mikebv

I think we do a bit carried away with the view that we are 'miles behind' other nations.. In reality only Poland have a good few U21 riders of potential.. The rest, like the UK, have the odd one or two coming through.. The fact is we start to talk up these lads far too soon and then get disappointed when they feel to reach the levels 'we' have decreed they will reach.. As has been said, the worlds best no longer race over here in any numbers, so gauging truly where you are in the pecking order is very difficult, and being good domestically isn't really a measure of high actual capability for a lot of the lads.. The glide path now for young riders to become a truly 'top rider' has to be similar to the one Lambert has taken, and Bewley is following.. ie. Get yourself riding overseas as early as you can, however, to do that you need to be of a certain level which in all fairness very few British lads are at.. Lambert it was clear, (like Woffy), that at around 19 years of age, he was a genuine potentially World Class talent, Bewley at 21 still has question marks against what level he will eventually achieve, however, Dan is clearly of a level much higher than his current peer group and, as he has shown in Poland can mix it with the very best.. The rest will develop to whatever level they reach, but having two in the 'Top 20' riders in the world is pretty much the max for all Speedway nations, so Britain is doing 'OK' on that score, with Bewley starting to slowly climb the rankings from below to try and make it three.. Being at that level though is living in a very rarefied atmosphere, which the vast majority will never reach, so maybe we should lower expectations on our riders, because, as history shows from circa 1980, not too many of our lads are capable of getting there. And the work being done at 'youth' level now isn't I would suggest to find more 'World Champs', but more in finding a good number of British riders to fill British team places, and given the way teams are structured over here you don't need to be anywhere near international level to gain one of those..

A bit unfair on Eurosport that.... It's usually the first races they miss rather than the last ones..

I am not even watching it but even I think it's rubbish..

Mickey Mouse Speedway.. Well done FIM Well done BSI Clowns.

Then the "When Poland get in front we call the result" rule comes in to play..

No mean achievement..

It's only 4 hours away I believe.. And it has a roof.... Or maybe it doesnt.. And it never rains..

Bewley rode probably the best of all on view on a wet, muddy track the other night so who knows... The UK lads are more than used to riding in pretty crappy conditions on dodgy surfaces so maybe it will help? And the younger lads sometimes have less concerns than older more experienced heads when conditions are less than perfect..

Andy Smith was always one I regularly felt sorry for.. He pretty much gave everything, every race, yet would often end up with an average that left him without a job the year after at the club he was at when points needed shedding, and other clubs would be not sure if he could keep up that average at their track... Amazing to think that you help a team become successful by giving your all and (let's be honest) NOT effectively 'cheating the public' by giving 100% every night, and then struggle to keep your job.. It's a bit daft isn't it? Edit: Just remembered, silly me.. "You see, this is Speedway and it's different to other team sports"...

Great call on Palin. These young lads with potential need to be opened up to riding against the bigger names at every single opportunity.. Especially on the bigger faster tracks akin to the ones so many major competitions are raced on in Europe.. Robert Lambert's development massively came from riding the bigger German circuits as 'a kid' when he couldn't ride competitively over here, so opening these lads up to similar, as soon as is possible, has to be the way forward.. He will take a few 'scalps' too I reckon..

And I knew a rider through a sponsor who liked to finish his season on 5.9 as a utopian figure.. He was always regarded as a "solid six point rider" so felt any promoter looking for such (weren't they all?), would see the "potential" in his scoring for them He never was wanting for a team place but used to usually "struggle" a wee bit, (after a good start and middle), towards the end of the seasons when/if his teams couldn't win anything.. A promoter also once told me he would never sign anyone who had been a particular standard through the year, and then had a great last month of the season, as he wasnt convinced it was exactly a step change in the capability of the rider, more a reason of getting some "gift" points of others.. There are lies, damn lies, and statistics..

And SON.. And maybe go through the GP Qualifications too? I am sure he will want to give himself the maximum opportunity to stay at the 'top table' now he has deservedly put himself in and around that level.. A key year in his long term development next season, building on what has been an excellent season for him just gone.. He is now delivering the level that the 'potential' alluded to, however many have had that potential and not reached where he is now.. Maybe he will feel that not riding in the UK this year, has helped that development and will try more of the same blueprint next? Can't knock the lad if that is what he decides..

