salty

Tai was admittedly unlucky with the tapes exclusion, but the fact remains he finished 4th. Following your logic surely Pavlic or Hougaard should be picked before him....

Agree with that. In the past there have been more Poles already in, but as you say, with only Hampel and Gollob confirmed for next year I reckon IMG/BSI would prefer 3 Poles to 2 Brits. Would be difficult to see anyone brought in before Holta, who has proved again that he is well worthy of inclusion in the top 15 in the world.

Have to say I share your doubts about Rune Holta being safe for 2010. Two years ago when he qualified by winning the run-off in Germany against Harris and Nicholls it was reported in the Speedway Star that he wouldn't have been offered a nomination, which would have been totally unfair. He just doesn't seem to enjoy the same level of support from the GP organisers as other riders, possibly because of his dual nationality? I fear the only way he will get in for next year is if he gets in the top 8 and even a near miss might not be enough. Whilst I think that would scandalous (every other rider who has finished so high has got a nomination for the following year) I wouldn't put it past them to blank him. Given Philip Rising's inside info in the top echelons of the sport it will be interesting to read the Star this week as they are usually pretty clued up as to where the nominations will go. In the past there has been a supposed "need" for 2 Brits, but surely that can't be maintained given the dearth of Brits able to mix it at the top level.

I thought it was possibly the most entertaining GP of the season. The second semi could prove crucial as it put an end to Emil's hopes of catching Crump and gave Pedersen a second chance which he grabbed with both hands. From looking at just 7 points he ended up with 12 and got back into the top 8. Sure Gollob will give it everything on his own stamping ground, but Crumpy should be able to get enough points to clinch his title. Race for the top 8 will go down to the wire, but realistically whoever finishes 9th and 10th should be given a pick for next year anyway.

Would be an utter disgrace if GB got 2 nominations again. It's tough enough making a case out for one rider to get it, let alone two. Would also mean a more deserving rider from a different nationality missing out.

That means you are leaving out Hans Andersen who is currently 10th.

Refresh my memory - when did Harris qualify?

It seems that the dreaded "commercial" considerations mean that at least one Brit must be in the Gp series. Hope that they don't have to have two (as has been the case in the past) because that really would be taking the proverbial! So who do we pick?? Nicholls and Harris have had such poor seasons in the GP's that it would be a mockery if one of them (most likely Bomber) was to get another nomination. The only 3 I can see coming into consideration are Richardson, Kennett and Tai. Richardson has performed well across the Leagues this season and also did well in the WTC race-off, but against that he has had a number of seasons in the GP's in the past and his last season in the GP's was very disappointing. Kennett has never really performed well on the International stage and fell at the first hurdle of the qualifying this year. I feel he spent too long riding in his comfort zone domestically and has only recently realised the importance of widening his horizons. Hope he gets stuck into the qualifiers next year. Tai also fell at the qualifying stage, but has had a good first season at the Elite level. A good Under 21 Final might convince them to have a punt on him and hope that he can continue his progression next season. My choice would be Tai.

Nice idea, but I can't see them going back to more riders. The move down to 16 riders a few years ago was to cut costs and I can't see a reversal of policy in the pipeline. There seems to be an obsession with introducing "fresh" faces, but the reality is that on the whole those "youngsters" touted are not capable of surviving long term in the series. In recent years the likes of Zagar, Lindback, Lindgren, Kasprzak have all failed to make the top 8 whilst the much maligned oldies like Hancock, Adams and Holta do. Surely the GP's should be about the top 15 riders in the world, regardless of age, if the newcomers are good enough they will qualify of right (like Holder), or if nominated (like Emil) will prove themselves at the top level. Because of the back up required, both in terms of finance and support team, I do feel riders should be given a couple of years to establish themselves in the GP's.

Harris has never qualified in the top 8. Got equal points as Holta and Nicholls in 2007 but got knocked off in the run-off. Pretty sure he got in as a nominated rider in the first place so he has never actually qualified for the GP's by his own efforts. 10 points on his own track last night doesn't mean he should get picked for the 2010 series imo. Add in the fact he is currently 14th then you would be picking him over riders who have perfromed better this season. If there is to be a Brit for next year (rightly or wrongly I am sure there will be) then it should be a choice between Richardson and Woffinden. A strong performance by Tai in the Under-21 Final might just persuade them to go with a youngster over a rider who, although he has had a strong season in League racing, has not set the pulses racing in the GP's previously.

