tomhaines

I read the rules but don't remember seeing what happens when there is a tie for a top 8 place to qualify for the semi-finals. Is it race-off/countback/riding number?

It is indeed

Change the record please!

http://world.speedway.org has it as will http://www.speedwayworld.tv

I've heard there are 3 candidates, Eskiltuna, Malilla & Avesta

AufSchalke Arena was the plan for last year I was told. But it never happened. Strange nobody has mentioned the ommission of Hamar from the calendar, no real suprise from what I have heard from people who have been there (lack of atmosphere etc..)

Agree with you on Walasek. And then give Miskowiak and Kolodziej (World Cup performances) the two reserve spots so they get the experience of being in a GP. Even if they don't get many/any rides. Hopefully they do this sort of thing for all the GPs. A rider capable of winning races in the Wildcard spot, with two youngsters in the reserve berths.

Under the line-up in BSI's press release it says there will be two track reserves for each GP. These will be local former gp riders or just local riders. So there will be 3 extra brits lining up at Cardiff. A Wildcard + 2 Reserves. Still they need to decide who will take the wildcard slot tho lol. How bouts some kind of race-off between 3/4 riders a week or so in advance? The top 4 Averaged Brits behind Rico and Nicholls. To decide who gets the spot.

Excellant choices. Glad they have gone on merit rather than political choices (1 Czech, 1 Norweigen... that kind of thing) Bring on SGP 2005

The only reason one of the Czech's would get in is if the choices are made politically. Which i hope they arent. Fairest choice is the next 5. It isn't like previous years where a rider outside that next 5 has spent alot of the season injured and has missed a large ammount of GP's as a result. As far as I can remember, we only had 3 riders miss a GP through injury: Hampel: Qualified anyway Nicholls: Inside that next 5 L Dryml: Very much outside the top '13' even before he missed Norway

Despite not being a fan of his, I think you have to include Lee Richardson as he was our highest finishing rider and I believe (not totally sure) produced our best GP result of the year with 3rd in Cardiff. Also, despite being a Reading fan, I'd say Robert Miskowiak should be ahead of Matej Zagar on any list of getting a place. Due to the fact Miskowiak won the World Under 21's. And next season in my opinion the qualification should be: Top 10 Top 3 from World U21 2 From a Challenge meeting between the remaining 5 from the GP + wildcards etc...

Would fear that 90,000 of the 108,000 seats might stay unsold unless they race it at the smaller stadium within the complex where Barcelona's second team play <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Barcelona's B team stadium is called the Miniestadi ( ) However, that only holds 16,500. From the picture it seems that the pitch comes right up to the seats (No room for a speedway track without ripping up a substancial ammount of turf, can't see FCB agreeing to that one!) If these Barcelona rumors are true, then the Olympic Stadium (56,000) seems a more realistic option. Much more of a manageable size than the Nou Camp and has an atheletics track meaning a speedway track could be constructed with minimal damage to the pitch. Like Nou Camp, it is used week in week out for Football, by RCD Espanyol. I hope it is more than rumours. Cardiff, Prague & Barcelona would be a nice trio for me

In theory, all GP's should be comfirmed next week at the FIM congress meeting thing. starting 17th October i believe. That will decide (AFAIK) The 5 seeded riders, the format of the meetings, the calendar, the SWC & World Under 21 Rounds.

No chance Shawn. That would mean helping out a British rider... It would never happen. Think of the poor Aussie who would be put out of a team place in the CL Seriously though. Well done to Josh, and definatly allow him to ride in the CL. He is clearly good enough, and if we want a Risager we have to get our riders riding competitivly often.

Thats a pretty good way of 'grading' it. Interesting to see how various wildcards performed in comparison to eachother as well. eg Forland performing better than Lindback on what is a similar track (temporary) of course you cant read to much into it, but still is intriguing.

