waiheke1

I think they are decent choices of wildcard. Castagna was probably always on the cards with it being in Italy, and I'm sure the other riders are happy enough with that choice. Lambert as you say was desperately unlucky not to qualify, is one of the sports best young talents, and there are no other brits in the 32 - so a good choice IMHO.

If you get no response from the mods, I would suggest telling on him to miss or mummy and daddy. I would report on Mills as well, clearly taking the p referring to you by your surname.

Hampel, Emil or aj/lindback if not top 8 would seem logical wildcards, and all would have a great shot of top 8.Of those currently in the qualifiers, hard to look past kk Freddie and zmazlick, but it's a long season and the challenge some way off.

Let's put some jumps on the track as well, that should make the starts less important... Next thread - why test cricket should be played on artificial pitches...

Top 7: kk, Lindgren, Anderson, Laguta, mjj, pawlicki, smoli?

Let's not reopen the debate about you not attending on the grounds of an unfair rule, which is fairer than the rules that were in place for the majority of your years watching speedway....

I was one of those who PMed you to say you'd be missed from the forum - although I generally disagree with your POV, one of the good things about this forum is seeing different perspectives. However, since you've come back you seem to have posted very little in the way of constructive opinion, and instead seem to be getting involved in petty bickering. Have to disagree Sid. People seem to be arguing that Orion and BWitcher are a little "clique", but fact is they often disagree with each other. It's quite possible to have a reasonable debate with them, but if you present an opinion that isn't supported by facts, they will call you on it. They may occasionally have slightly confrontational debating styles (though yet to see them call anyone out for a fight at Blunsdon ), but both will admit if they are proven wrong in my experience.

The statement is in the context of them having more disposable income than under 25s. Point out where he said that pensioners bought there houses easily - all he's said is that it was easier then than now, and that is a fact. Soem may need to run a car - but generally you only need to run a car to get to work. Otherwise you are using it for recreational purposes and its a "luxury". Obviously some, those perhaps with medical problens or licing in remote areas without public transport, may have a need for a vehicle, but it's fair to say that the bulk don't "need"one, especiallyl given that they get free public transport. It's not a dig at pensioners on his part, simply pointing out that they have (on average) more disposable income than under 25s, and therefore they shouldn't be any more entitled to discounts than under 25s.

Can u explain which part of scbs post is sad,bitter or factually incorrect?

Vincent has explained about 3 times that the main issue is the difference in grip between the concrete and the rest of the track? I'm not sure how your post addresses this?

It made me laugh at least

So many of the old brigade lament what has changed in speedway as the cause if the decline. Whereas in reality it is the failure to change - to effectively use the media, to modernise facilities , to provide modern between heats entertainment, to appreciate that a modern audience don't want to spend 2 and a half hours watching an event that should Take 90 minute etc.

Disagree. It was ludicrous Carter was made to ride the semi in 84. Similarly tai this year not being seeded. What makes it a farce is something like last year where lambert crashed out and was not given one of the wildcards.

Can you name me a rider who won a world title in an event in which at least one of his main competitors didn't have bad luck? that would be the Zmarzlik sitting 10th in the world title standings? Who has an inflated average because he gets to ride at reserve in the 2nd strongest domestic league in world speedway? And sits 14th in the averages in the wrold's strongest domestic league? yes, because all riders ultimate aspiration is to top the averages, not to be world champ anyway, i think you spelt Elitserien wrong! tbf, I disagree with anyone calling the polish GP riders robots, they are all classy riders. But Gollob clearly ranked below Crump, Pedersen and Hancock of his generation. Wheras at the moment, Tai looks like dominating his era. here's woffy missing the start, on one of those horrible british tracks where there is no passing... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmLSPaIBUIg

3 quid a week or 3000 quid a week, it's all relative to what u can buy with it.Scb mentions house prices 7 times average annual salary, in Auckland where I live it is 11 times! Try saving even a 10% deposit for that if you are under 30 (I'm 38 and was lucky enough to get into the market when the ratio was about 7, though could never have done it at that time if me and my partner weren't both working full time). It's never been easy to buy your first home. But it was clearly much easier in years gone by. Noone is claiming all pensioners live in luxury, simply that on average they will have more disposable income than an average under 25.

But she says "now". For the last three seasons Pl riders have had a "truer" average, and it's nothing to do with how often the averages are calculated?

Why do people engage with Robert and the Polish troll? It's about as productive as debating with starman, but without the comedy value.

Top 4 from each to go through? Belle Vue definitely looks the strongest line up

The line up will certainly be a fair chunk weaker than the go field. No g laguta? Kk has started the season well must be worth a bet to win the thing. Emil - doesn't matter how many times he wins it, it's meaningless compared to bring world champ. Would love to see him back in gps, but he's been absent so long now seems that would be a bonus rather than actually missing him. It is a shame we don't have him and D'Arcy battling tai for the title though

Excellent gp, some cracking racing. Kudos to killer for not bailing when zmarzlick clunker into him. Some tough calls for the ref, but reckon he got them right. Tai not yet looking as good or quick as last year, but very hard to see past him for world champ. If he does win would surely make him the greatest ever brit. Good to see holder looking in for as well. Disappointing night for the poles, but those four should all be a force for the next 15 years so plenty of time on their side. Shaping as a cracking season, with 14 of the field capable of winning a gp and making top 8. I think the evenness of riders reflected in scores so far.

Of course Eric won his first world title the same year the bl brought the rule in! Though of course the world champs allowed tape touching certainly for at least the first two if erics titles . And of course Eric was excluded for tape touching in the run off for the 84 blrc The reduced average did allow cross to be slotted into the season though if I recall correctly?

Not sure that was lee's issue sid. He started 84 looking very sharp still. After his ban he never performed but I think that was mainly due to other factors.

No way should we go back to those days. Gundersen stands out for me,given he dropped almost two points off his average the year the bl brought the tape touching rule in.

Half is very idiot generous, but I guess "one millionth wit" doesn't have quite the same ring to it...

Learn lessons from the past by all means. But don't assume that success can be replicated by copying what worked historically. Expectations of a modern audience are higher and there is much increased competition for the conumerous spend. There are no instant fixes, but there are many simple things that could be done to improve things. But I would say the quality of racing when I watch gps and swc is certainly as good or better than what the old world champs served up.