Terry

Kick out the yanks and let Britain have a practice.

It's almost a shame Germany didn't qualify. At least Smolinski would be there as a spoiler.

He's riding style is a lot like Leigh Adams, who wasn't known as a 'forceful' rider. Mind you if he achieves half of what Adams did he would have done well.

Sweden for me. The Poles youthful exuberance could maybe cost them a few points through over-riding. Sweden. Poland. Britain. Australia.

The only Longtrack final I can remember was Michael Lee's win with Dave Lanning saying, "he looks like a flying hairpin!"

I'm able to separate peoples personal lives from their career. You once said Kenny Carter's racing career was irrelevant after he murdered his wife. I treat Carter the rider and Carter the man as two separate entities. I'm not saying any more on this subject because I'm not comfortable with it.

I don't really get your comparison. Tai rides for the country of his birth and anyone who thinks he's Australian is obviously wrong. Maybe they think he's suddenly going to ride for the Aussies, but I can't see Antonio joining the Brazilian speedway team! Lindback seems a happy-go-lucky guy who always comes across well in interviews, so I can't imagine he gets any stick, whereas Tai's arrogance/confidence (delete as appropriate) isn't to everyones taste. On a lighter note it would be quite cool if he represented Brazil in the world championship-it could get the youngsters in that country interested in the sport.

He has Swedish citizenship obviously.

Why should he? He's a Swede who rides league speedway in his own country, competes in his national championship and more than likely attends all the SWC practice sessions.

Woffy's good enough to not practice at all and still get double figures, but being captain means he should be there giving his less experienced team mates advice and pointers instead of getting another bloody tattoo! I can't imagine Iversen missing any practice sessions for Denmark, official or otherwise.

You think you're angry now? Just wait until he misses the official practice because he has to get his ears re-drilled.

Hmmm, I wonder if he'll make the effort...

Tai has never struck me as a team player, (not team GB anyway.) He always seems more at home with his superstar team mates in Poland and Sweden. He knows he's head and shoulders above any other Brit, so he basically does what he wants and the British fans should just be grateful. He'll just breeze into Manchester with his 'entourage', score a hatful of points and bugger off again!

A 2x world champion attending practice? Surely he's above that sort of thing.

Just a tough first corner. All four back for me.

Justice done after that ridiculous decision to exclude Zmarzlik.

The Czechs need a couple more Miliks!

The obvious selections in my opinion. I'm a massive Bomber fan but he just doesn't deserve a place and I'm glad Scotty wasn't picked after opting out the last few years, plus it means he'll be in the studio with Natalie. (Just think, it could've been Havvy!) Hopefully we'll do ourselves proud and who knows, maybe nick a medal. After all, Sweden were expected to finish 4th last year so miracles do happen.

I guess it was just so much more memorable. Talking of guests, favourite guest riders could be an interesting topic. At Hackney the aforementioned Les Collins was always a popular choice. Also Terry Betts always did well for us, I remember one night he scored a full 15 point max, along with Keith White scoring a full 18 point max. Quite a rare occurrence! Kenny Carter guested a few times even though it was quite a journey for him. I think he got on well with Len Silver and always did well. Our worst guest without a doubt was Bobby Schwartz. He rode for us against Cradley, scored 3 ponts and we lost 38-40. In hindsight it wasn't the smartest decision from Len, considering his Cradley connection and his friendship with Bruce Penhall.

We had the better guest that night in Les Collins (for Plechy) and won 40-38. The Hawks won the battle, but lost the war.

I'd imagine the organisers would be over the moon if Emil decided to return to the gp. They'd more than likely give him a wildcard, rather than risk him not qualifying. It doesn't make it right I know, and personally I don't agree with wildcards, (except possibly the local rider) no matter what the circumstances. Every rider should have to qualify. I recently watched the 1976 Inter-continental final which gustix so kindly put up, and Ole Olsen didn't qualify and that was that. No second chances even though he was the world champion. Is Nicki still going strong? It seems to me he's on a downward spiral, and no longer a championship threat.

Assuming Russia qualify. No Grigory Laguta will make it tougher for them, and the Czechs could nick third-although I hope they don't.

I always look forward to World Cup week, the only thing that spoils it for me is the dreaded J word, and seeing the giant playing card being held up. It always puts me in mind of 'It's A Knockout.' As others have said hopefully Russia make it through and we get to see Emil and the Laguta's at Belle Vue.

Are speedway fans the most moronic of all sports fans? 135 pages of damning evidence would suggest so.

An inauspicious start.