OveFundinFan

If Cardiff was the last GP of the season, and the World Champ had been effectively crowned at the GP before - would I still go?? Of course I would. And I would expect the newly crowned world champ to put on a good display 1) because he wants to assert his authority as world champ 2) because he would be so relaxed that it would probably bring the best out of him.

I think Eurosport had a 3 year contract, which started 2013, so due to expire soon. Its that deal with Eurosport that has brought back my interest to speedway. My concern is if it goes to BT or Sky (Sky Sport) then viewing the GPs will be lot more costly then viewing Eurosport. Yes I know Eurosport is available generally through Sky but Sky is a lot cheaper then having Sky Sport, and with Sky (not Sky Sport) you get other programmes as well, so you not just paying for Sport. BT have already robbed me of watching Moto GP, I don't want Speedway GP to go the same way.

After the Warsaw farce I think more attention/time to prepare was given to the indoor temporary tracks and overall it led to better racing. As long as they continue with that policy the indoor tracks should continue to attract crowds. The GP series, lets not forget is a business, and businesses want turnover to, hopefully, generate profit. Its balance between the organisers looking after the fans, the riders, and the accounts book.

When AJ goes well, he really does go well. Did the same thing towards end of last year, and thats the bit that worries me - 75% of the year not doing so well so we only gain his exciting riding 25% of the year. And according to speedwaygp.com on Friday (I think) he says he will only do another year GP if he is sure he can compete to win. so maybe he would turn a wild card down. Other then I think there is going to be 2 Swedes in it, I would probably go for Vaculik as well, see if he can be consistent this time - thats the hard part.

Top 8 2015 seems pretty much sorted, GP Challenge sorted, just need the wildcards for 2016 I going for Hample, Kildemand, AJ and Lindback (hoping he can keep the form going)

Chris got his in 1992 and Peter in 2001

Chris Morton and his partner(s) have already been to look at tracks, including Torun, to take ideas to BV new track. There is going to be banking, the track is as big as it can be to fit the space, even to an extent there will be no stands on one corner, and it will be a widish track. ......................... Quote ..... "The icing on the cake for Tai , imo would be something from the queen in her birthday honour's list. For what he has achieved world champ again, and his charity work..." Didn't someone say when it was being discussed last week that not only Tai didn't sing the national anthem, but talked through it.... that it might come back and bite him one day. Maybe that day will be when the Queen sits down and thinks, ah! Tai Woffinden.... wasn't he the one who talked through the national anthem. Now should I or should I not. Just thinking aloud.

Excellent track, excellent racing. Whoever won out of those 8 semi finalists would have been a worthy winner. Nicki, a worthy winner of the meeting. It was only right that he and Doyley battled it out for top spot and whichever got the top spot would have been worthy. Likewise a worthy world champ. I am not Tais biggest fan, but he ruled the roost this year with his riding ability, took the opportunity to make it look easy (and its not) when others didn't maintain the form they have achieved in recent times. Its a pity Zagars efforts have been subdued since his bad crash, lets hope he gets over its effects 100% And just wish AJ could ride like he did last night all the time, he would be up there. Though he did the same last year, turned on the style towards the end of the GP season. He must be a wild card contender for next year, bu after his comments on speedwaygp.com I wonder if he will want it. Overall the 2015 GP season seemed mixed to me, some high spots, but too many lows, starting with the Warsaw GP.

I hope you right, Phil, needs a shake up after this year, Tai has had his own way too much (not taking anything away from his riding ability as that has been top notch - just others not come to the party as strong as they have in the past). I just waiting to see how the youngsters go for a full season of GP. I am sure they will do well sometimes but may flop other times, of the first year at least. After the first year things could get very interesting IMO.

Not a pointless post - it shows that if spectators saw an offence being committed, why didn't the referee. He surely must have seen what was going on between the rider and the start marshall due to the time scale involved, yet appeared not to do anything about it. Or he didn't see it, in which case he wasn't paying attention to his job, or saw it and ignored it in which case he is lacking in doing his job, or saw it and didn't know it was an offence i.e. didn't know the rule book, in which case he should be reprimanded, retrained, banned for a period or sacked. This was a final determining the champions of the Elite league, you expect top referees to be in charge..... or perhaps there was!!!

