salty

But it's a point you've been banging on about for years and often bring it into threads where it is irrelevant. Last night's crash was bad enough and I am delighted it appears no serious injuries were forthcoming, but I can't see why you have to use that news to have another dig at people using "internet made up names".

If you read my post again I said "apart from this season..he's relied on a nomination". I don't think you could quibble with him getting a pick the year he lost in the run-off to Holta and Nicholls either. But to be brutal he would be getting picked for 2012 as being the best of a mediocre lot amongst the Brits. After the way he finished last year it's disappointing to see him struggle to qualify this year.

Bomber burst onto the GP scene (as you put it) on the back of a nomination and apart from this season has always relied on a nomination to keep his place. I would expect he will have to finish this season extremely strongly to get a pick for next year. If he continues at his current level it would be hard to justify giving him a go for another season. Like some other posters I'm not that sure that the GP series needs a Brit (other than possibly as a Cardiff wild-card). It certainly makes no difference to me if there is a Brit riding whether I watch a GP or not.

Harris still has a chance to get himself up the standings, but hard to see that happening after last night. If Bomber can't make a good case in the remaining rounds then I don't think there should be a Brit for next year. As it stands 9th-12th positions are held by Pedersen, Lindgren, Lindback and Bomber. Substitute Darcy for Lindback, who has already qualified, and you could see Bomber sneaking in. No other Brit should be considered in my opinion, none of them have done anything like enough to be included.

I think Holta will probably regret trying to ride through the pain this season. He's clearly nowhere fit enough to compete and would probably have been better off having the op on his wrists back in the spring. Unfortunately, he knows that he is unlikely to get any help from a nomination so he carried on, but it is painful watching him. As Mothersen says above, Holta was in a no win situation. Plenty of other riders in the same boat would have had the likely luxury of knowing they would be given a nomination.

Lindback, Zagar and Kylmakorpi would do for me, though it wouldn't surprise me to see at least one of the Poles make it.

The fundamentalist zealots of the Wimborne Road Grandstand strike again. Fresh from lustily booing Chris Harris for the heinous crime of underperforming in an Aces race-jacket, therefore clearly manipulating his average the better to benefit the evil Bees for next season, they now want Kennett expunged from the season. Where will it end? Gordon Kennett stripped of his World Championship second in 1978? White City to lose their Championship pennant from the previous year, because of Uncle Gordon's murky links with the Weslake concern? Surely Kennett was not acting alone? You trying to tell me his team mates and management didn't know? Ban them all, especially that Larsen one with the suspicious surname. It is so good that one club and it's followers are standing firm against all the underhand practices prevalent in the Sport today.

Noted - no probs. Will be interesting to see how Ward goes. Did I see somewhere that he had ruled himself out of the GP's for next year?

What do you mean? You are the one pointing out the Polish fans reactions, I just pointed out that Brits would probably react the same.

To be honest the reaction would be similar if a non-Brit got the gig at Cardiff.

I suspect the money goes to promoters to bolster their losses. Without the shared events and the Sky deal the losses would be unsustainable for certain promotions I would have thought.

Will wait to hear the outcome of the enquiry before rushing to condemn Eddie, hope there is some sort of innocent explanation.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you are 100% genuine. Mark Cavendish cyclist - just won the green jersey in the Tour de France? I guess most cycling fans would ask the same about Chris Harris, but Cavendish's exploits did make the national news bulletins a couple of weeks ago.

I think the media coverage for Cardiff (such as it is) does tend to centre on the British interest. The features I have seen in the national press tend to focus on the British riders. But surely that can be covered by the wild card for the particular meeting. Regarding the British involvement in the series, for years it was implied that there had to be 2 Brits, so it was refreshing to see that change for the 2011 season. I personally don't like the nomination system as I feel it discriminates against certain riders at the expense of others. GB have benefited greatly in the past few years as it has been rare that a Brit has qualified by right. I accept that the nominations have allowed riders who have suffered from injury a chance for the following year, but I don't agree when they are used to bolster national "quotas" and for blatant commercial reasons. Wasn't it Pepe who reportedly got a pick a few years ago purely because of the influence of his sponsors? Currently few GP riders enter the qualifying process. One can understand they are wary of committing to extra meetings, but as only 8 of them can currently qualify as of right it means that many of them are then relying of a nomination. I would like a return to the old style GP challenge where the 7 non-qualifiers are maybe seeded through to meet 9 who have qualified.

It would amaze me. Eddie is nowhere near good enough for the GP's. BSI will be hoping Bomber ups his game in the last few Gp's to allow them to give him a chance. Holta deserves a bit of leeway as he has been severely restricted by his wrist injuries, but I think he's always known he has to finish top 8.

Certainly improved after a turgid start, with some good races. Loved Heat 20 between Gollob and Emil. Gollob looked underpowered tonight, which isn't the norm. Not sure what the regs are regarding Heat 14. Can't really blame the ref for not noticing the problem with the tapes from his side on view. If it's only going to come to light after a replay can the race be re-run? Zagar was good value as a wildcard.

Agree that East London is naff, but not sure West Ham would be appropriate. Wouldn't want to be associated with the shambles run by the Porn Bros.

Was interested to read in your earlier post about the interest in looking for a suitable Speedway venue in the "Olympic" area. It would be great if could come off, but I would worry that the change in demographics in East London over the past couple of decades might mean that Speedway is unlikely to prosper.

Wait until Janno has had a bit more practice.

Well at least it's honest. You could hardly expect them to be cheered to the rafters for their lack of action over the past decade and a half. Maybe the boos will make them realise the depth of feeling and support, not to mention the massive crowd.

I agree with the comment about the starting gates. Surely there is a way that they can be more evenly distributed throughout the meeting. Teams getting blocks of inside or outside gates often distorts the scores.

Well the link between BSI and Reading (at that time) is obvious, but to hold a World Final at the place?? Embarassing.

Since the format came under the BSI umbrella we have had 3 Finals in GB. Considering we held the last one at Smallmead, I'm quite glad that subsequent finals have been held elsewhere.

Good points, but there has always been some sort of device to try and help teams get back in contention. Can't remember whether you were able to use tac subs in the WTC back in the 70's, I think the only option was to track your reserve. I guess we've got used to the joker by now, though I don't like the way it encourages teams to drop a point to enable them to use it. On reflection I would prefer to see the end of the joker and be happy with simple tac subs. Haven't got a race-card in front of me but it does seem the way the gates are allocated is an area that can be improved. Teams set to clumps of 3 or 4 heats together from the inside or outside traps, surely the should be a formula which could be a bit more equitable?

Can't believe some of the bitter comments on here, there are really some people who don't like the Poles aren't there? Thought it was a cracking meeting, Poles came back so well once they'd sorted their set ups and got some more favourable gates. Gollob led by example as usual, his wins in Heat 9 and 10 being the catalyst for the Poles resurgence. Crump and Holder were excellent for the Aussies and Crump deserves a lot of praise for his sportsmanship in congratulating the Poles after Heat 24 and then combining with Gollob to put on a fantastic race in Heat 25. Batchelor impressive for the Aussies - who would have thought Darcy would have been their weak link? Swedes and Danes never got over their respective jokers backfiring.