Been great to watch so much Speedway Dave.. Commentary fine and any 'confusion' when faced with changes you had no access to was always met with the right amount of self depreciation and humour... Not been the most fantastic racing ever in the Polish and Swedish leagues, which could possibly be down to a lack of crowds in Poland, and less quality on show than usual in Sweden, but overall there has been more than enough to keep the viewers interested... Well done on putting a fair old shift in too with all the rearranged, short notice fixture changes, meaning some weeks it seemed there was racing every night and sometimes twice a night during those weeks.. As said previously on here, in an ideal world you would have a co commentator to share some of the commentary, as it must be very difficult to be the only one constantly talking for a couple of hours.. Overall though, for me, I have enjoyed the summers racing, and the broadcasts that showed it, and considering 'no Speedway' could have been a possibility, ironically I don't think I have ever watched more...! Keep up the good work, and here's to next year and more of the same..

My lad is playing in the FA Youth Cup tonight, there will be a few hundred there. .. We are at home because the other team is in the fifth tier of football so cannot have a crowd, hence we are holding it.. Several hundred people in a stadium with mostly standing areas can have a crowd.. Whilst a stadium with mostly seats (so social distancing controls are much easier) cannot. Crackers

100%.. And as you can guarantee that Poland won't be falling over themselves to put back up the points money to pre Covid levels, (after trying for a good few years to reduce those numbers) it will provide the sport over here with a huge opportunity to reset itself, and make it more 'future fit' in regards to how much it currently pays out v the income it gets.. Whether it takes that opportunity though is obviously another matter, but 'exceptional circumstances' do always provide 'exceptional opportunities' to realign yourself for the better..

Put a few U19 riders in and say its 'grassroots'? Move along now, nothing to see here..

A Final 25, 21, 18, 16 B Final 15, 13, 12, 11. C Final 10, 8, 7, 6. D Final 5, 3, 2, 1. Those who have done the best on the night head to head against everyone else gets rewarded with the "big points".. And there is an extra reward in every final for winning it.. And the overall GP winner gets a decent amount over second but hopefully not enough to have the series over by half way due to an unassailable lead if he wins a few.. And, which will please the FIM, the GP winner is the one who crosses the line first in the final.. And the fifth race for everybody would be crucial to their final points scoring as the vast majority of the field would still not be sure of which Final they will race in, meaning a tense last four programmed races ideal for TV.. Then you can add four finals with the most evenly matched quartet of riders from qualifying up against one another...

Got to go for Cook and see if he wants the gig. A big ask though given hardly any prep or testing time and would you want to risk your (still brand new) kit for just one meeting? Failing that then I would ask the 'best gater' the UK has, whoever that is?, who has ridden already, and hope for some fast starts.. Passing is always a premium at the highest level so trying not to run too many lasts will be the objective.. Lambert will win enough I would think for us to remain there or thereabouts so his partner will need to avoid being fourth too often to make those victories count..

Still think four finals is the way forward.. Meaning going into the last round of races riders could jump, or drop, several positions given what final they end up in... It would also reward the top four qualifiers on the night with the biggest points scoring final and not allow riders in eighth on the night to win.. I would also allow the top eight into the following year with the other seven having to race off in the GP challenge against nine riders from the the various qualification meetings.. The top six qualifying to the GP's to be joined by the SEC winner and the local wild card.. This will mean to earn the GP position you must beat those who currently have it and those that have it get the chance to defend their hard earned ranking.. No need then for conjecture or political appointments, each permanent rider on view will have earned their place..

Zmarzlik third to first in the final when he had nothing to gain.. A truly 'winning is all' mentality... The rest of the GP riders must be a bit concerned that they face someone who will put truly "everything" on the line.. Maybe being a Dad will take a little edge off him? I hope not, the kid is great to watch..

Excellent pundit.. Nigel and Kelvin superb too.. Lots of positives for this sport.. Which makes it even more galling that it doesnt get the cut though it deserves into mainstream conscious..

Tai talking about himself in the third person there.. Oh dear.. Edit: mikebv wonders why Tai does this..

England is the birthplace of football.. They have won one world cup.. Times move on . Three domestic meetings in Poland (pre covid) would deliver as many people as watch Speedway in the whole of the UK every week.. Poland rules Speedway in more ways than one, and rightly so.. The UK had their chance and through incompetence lost that level of influence..

Spot on.. Tremendous entertainment.. I hope Eurosport can deliver the interest that the sport at this level deserves.. When done well, (and properly), this sport has few peers for raw 'wow factor/take your breath away' entertainment..

A true champion.. Edit. Well done Emil..