BWitcher

Firstly, of course the racing wasn't brilliant last night, the track is not really conducive to that.. however, it's all part and parcel of becoming World Champion. Riders ability to adapt to different conditions and still get points on the board. Last night Tai did that brilliantly. It seems this year that whatever the shape, size, condition of the track, he gets on with the job in hand. I must admit was a little concerned before last nights meet, since his injury he has slowed up just a tad in the last month or so and my concern was it would carry over into the GP's. Far from it. If it wasn't for his unfortunate crash at Cardiff he would very likely be leading the World Championship right now. I echo SCB's comments from earlier.. I actually found the GP gripping, purely from supporting Tai throughout. I found myself not really giving a **** about the racing. When Tai was out, I was just wanted him to fly out the gate, hit the front and be gone. More often than not that is what he did. Just one miscalculation in the final cost him the win. I think credit must also be given to the team that Tai has around him. He's dedicated himself to getting physically and mentally fit this season. From his fitness coach through to Jacko his mechanic who is doing a brilliant job of staying on top of the setup. Finally, I think the influence of Peter Adams should not be underestimated. He's been there and seen it before with riders such as Olsen, Penhall, Ermolenko. When it comes to making the right gate picks, keeping Tai calm and focused, monitoring lines ridden by riders I am sure his advice is invaluable. For those who may suggest Tai made the wrong pick in the final, I disagree.. he was well clear into the turn, he simply didn't move out to block Iversens run in time. Too be honest, I kind of hope that the remaining GP's are gaters tracks as I'm quite sure Tai will be World Champion if they are! If they're not, he is still a racer and it's going to go down to the wire. Let's hope both he and Emil stay injury free to the end of the season so we get an epic finale.

Glad you've had a careful think Sidney about your ranting the other night and realised, the better side won on the night. Good lad.

In all seriousness... where do they get these referees from? Pulling back a perfectly good start from Pedersen, then failing to spot the tapes going up lopsided as they did. I was looking forward to the GP to get away from the farcical officials in the EL.. but sadly no, even at this level its amateurish. Edited to add.. maybe they will redeem themselves to an extent by re-running..

Loving this, best GP for many many years...

Of course its not just you. I would suspect most fans prefer the old system, including me, mainly for the reasons SCB outlined in his earlier post. So lets not hear anything more about the 'unfairness' of the current rule as we all liked the previous unfair one. Unless of course, like WK you dislike both, which is fine.

There's only one arrogant poster here and that is you Sidney. Arrogant or 'stupid', but I don't wish to call you that. Quite simply, you are wrong. There is no other way to put it Sidney. You've been asked various questions in relation to your claims the old tac sub rule was fairer and haven't answered a single one of them. Quite simply, because you can't without destroying your own claims. As for Moxey.. quite a different situation, Moxey is posting his opinions on various matter, hence a discussion has taken place. Neither of us has an issue with the other one. Nor, in actual fact, do I have an issue with you Sidney, I'm sure you are a great guy. You just need to learn that when you are wrong it doesn't matter how many insults you throw, how much you stamp your feet... you are wrong.

You admit that WK, and fair play for doing so. Sadly Sidney seems to think the old system was somehow fair.

Thoughts with Ricky Ashworth. Hoping its not as bad as reported.

That the one making all the money per chance?

Either way, with or without tac rules of any kind, Peterboro scored more points last night than Swindon and were worthy winners.

You haven't been giving an opinion Sidney, you were trying to argue against something factual again.. this is where you go wrong. Swindon did lose the meeting last night.. Forget the 'mickey mouse rule' and subtract the extra 3pts they gained, they still won.

Not going to argue with that Sidney, nothing wrong with that at all. On that basis then the current tac rules, which mean the better team wins more now than they ever have in the last 50 years of speedway should make you happy

Let's deduct it then to make you happy.. Ooops you still lost.

