AFCB Wildcat

I didn't suggest you did. I was just pointing out why people criticise the format as you said you couldn't understand why in a dismissive type way. It looks like BSI, FIM are finally happy with the format now anyway as they've not tinkered with it for a while.

But just because in your opinion it's perfect doesn't mean it's not worthy of discussion, it's a discussion forum after all. The discussion arose by someone questioning how Leon Madsen can win a GP when he's won one race all night. Seems a fair point to me. You've got a guy at the top of the podium spraying champagne when he's finished well down the standings and only won the last race. The bizarre scenarios were only to point out that if the winner on the night took maximum points then it would be possible to become World champion with a far inferior points tally to a rival and the other side of the coin is that currently steady Eddie could be world champion having not beaten rider B or C throughout the campaign where rider B & C have beaten Eddie every time they met. Unlikely I know but in either scenario could they be deemed the best rider in the world? Generally cream rises to the top whatever format but none are perfect. I liked the eliminator system but accept it wasn't ideal. Others would prefer a 20 heat format and you like the current format, that's great. I don't consider my opinion as more valid than anyone elses and don't consider anyone elses more valid than mine. If we all agreed there wouldn't be much to discuss which is surely the point of a discussion forum?

It was scored that way up until quite recently wasn't it? Then they changed it to normal points. I agree though, I would like to see it too.

I remember my first world final at Wembley in 1978 I think? Dave Jessup was the best rider on the night and an e/f cost him the title. At least with the GP format one bit of bad luck like that doesn't cost you the meeting. All formats have their merits and pitfalls and generally I think most people agree the current one is fairest to the overall result of the series. As I said before, I preferred the eliminator system as nobody scraped into the finals, they had to scrap to avoid a third or last place and the winner took all but I can see that it probably left riders out of pocket going home after only 2 rides. I personally wouldn't want to see the GP run over just 20 heats but I just feel that winning the final has been devalued by the winner not taking maximum points. Good for sweepstakes & betting though! Does the winner get more prize money? or is it just payment for points? I guess if the winner takes the most money there's a point to it. Anyway, it is what it is. I think I heard Tai say that once lol.

Yes that's true but I don't think that 10 points would ever have won an old world final but the 140 points available without winning a single race would certainly win a GP series.

Theoretically under the current system you could go through the entire season without winning a single heat and still be world champion.

Yes, absolutely that's the reason and also the reason for the playoffs in the Premiership of domestic speedway but in the playoffs it's winner takes all regardless of the points scored over the season. I do get that the GP format takes away the injustices that the playoffs sometimes produce and I don't have a major problem with it but I just think it devalues winning the individual events if the winner doesn't take maximum points from the event. Also how often have we seen riders happy to follow the leader in the final as they have a sufficient buffer in the overall standings and only 1 extra point at stake to go for the win. I thought the double points final was at least some way of addressing this and rewarding the rider who won the final when the pressure was on.

But what did he actually win apart from a meaningless trophy? He finished 4th in the points standings which is all that matters. I think the current system devalues winning the GP and personally preferred the old eliminator system with A & B finals where points were allocated to your finishing position. The current system favours consistency over the series rather than out & out winners.

There is a free app called 'Speedway Programme' which was mentioned on here a while back. I installed from Google play store and have found it to be very good.

The guy was a legend. I remember him coming to Poole and must have been the only guy to be still wearing black leathers and riding a Jap mid seventies? He certainly took a few major scalps on it though. I remember him first getting on a 4 valve and getting his first coloured leathers which was a bit hairy to start with as he was proper old school but a great rider that's given me a lot of fond memories. R.I.P Colin

I tried booking the Pyramida both through booking.com and direct on their website last month but it said no availability for my dates :-(

But giving everyone a chance isn't what formula 1 is about is it? It's about building the best car. Major manufacturers aren't going to invest millions to gain an advantage only to have it negated by a ballot. There is Formula Ford & Renault where everyone has equal cars but the masses aren't interested in that as it hasn't got the kudos of F1. Quality of racing isn't important these days, it's all about branding & image like everything else these days. People who don't understand football follow teams just because they're Premier league but wouldn't watch lower league even if it was more entertaining football. Gifted musicians play in pubs and clubs while pretty boy karaoke singing dancers fill stadiums. Take the crocodile logo off a shirt and it's worthless. Unfortunately that's the world we live in these days. Speedway isn't fashionable in the UK and all the talk of getting an independent governing body running it, close racing and consistently applied rules which may please the few purists would do nothing to attract the masses needed to make it a commercial success. People like to attach themselves to success.

