a professional looking and performing team. Some might try to detract from the result due to the nature of the opposition but you can only beat what’s in front of you.
Secondly, I hope people picked up the not too obscure comment made by Ollie Allen of picking the best team available to him. Much has been made of Dan T missing but Dan chose to ride for Edinburgh rather than his country. I find that disappointing especially as I gather - though hopefully I’ve been misinformed - that Dan is missing Berwick tonight because he’s headed off to Poland. 
Thirdly, we do need a strong fourth rider if we’re not going to finish fourth out of four in the final. But it has to be someone who will fit into the ethos of the GB team and not just be someone who, having previously turned down chances to ride for the team (and there are a few of them) now fancies a bit of the glory that has been brought about by the hard work of others. That has to make selection difficult and controversial. Do you want someone like Adam Ellis who’ll ride whenever and wherever he’s asked or (insert your own chosen name here) who’s first question is “how much will I get paid?

Fourth, Will Cairns selection. He was willing and able to be there, and maybe his dad helped with the team finances, maybe not. But who else would you have? It was a shame that, unlike the other teams, he didn’t get a ride but (a) unlike other teams, GB wasn’t built to use the reserve tactically (b) the other four did the job and (c) to put him out cold in the nominated heats on a gaters’ track would only have got his bikes and himself mucky. Will’s day will come, it just wasn’t yesterday. 
Finally, and this repeats my first point, congratulations to the team, not just the riders but Ollie, Vicky, Rob, Chris Neville, Steve Williams and all the sponsors big and small. No more “plucky Brits bringing up the rear” but World Cup Finalists. Again. 

Finding a strong 4th rider is going to be a challenge. Let’s face it Bewley and Lambert is all we have at World Level.

[tyler42]

1 hour ago, Wee Eck said:

First of all, and I’m not sure if anyone has said this yet, congratulations to the GB team for making another big final. The success of those running the team is a fair reward for all the effort they have put in, turning a cheap pizzas and beers operation into a professional looking and performing team. Some might try to detract from the result due to the nature of the opposition but you can only beat what’s in front of you.
Secondly, I hope people picked up the not too obscure comment made by Ollie Allen of picking the best team available to him. Much has been made of Dan T missing but Dan chose to ride for Edinburgh rather than his country. I find that disappointing especially as I gather - though hopefully I’ve been misinformed - that Dan is missing Berwick tonight because he’s headed off to Poland. 
Thirdly, we do need a strong fourth rider if we’re not going to finish fourth out of four in the final. But it has to be someone who will fit into the ethos of the GB team and not just be someone who, having previously turned down chances to ride for the team (and there are a few of them) now fancies a bit of the glory that has been brought about by the hard work of others. That has to make selection difficult and controversial. Do you want someone like Adam Ellis who’ll ride whenever and wherever he’s asked or (insert your own chosen name here) who’s first question is “how much will I get paid?

Fourth, Will Cairns selection. He was willing and able to be there, and maybe his dad helped with the team finances, maybe not. But who else would you have? It was a shame that, unlike the other teams, he didn’t get a ride but (a) unlike other teams, GB wasn’t built to use the reserve tactically (b) the other four did the job and (c) to put him out cold in the nominated heats on a gaters’ track would only have got his bikes and himself mucky. Will’s day will come, it just wasn’t yesterday. 
Finally, and this repeats my first point, congratulations to the team, not just the riders but Ollie, Vicky, Rob, Chris Neville, Steve Williams and all the sponsors big and small. No more “plucky Brits bringing up the rear” but World Cup Finalists. Again. 

So, Lawson's quote in the star. " I must have pissed someone off. didn't even get a phone call," Is what lies? 15 point max on Wednesday, 10+3 at Northampton the following night, but in Allan's words. "I would rather pick someone with enthusiasm." Last time I looked, Enthusiasm over talent doesn't win you trophies. Yes, Lawson is not into riding British finals and open meetings, etc., but he obviously would like to have been picked to ride for Team GB. Being a good rider, it seems is only part of the equation if you want to be part of Team GB Limited. You say, and I quote, "(insert your own chosen name here) whose first question is “how much will I get paid? I could turn that on its head and say the first question Team GB ltd ask is, "How much are you willing to pay to become part of the team?" It's already been mooted that Cairns dad paid through sponsorship for his boy to be picked. Hagon's dad sponsored them the other year. Next thing you know, he became part of the Team GB setup!! Sad state of Affairs when Speedway starts going down the same road as F1, where you have to pay to get your place on the team.

