srbramble

" Come on lads, I could murder a waldorf salad" doesn't have the same ring somehow.

Up to now, yes. We got a better price for 2010 than we did for this year, although I did book it before the dates were anounced, so it's possible they may try and hike up the price a bit. Not the greatest atmosphere, but the rooms were top notch and the food was ok. but we will be looking out for anything that looks better.

There are 3 park inns, and I think the one you're in is on St Davids drive, which seems to be closest to the stadium. Ours was a little further out, on Circle way, but still only £10 taxi ride away.

Cardiff north?

I've been since 2007, and it gets better each time. Met loads of cool people last year, including Holta. The 2 Swedish girls we met on the friday, and spent the whole weekend with, were great company, the group of lads from Croydon, who were messy before the racing began, were a great laugh, hope to see them next year, meeting and chatting with Holta in the hotel at the end of the night, the Cov lads with us, getting smashed both nights, bloody great. if you try to do it on the cheap, you miss all that.

Sounds nice. You haven't been for a while, have you?

I do understand that some may find it hard to raise the cash for Cardiff, but I put money aside each week to fund my trip, and believe me, pushing the boat out a bit does make the weekend a lot better than roughing it.

If I hear his name mentioned again, in the same breath as wildcard, I think I'll scream. I admire the loyalty shown by his adoring fans, but back in the real world, there is no justification for giving him yet another chance to blow the opportunity, when there are more deserving riders out there. No faulting is team and equipment, which means there is another reason for his dismal displays, himself. As they say, you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear.

Quick temper and hot head go together, as you said you have both yourself. Other, more mature riders are allowed a blow out, but not Tai? You're just hiding anti Tai feelings.

I quoted the Boyce/Gollob incident, as it seems to be the most infamous of them all, also, the man has become the Australian WC team manager, so he is deemed suitable enough for that job, even though he demonstrated his quick temper, which is basically what you accuse Tai of. Maturity to be a GP rider? Tell that to Sajfutdinov for his toy throwing, and Gollob, who left his bike on the start/finish line whilst a race was in progess. As for grudges, how do you know he has grudges? A meeting that involves a rider you have had a recent problem with, doesn't constitute a grudge.

If being a hothead prevented anybody from entry into the GP series, then we would have no series at all. You judge Tai simply from a few incidents on TV, which is pretty pathetic. He's hardly Craig Boyce, is he?

It goes without saying that many brits will do the same, me included, but that's not the arguement here. Of the 4 names mentioned as possible wildcards, his is the most rediculous.

The more I think about it, the more I believe this that this is no more than mischief making. With that stats provided, we can clearly see Kennett does not deserve a place in the GPs'. Don't get me wrong, I like Eddie and his style of racing, I just don't see him doing himself any favours by accepting a wildcard place, even if he has, or is to be, offered one in the first place. Tais' place is questionable, but I see him offering so much more than others, plus, he will be a crowd puller wherever he goes, and the sponsors will be queueing up to get on board with him. As is the case for Darcy Ward, who, along with Tai, will give this series a kick up the backside it so clearly needs.The same cannot be said for Eddie, I'm afraid.

Not a good idea at all. The riders wouldn't want to go there, and niether would many fans. All the Gps currently, are within a reasonable distance from riders' european commitments, so the travelling the day after isn't such an issue. I know there are noises to have a GP in Oz, but that is understandable, due to the amount of interest in the sport over there, and it has been done before. South Africa hasn't got one reason why they should get a GP round. Even if the locals are prepared to support such an event, wouldn't the cost of the tickets make their situation worse? Bad idea mate.

Australia is a better bet. They have several stadiums that are under-used since their Olympics. South Africa has little interest in speedway, and that is at a very basic level.

Post 13.

Are the 4 picks 100% nailed on? Lindgren and Woffinden I can understand. Both are the future of the sport, young and brilliant, and and can draw the sponsorship necessary to build a long GP career. Andersen has had many years in the series, enough time to prove himself, and IMO, hasn't done that for a while. As for Kennett, I don't get that at all. He's at best an average EL rider, with little or no real form overseas. There are numerous young riders who should have got in before he did, and the best of them is Darcy Ward, who has set the speedway world alight with his results this season. Surely, if youre going to go out on a limb and take a punt on a new face, wouldn't the under 21 world champion get in before Kennett?

Suggest that when you pillage other peoples posts, at least have the decency to acredit them.

There is absolutely no way Harris should get a wildcard. On merit? How do you work that out? He's been so far off the pace in nearly all the GPs, which is quite surprising, when you consider the quality of his machinery, the sponsors he has, and the man doing his engines. I have heard, from a swedish friend who has many contacts around the continent, that he is mighty fond of partying, which suggests to me his professionalism must be questioned, and whether he really has the right stuff to compete at this level. There are many others who deserve their chance before Harris gets another go at it. That includes a couple of youngsters, who have the fire in their bellies to really give the series the shot in the arm it so desperately needs. Ward, Woffinden, Zagar and Lindgren for me.

I don't understand why people are so against having some new blood in the series for 2010. Lets face it, next years champion will be either Crump, Pedersen or Sajfudinov, with possibly Hancock and Gollob giving them a run for their money. You see, there lies the current problem. There are only 5 or 6 riders who have what it takes to win, so the other 9 or 10 are bit part players in the series, so just for a change, lets see if we can find the next contender for the title sooner rather than later. I'm bored with pretty much the same old faces year in, year out. Apart from one freak weekend, when has Harris ever justified his inclusion? There are 20 or 30 riders out there who can out perform at least half the field of this year. Too many under achievers this season who don't really warrant a place next year, yet we are so quick to want them back in, only to keep on moaning that the whole gp series is dull. Lets have one radical year where we try something different.

In other words, if Gollob had thrown himself and the bike down on purpose, cheating I think thats called, then he would have got the decision. It wasn't that bad a contact, as he was able to stay on the bike. 2 ex world champions condoning cheating then. Say no more.

I'm not a Nicki fan but I was pleased he won last night. He has had a nightmare GP season, not all his own doing, and it was good to see him back to winning ways. The series would be poorer without him. Gollob deserves to get a huge fine and a ban for what he did last night. To put his fellow competitors safety in danger in that way was disgraceful, just because he didn't like a bit of hard riding. Pedersen has had worse this season, but hasn't done anything as irresponsible as that. A great rider he may be, but being sporting goes with that label, and he showed none of it last night. My new villain for 2010. Track was rubbish from the off. One line, blue groove nonsense, we expect so much more from that place. Wildcard pick for Harris? Do me a favour. Why waste a pick on a rider who clearly isn't worthy. Crump the champion. Well deserved.

A true gentleman, a most sporting rider, and one of the best ever to compete in the GPs. Let himself down a bit this season, but he is in the twilight years. Still absolute quality in the leagues, and we will miss him when he retires from the sport. Have a good one Leigh.

A forward thinking decision by the FIM, but are there any details as to how it will run, in terms of venues, dates, format and how they are going to select the competitors?

Ward and Woffinden don't come into that category. They are what sponsors dream of, which only strengthens their case to be included for 2010.