21st century heathen

Right back at ya!! I called that on the terrace. Mr Turner didn't agree!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The track was completely different to normal, and much worse for it. It was a nothing track early on with only one line. Very boring for the first half, with only Jonas providing a real race. It got better as the little bit of dirt there was started to move out. It did at least mean it was worth chasing it up to the fence. Still, the flip side is that it made the track easier to ride. That worked out well for the Russians (may not have gone so well had it been as grippy as usual), and also for Lee and Ed. Lee - Crap first ride, but did a really good solid job after that. Ed - Mostly a great performance from him, with a couple of blips. Good to see him ride well and gain confidence at this level. I hope he can take it into the final and get stuck in. Steady - Similar to Ed in that there were a couple of blips, but very much job done. On the whole a great performance. Needs more grip to come from the back because he hasn't got the outright speed that Chris and Scott displayed. Chris - Only slipped up once, but was pure class apart from that. Almost certain to have scored a maximum on a normal Brandon race surface. You have to have seen his 3rd/4th bend blasts to believe he could have done it on the last lap. Scott - Superb display. Absolutely stunning. Very few people even get near Greg once he gets clear around Brandon let alone 'do' him like Scotty did. That last race burst from the back from class as well. Is the real Scotty Nicholls back with us? Well he certainly seems to have found that little extra that's been missing all season. Well done Scotty. Greg and Billy - Below par. Greg only won two heats. That's poor by his standards when you consider other points he dropped. Billy should be scoring about 6 or 7 at this level really. The other Americans all had a go and were generally in the mix on the first lap. They just lacked speed, and couldn't stay with the pace. Denis - Superb display. The cheers/congratulations for him were almost as loud as for the maximum by Scotty. Emil - It's a shame he got a bit over-excited a couple of times. He could have easily added quite a few points to his haul. Great to watch. The rest of the Russians were there or thereabouts all night, and helped justify their place in the race-off. Really entertaining racing from all of them. Even Danil getting stuck in when called on. Freddie - Got the job done. We wondered which Freddie would turn up. Somewhere in between. A couple of dodgy rides thrown in to what was a good night on the whole. PK - Read Greg. Below his best. Will/should be disappointed. Antonio - Sorry to see him get hurt, but he hasn't improved his Brandon form much. Really did get himself in a knot when he took the knock. Jonas - You'd have long odds on him top scoring. If he doesn't start showing this form in the EL whoever he's riding for at the time should tell him to sort or quit. He showed what he's capable of, and that's should be his target every time he steps over a bike from now on. Superb display of racing from him. I've never seen him ride and race anything like that. Pepsi and Magnus - Might not have done much but I'm can't see anyone else doing any better. The Pepsi was a bit flat but still picked up some useful points. Magnus is pretty good at Brandon. He had a tough opening ride. He came in at heat 15(?) when everyone else was dialled in, and had to face Greg and Scott(?). In his next ride he took a very creditable 2nd. I don't see why he's been dis'd so much.

Sorry mate. I'm 40 miles up the road.

You'll be far more impressed by mine when you see it tonight. *add your own comedy responses to that*

Can't see any problems. Cov car park is plenty big enough.

We know. We've read the other threads.

He could star for them in Poland, but I'd be somewhat surprised if he does anything of note tonight.

She told me she wasn't p!$$£d when I spoke to her yesterday. And she's sobered up this today. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope so DW. We'll never hear the end of it from Brits supporting other nations is we don't go through.

Just struck me how many current or former Coventry and Wolves riders are in the line up. Almost half the field. Injured riders David, AJ, and Roman have all ridden for one or the other. And the US could easily have named Ryan and Ronnie. So who's going to come out on top? Cov or Wolves.

I've long-since had my say on Middlo and his team, but that's in the past. No point moaning about his selection now. I changed my colours and siggy last week, and I'll get behind each and everyone of them tonight. We shouldn't underestimate the Swedes. They are capable of giving us a real run for our money. For the record I think they've made the same mistake as Middlo. Magnus should be in the team at Brandon. He's pretty good there, and I think he could outscore Jonas no problem. In the past we've suffered badly with injuries, and again we are missing a key rider. That makes a big difference. However, if we go straight through tonight we are in the mix for a podium place behind Poland (surely big faves on home shale).

You didn't. I don't know about the 'computer' one, but on the 'printable' one the originator made a mistake or 26. Some riders in the wrong place. I had to write them in by hand when I realised the mistakes.

And his daughter must be 12(?) by now/this year. You're right Jenn. Makes you feel old.

I'll reserve judgment until I've seen it, but I sincerely hope it's the same as usual. Fingers crossed indeed.

Greg should boost their score enough to see off the Russians, but it could be very close. If the track is the same as usual I wouldn't be all surprised to see a few Russians testing the air fence.

And don't forget Kaj has spent significant time over here as well. That wasn't speedway. It was a competition to see who could stay nearest the curb!! Nothing against the Danish riders. They were the best on the night, and deserved to win. The comments here are born of frustration that the track wasn't better prepared for racing.

Bust-up with the AMA. You've got more chance of seeing Holta turn out for Norway.

Why? Rory rides Brandon every week, which is as different to Vojens (tonight) as is possible. *edit* Because I've had a couple of drinks and made a stupid mistake

I thought Holder did his job quite well to be honest. Okay he didn't really surprise anyone, but he was well on the pace. I can't fault the Aussies for wanting to blood their rising star. Let's wait to see how he gets on in Poland. That's hardly fair. The task for Finland/Russia/Hungary/Italy etc is to qualify for the final. Then try not to be the lowest scorers ever. That success for them. There are an awful lot of football teams that shouldn't bother turning up for the start of the season using your logic.

Don't mention it. I've only just put it out of my head. Something else that's beyond $h!t£.

Several hit the curb but Roo was the only one that I saw clearly go over it with both wheels. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Right from the off this was crap. Sky not even having the professional courtesy to put a graphic on screen showing the Finnish team, or interview one of their riders. Absolutely disgusting!! Track was beyond $h!t£, no air fence, a couple of long breaks, and Tony Millard spouting every bit as much crap as ever. What a complete waste of an evening. Anyone that's not a hardcore speedway fan wouldn't have watched that for more that 5 minutes.

And to make it fill in the correct names?!!

Cheers mate.

Where's SCB? If anyone knows, he will.

If you say so. Missed a trick there mate. You should have said 'lick your lips and say hi'.

Thanks, but I meant the riding order for each team.

I seem to remember not knowing that you had to punch it (to give it a start date/time) yourself for a day or two. The woman that sold it to us didn't tell us that. We just thought you had to show it if anyone asked to see it.