21st century heathen

It would take a better mechanical mind than mine to explain things properly but there's far more to it than simply having the best engine. There are any number of parts to a bike and they all need to work in harmony with the rider. Most people think Nicki is the best rider in the world right now, but that doesn't mean he could jump on Crump's bikes and win the next GP, or visa versa. Speedway engines would generally, in my understanding, be de-tuned by the rider so that they don't just spin up. They need the right gear for the track conditions. Tyre pressures are important as are the electrics (some riders have trouble with the cut-outs or plugs) and of course the clutch. The list must just go on and on and a rider is going to have to try every combination of everything to find something that suits his style of riding as well as track conditions for any nuumber of size, shape and surface of track. The difference between winning and losing is minute so everything falling into place is vital. Obviously a rider needs to have talent, that goes almost without saying, but there's not that much to choose between the worlds best riders. The difference on any one day could simply be a riders stumbling across something that works. As an example of that I spoke to one the Wolves riders recently after he had ridden well at Monmore. He told me he was riding a 'big track bike' on the day and it just worked. He could only shrug his shoulders as to why it worked, but it did!! It's never going to be as simple as Scott, or whoever, walking into his local corner shop and saying "I'll have two good speedway bikes please". Answering the point raised by spook about the Danes' bikes - They know how to set up a bike and ride it on a slick track. Why do you think the track was slick and do you think there'll be any dirt on the track Saturday night. Why do you think the GPs are on slick tracks. I'll give you a clue. His names begins with 'O', he loved slick tracks when he was riding and is now in a position to provide the Danes with the slick tracks they love.

I'm guessing it's when the riders' helmets were clipped by the tapes that's being referred to? In that case SCB has answered the question. Whether or not any of us agree with the rule is beside the point. In that circumstance the referee applied the rules accurately and should be congratulated.

The SWC '07 has been wiped from my memory. Well, apart from the superb race between Simon, Emil and Billy while Freddie cleared off at the front. *edit* You're right. I've just checked. Olly did get a ride in the final.

I would agree with the point you're making, but not necessarily the riders you've named. Gundersen spoke quite openly about how he messed with Hans' head to beat him, and Nicki managed to turn cracks into wide open valley's when he put pressure in Crump in '03(?- his first championship win).

Always? I'd settle for just once. I can't see any club moving up or down unless they want to. That's hardly what one could call promotion/relegation. Of course I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

I was queueing for a hot chocolate at the time (would've been quicker if she's just had another ice cream like any normal person ) sos didn't have the best view of the whole race. However, I did have a perfect view of the dive up the inside on the last bend. Cracking ride that rightly brought a cheer.

I've not seen the Sky footage yet, but this doesn't surprise me in the slightest. I think it actually proves a contradiction. If he didn't care he wouldn't be kicking and screaming. It's always been Scott's way to need to hit something to vent his anger when things go against him. That's just the way he deals. Leigh Adams moans and whines like a little girl, Bjarne Pedersen sits quietly, Nicki Pedersen and Hans Andersen will also kick something. It's all just the way we're 'built'. The truth is that he shows the frustration and anger with his own performance Scott felt last night. I'd have been very concerned had he gone back to his pit and sat quietly. Chances are that if Scott hadn't got it out of his system there and then he'd have gone out and either crashed or knocked someone else off.

Don't forget Scott qualified by right this year as the world number 8. It's Chris that was given the nomination. Most of the comments are justified. Why should we 'kiss it better'? On the whole it was a crap performance. There's no sugar-coating it.

Because he is the top ranked Brit in world speedway. He has the highest British EL average of all currently riding Brits. He has more British titles to his name than any other currently riding Brit, and is the current British Champion.

Sub - I doubt he has many 'get out of jail free' cards left. Especially if Lee qualifies. I suspect Chris would get the nod ahead of Scott, meaning he has to qualify again. As you say, that's no bad thing. It would make him re-group and take a long hard look at a few things. He has the talent to be easily in the top 8, but the application of that talent isn't quite right. There's a missing piece somewhere.

Firstly, I'm in no way a Coventry fan. How very dare you! It makes me feel sick just think of it. Olly has only been an EL regular for 3 years. He's never, as far as I can remember, ridden at this level. Again as far as I can remember, this is easily the toughest opposition he's ever faced. His knowledge of the track went out the window when it was prepared so slick. As I've just mentioned on one of the other threads he has beaten Crump around Brandon twice this season, but on a grippy track. The track has generally been fairly to very slick for a year now, but last night was even more slick. Yes, Rymel and Nermark had a, or a couple of, good ride/s. He did do better than the rest and should be congratulated for his effort. The score card doesn't tell the whole story. Olly gave that absolutely every thing he had. He went into the season as a 5.3 point rider and is now a 6½ point rider. 5 points was a fair return. Had the others scored what they should have for their ability I doubt Olly would have attracted such a negative response. I can only assume some are just biased and can't see past it. Okay, so it didn't work but I thought that was one hell of a brave first turn by Olly. And he didn't shy away from racing after regaining control. If a rider throws that much at it I have no complaints.

The promotion/relegation meetings won't mean a damn thing. The clubs will still apply to join which ever league they want to be in.