[ouch]

When will the GB management learn? Watching heats with Leon or Will running a last against Bartoz, Brady & Lindgren just won’t do it for the fans back home. Far better to see Lawson, Harris, Thompson or King running a last instead. Until these people in charge cater to the fans needs then there’s no way we will add to all the FIM gold medals picked up recently. 

At least if Lawson was in the team then GB could make a bob or two as he could re plaster the changing room wall that Nikki Pedersen had punched multiple holes into. 

[Wee Eck]

12 minutes ago, tyler42 said:

So, Lawson's quote in the star. " I must have pissed someone off. didn't even get a phone call," Is what lies? 15 point max on Wednesday, 10+3 at Northampton the following night, but in Allan's words. "I would rather pick someone with enthusiasm." Last time I looked, Enthusiasm over talent doesn't win you trophies. Yes, Lawson is not into riding British finals and open meetings, etc., but he obviously would like to have been picked to ride for Team GB. Being a good rider, it seems is only part of the equation if you want to be part of Team GB Limited. You say, and I quote, "(insert your own chosen name here) whose first question is “how much will I get paid? I could turn that on its head and say the first question Team GB ltd ask is, "How much are you willing to pay to become part of the team?" It's already been mooted that Cairns dad paid through sponsorship for his boy to be picked. Hagon's dad sponsored them the other year. Next thing you know, he became part of the Team GB setup!! Sad state of Affairs when Speedway starts going down the same road as F1, where you have to pay to get your place on the team.

I didn’t name any rider. Deliberately. Many have a claim for a place, been offered a chance to ride in a lesser event, turned it down and now want to come in for the big event. Should they be allowed to leap frog those that have shown commitment to GB? Or do they need to show a little humility in order to earn a place?
But I accept it’s a dilemma - Painter and Blackwell have built a group around them to develop a winning team and, with the exception of last year have done really well. My view is that part of the success is continuity - the team is stronger as a whole than the individual parts. Bringing in riders on a one off basis runs the risk of ruining that continuity. 
And as far as paying for a rider to compete - where is the evidence that Paul Cairns has paid (bribed?) GB to allow Will to ride? And suggesting that Hagon Shocks sponsorship - when was that, by the way, as I don’t recall seeing their logo on GB Team suits in the recent past - has got Sam a team place isn’t really borne up by the facts.

The main team that rode last night were chosen on merit. The reserve perhaps on availability - and willingness to race. And we qualified. What more do people want?

[IainB]

3 minutes ago, Wee Eck said:

I didn’t name any rider. Deliberately. Many have a claim for a place, been offered a chance to ride in a lesser event, turned it down and now want to come in for the big event. Should they be allowed to leap frog those that have shown commitment to GB? Or do they need to show a little humility in order to earn a place?
But I accept it’s a dilemma - Painter and Blackwell have built a group around them to develop a winning team and, with the exception of last year have done really well. My view is that part of the success is continuity - the team is stronger as a whole than the individual parts. Bringing in riders on a one off basis runs the risk of ruining that continuity. 
And as far as paying for a rider to compete - where is the evidence that Paul Cairns has paid (bribed?) GB to allow Will to ride? And suggesting that Hagon Shocks sponsorship - when was that, by the way, as I don’t recall seeing their logo on GB Team suits in the recent past - has got Sam a team place isn’t really borne up by the facts.

The main team that rode last night were chosen on merit. The reserve perhaps on availability - and willingness to race. And we qualified. What more do people want?

It's all very well and good having a professional national team, which has absolutely knocked anything that came before out of the park, but... to what end?

How does it benefit British Speedway? It very nearly wasn't even on TV last night and even then behind a £30+ per month pay wall. We don't even get to see the national team in on track action in this country and the only connection it has with fans is through social media.

[Whitelinehugger]

11 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

GB were lucky, lucky they didn’t get drawn against Denmark 

Up against a weak field

[tyler42]

5 minutes ago, Wee Eck said:

where is the evidence that Paul Cairns has paid (bribed?) GB to allow Will to ride? And suggesting that Hagon Shocks sponsorship - when was that, by the way, as I don’t recall seeing their logo on GB Team suits in the recent past - has got Sam a team place isn’t really borne up by the facts

I don't think I used the word Bribed. As for Hagon, you don't have to have a logo on a team suit to sponsor the team. Look at the end of the day when it comes to the final, as long as we stay clear of injuries. The team picks itself.

Unless the riders who rode last night had to pay for their own expenses, then I can't fathom why so many were overlooked? Unless as you say, all the riders who are imo better than Cairns and Flint, turned it down. Lawson's article in the star suggests otherwise.