srbramble

Shouldn't be the top 8. Top 6 would be more appropriate. At the moment, we have Scott and Bomber, in 10th and 11th place. We are all still waiting for them to do something, and the series is nearly over! The amount of heats won between them, can be counted on one hand. Yet, they lie, only a few points or so, off the qualifying places. They have shown that, by being in it, they have diluted the quality of the competition, as well as the others below them in the current standings, I may add. We could give the speedway countries seedings, like they do in football. Depending on the seeding of a particular country, that would determine how many riders they have in the qualifiers. For example, Poland = 10, Sweden = 8, GB = 8, Russia = 3, Denmark = 8, Hungary = 1, Czech Rep = 2, Australia = 4, etc( don't hold me to these figures, its only guesswork). The riders from each country could be selected from their averages in the league they compete in. If its more than one, then use the best one. It would show their consistancy to perform, not so ruthless as a one off meeting, where luck, or bad luck, can come into it(look what happened to Holder in the last qualifiers). You could still have the wild cards if necessary, and the 2 reserves could come from the unsuccessful riders from these qualifiers. Just a basic idea. I'm sure someone will shoot it down! All I ask is that you are constructive, and not abusive) What do people think of an under 21 or 23 GP series? Less riders(maybe 12), to run over less meetings( 6 or 7), ridden on the permanent tracks only, GB, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, and 2 or 3 others. I appreciate the amount of meetings riders already have, but I believe, there is room for a competition such as this, if we rid our sport of these pointless local trophies and challenges. More competitive speedway is so much more appealing.

Anybody watching the WTC final in denmark tonight, noticed the Danish supporters cheering, when opposing teams riders are coming off? I noticed it, when Watt took Lindgren out, and just now, when Holder did his wheelie. It seems the Brits aren't the only fans who are a "disgrace".

Can't be publicised well, if I, and a pal who has been an avid speedway fan of 30 years, were discussing the need for one only this morning. My apologies for my ignorance tho.

I'm wondering what the possibility was, of running a WTC for the under 21s. Probably a bit selfish, seeing as it seems to be only us, suffering in the senior event. There must be enough young riders, for each country to make up a team of 5, and it would give them experience, for when they progress into the senior squad. If we need to make some room in the season,we could get rid of some of the meaningless competitions, such as the Craven shield and the Premier league trophy.

On Nermark, it was all about the ability to earn money. He believes, that there is more to be earned in the PL. On Tai, I have heard rumours to suggest the same applies to him. Don't be surprised if he takes another season in the PL.

I wish everyone would shut up about the commentators. So what, they are a little annoying, but none of you moaning, would be any different, if you were in their shoes. And by complaining constantly, you are equally as annoying as they are. Put a sock in it, or watch something else. Its getting really boring.

So very proud of Woffy tonight. For his first WTC, he more than held his own. His heat win was a moment I will savour for a long time.

Just to satisfy my curiosity, why are you quoting swedish averages, and why are you comparing us to Poland? I thought the meeting tonight was in Denmark, and, IMO, our main rivals tonight are the Swedes.

I expect that he was a little more optimistic of a better performance than they actually produced, and more optimistic of being able to produce a better performance also. And I think, he was one of the many, who thought that the Danes were favourites, and so, I am at a loss to understand why you feel it neccesary to highlight that particular part of my post.

And while we are on the subject, I see that another british man, riding at no5 I believe, has a better average than Mr Allen. That man, being Eddie Kennett. My point is, that Allen was picked over Eddie, because of his home advantage, a fact, you seem to be ignoring.

There will be plenty out there, who would have expected more from him, when you consider the advantage he had over many of the others. If, according to you, thats all we should expect from the likes of Allen and Stead, then, maybe we should all take a reality check, ignore the optimism of the team and their manager, and set our goal at a more realistic level, which, at the moment, is hopefully scraping through to the final. Seeing as you seem top be a stats man, and you've made a reference to his position in the Coventry side as a poor excuse, can you tell me, how many riders from the other nations competing, are riding at no5 for their respective league teams?

