salty

Dirt, you have your opinions on Penhall and whilst I don't agree with them I accept your right to have those opinions. However, you surely can't be serious when you blame Penhall for Carter's downfall?

Simmo's column in the new issue of Backtrack says that Sittingbourne (Central Park)are aiming for the NL in 2010, riding on Wednesday evenings at 6pm with Jon Cook being involoved on the management side.

In the last issue JB stated (when talking about the top 20 foreigners) "One sparkling season does not give priority over a full decade of solid performances". So there's a clue....

Interesting debate. Especially to see Rob trying to bolt a statistical analysis onto something which ultimately is quite subjective. So what wins out - the decade long consistency of Mort against the meteoric heights reached by Mike the Bike. Lee was brilliant in 1980, but then had two difficult years before being revitalised by the move down to Poole in 1983. I remember watching him around Wimborne Road that summer and thinking how good it was to see him back to his best. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got as the next couple of seasons were ones of decline for various reasons. Mort on the other hand was at the top throughout the decade but was never able to deliver on World Final night. Ultimately his failure to gate consistently well meant he was never able to have a sniff of the podium. Because of that win in Gothenburg I have to go for Lee as number 1 in the 80's. I would agree largely with Rob's list and order to be honest, so maybe statistics do have their uses.

That should narrow it down to a shortlist of one for the 1980's then.

Bit harsh on Steve Lawson. As far as I recall he ran the family farm and wasn't a full time Speedway rider, so one can't really blame him for staying as a big fish in the National League. I remember him riding for Cradley in late 70's/early 80's and I reckon he would have made a good BL rider if he'd been able to commit the resources needed to be competitive at that level. Having defended him, I have to agree that he is nowhere near the top 20 of the decade. As for the top 20, interesting that there is more debate than the 70's list. Haven't quite got round to posting my full list yet, but no surprises in the names. It's just sorting out the order that is proving difficult.

Of course the wild card at Cardiff will be a Brit and I dare say Danes, Swedes and Poles will be chosen when the GP's are staged on their shale. Hard to see Gorican without Pavlic, but I would imagine the Czech and Italian events may be more flexible. One would think Darcy Ward might benefit from the change. Having said that I can see Ladyluck's point - the Brit wildcard at Cardiff has made little impact in the past few years.

What a shame that this initiative has stalled.

Andersen's comments made me smile as well. The actual quote was "Kolodziej missed out in the qualifier. If he had been so good, he should have qualified" Ironic doesn't do it justice since Hans finished 12th.

This weeks Star has Philip Rising discussing the nominations as such: "Can there be any further doubt about which four riders will be awarded wild card places for the 2011 places?" He then goes on to name Emil and Nicki as "shoe ins" before giving the remaining two slots to Kolodziej and AJ. Finishing the piece with "end of story". No mention of Tai.

But it wasn't the ELRC it was the Elite Open Riders Championship and after the BSPA conference last winter much was made of the fact that it would include top riders who weren't regulars in the Elite League. I've yet to see any official explanation why there appears to have been a change back to the old style ELRC without any outside riders taking part.

A two year gig, as you put it, would be totally unprecedented and totally unfair on all other riders. Why should Tai be given such preferential treatment? For what it's worth I reckon Laguta will ruffle a few feathers next year. He may have the odd poor score, but will also win races. At least he qualified and didn't rely on a nomination to get him in (let alone a two year one!).

Chris Harris very nearly won the Gp with just 7 points from his programmed rides. In fact after 4 rides he only had 4 points.

I agree, what's the point in having 2 Brits if the second Brit is just making up the numbers. I fail to see how that can benefit the series.

If he was fortunate enough to be offered another nomination, I would hope he would turn it down and use the 2011 season to re-group. The experiences of 2010 should stand him in good stead for the future and he can go away and concentrate on qualifying by right. If he is given a nomination it would make the whole thing a mockery.

Have to agree with the above. I reckon AJ and Kolodziej should get the nod along with Nicki and Emil for next year. AJ missed out by just 1 point after 11 GP's and his win tonight should be enough. As far as I recall he has only needed a pick once before and that was after injuries had ruled him out of some of the GP's, so it's not as if he's a serial "beggar". Kolodziej has got to 2 Finals, got a WTC winners medal and was only pipped in a run-off in the GP Challenge. That's enough of a CV in my opinion to get a slot in front of a 2nd Brit. No Brit has done anything near enough at any level to be given a pick.

I'd have found a place in the top 20 for Bruce Cribb and Garry Middleton. Bruce was a heat leader in the top flight throughout the decade as well as notching a WTC medal. Middleton may have lost his way as the decade wore on but for the first half of the 70's he was a top rider in the British League. Nothing against Bob Valentine, who was a big favourite of mine when he appeared in Heathens colours, but I don't think he did as much as the two above.

Thank You.

Anybody know any more details of the Golden Helmet??? How come Darcy Ward didn't win?

Which would be a disgrace. No way should Tai (or any other Brit) get a pick ahead of those two or Kolodziej.

Well done to Ward. Can he be looking at a nomination for the GP's next year?? Would be a just reward for two Under-21 titles on the bounce.

Richardson wins, according to a post on the EL section he's out for the season. Probably the first of many....

Wonder if there will be any official word as to why the RSVP's all said "Sorry, can't make it". The Super 7 concept looked like it might have some legs when it first came in, but this year has been pretty wick. Looks like the old ELRC to me - wonder how many of this original 16 end up missing it.

I can understand the theory behind giving Tai a second year, but I don't agree with it at all. If that line of argument is used to give him a second year, it gives him a chance that no other rider has been given. Whilst other Brits like Bomber and Scott have been serial beneficiaries of the nomination system at least they have generally been competitive in the series. Apart from a handful of promising rides in the WTC Tai hasn't really shown enough in my opinion to be given a second go. His qualifying campaign never got near the final (again)and as yet there has been nothing to suggest he should be picked on merit ahead of the likes of Jonsson, Andersen, Kolodziej or even Ward. If he wasn't a Brit there would be no chance of him getting a pick for next year and with Bomber looking safe the wild card would ensure 2 Brits at Cardiff. How much sway do Sky actually hold over BSI/IMG?

Delighted to see Gollob crowned World Champ. To be honest I never thought he would make it under the GP format, but he has been irresistible this year. Crump deserves a lot of credit for the way he has carried himself this year, nice touch with the race jacket. Top 8 look done and dusted as well, with Holder in 8th a fairly impregnable 11 points clear of the next.