So if Poole start both meetings on minus 0.16 all is good and the credibility of the sport is restored! :-)

Lol, yes we know that rule just as well as we know Gavan's rule ….......... If Poole are missing riders they are stronger ............ If the opposition are missing riders they are weaker. Sounds a bit pot & kettle to me. Averages and past form mean nothing in the final, it a case of who turns up on the night.

I can't say I disagree with any of that but none the less it's devalued the final for me from something I was looking forward too to not being interested now. A chance for Poole to claim the moral high ground now and cancel Ellis's booking and ride with 6. Everyone would be supporting Poole then! ......... Wouldn't they? :-/

Thanks for your helpful advice, much appreciated. Flights and hotel booked now. Ryanair flying from Bournemouth from next year and £75 each return including priority boarding, cabin bag and chosen seats. Bargain! Cheaper than Cardiff by train :-)

I've not been to a GP other than Cardiff but I'm thinking of going to this one. Any advice would be appreciated on travel to and from airport and city to stadium, accommodation etc. Are tickets readily available as I see it's not a big stadium and I wouldn't like to pay for flights and find I can't get tickets?

I think this is going to be a cracking meeting but a shame it's going to be going head to head with Bournemouth v Crystal palace in the premiership which is a TV game too. Hope this doesn't affect the attendance as I know there will be a few divided loyalties

Thoroughly enjoyed the meeting. All riders played their part and it was hard to call how any heat would go. There isn't much home advantage at any track these days and I think this could go either way in the 2nd leg. People seem to be very harsh on Middleditch. I don't think for a second that he punched the air thinking it's all over, only that Klindt kept Holder behind him knowing that the difference between 4-2 and 5-1 in that heat will be huge going into the second leg.

Genuine question not a criticism, why is Poole the best destination for Speedway? Competition from 2 Premiership football clubs and lots of other competition in the area for people's disposable income as befitting a holiday area but still you see comments on here like "we've got football and bangers but there's nothing else to do in Poole but go to speedway". I'm also lost by Bridport? That's 40 miles away! If it's so easy to promote in a perceived affluent seaside area then what happened to Weymouth & Eastbourne who don't have any competition from football. I haven't got my head up Matt Ford's arse and the last time I went to Wimborne Road for speedway was to watch the Buccaneers but he promotes Poole speedway tirelessly and keeps the profile of the club high and in the public eye. All over Poole and Bournemouth there are adverts for the speedway, sponsored roundabouts, sign's along the seafront etc. which can't come cheap and his professional approach has been more key to Poole's success than the location in my opinion. I'm genuinely interested to know why people think Poole is an easy place to promote Speedway.

Technically you are probably correct but the fact is the start marshall called him to the tapes twice while he was cooling his clutch and twice Tai ignored him and became the only rider not at tapes when the clock hit zero. If he had moved to the line when called he would not have been excluded even if none of them were to the letter of the law ready to race so I would hardly say it's irrelevant.

Exactly that. The start marshall was being blatantly ignored all night and the referee eventually called time on it. Let's hope it's lesson learned and rules are applied consistently.

Having watched the incident several times now I think that what went against Tai was the fact the start marshall called him forward twice and he completely ignored him both times. The other 3 at least moved forward when beckoned although admittedly were still messing around when he walked away. Zmarzlik was still rolling towards the line as the clock hit zero so clearly not ready to race but I think Tai was the worst offender for ignoring the start Marshall's instructions however bad he was which is why he was made an example of. At the end of the day it was in his own hands and with a Polish ref he shouldn't have given him the opportunity to exclude him with so much at stake.

I think with Kent it's because Iwade still own the name Sittingbourne Speedway?

Okay, but how so? Movement is spotted and the tape release disabled. Surely that would prevent the delays associated with letting them go and then calling it back?