Our best option, IMO, is to try and hang on to the coat tails of the Swedes. The poles, I think, will be too good for all the teams, Russia, without Emil, will not be good enough to trouble anybody, although saying that, may still create a surprise, at least, enough to worry us at some stage, I suppose. We have a chance. Not much of one, but we have 2 new boys who have nothing to lose, and maybe their enthusiasm will spread within the team. The other 3, more experienced members of the team, must be aware of the reaction to their appalling effort on monday night, and surely will be trying to put things right. Good luck to all the team, but especially to Tai. I hope he does himself proud. Thats all I hope for him. A good score will be a bonus, but if not, I'm sure he, and Eddie, won't get slaughtered for it.

" Fatboy" is a very good nickname for him recently.

It seems that you had your Coventry blinkers on last night. I'd expect effort alone, to get him praise, if he was an up and coming youngster, in the CL or PL. But, he is an experienced EL rider, who has been picked to ride for his country on numerous occasions. He was also picked last night, for his knowledge of the track. And the return form him, was very poor indeed. Don't forget, there were 2 PL riders, who managed to win a race each, and they raced against the same opposition, I believe, and it wasn't their home track. I am not suggesting he deserves all of the criticism, for from it. They were all a digrace, IMO. But you are defending him by suggesting he had a better meetin than the others, and I can't have that at all.

Absolutely gutted. I was looking forward to seeing his race with Woffy, for one. Every time I see his name in a line up, I get tingles up my spine. I was made aware of Emil at last season under 21 semi at Rye. THE most exciting prospect in the world of speedway at the moment. I even put him just slightly above Tai, simply because of his determination to win, when he misses a gate, and the sheer effort he seems to put into every metre of a 4 lap race.

With 2 last places, one 3rd and 2 2nds, I hardly think thats deserves singling out for praise. Interested to know what you mean by "really well". After all, he was on his home track, and 5 points from 5 rides, in a league meeting, would get him a tirade of abuse. I was led to believe that he was rather a good gater, but no evidence of that last night. Not much better than his brother, IMO.

Thats because there is plenty to moan about, especially when people like yourself, bury their heads in the sand, and pretend everything in the garden is rosy, when it is clearly not. Don't forget, these "people" paid your wages for a while, and they are all entitled to an opinion. This meeting highlighted how far behind the best speedway nations we are. And the fans are worried that without radical changes, it only going to get worse.

Woffinden doesn't mind a slick track, which is pretty much common knowledge, so, no hindsight needed, just some simple deduction. From what I saw of Lynch tonight, he come across as a bit wet. Certainly not a motivator. Reminded me of the teacher who gets the p1ss ripped out of him by the schoolkids. Not his fault the team couldn't dial it in tho. The excuses were pathetic, coming from such experienced riders. We are now the laughing stock of europe. The youngsters can't do any worse, so lets give the usual team member a kick up the arse, and completely reshuffle the side.

In the event of an inury to a rider in his first race, surely the team would be able to use a replacement for the rest of his rides, should he be unable to continue. If so, who is eligible to do so?

Totally agree. Yet another rule that makes a our sport a laughing stock.

Good point. I guess, the rides will be taken by one or two, of the other four.

Really looking forward to see how our team manager deals with the evening. One question; Is he able to use either Tai or Eddie tonight, or does he have to stick with the 5 he has named, regardless of form or injury? Thanks

Does anybody know the situation, regarding the fitness of all the team GB riders? I'm wondering, due to the current form of Woffy, if there are any doubts over any of the team, whether it would be worth giving him a couple of rides? I don't believe we can progress tonight, as the danes look a far better team, on current form, than we do. Therefore, as long as we get into the race off for thursday, give Eddie and Tai a go. The extra practice the team will get, will be invaluable for the final on saturday.