Terry

To be honest I don't blame him for not racing in the British League (ah, those were the days), it's more the fact that he feels he's too good to bother with the British Final. People were making excuses for him last year saying it was the clash of dates that stopped him from riding in the semi-final, but I said at the time that was just an excuse and he never intended competing, as has been proved this year. I was cheering as loudly as anyone for him in 2013 in the gp's, but with each passing year he seems to alienate more and more British fans. I'd love to cheer the only Brit in the world championship, but I can't bring myself to..I know that Chris Harris isn't up to gp standard anymore, but I still wish he was in it.. just so I could cheer on a Brit!

Ditto that. These 30 minute versions are great, all the heats and no waffle.

Great picture!

He must mean Grand Prix champion. Peter Craven was the youngest British world champion.

You're a glass half full person, good on ya. Just like you I love the gp's, I was disappointed with Krsko but I'm already looking forward to Warsaw. I'd have them every week! Since my beloved Hackney closed I can't bring myself to support another team, so I love gp Saturday.

How can you tire of watching the best riders in the world. The more the merrier I say.

I hear he has a cousin in Liverpool. Dey Dudek Don't Dey Dough.

Yeah, you could be right.

Well done to Martin Vaculik. Hopefully that will be the worst gp of the year, bloody awful.

Nice to have a Monster-free final. Come on Doyley!

Woffinden £50 less Doyle £50 more

He always came across as a thoroughly nice chap who never involved himself in any petty bickering. RIP

Enjoyed that. Great last race.

I don't think Stefan Andersson would agree..

Decent meeting although I was hoping for a Laguta win after he was clearly the best over the 20 heats. I hate how everything 'has' to finish with a grand final these days. Good to see Nicki playing up his 'bad boy' image to the crowd, all good fun! After years of being against him, I've decided to change tack and support him from now on, as like a growing number of fans, I'm getting a bit tired of the nauseating Monster love-in.

The first match race I remember watching was Peter Collins v Scott Autrey in a decider at Hackney which PC won comfortably 2-0. Unfortunately I'll never forget the date 8th June 1979, the night of the awful Vic Harding/Steve Weatherley crash. On a happier note the following year I was there to witness the only (as far as I know) Golden Helmet dead heat between Bo Petersen and Chris Morton. With Bo winning the decider at Leicester to be the 80-81 winter holder. Unfortunately for Hackney fans Bo got well and truly whipped by world champ Michael Lee in his first defence. I remember reading in the speedway star that Mike couldn't breathe properly for some reason, and wanted to finish as quickly as possible! I think he broke the track record and beat Bo by about half a lap in both races, which took some doing in those days.

1980 Spring Gold Cup Hackney 20 King's Lynn 57. Even Lynn's reserve Pete Smith scored a max, while Bo Petersen top scored for the Hawks with 6. I suppose it could've been a good thing, because it spurred us on to our best league finish! That scoreline would probably be reversed today. (Unless Woffinden could be arsed to ride!)

When Zenon rejoined Hackney half way through the 79 season he was unbelievable. He was so fast, lowering the track record almost every week! I remember him beating Ole Olsen from the back twice one week and I wasn't at all surprised when he finished 2nd in the world final. I don't think the eastern europeans had the same opportunities in those days and Len Silver seemed to have a yearly battle with Zenons Polish club to get him released.

When Tomasz first arrived on the scene he had a real aura about him. Everyone wondered who this mysterious Pole who never gave interviews or spoke any english was. His father 'Papa' Gollob used to run the whole show. I too thought he'd 'missed the boat' to be world champion, especially after being so far ahead with just a couple of rounds to go in 99. There's no denying he was a bit wild (to put it mildly) in his early career, but the way he turned it around and won the respect of the fans and his fellow riders was fantastic. As others have said some of the moves he made (particularly at Bydgoszcz) almost defied gravity. He's up there as my favourite Pole (along with Plechy of course!)

Never went to Belle Vue (wish I had) but went to Cradley once, again in 85. I went mad that year and ventured twice up north, both times making sure I'd taken my shots. It was an England v Denmark test, I remember Peter Ravn having a nasty crash, and Jan O (one of my favourite riders) being the match winner.

I went there once, they had a meeting after the Bradford world final in 85. I was surprised at the black shale and steep banking. It was good to see ex Hawk Sean Willmott (la la la la la) again, before he emigrated to Australia. I remember there being a pub right outside with a big picture of a speedway rider in the foreground and a smaller footballer in the background, which was nice!

Hopefully they'll hire the 'dream team' of Ermolenko and Havelock. Insightful analysis from former world champions, plus the viewer gets the chance to learn two new languages. Everyone's a winner!

Maybe not the best, but the ones who have entertained me the most down the years. Mark Loram Peter Collins Chris Morton Joe Screen Chris Harris Barry Thomas Andy Galvin Alan Mogridge Andy Smith Kelvin Mullarkey

Yeah, that was kind of the joke.

Blimey you're eager aren't you? Getting there a year early. (Hope you got a good seat.)