21st century heathen

Crump or Pedersen to win it for me so based on that you would take Pedersen. For an outsider I wouldn't look past Andersen. I fancy the elbows could be out for Emil this season and he'll probably still be a little too wild at times to sustain a title challenge.

RIP

Sorry about my Rico history, but I maintain my opinion on the nominations.

Perhaps, but that's basically tough luck. None, but then there is quite a significant age difference there. Okay. Harris has one GP podium outside the UK. One more than Rico. So I agree it was a short conversation but at least we had one which is more than we could about Rico's zero. I'm not totally anti-Rico. But a place in the '10 GP Series for him cannot be justified. *edit* typo

You can't have the argument both ways. Though I agree he has generally been very good for us in the SWC, and as I said previously he's a better racer than many give him credit for. It doesn't change the fact he didn't even get to the Challenge Final and has never won the British Title. Quite what the U21 title ten years ago has got to do with it I'm not sure.

As proven by Adams.

What he said... Cheers. Glad to see it wasn't lost on everyone.

I say only in part because once you (not you personally necessarily) accept that there will probably always be two Brits in the series you have to assess who will best represent his country. Harris' nomination can be justified. You're right as a general comment. But if being national champion and finishing higher in the qualifying process is to have any value whatsoever then Harris is the obvious choice as currently the best Brit. If being the highest placed Brit in the qualifying rounds means nothing then where is the incentive for any Brit to enter in future? Besides didn't Nicholls qualify by right when Richardson last failed to qualify? And as I stated previously Harris has two GP medals to Rico's one and I imagine they have competed in roughly the same number of GPs. Zorro is the national champion and finished higher than any of his countrymen in the qualifying rounds. His place in the GP series next season is fully justified. If you think that one race is not enough to show who the best rider is I assume you don't like the current format whereby the GP Champion is decided in a one-off race? A rider could qualify for the final having only scored six points and recorded second in the semi-final and go on to beat a rider that has recorded six straight wins. Surely that's not right? ----------------------- Everyone would have a different idea of who the best 15 riders in the world are and I doubt there would ever be 100% agreement between the FIM, SKY (or other tv companies), the fans or even the riders. If you simply want to select the best 15 riders in the world there would still be arguments over the last few places awarded. If you want a qualifying process then the likes of Zorro and Harris can have their place in the series justified while the likes of Lindback and Zagar miss out. A lot of people want to see the one-off final return. I dread to think what the reaction to some of the surprise exits/surprise qualifications would be like on here. Personally I think the balance between automatic qualification, qualification through the various rounds and nominations is about right. As someone else already stated - it gives the chance to put in a rider that may have missed out more through injury than any other reason, and also riders for commercial purposes. Like it or loathe it the latter must be a consideration. If there were still a Slovenian GP I would have expected to see Zagar get the nod.

He did, but his position did not qualify him for next season. So he should be considered by the same critera that ensured Harris' inclusion. Granted that's partly because of his nationality, but not entirely. Totally ignoring the reasoning I gave. Shame. Rico was crap in his last season in the GP, didn't even make the GP Quali Final this season and is not the current British Champion. Domestic form is not the only factor, though you are right in stating Rico's higher averages. Lindback was dreadful in his last GP season and Zagar dropped out becuase he failed to qualify. I won't keep saying the same thing over and over but just one more time - Bomber finished higher than them in the qualofying process so his inclusion ahead of all three of these riders in entirely justified and no justification to the contrary has been given yet. Not really. How many times has he been British Champion compared to Nicholls and Harris? Didn't spot the wink then?

Based on what? 1) The top eight does mean something. It means automatic qualification for the following season. You are going to be watching the 11 riders that qualified on merit. It's not as though they're all picked out of a hat. 2) Zagar and Lindback again. What's your justification for including them ahead of Bomber? So based on history and making up new rules Bomber shouldn't be included in '10? Back in the real world - He won the British title this season, has the highest world ranking of the Brits and finished ahead of any other Brit in the qualifiers. Woffinden is in because there are too few twenty-somthings challenging the top riders and if we don't blood some youngsters now there is going to be a mad panic in a few years when the GP series has got virtually no experience in it. Hancock and Gollob are still usually the best of the rest, but won't be there much longer. Crump and Pedersen are also over 30. Adams and possibly Holta have raced their last GP. Surely Ulamek and Walasek are not the riders everyone is hanging the GP future on? That leaves Andersen and Lindgren (who also needed a pick to get back in) along with Bjerre. If not for the likes of Saifutdinov and Woffinden gaining experience now where would we in a few years time? I'm not saying we should flood the GP with youngsters, but bringing one in each year over the next 5 years (for eg) will help replace the experienced but aging top 8 as they drop out. Zagar and Lindback again. Why? And why Rico ahead of Bomber? No idea. But is makes a mockery of the argument that the GP should be the best ranked riders but that Bomber should not be included. That's not a requirement that has to be fulfilled.

Still haven't seen anything to justify why the suggested names deserve it more than Tai or particularly Bomber (based on the slating he's got). What is Zagar's and Lindback's current world ranking? How far did they get in the qualifying rounds compared to Bomber? Some are saying it's a joke that Bomber should get given a nomination but then he got further than these two (which are singled out as the two most named riders) in the qualifying rounds. And he's the national champion. So why should he be overlooked?