This season I agree, but it's not always been the case. They've had some disagreements with the AMA over years. Billy is now, sadly, retired from European action. I don't necessarily disagree, but at least one Brit will always (at least for quite some time) get a nomination to pull the crowds. Like it or loathe it that's just the way it is. Scott is still by far the best British rider, although he did absolutely nothing to prove it last night. I meant the best option to go into the top 5 with the obvious top 3. The fact is that the meeting was at Coventry where Olly has a 7 point average and has beaten some good riders (incl. Crump twice this season). Pretty sure Tai hasn't done that.

So was I when it was clear we were struggling, but for very selfish reasons. I'm off to a warmer and sunnier place on Thursday and don't even land until well into the meeting. It would have been easier on my nerves (despite it all I do still care) had we gone out last night. Basically, yeah!! Jonas is a fantastic rider except when he can't be @r$£d for his British EL club. He was superb again (as well as SWC last year) last night. Having said that I have to be fair and say he rode well for Lakeside at Brandon a couple of months ago.

That would come with the race results were they able to gate and ride a slick track well. It's just the way of we humans to become introspective when things aren't going the way we want them to. If a rider was riding sh!te and still able to be extrovert I would wonder why. It's up to the TM more than the riders to get them going (so-to-speak).

Good post. I agree with hatcham though. Scotty can be a winner, and I'm not sure what's been missing in the GP's. A few chances to win one have come and gone. He screwed up the U21's all those years ago as well. Yet, he's a mutli-time British Champion, and has an average consistantly between 9 and 10 in the British League.

Of course there's something to lose. A place in the final is at stake.

Oooops sorry Olly. Good spot Sub (was meant to read on Thurs as well)

Superb piece of Council/speedway club co-operation. Not only did the Council decide to do it yesterday, when the stadium as hosting its biggest speedway meeting of the season, but they were doing it as we all arrived at the stadium. Pure genuis!!

Fair enough, but Olly is our best bet at the moment (I'd out him in Thurs as well). Tai is one for the future, no doubt. Welcome to the sport and the forum. Thankfully, you'll have better nights watching speedway than last night. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I can't see why Olly got so much stick earlier on in the thread. He was by far our best rider, and it's good to see some people agree. He gave that meeting everything he had, and perhaps a tad too much. He did try too hard a couple of times, what an effort in heat 25, but I think that was mostly because he felt he had to give more as all around him failed miserably. I'd leave him in on Thursday. Put Ed in for Simon and take Tai along to take it all in. I've never seen Scott ride so badly around Brandon. I've never seen Simon ride so badly anywhere! Chris was crap, although he did manage our only win. His last heat was an embarrassment. Lee was crap, as he is more often than not when I see him these days. Where was his GP qualifier form? Jim Lynch did nothing wrong on the night. Played the Joker as soon as possible to try to get back into the meeting early, and gave Chris the extra ride in place of Simon. That doesn't forgive the bloody stupid attitude before the meeting. How is telling Olly and Steady they're out of the meeting for Thursday going to help?! You should be encouraging them not telling them they will fail and they're out before a wheel has been turned. Dreadful team management. There are some crazy calls for the team on Thursday. What's the point in destroying the confidence of riders that aren't ready for SWC action yet. Wright, Barker, Lawson, are you for real? Finally, the trackwas a factor whether people see it as an excuse or not. Brits are generally crap out the gate and can't ride slick tracks. It doesn't matter what our opinion on that is - It's a fact, proven time and time again.

WOW all that Star Lady? My list is much shorter. I'd like to see Brits learn to gate and ride slick tracks. That's it. Couldn't give a wotsit whether the sing the anthem, group huddle for the cameras, listen to Jim Lynch, joke or sulk.

First of all that wasn't a league meeting. The opposition was the toughest he's ever faced. The track was very slick. He was probably spinning badly out of the starts. He may have been last in heat 25 but what an effort on the first turn. It was all over by then, had been for about 1½ hours, but a bit of that type of commitment from some of the others would have been nice. Even after almost going through the fence he chased hard and tried every line on the track. I've seen virtually every race Olly has had around Brandon and I've never seen him try as hard as he did in heat 25. He normally has his favourite line and sticks to it. I think he covered every square inch last night!! And lets not forget he ourscored Scott and Simon, scored just one less than Lee and Chris needed an extra ride to record just 3½ points more.

DOH!! It's up to the riders who they choose to pay their hard earned to. Bottom line - Brits (generally) are crap out of the gate and can't ride slick tracks. They probably had too much power not too little. When there's no dirt you waste it all as they back wheels spins rather than gripping. Our boys were trying the normal Brandon race lines when all that was required was to pootle around the curb for most of the night. Just look at the race times after the first few heats. Well over 61 seconds, by the end of the night, by some of the best riders in the world.

Just print on off before you go. You can do your own or print one that is posted on here. Danish Webmaster always posts good score cards for SWC and SGP. Yeah, it'll do that when you've got no fuel flowing through it. He didn't. He always hangs off the bike, but that's not locking up. I think, off the top of my head, he did it once. He was sh!te though. Easily the worst I've ever seen him ride.

This has to be a wind-up How were we going to walk it against the best team in the world, and how was a hard slick track going to be to our liking? Olly is the only one that can take any pride out of his performance last night.