waiheke1

Has the football world cup in the usa 20 years ago really grown the sport in the us?

Why not though? If it was good enough for the likes of peter collins, penhall, olsen gundersen etc. In world final meetings, why not help out a compatriot. Actually recall hancock qualifying from an overseas final as a result of ermolenko letting him past on the last lap.I know the danes wouldnt give nicki a point, but would have thought a pole aussie or swede would have done in the circumstances.

Second time in the meeting I was cursing harris. Firstly when he was leading against hancock and batch I was yelling to clamp the inside but he went wide and let them both through. Then he clamped tai on the second bend allowing aj a free run round the outside, wheras if he'd kept going he would likely still have been third but with tai second. Even after that surely given his rubln this season he could have had "mechanical issues"

Not entirely true. Darcy has never just failed to turn up for a match as george did. George also beat his wife (after his career finished), so hardly "no trouble."Agree that george is an all time great, darcy no where near that ststus yet, but I think the comparison - wasted talent- is valid.

Tnt - are you going to change Andersen to nilsson?

I think that is the wrong group you've linked to gustix

Hyde rd was. Bydgoszcz now.

But tbf you could get a home track youngster and pay him a hundred quid plus likely minimal points money . Young rider gets a fantastic experience, you have enough reserve cover... hard to see a problem with it?You'd probably get your hundred quid back with family/mates going to watch.

Surely would be darcy or batch assuming one misses out on next year's series?

Kk Thj Zagar Hampel Smoli/harris I believe kim nilsson replaces ward, not hans Anderson

I would definitely subscribe, as I did to the Star, if an online version became available. Postage to nz doubles the cost of the issue.

Pretty sure they at least cover the travel expenses to swc meetings

Smolinski isn't swedish though...

Eveyone knows there are likely to be a couple of riders drop out of the challenge so you cant begrudge harris his chance. He deserved it and took the opportunity.

Dull but deserving? Tbf I think he's a little unfairly derided as a gating tart, have seen him involved in some exceptional races. He was arguably the best rider in the world last year, surely along with nki one of two riders guaranteed a wildcard. Definitely strong similarities, though think smudger had less wildcards.Both really excting racers. Both too poor at the start to be contenders at gp level, or even to really dominate at league level. But capable of beating anyone, and certainly good enough in any company outside the truly elite riders. So hampel and nki surely in now. Other slots surely dependent on top 8. Tai greg nicki kk zagar in, and probably holder too. Think the other spots are two from freddie aj bjerre and batch. If two swedes qualify, then id expect ward and either mjj/killer. If swede plus bjerre id expect ward plus thj If swede plus batch id expect thj plus mjj/killer If batch plus bjerre id expect two swedes. If ward is banned opens up a range of possibilities for one slot. Doyle has been one of top 15 riders in the world this year (imho). Harris maybe not top 50. Agree that one of harris' s main issues is his bikes.But harris has earned his spot fair and square, don't see how anyone can argue to the contrary.

Surely hampel still to get a wildcard, only makes three poles?

Zagar irrelevant though, as locked in top 8

Easyish ride for bomber next out to. Looking like doyle killer and magic/pawlicki to me thougg. Thj will likely get a wild card anyway? Far from locked in that both batch and holder are top 8.

I agree scb. Especially when u consider that his sponsors, and potential new sponsors, myst surely want him in the gps.

I presumed by "new" he meant weren't in the 2014 series, but you are right they both have.

Isnt there only harris who could possibly stop it being 3 new riders next year? So highly likely there will be 3

Has said he cant afford to compete, due to failure of his club to pay him last year.

I assume he adjudged that woffy hit the tapes first. In real time thats what I thought, and seems to be backed by people who have watched frame by frame

Its not up to fim to decide, their rules say it goes to the next rider from this meeting, not ninth from the gps.

Ideal scenario now killer, thj and pawlicki to qualify? With wc then to hampel iversen ward leaving one more for mjj, a young pole or vaculik ?