I've just read through all the posts and can put my hand on my heart and say that nothing has been posted to justify the opinion that anyone should have been chosen ahead of Bomber or Tai. Most of the names mentioned as alternatives seem to be Rico, Lindback and Zagar. Well Bomber was closer to qualifying by right than any of them. Comaparing their EL form shows Zagar as the better rider by ½ a point, but he didn't do a full season. Rico and Bomber scored the same to within .02. Rico has also had his chance in the GPs and I believe recorded just one third place. Bomber has a win and a third, and is the British Champion again. With a chance at the top of the GP tree it's worth Bomber getting one more shot because if the tracks are better prepared in '10 there are few more exciting riders than Bomber in full flow (jsut for the record I'm of the school of thought that Rico is a much better racer than he gets credit for - just to add balance to my post). Tai is by far our best prospect out of the teenagers/very early twenties. He's streets ahead of the others. Only Ed would come into the frame, but he has had two chances in the last two British GPs to impress and has failed to do so. Neither Ed nor Tai made the GP Quali Final so you can't split them there either. As for Lindback - Well he couldn't be bothered turning up for the GP Quali Final so sod him!!! And Ward is just a new boy that had a good season in the PL. What makes anyone think he should be step up the GPs in '10 if beyond me, talented though he is. Overall I can't see what's wrong with Bomber and Tai joining Lindgren and Andersen.

Thanks for putting the work in ballinger. Sadly my team was badly let down by its manager picking the wrong captain. Any chance of a full list of runners and riders when you get 5?

That's an horrific injury. Reminds me of the one Scott had several years ago as well.

Another for Emil please.

Cheers mate. My team has been badly let down by its manager not naming the right captain. I dread to think what the maximum potential has been compared to what I've actually scored. Hey-ho

Davidsson was no surprise to me. Had it been slick he would have been flying to a double-figure score. Once I saw a bit of dirt on the track I knew he would be no threat. The same with him at Monmore tonight. If it's got plenty of dirt on he'll be crap, then probably get a maximum next week. Bjerre was a little unlucky and fortunate at the same time. He packed up while leading but was very lucky that the pack scattered behind him and somehow they all got through without riding straight into him (a minor miracle). And he was also wiped out on the first turn of one heat. It was a nasty crash that must have shook him up but he was lucky to be able to continue without serious injury and still has a chance to qualify by right through the GPs. So what about Bridger? The age gap is hardly huge. Roynon would be up there with Gustafsson too had it not been for two terrible injuries in the last two seasons, though I accept many will say there's no proof of that without him having actually proven it on track. I assume you're taking the wee wee? He introduced the ref as "...and our German referee from, well Germany...". After that I tuned out, as I usually try to do. --------------------------- The crowd was a little better than I expected but it was by no means huge. There were less than some of the Bee's biggest meetings of recent seasons (the three '07 finals immediately springing to mind). The racing was decent, and nothing more. I didn't find the pace particularly hot. The times were about normal. There was certainly plenty of dirt on the track but I wouldn't call it particularly deep and/or heavy. Bomber was a bit unlucky off the outside in heat one as the elbows were flying in to and out of the first turn. Thereafter he rode well enough, although not forcing a way past Walasek was a little frustrating (cracking ride under pressure by the Pole though). Zorro and Holder were a cut above. Hampel went about his business and deserved his place. Lindgren paid the price for a single poor ride and wasn't up to the form shown this season at Brandon. Pepe could so easily have gone through but for a fall (everyone lucky to get up from that one) and rode well. The few below this were never in contention but nicked a few points here and there in decent enough rides. The pick of the also rans for me was Meidzinski and I couldn't believe he hadn't got more when I totalled the scores. He always seemed to be in the thick of the action. The worst performance must have been by Pavlic. He was completely anonymous throughout. Overall, I found it an entertaining evening/night and the crashes certainly added to the overall spectacle. Thankfully nobody was seriously hurt but my God the elbows were flying at times, and a few dodgy right turns here and there. Dryml (though I thought he was rather unfortunate to be excluded from the re-run of one heat when it looked as though he did not start the fun and games that time), Lindgren and Nemo all guilty at one time or another.

With Crump carrying an injury I'll take a punt on Emil.

Slick - Lindgren, Bjerre, Davidsson. Average - Lindgren, Zagar, Holder. Grippy - Harris, Lindgren, and a random shock.

That would be ridiculous. One good season in the PL over here doesn't make him GP quality. Perhaps Topinka is in with a shout as well? He's had several seasons back-to-back to prove himself at PL level. ---------------------------- I guess many will say this is easy to say, hard to prove but my Dad wanted to come to this and bring my Mom along (speedway fans of old when Cradley ruled the roost). Mom's response - We aren't paying that much!! I'll go anyway as it's rare to see this kind of meeting within sensible travelling distance so I see it as a one-off chance and therefore a one-off expenditure. But 3 of us at £18/£20 would have earned the organisers more money than me alone at £25. I suspect a very poor crowd will turn out.

In his defence - Brandon was always slick and generally 'iffy' back in the Cradley days, and it still can be now. Though it is much improved generally speaking. See what getting rid of Olsen can do for a track? Brilliant!! Let's get rid of Crump too as he can only stand still or get worse next season. I can see what you're saying about Adams having slipped down the order and that one day it will happen to Greg and Tomasz. But until the time comes nobody knows when that will happen. Did anyone predict Leigh would struggle so badly this season? Was he any more likely to have slipped down the order than Greg or Tomasz? Will Greg and/or Tomasz slip down the order next season or will they still be top 5 riders in the GP series? Is Nicki passed his best and should go or has he just been unlucky with ref calls, injury and a slight dip in form compared to the previous two seasons? ------------------------------------------------- Quick question for anyone thinking of going to Somerset because, if even in part, this meeting is too expensive. How much will your round trip cost you in fuel compared to going to Brandon?

Oooooo you were going so well, then put me off at the last.

I can't believe he'll go all season without a win so Super-Nicki as Captain for Vojens please.

I might regret this but I'll go with AJ this time please.

Crump for me too please. But I fear my challenge has ended along with Nicki's.