GeneralMelchett

Careful, you can't make positive comments about the SKY presentation team! Personally I have immensely enjoyed the entire SWC series, I haven't watched much speedway this year but the racing and all round presentation has IMHO been excellent.

It's only the same treatment we (as in England) fans dish out to footballers. I can remember Beckham post World Cup 98 it was embarrassing the treatment he got. I remember Man U coming to Hillsborough Wed won 3-1 and Beckham got booed abused and spat at all day long, particularly when he came to take the corners at the Kop end. Of course a couple of years later when he scored that goal against Greece he was once more lauded as a here everyone conveniently forgetting they'd hated him for the last 2-3 years

I can remember the SWC qualifier at Owlerton in 2002. Team GB were ahead of the Aussies, they used a joker and subsequently won the meeting to get qualification straight through to the SWC final. Team GB then got eliminated in the race off. had the joker and the rain not curtailed the meeting at heat 20 team GB might have gone straight through to the final and the Aussies would not been World Team Champions that year. No sympathy whatsoever - swings and roundabouts spring to mind. If the rules are consistently left alone you will benefit sometimes and lose out on other occasions. To be fair to the Aussies they don't seem to have made a big deal out of it anyway.

Yes it was that good I'm going to watch the re-run at 11.30pm!

In all I'm quite impressed given our opposition. Also the racing is of a good standard with several good races so whilst everyone else gets involved the the blind alleys of commentry, whom should be riding and what moniker we should adopt for the home nation etc I'm happy to simply watch the racing and enjoy it. King for me has been superb, he is developing nicely anyway but I must admit he has exceeded my expectations of him tonight.

Our performance was woeful, however we last won this competition in 1989 and many will remember that meeting for other reasons. We aren't good enough, and being somewhat frank we haven't been for many years, in fact in all the years I've been wtaching speedway (since 1987) we've won the WTC once in 21 years! I don't really see what Middlo, Lynch, Boocock and Pratt can do if they don't have the tools. The riders looked unfocused and not interested until it seemed that third place was in danger, by then they were so far behind they were never going to catch up. I seriously doubt we can make it trough on Thursday but I would be delighted to be proved wrong. Whilst I hate to say it riders like Stead mirror people like Andrew Silver (who was my all time speedway hero) they seem to never quite realise their potential and after inital promise at the top level they seem to slip backwards.

Re Kroner he doesn't ride in Sweden but his form in Poland ( for Lodz) has been pretty good too. Got a full 15 the other week. Both have a valid argument for their inclusion really.

Spot on, they really made the effort and the crowd seemed to respond, so they in turn responded to that. One or two of them could be riding over here soon perhaps, they certainly seem like they could hold down an EL position.

Interesting to get Polish fans view, Jarek has IMO stagnated in the last couple of seasons, which is a shame as he is a great talent.

Not in the GP tho is he??

I've long said that riders who give the EL a miss end up weaker as a result. Look at the year Ryan Sullivan gave the EL a miss he bombed big style all over the place, not just in the GP's. Look at Lindback this season, nowhwere in the GP's. Hample hasn't ridden in the EL since 2003 and I really think it's held him back. It's very rare I agree with orion but he has a point, the be as sharp as possible you need a lot of riding.

Interesting footnote to all this, Nicholls as quoted in the Sport section of the Daily telegraph saw it thus The British No 1 said the decision was a disgrace since the clash was "six of one and half a dozen of the other" Which in my opinion is about right. The problem lies in the crash occuring well after the first bend then in the eyes of the referee and rules somebody has to go for being the cause of the stoppage. As has been debated already, no clear definitive answer between ourselves on here exists, therefore we just have to accept the referees decision as being the correct one. I do agree with some on here who have said they need to reign themselves in for both their sakes otherwise the inital prognosis of Nicholls at Peterborough in 2005 is likely to come true. Personally the way it seems to have dragged on UN mediation is needed.

Considering he is the product of the Conference league we/he should all be dead proud of having made it to the SWC. Thus proving maybe the Conference league is working and will throw up the odd world class rider. (altho i think he has some way to go, he's definitely on the way)

You could well be right, however on current form etc and not knowing how many Louis would score pre meeting it was the right decision to bring him in. However it raised confidence before the meeting which is an important factor, intangible but important. Secondly I don't expect Stead, Louis or Norris would have scored more than the 3 or so that Louis got. Just as an example. Cl's first ride was a GP standard line up Andersen, Adams, Max and Louis, and i feel that Louis, Floppy or Stead would have been hard pushed to get a point in that one. His second ride was Crump, Pedersen and Lindgren, this time he took a point, again possibly the best he could have hoped for. In short any three of those riders would have been hard pushed to have scored more than the 3 points Louis got.

Yes that's a good example that is, "What goes around comes around" said after heat 13 in the race off well who won heat 25 in the final?? Who came second after Crump fell?? What goes around comes around means he got me this time, maybe I'll beat him next time. I rode hard he rode hard. What happend next, could be a good question for Question of Sport dyou not think? never gloat til it's over, less risk of looking stupid> However in praise of SN he took his defeat like a man last night, and was dignity itself when interviewed.

Just read this what a cock you are!

What goes around comes around yes bobbins decision, however it all worked out allright in the end for the lad, which i'm sure makes a few people sick on here.

Yes indeed many congratulations to the winners, comiserations to Team GB, it was a valiant effort, and an entertaining meeting so well done to all riders.

Yes and it also shows just how far behind we are as well! Regardless good effort yes, still a long way from being world champs, which pains me to say.

What excellent news well done Josh!

I can't say specifically, I'd like to think i would but as i wasn't in that particular situation, i can't say 100% either way. However many years ago when playing rugby somebody deliberatly aimed an elbow at my throat, luckily it was a glancing blow which only left me with a damaged voicebox. Had it hit my adams apple where i believe it was intened it could have shattered it, causing it to swell and block my windpipe, possibly killing me. At the end of the game the player approached me and offered a handshake, i accepted and told him in no uncertain terms what i thought of his actions, he then apologised and we left it at that. good enuff for you?

Yeah righty opinion be divided.

Yes I do for two reasons, which obviously you are unable to fathom. Ever been a sportsman?? 1/ It's quite acceptable to shake someones hand and at the same time a wee word in their ear at the same time, something along the lines of that move was a disgrace and I take great pleasure in accpeting your congratulations cos I still beat you even tho you tried to foul me! 2/ Magnanimony in victory ALWAYS gives you the moral high ground. It just undoes the great work SN did in winning that race IMO, and no exmaple to set.

eeer no, incorrect Post race after the interview Hans admitted Scott had ridden well and said "What goes around comes around" clearly, IMO, meaning I rode hard, he rode hard and he got the better of me this time and I have to accept it. No dummies no toys slung at all. As they were on the wind down lap HE was the one who, after losing the race, offered the hand of congratulation to SN. So please explain how this make him sulky?

Another excellent post on the subject, SN did pull out a top draw ride.