Wouldn't be so sure , he is only 5 points ahead of Holta in 9th place. I would hope that whoever doesn't qualify out of Lindgren, Nicki, Holta and Andersen would be offered nominations anyway, which leaves 2. Lindbacks claims might be weaker with 3 other Swedes now in and it is to be hoped the Brits don't get another 2 picks-surely they only should get one! As things stand at the moment I would give nominations to Holta, Andersen, Lindback and Zagar, but I am sure a Brit will swipe one of those spots.

Good to see Holder get in as of right, with any 2 from Hampel, Zorro and Lindgren looking the most likely to make it with him. Looks like the Brits will have the begging bowl out again.

Hats off to Gary Patchett for persevering with this meeting. After the BSPA refusing to allow it to be ridden on a weekend up until the actions of the Lynn promotion by refusing to allow Darcy Ward to ride, it seems to have been one problem after another. Sums up the sort of people who run British Speedway, one trying to promote the sport and the rest trying to sabotage it!

Not surprising that you should have nailed your colours to the Nielsen mast. No arguing that he was the most consistent rider in most of the years above. However, in those days consistency didn't win you the World Title on the big night. Gundersen was able to peak for those 5 rides and thus got his 3 titles. I am sure if a different approach had been required then Erik would have adapted accordingly and would have been able to compete (and win) over a 6 round GP series.

Not so sure whether the GP's have taken the sport forward, but I do think that they re-energised it when they were introduced in 1995. Unfortunately the old system was at a very low ebb and I dread to think what state Speedway would be in today if the change hadn't happened. One of the side effects has been the negative impact on the sport in GB, primarily the loss of regular weekend fixtures at the highest level. Personally I think the GP's as a spectacle have suffered since the change to the 16 rider format. Whilst I can understand the difficulties of the old 24 rider knock out system in terms of cost, I felt it did make for a better and more exciting event. With regard to the 4 nominations or seeded riders, in principle I am against the idea, but I can see that from a commercial point of view it does give the organisers some input into which riders take part. Just goes against the grain when you see riders of a lesser worth getting picks just because of their nationality.

I thought the old style of World finals left a lot to be desired to be honest. The qualifying rounds had long lost their lustre by 1994 and whilst there is a lot to be said for the drama of the one-off finals I can't see a return to those days I'm afraid. Prefer the 24 rider knock out system to the 16 rider 20 Heat formula we have at the moment though.

Speedway got shunted last night because Sky were showing US Open Tennis on 1 (which they have done all week), Super League on 3 and Spanish Football on 4 with their Football First on 2. Unfortunately, a GP from Slovenia is not going to hold sway over those 4 programmes and having watched the re-run this morning you can't blame Sky can you? Only one point to make re last night. Surely riders who get nominations should have numbers 12-15 and the riders who qualify through the GP challenge should get 9-11. That would prevent the farce where Nicholls gets a semi spot ahead of Bjerre. What's wrong with them having run-off?

Remember getting that over to White City for a World Championship round one Sunday, journey seemed to take for ever.

Would certainly give him an improved case, but its a tough ask...

You are supposing there "has" to be 2 British riders. Surely if they are not up to the standard of the other 13 there is no point having them! Why should the British Championship be the qualifier? The rest of the world has to compete against each other to get a spot.

Don't think Ed has done anything near enough to be gifted a spot. Didn't even get through his initial qualifier and his form in the major leagues is inferior to Richardson. Bit hard to second guess the nominations prior to the GP challenge, because the qualifiers at Coventry and indeed the top 8 at the end of the season will have a lot of bearing over who gets picked. Its possible that of the 11 who qualify by right then there may be only 1 Pole (Gollob) so at least 2 of the nominations would almost certainly be handed their way. Which leaves it less likely there may be 2 Brits.

All well and good saying "let Harris keep trying" but if he fails to get in the top 8 this year (which seems certain) then that is 3 years in a row in which he has failed. Unless he qualifies at Brandon, then surely it is time to give someone else a crack and in the absence of any worthwhile British candidates then it must be time that the GB quota is cut to 1 or even less.

Do they not even open it for the Greyhound Derby Final? Used to be a pretty full stadium for that night.

You should have come back to the main Wimbledon station with me Shadders. Granted a bit further to walk but better lit! Haven't been to Plough Lane for a dog meeting since they booted out the Dons in 1991. I was slightly surprised to see the popular side (the opposite to the starting gate) was no longer opened up for the dogs. When I used to go it used be fairly full with about 6 bookies.

Tony, if I remember right "Kiwi" is Bob's son Robert so I am sure if you ask these questions Bob will know what you are on about. PS I would be interested on his views of team riding with Chris Julian.