OveFundinFan

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What, no Soren Sjosten - not even a mention

I understand they paid a LOT of money to Dorna to get MotoGP, and no doubt lots for the football.

I agree with no1 - but there again I would, would'nt I.

I think the Poles may have bent a few rules in the 60s-70's to ensure there up and coming got to places (meetings) perhaps they wouldnt normally. There were all sorts of stories about unlimited practice, preparing tracks to suit riders style, maybe they even pulled a few "tricks" to get their riders through to certain events. Whatever they dod it paid off.

Doesnt sound too good for Nickis future, perhaps after the crash last year at Pardubice and this years crash has taken its toll and Nicki would be better retiring for the sake of his "good" health whilst he still has it. Will be a tough decision for him, but common sense has to rule the day of decision. SO Kildemand is in. He likes that track, so I put him as a major spoiler, possible winner and even stronger then for a top 3. Me thinks time for Emil to do a Hancock as at Prague. Be nice if Emils was a 21 pointer. How many times has a 21 point GP been accomplished??? Anyone know??

Interesting that, martin Mauger, Craven Park being the same size as Wembley 378 yards (yards-pre decimalisation). Wembley was a tricky track to ride, and most foreigners (particularly eastern europeans) could'nt get the hang of it. Exceptions were Igor Plechanov and Boris Samarodov - pity Igor never became world champ and Boris never got the top three. Both deserved that. Igor, I would think, loved Wembley, and became the thorn in the side for Ove Fundin.

Good to see Madsen through. I like his riding style, and if he can keep his form going he could be through for next year.

If I had to vote for one day final of the 12 round GP's it would be for the GP's. To be able to see the worlds best 12 times a year, racing different tracks - great. But the atmosphere, particularly at Wembley was fantastic. 1967 when Ove Fundin won whilst racing for Belle Vue - wife and I still talk about it. A gang of us went down, and our reaction as he won was just crazy.

Only part I may disagree with you, iris123, is your last bit about Tai being best Brit ever. He would have to win more world titles when the class of field was as like 2017. Fundin, Craven, Briggs, More, Knutsson were all at the top of their game and any race with them in would have been tough. Same with Collins, Mauger, Olsen, Nielsen..... all had to contend with each other but also other riders at the top of their game ie Louis, Betts< Jessup, Simmo, Ashby and others. Go through Gunderson, Penhall etc just the same. Ithink this years GP is with the current best 15, but I class it easier to some eras through speedway history.

No news is good news, so they say........but it would be sad if no Nicki Pedersen in his home GP, hope its no the end of his career. So Peter Kildemand steps in, and maybe for the rest of the season, similar to what Freddie Lindgren did last year with Hampel PK rides this track well and must be in with a chance of sneaking it, not one of my favourite riders though so personally hoping he fluufs it.

but would you watch the ship sink and do nothing.

Lot of grumbles, once again, on the state of British speedway and the mis management of it. Grumbles probably justified. But what is the point of grumbling on BSF, except as a release for frustration. Why not grumble to BSPA if they the ones that doing the mis management. In this modern day, no need to write letters, email them. Maybe thats already done by some of you, but if there was a concentrated effort by more then just a few, and sustain the effort over a season, maybe (or not) some one will take notice and do something positive for next season.

Others who go more regularly will come along with help, but, I went last June to the W.Cup semi and Final and sat on the third bend in temp stands no longer there. But I dont think there would be a bad viewing place. If I was to go to the Brit final I thinjk I would be in the main stand purely cause its sitting down and I am at the age to sit down for 2-3 hours. Parking can be had around the stadium are including a school space turned into parking. Whether they will ban street parking (lots of houses around), dont know.

I dont think riders did too many foreign track visits in those days. As Ove Fundin had won two world titles, finished 2nd three times (all in 5 years) and other Swedes were qualifying, it was only right to take the world final abroad - as much as I disliked the idea at the time. By the late 1950's Polish riders were making appearances at Wembly , and Germany (Hofmeister) but it took till 1970 for Poland to land a world final - the rest is history

If Peter Collins had won the world championship in 1977 (gammy leg year), and he nearly did but tired due to injury, I would put him at the top equal with the other PC, Peter Craven. Any more then that, he would be ahead of P Craven on the basis Collins would have won both his world championships on foreign soil. As for the rest, yes I seen Woffinden and in 2013-15 he was magic on the bike with the way he was passing with relative ease (though it would'nt have been. Only just saw Lee before I went absent for 30 years, never seen Loram, might have seen Freddie Williams but too young to remember. So I cant finish the list

Looks like they covered this year to stop Hancock, or any one else, doing a runner after the qualifier.

Hancock doent seem to get into tussles resulting in injuries, but he gates. Woffinden this year doesnt seem to want tussles, but the difference between hinm and Hancock is that YTW is not gating well. Same with Emil, maybe now a family man he not prepared to get into the tough tussles, but he is not gating either. If you dont want tussles, sure way of keeping out of most of 'rm is to perfect your gating.

Going back to the original post - which tuners serve which GP riders

Last year the rule was different, this year its as waihekeaces1 says, so I too would have Lambert as reserve and use him beneficially.

I agree completely, I noticed he was backing out of situations that he would usually keep pushing. Someone mentioned Latvia GP earlier, and yes I too saw Emil really battling, going for gaps on the straights that was making me cringe. In Prague there was no "fire", even his starts were lacking, whereas he would normally be into the corner first.

Compared to the 700 Euros per meeting On those figures I am surprised others have not jumped ship and gone to Gerhard. A good GP from Freddie at the next GP (Horsens) and maybe more will swop during the summer "break".

Overall a good meeting, just "too slow" in getting going. Pity they do not have 4 heats before the main GP (non GP riders of course, just to settle the track in. Doyle did well to turn it around after just qualifying for the semis. Hancock deserved his 18 points. Perhaps after what PhilRising just said maybe Tai needs to switch tuners (or perhaps he did - oops). Biggest disappointment tonight - well two actually - Fast Freddie (perhaps still not fully fit) and Emil, who was a shadow of what he can do - bike just not fast enough and missing most starts.

Sounds excellent for the paying public........ another reason why crowds are diminishing

Was one of my fav riders visiting Belle Vue, and did ride for BV for a while in 1979. Always exciting. Stuck with Sheffield from '65 to '78, BV and Workington in '79, Exeter and Edinburgh in '80, Oxford and Cradley in '81 before retiring. Came 4th in the British Final 1970, also appearing '69, '71 and '72. He died in 2003 aged 60, after a fall in his brothers garden, went upstairs to lie on bed, fell down stairs few hours later. Took to hospital but never recovered.