How about... The obvious 4: Bjarne Hans Lee Scott + Robert Miskowiak (World Under 21 Champion) Yes it would give Poland 4 riders, but only because three have qualified by right. And in my view the U21 Champ should be given a go, like Hampel was this year (prehaps a future way of qualification could be to give the top two from that a place in the SGP?)

Surely next season they could get somebody different to do tracks(?) Ole was the guy who came up with the 24 rider format and thats probably one of the reasons they had to keep him (?) maybe with a new format we can get a new R.D?

Some of your postings over the last few days have been wierd. But this is definatly the best!

You could have a pool of say 3/4 riders (possibly even the GP reserves). Then after each GP, the person finishing last moves to the end of this pool with the guy next in line taking his place and so on... So the rider top of the pool (Bjerre i believe would be 1st reserve next season from the Qualifying) could in theory cement his place in the series if he didnt finish in last place. Would certainly make it a bit interesting with the battle to finish 'not last' almost as huge as the battle to win the GP!

Things like promoting an Aussie GP arent going to happen overnight. BSI are most probably still feeling the after effects finacially of Gothenburg 2003. (£1million losses?) Chances are, these 'big' sponsors a few years ago were paying very little for what, at the time was not as big a product as it is now. Sponsorship prices for SGP I would expect have gone up quite alot in the past 3/4/5 years. Viedec, Castrol & Fiat Vans are still big companies. Egg simply sponsored Cardiff, then Fiat Vans got that GP. I reckon that we will soon see some GP's outside of Europe, it takes time and they don't want to take any risks (Ullevi for BSI, and Sydney for the local promoter ended up as huge losses)

First of all I believe there are 5 Nominated spaces: Top 8 2 Qualifiers 5 Seeded 1 Wildcard per event I may be wrong though. Top 8 will be IMO (In no order): 1 - Crump 2 - Rickardsson 3 - Hancock 4 - Adams 5 - N Pedersen 6 - Jonsson 7 - Gollob 8 - Andersen Plus the two Qualifiers 9 - Lindback 10 - Chranowzski (If thats spelt correct I'll be amazed!) That leaves the 5 to be out of: B Pedersen, Richardson, Hampel, Sullivan, Nicholls, Protasiewicz, Max, Holta, Loram, Jensen, Brhel, L Dryml, Laukkanen, A Dryml. Plus of course any wildcard, notably the likes of: Zagar, Bjerre, Iversen, Norris. I expect, out of those the following to be definates: 11 - B Pedersen (Won a GP) 12 - Richardson (Has shown glipses of brilliance) 13 - Hampel (Need 2 Poles + deserves it after good showings) 14 - Nicholls (Injury hampered his progress this campaign) Leaving 1 to come from: Sullivan, Protasiewicz, Max, Holta, Loram, Jensen, Brhel, L Dryml, Laukkanen, A Dryml. + the Wildcards. If they go on merit, then they should go for a new rider (maybe World U21 champ like they did with Hampel last year) or they may go on whichever one is going to make people turn on the TV etc.. The recent news that Speedway GP coverage is on the up in Norway may help Holta. The Czech GP can quite easily survive I feel with just a wildcard in that round, Polish fans travelling would make up for any Czech loss of interest. Slovenia would be in the same boat as the Czechs. None of the remaining 2004 SGP riders seem to merit the place (IMO) So it could well go to whoever takes the World Under 21 Final. Just my view.

I have placed my bets on Zagar I placed £15 eachway on Skybet @ 50/1. But can't understand what I am in line to win if he places 1st, 2nd or 3rd. Could somebody with some experience help me lol

Thats great news. More chance of riders like Gollob & Loram who don't like the temp tracks having a good season next year (if they are in it that is)

I just have to say, that I have never ever shouted that loud for Crump before!!!! Last few laps of that final i was shouting so loud for Jason! But a part of me does like to see a spolier, so congrats Hans. Hopefully a GP win will mature him.

It's speedway Phil, the rules are made up as they go along Weather looks good for today though. Fingers crossed