21st century heathen

From the early weeks of the season I had concerns about Scott at GP level. I discussed this with SCB, a couple of times actually. He seems to have improved his overall gating but he has no speed (compared to the top lads). At Brandon he chases but doesn't catch them, as seen in the two recent matches. He's missing that little bit extra to pass people. I can't actually remember a pass of note this season. Now for a rider that would list his racing ability as his greatest asset that must be a real concern. To try to compensate he seems to be over-riding the bike even more than ever. I've lost count of the number of times he's over-locked the bike and subsequently lost ground. He also seems to make poor decisions on track positioning. A classic example of which was when he allowed Gollob up the inside when he had the lead. He put himself in a vulnerable position, and paid the inevitable price.

I did feel sorry for Jagus to be ruled out through not fault of his own, but that's speedway. Nicki went for a move, and in hindsight we can all say it was ill-advised. If he'd got through it'd have been a great move. It was just unfortunate that his back wheel seemed to clip the curb. I don't see the problem with riders going over the curb if they choose to try it. You can get your back wheel on a fresh bit of dirt, and it's not against any rules. If you want to stop this sort of incident you have to make the curb higher or not have one at all. Back to Jagus. He's had a great start, and I hope he's back for the next one with no after-effects from this crash.

I got the impression he was still going over what had happened in his mind. He looked back along that back straight, and I get the feeling something like 'how did you do that?' was going through his mind. As soon as they'd gone a bit further round the track he did turn back to the fans and wave.

First of all let me congratulate Leigh on a very good race in the final. He had to see off Nicki in the first turn, shake off Freddie, and then make the move on Hans. He was amongst the quickest riders all night, so it's not as though he suddenly clicked and stole it. Finally, Leigh translates his league form in to a GP win. It's been a while now, and I wonder if he can kick on this season or whether it's another one-off (a bit contradictory but you know what I mean). What a load of rubbish. If being annoyed with yourself for making a mistake (in his eyes) is a crime then he's guilty as charged. He said he moved out to cover an outside move by Leigh, as Leigh switched back. He was really angry with himself, and said nothing to take away praise for Leigh. He was clearly seen on the parade truck discussing it with Leigh. If he was a bad loser he would not have spoken to Leigh about it. If he's angry with himself, why should he hide it? How is it childish and in poor taste?

Money, and space are likely to be two key issues. There's not a lot of room in the pits when you've got that many riders, bikes, mechanics, officials, and hangers-on. There's still a little bit of educating speedway to accept the invasion of the cameras as well. I was responding to the original comments. On the subject of production there is one thing to note that hasn't been mentioned. The GP's and league matches follow the same format of replays. If different companies produce each GP and Sky the league, why do they have the same arty farty view of replays, and stupid montage of matches that don't actually show anything in any kind of context? Something that was noted in our household too. I have no problem with seeing relays of the crashes because I, personally, like to analyse exactly what happened. It's live action of the aftermath that can be a problem. The initial long shots with no close detail was the right way to go. Once it was clear the riders were starting to gather themselves, and sit up/get up we got some closer shots. Firstly, Bjarne walking away etc... I thought this was handled absolutely perfectly. Incidentally how did Bjarne not break his arm/wrist with the way it got caught up with the bike, and how did Jagus not break his shoulder/collarbone?!! Even Nicki was a lucky that Bjarne didn't do more damage to him. Most of us (there are always a few exceptions) appreciate that we are very lucky to have a lot of speedway live on our screens these days. However, there are some frustrating little things that we'd dearly love to change. With a few tweaks the coverage could go from good to very good pretty much overnight.

I agree that they missed whatever happened between Nicki and Tomasz, and I agree that the replays seem to be more about the editors sense of artistic value than actually showing what happened. For example they missed Chris actually going from 4th to 2nd on the last bend in the after-race replay (although obviously went back to that one). The comms team of Tony Millard (in particular) and Kelvin Tatum regularly miss what's actually going on. Nicki was clearly struggling. He was caught on camera several times with his hand holding the injured hip. When he was sitting on the bike (I guess checking everything was straight) before his 5th ride he immediately reached for his hip as he tried to get off the bike. As you say he was clearly struggling to hold on as the laps went by in his 5th ride. He was barely able to ride it back to the pits, when in the pits he didn't take his helmet off for ages and had his head resting against the boards at the back of his pit, and was holding his ribs in several camera shots. None of this got a mention, but it was caught on camera. It wasn't mentioned that he was moving much more freely by the time the final came around. It was mentioned that he'd been to the medical room though. Can the doc administer pain killing jabs during a meeting? We saw several shots of Jason recieving treatment, and worryingly being stretchered rather than walking to the ambulance. This brings me to another point that was caught on camera but not picked up on by Kelvin or Tony. Jason seemed to have taken his boot off, rather strange for a shoulder injury. He was then clearly unable to walk. I wonder if there is more to come on that story in the morning. All of this hardly backs up the claim that the cameras (whoever provides them) missed the action.