Poole may have won the title, but IMO BV are the real winners. Why? BV held Poole to a draw at Kirky Lane, coming back from many points behind. They go to Poole, who should now have the home advantage, and BV loose just by two, just two!. I can imagine what a confidence boost that is - losing by 2 overall to the team that was top of the league 2015, title holders for the previous two years, that should be a huge confidence boost in itself, but now they go to a new stadium, a stadium with a track designed for speedway (not determined by the shape of a dog track) by speedway rider(s), who know what a good track should be like i.e. Hyde Rd, Torun, Bydgoszh etc. Add to that, sounds like CCook had two meetings unlike any before. Don't forget he scored 7 in the GP at Cardiff, thats no mean acheivement at all. Maybe he had a well tuned engine and mind at Cardiff, and maybe done the same this week for the play offs. Whatever..... If I was Poole management, and the rest of the Elite teams, I would be very worried....... It all sounds like a promising future for Belle Vue in 2016, get that great name BELLE VUE back to where it belongs... at the top.

But it wasn't a complaint, its just I cannot see the powers that be having 5 (33%) from one country. And I do remember when the world final was dominated by English riders - back in the 50's, but those were the days the qualifiers were in the UK.

Can't agree with you there Bewitcher. I think he shown he as much as others and more then some. He's not frightened of Racing anyone. What the real reason he not in GPs we may never know.

For Southport read Ainsdale beach, just a few miles south of Southport. Loads of sand there to practice on, well there was in the 70's - probably banned by now.

There was nothing wrong with the actual racing produced by riders on uprights. Does it really matter if they are slightly lower, its the excitement that counts - and rider safety. When you think racing must be safer with air fences, just add safer bikes and a lot of the accidents we see today may never be. Would fans settle for this......... I for one would.

Thanks Phil for that update. Can I ask how PC is going on these days.

Trouble is, what one thinks is the top 15 today may well be well out by the time 2016 GP's come around. Linback was in the GP's recently as a regular, didn't perform, didn't top 8, didn't get a wild card. His form changed to somthing good at the moment but whose to say that will last into next year. Some of the young riders getting into next year have got to prove themselves over a season of GP's, which is different to doing well at one Gp on your home track. Of course, getting the top 15 together is just a dream. Emil doesn't want it, and the two Lagutas seem to get overlooked for whatever reason. I think the GP's should be reduced to say 5 rounds, and have qualifiers early in the year to determine who goes into the GP series proper together with top 6 from previous year. That makes top 6 from previous year, plus 9 from qualifiers and 1 wildcard for each GP (for home crowd/commercial interest).

If Janowski gets top 8, plus 2 from from GP Qualifier, then with your 2 choices that would make 5 poles or 33% of the regular GP riders, can't see that happening.

That will be a top quality meeting - sadly too far for me to travel to, may be would have a few years ago but not now.

Cant read anywhere someone is saying cheating is going on - "un-natural speed" to mean "wow he's flying".

From the photos and design pictures I seen it looks like the back straight will be layered terraces so I should think you will be able to see even further back, unless you are short that is.

Thought I read somewhere in the last day or two that Craig has stated he is giving up his 2nd tier league, concentrate on top tier racing and going to get extra experience abroad as well.

Kildemand might yet qualify in the top eight, as might MJJ I was hoping for better thibngs from MJJ, as I am sure he was. He shines so bright at times, then flat. If both dont make the top 8 it would be hard for both to get wild cards, that would make 4 Danes (with NP and NKI). Hampel yes, but if Janowski gets in the top 8 this year that may make it difficult for Hampel Lindback yes (so long as his form keeps up) Emil doesnt want to, and I cant see G Laguta being asked Could do with a bit of maturity cause the youngsters like Zmarzlik, Pawliski and even Janowski may shine from time to time but they may well find a full season of GPs is a bit tough. A second (experienced) Swede maybe.

I think Ove had a few conflicts with the Swedish speedway authorities. Still happens today I think ie Emil and the Lagutas etc