waiheke1

Aces have to be narrow faces, even though wolves and poole both arguably have stronger teams and better home advantage, simply due to the fact wolves and poole must be 50/50 to knock each other out. Whichever side wins that semi I imagine would start the final slight favourites.

If stays as now: pedersen zagar puk and emil. If emil not interested, very hard to pick that last spot. If a dane makes top 8, I can see both other Danes getting a wc plus whichever of current top 8 drops out (assuming emil not interested - if emil is then I would guess that may mean zagar misses out) Think bsi may be ok giving a pole a wc if it takes total to 4, no way would they give a 5th pole a spot.

So if the top 8 stays as it is: pedersen puk zagar and emil for wildcards? With the last spot pretty open if emil still not interested. No brit would deserve it, surely they wouldn't give 3 to Danes, can't see a 5th pole getting it, no need to add a 3rd swede... g laguta, given he finally turned out for the bsi swc? As it is I think nick may scrape top 8 at expense of lindback or pawlicki, which would likely open a wc for killer plus the rider dropping out. Either way, looks like a good line up for next year. As for lungs comments: surely if credible you would expect bsi "favourites" at 1 and 13 as well? Maybe lambert is but surely say dudek would have got a decent draw?

Yep. But don't think you can blame those that have stalled on the system - they just haven't kicked on as you would have expected. You could add Paul starke to the list of successes. And probably Sargent to the list of those who have stalled. The issue now is do you try to being through a new wave, or allow the existing pool to continue filling EDR slots. Much I guess will depend on next year's league structure.

Surely he would ride? Far from nailed on for top 8, and quite possible no poles will get a wild card as could easily be 4 or more qualified.

For those who criticize the EDR scheme, surely Jacobs is a prime example of it working? Progress in the 2nd half of this season has been incredible.

Really? Care to quote anyone being sour? Gavan picked poole to win by ten, and posted straight after the meeting?

Tbf, Poole had kk who is clearly one of the top riders in the league (did someone seriously try to argue Lindgren was as good?!?).He scored probably 5 more than Hans would have done so that's a 10 point swing. Obviously without that we wouldn't have the 3 extra points for cook, but that drops the gap to 4. And I would happily take a 4 point deficit at poole in the play offs. Also disagree with Gavan saying Ellis must be a concern. An EDR riding 2nd string is doing their job if they can score 3 or 4. The real concern for poole must be that Hans will be fit again for the play offs ;-)

Yet plenty of your generation would have consumed alcohol and tobacco, both of which when you look at pretty much any study are considered far more harmful to both user and others than drugs like ecstacy.Obviously no recreational drug is good for you , bit there is a world of difference between say ecstacy and crystal meth.

you really think poole will win by 22? Sounds like you are writing off the aces chances of being champs if you don't think they can get within 20 of Poole away, as Aces aren't going to beat any play off rival by 20 at home. Aces surely have to be aiming for a point here

Pc some way ahead of Loram though, when you look at their achievements there is no comparison. In the 70s PC would rate only behind olden and Mauger, Loram not close to being in the top 3 riders in any decade. Both hugely talented and entertaining for sure.

Reckon lakeside will pick up a point, which will likely mean swindon needing a point away to make the playoffs. Would like to see swindon make play offs, always had a soft spot for the Robins, fans seem a good bunch and certainly can't be accused of being glory hunters.

I think this will be very close, stars to edge it by a couple.

Prague is without a doubt one of my three favourite European cities,and the only one with a GP.

Tbh I don't think you can be a weak world champion per second under the gp system. But I guess you can be weak compared to other gp winners.

Tbf Loram and holder stand out as maybe the weakest world champs under the GP format, given neither have made the top 3 in any other year. It's not an insult, someone has to be the worst world champion and it's arguably better than being the best to never win it. Would note I would rank both the above well ahead of some one time world champs in the previous gp era.

So which of the riders you named were produced by Britain in recent years?

20k usd. So tai would get 5k. Based on sharing by points scored he would get approx 11k.

I assume pinny is referring to the 4 series wildcards rather than the individual gp local wildcards. History would show though that these wildcards typically out perform those who come through the qualifiers. I for one would be very reluctant to see those wildcards dispensed with.

I would have no issue with him getting a wc, but fact is there will likely be 5 poles already in the series, so there is no way he will be given a wildcard.

Similarly I'd been told how expensive drinking in Finland was, but was in helsinki last week and prices barely different to what you would pay in aussie or nz.

Hi Does anyone have the heat details for the following two meetings: Belle Vue vs Ipswich 11 July 1987 Belle Vue vs Reading 12 Sept 1987 MAny thanks

You seem to have missed the words "in many years." All those you mention started riding 30+ years ago Though fwiw of the post war brits, surely only the two PCs, and at a push Lee, would join Tai as contenders for greatest british rider.

Milik is only at 2nd reserve for the challenge? Would be happy enough to see him in the GP series as he is certainly entertaining. Not sure kk can be written off as a one season wonder, he is arguably in the top 10 riders in the world this season.

Agreed. But on for I would find it hard to argue with wildcards going to pedersen puk Lindgren and zagar if the top 8 finishes as it is now. If emil is interested, then I would say zagar misses out. Would love to see dudek fricke and lambert qualify, but more likely to be dudek kk and pawlicki. Of course if pawlicki makes top 8 then 4th spot gets a place, which could well be someone like Lindgren. Outside those mentioned above, I'd suggest only Vaculik would bring anything to the GP series so I really hope it is 3 from the above 7, in which case it should be another good series next year.