Terry

About the same as the rest of us, pal. Harris, King, Nicholls? It's all much of a muchness really, (although I personally wouldn't have Nicholls anywhere near the team after boycotting the event for the last few years.) I said King after the British Final, but after his gp performance I'd pick Bomber now, as Mockingjay said he's able to lift himself for a big race as his semi-final in Prague showed.

I saw him get gifted a point from Milik, but I didn't see that.

I don't believe for a second he wasn't trying his hardest last night, (ask Bartosz Zmarzlik!) If anything he was trying too hard, he wasn't gating and was looking a little desperate at times. I didn't agree with his decision to miss the British Final but I'm sure he'll be giving 100% in the World Cup, like he always has.

More chance of a puncture though it seems.

Nice one.

Same here.

Of course it would be even better with Emil competing. I mean when he dropped out and Darcy got injured, most people maybe thought the series would get boring, with Tai dominating. But as we saw tonight he's not having it all his own way.

The two young Poles are adding plenty to the series, with Lindgren infinitely more exciting to watch than Hampel. Emil who?

Bomber, rider of the night whatever happens in the final. On the rostrum.

Brilliant stuff from Bomber!

No apology necessary. I actually thought it was out of order making him go to the challenge when he'd finished 5th in the series. They used the same 'eliminator' system as the gp, so it was a bit nervy! It would've been a travesty had he not qualified, because he was certainly in the top 2 or 3 in the world at that time. As he proved the following year.

Why is the race-off on Friday this year? Seems a bit unfair for the winner to have to race on consecutive nights.

Mark still had to qualify through the gp challenge that year though to ride in the 2000 series. So unless there are different rules regarding wild cards and reserves, Freddie can't qualify.

That's fair enough, it's all about opinions. I guess it's only Tai and his inner circle that know the truth.

Maybe I'm speaking a foreign language here. I'm saying Tai isn't interested in riding in the British Final anymore, and people are saying what about the dates and how will he get his bikes here? Why would he care about those things if he didn't want to ride in the meeting?

It's nothing to do with dates, I just don't think he's interested in winning anymore British Championships.

Obviously I don't want to be too critical because Hackney Speedway was my first love! It was a great racetrack, always well prepared and most riders enjoyed racing on it, but you're right about the pylons. They were too close to the track, and even though the track wasn't quite as good with the alterations prior to the move into the NL, it was a lot safer.

I'm of the opinion Tai made his decision in the winter not to ride in the British Final. He's not interested in it anymore, and these semi-final dates and wildcard talk are all a smokescreen He can now say he's the undefeated British champ, because I can't see him bothering with it anymore. I wonder if he would've made more of an effort to ride in it this year, if last years final wasn't stopped and re-run with Craig Cook easily winning. I guess we'll never know!

You're right about Schwartz, he detested the place! There wasn't much love lost between Bobby and Len Silver either, after Len booked him as a guest for the visit of Cradley in 81 and he only scored 3 points. Although it wasn't the smartest booking, given Schwartz's connection to the Heathens and his buddy Bruce Penhall. Also of course, he saw his team-mate and countryman Denny Pyeatt lose his life there. American riders seemed to have bad luck at Hackney. Kelly Moran suffered serious injury in 78, and brother Shawn broke his leg. Penhall liked riding there though, being the only visitor to score a maximum in 80, and I think the following year too.

All British line-up for Belle Vue tonight. When was the last time that happened in the EL?

The streamers given up and gone to bed. We're back!

Great ride Lambert.

The track is fine, the riders are just taking each other off.

A lot of these riders will be over 21 by the time this meeting ends!

I recall a certain John Louis starting at 28 and doing quite well! A lower level but Martin Goodwin had his best years in his thirties while riding for Rye House. Qualifying for (and from) a British Final. Craig Cook may not peak until his mid thirties.