salty

Rune's only hope of getting in next year is if he finishes in the top 8 and he needs to pull his finger out if he is going to overtake Lindgren. Can't see him ever getting a nomination, the rumour was he wouldn't even have got one this year if he hadn't won the run off against the 2 Brits. When on form he is well deserving of a place in the Gp's, but his last couple of outings have been below par (though he is carrying an injury) Having said all that he is wearing the red helmet in the Super GP whatsit final, so he may win that and make if difficult for the powers that be to drop him. Politics aside, as you say, he should get a nomination in front of any other riders who a) finish behind him in this years series or have failed to win a GP.

To be honest, reading the Speedway Star over the past couple of weeks it does appear that Holder is a shoo in for 2009, barring any other machinations.

Not entirely sure, but I think Hans had the temerity to criticise some aspect of the GP series (it might have been track preparation, it might have been ref decisions, can't quite remember). Come nomination time he found a rider below him in the standings getting a spot instead of him. Most riders have towed the public line since that lesson was handed out.

Not so sure it would be a "travesty"- lets face it he did have the chance to qualify and failed. But depending on who qualifies for next year it is always possible that politics might stop Holder getting a Wildcard - which would be wrong. For example, if, and it might be a big if, Ryan Sullivan qualifies from Zielona Gora then Holder might find it more difficult to overcome the feeling that 4 Aussies in the Series would be 1 to many. I thought it was interesting to read in last weeks Speedway Star (on a page which had Phillip Rising's byline) that the names Holder, Safutdinov and Pavlic were definitely in the frame for nominations. Given Rising's links to the Gp series it is likely he has his finger on the pulse. The Speedway Star, however, has also in the past mentioned the determination to have 2 Brits in the Series, which might also cause difficulties with the nominations. Personally I would prefer to see Holder or Safutdinov have a go instead of any Brit as I reckon that either of the former would make more impact than any of the latter. Not really worth worrying about the nominations until we know the 11 who have qualified.

Glad somebody reads my posts!!!

That's a good call. I never saw Mick ride and to be honest could barely remember his name, but the article he wrote was one of the most interesting I have read. Would love to read some more....

Seems a bit of a strange decision. Emil would have been good value round Bydgoszcz, but I guess it was always going to go to a Pole. Surprised that Jagus is the pick, I got the impression the GP bigwigs weren't too keen on the little fella last season. Having said that I reckon he will be good value compared to the last 3 wild cards who have been disappointing to say the least.

No mate. 4,3,2,0 for the pairs. In the old days under 3210 the heat winner carried the day if it was a 3-3 which meant there was no incentive to team ride.

What a load of garbage! The youngsters aren't breaking through because they are not good enough! Everyone has the chance to qualify, yet the GP Final again consists of many of the old names. Riders like Pavlic, Holder and Safutdinov all had their chance but didn't make it.

Of course Laguta though riding for the Russians in the World Cup is a Daugavpils rider isn't he? Hope he puts on a good show.

Glad to see Laguta has got the nod, he really did well last year, but if they were going to pick a Russian would they not have gone for Emil?

Interesting thoughts. The pre-qualifying idea has been floated before but I think cost is a factor, possibly why the GP was reduced to 16 riders from its previous 24. Also I think riders need to at least know they are in the series for a whole season so they can budget and plan accordingly. I do find it strange that so few of the current GP riders opt to try and go through the qualifying process each season. I guess the argument is they are concentrating on qualifying by being in the top 8. In the early days of the GP series the riders who didn't qualify in the top 8 were then seeded into the GP Challenge, maybe a return to a similar type of format would help ensure the very best are in the GP's. Personally I detest the nomination process, I believe all 15 should be qualifying through whatever means. Unfortunately I can't see stakeholders giving up the level of control the nomination process gives them, so we are stuck with this aberration for the forseeable future.

Ljung is not a bad pick, don't think Jonas did enough at Gothenburg to merit having 2 wild cards in a season. Guess they were always going to pick someone who is in the GP Qualifying Final.

Remember Famari trying into break into British Speedway in 1983. Like Steve I think I proably saw him first at Cradley, but I seem to remember watching him ride well at Brandon as well. Looked like he might make the grade, don't know if he got injured or continental commitments meant he missed too many meetings but he just seemed to fade from the picture.

Ok I've got Les Collins making his last appearance for Workington at Derwent Park against Arena on 12th May 2002. scored 6 paid 8 from 4 rides . Finished an 11 match stint covering for the injured Kauko Nieminen with an average of 8.08. As far as I recall that was his last team position, though I'm sure he rode in some individual meetings. For some reason a team place never came his way again, which was an awful shame after the wonderful career that he had. Similar finish in fact to his brother Neil who was also left on the sidelines whilst lesser riders got team slots. Hope that helps....

Problem is the "next generation" aren't knocking on the door. If you look at the field for the GP Qualifying Final it is very much a case of tried and tested riders who have either been in the GP's before or at the very least are well known on these shores. The only possible exceptions are Miedzinski and Jedrzejak who have both improved since their time in the Elite League. The most obvious "next generation" of Holder, Saifutdinov and Pavlic all tried but failed to even qualify for the Final. I guess it is pointless to even guess who the nominations are likely to be until after the Qualifying Final and this years top 8 are sorted. For example, if Sullivan were to qualify then it would be unlikely Holder would get a nomination. Personally I would consider Bjarne to be in the top 15 in the world, but with so many Danes at the top it appears his only hope of being in the series for 2009 is to come up with some very big scores in the remaining GP's.

I thought Tomas Lubicek was Johnno's best moment. Bit sad when we are using such examples as the highlight of what was a very boring GP. From memory that is 2 bad ones from Prague in the past 2 years.

Hope for David's sake (and for Berwick's) that the field stays the same, because that looks like a cracking line up. The main meeting is not bad either.

But if Workie had got Nermark you wouldn't have won! Swings and roundabouts I'm afraid. Well Done to Workington - mind you they only won cos it was at Derwent Park

Born Marmande France December 23rd 1970.

No points from 3 rides I think.

Just caught up with the World Cup after a week in the wilds of Donegal. Pity the rain spoilt the track in the Final, but top effort from the Poles and Swedes to make a match of it against the heavily fancied Danes. Thought the Danes had a lot of luck go their way with races being stopped and then cashing in on the re-runs. How Bjerre escaped exclusion on the 1st bend of Heat 18 I don't know. I suppose the ref took the conditions into account - a stricter reading of the race could have excluded at least 2 riders... Don't think Gollob did anything wrong in his clash with Bjarne, whose reaction was a bit pathetic. Plus points for Gollob for his earlier interview with Louis. I still have the Coventry round to watch - is it worth it?

And just to fill in the gap he rode for NL Oxford in 1978. Can also remember him riding for Glasgow during their last couple of years at Hampden Park.

99% certain its Ellesmere Port, check it with a pic on the Speedway Plus site.

Supposedly at Cradley in 1969. It was my first season watching the sport and can remember him being smuggled out of the stadium under a blanket in the back seat of a car. Gary had previously been on the recieving end of Mike Gardner's crash helmet and had allegedly then taken the gun out when he got back to the pits.