Here we go again Sidney. This is NOT AN OPINION. It is quite simple maths. You don't understand it, so why do you bother trying to argue it? I don't need to learn because I am right. Were you like this at school when the teacher told you 5 x 5 was 25? Did you tell her in your opinion it wasn't? Because that's what you're doing now effectively.

Then you are WRONG. So far WRONG it's ridiculous as under the old tac sub rules the weaker side won MANY MANY more times than they do now.

You realise you are defeating your own argument?

Correct Moxey, you keep telling us this, but the only rule you have come up with is one that has been around in one form or another for the past 50 years. Were you slamming the tac sub rules in the 70's?

So basically you're now admitting you are wrong Moxey. Your whole argument was there are too many rules in speedway and other sports don't change them. Having been shown to be woefully wrong on that point you've no gone back to the old chestnut of the tactical rules aren't fair. Yet the old, MORE unfair rule was great. Marvellous. The simple fact is, the old tac sub was just as ridiculous, just as unfair as the current ruling. I'd quit now Moxey. As for me 'defending' the sport, that's quite ironic when I'm accused of quite the opposite by many. I'm glad we got to the bottom of this anyway and you accept finally the sport hasn't got too many rules. It's interesting as well that you keep mentioning football.. I repeat, the basic game of football that the fan watches has changed far more radically than speedway.

Why does it? Its not complicated at all. Do you think speedway is the only sport with such a system? Rugby Union has something very similar. Cricket has a far more complex scoring system in county cricket.

You are of course, so feel free to quantify your opinion. Remember the context.. Moxey claims someone from 30 years ago would not be able to understand a speedway meeting if they attended now. I've asked for what rules/regulations would make that not possible...Also remember the claim is other sports have not changed their rules.. I don't see anything on that list that would cause the fundamental understanding of the sport to be different. Ah yes, I would imagine that would be most confusing to any newcomers. Their ability to count past 4 has to be considered. It's amusing isn't it, one of the common gripes is speedway doesn't provide enough value (i.e. enough of it) and we get an extra 2 laps in a meet and its a negative. Football has tinkered with its rules in similar ways.. Extra Time.. Golden Goals.. Straight to penalties dependant upon the competition.. doesn't seem to 'confuse' fans. Now you have it. The issue isn't the rules. Yes they could be improved, but 95% of them need to be there for a reason. There aren't too many. The issue quite simply is promoters manipulating them to their own advantage and using the get out of 'best interests of speedway' to get away with it.

No it isn't a superb post at all WK. In fact it could quite easily be picked apart and a similar list created for many, many other sports. Nothing on there changes the fundamental basics of the sport. As I have said and others have confirmed, speedway as a spectacle has changed less than most other sports, particularly the main ones such as Football/Rugby. Its still 4 riders over 4 laps. What else matters as a spectacle? Absolutely spot on. The game has changed radically. As has football.

Thanks for confirming TNT. Nothing has changed in terms of what really matters. 4 riders racing over 4 laps and anyone who went 30 years ago would know exactly what was happening if they went now. As for your 'try to explain' certain things at the bottom.. why would a 'first time' even be interested in such complexities? I wouldn't be telling someone watching a football match, "You see the left back there, he's not ours really, just on loan for a month". It's irrelevant to the game. All the stuff you have listed, you can make similar lists for most sports.

I still don't get this 'short changing' of customers. We're still seeing 15 heats with 4 riders in each. I far prefer RR to a guest.

So after all the bluster we've got the Tac rule, which has always been in existence in one form or another and 'the yellow helmet color'... The rules aren't the problem. It's the lack of enforcing them correctly and the constant attempt at manipulation that are the issue.

You haven't though have you. You've said before that you detested the old Tac sub rule as well and you had the same feelings regarding it. So, nothing has changed, there is still a rule that you detest. That's beside the point anyway, you've said there are far too many regulations in speedway.. but given one.. one that has been around in one form or another for nigh on 50 years... what are these other regulations?