Who's in which group? I can't remember.

Interesting idea. If Olly shows Ed which end of the bike to aim at the corner then maybe, just maybe... David H is in great form, and scored paid 9 from 4 at Brandon less than two weeks ago. Lewis can't match that. I'd like to think that Middlo will make sure that he and James (in particular) are involved in some way.

The question was 'Why...should it be at Brandon?'. The Brits, mostly, do very well at Monmore. Ever since the British Final was announced as being at Monmore I've said that I'm really looking forward to it for this very reason. Yes, and no. The cats whiskers...the dogs danglies...etc... I agree that the Poles aren't the best squad, but that doesn't mean they can't win in their own back yard. I doubt you'll find too many that think the Aussies can 'flog' the Danes man-for-man. (that just sounds sooooo wrong ) Which is what I've been saying all along. Olly as reserve to... Scott Chris Lee Simon David H This time you really have come around to my way of thinking.

Why?

We all know the score in this seasons WTC anyway. The Danes are the strongest in the world right now, but the Poles have a fantastic chance of winning in their own back yard again. That doesn't mean we shouldn't make a fight of it. On form, Olly is a better option than Ed around Brandon. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I probably wouldn't believe it either. Hopefully we'll be in a stronger position in a few years, but at the moment we are between eras'. We have the Mark, Chris L, Joe, and Floppy group on the way down (although Mark can still do the business in the WTC when fit). Then we have the likes of Scott and Lee as established GB riders, Chris H and Simon coming through. David H and Olly may be in the middle age bracket, but are young enough to still make a break through to become solid scorers (as mentioned good at Brandon as well). Then the likes of Ed, James, Lewis to look to for the future.

What about dragging a few along to see some live action?

I guess you're right, but for the most part I would consider TRick to have won his world titles as a rider that rode over here. Even if you do count TRick 2005 as not having ridden over here, then that was the first time for 22 years that it has been done. Most people still consider Egon to have had something going his way that day. I wonder who was the one before him? It all points to one thing. If you want to be world champion you have to ride in Britain. Gollob has never gone so close as he did when he had experience over here, Holta and Hampel seem to have gone backwards and don't look like ever winning it (although Hampel could turn it around). AJ is not having the impact he should have in the GP's. The top 5 this year will probably be riding over here (NP, JC, HA, GH, LA) with AJ likely to be the best placed that doesn't ride over here. I'm surprised that riders such as Hampel and Lindback don't realise this, and be desperate to ride over here. Perhaps they don't have the motivation to reach the top, only to earn as much as they can without putting themselves out?

Not at all. I simply don't agree with you. Too long-winded. There's a tv schedule to consider. Where do you draw the line? Do you run off for every position (in meetings generally)? Some riders would have to use the tyre for an extra 4 laps, and be more fatigued themselves. I think it's sensible, but I'm open to opinions others may have. Unfair. It could largely depend on how the track was prepared when you happened to go out.

That's something that I keep coming back to. I'm struggling to think who it could have been. Perhaps even as far back as Egon Muller '83(?). All the GP front runners ride over here. Even TRick came back to the UK when he lost his edge after his first world title. Back to AL and the fans opinion. He burned a lot of bridges last season. Even the Poole promotion seem to have turned their back on him. He wasn't considered for this season, and now they want to sell him rather than a potentially more lucrative (over time) loan deal. If the fans don't like him it's largely because of his actions, and attitude. He's young, and maybe one day he can build a few bridges once more. But at the moment I think that may be a little way off for a lot of people. I'm not saying that I'm actively hoping he'll flop, but I just don't care if he gets another 5 zeros next time out. Just my opinion of course.

I have to agree with that comment. It's been a while since we've seen that kind of racing from him. Classy move.

Hans was a little lucky that hitting the rut fired him forward rather than off the bike. Greg was unlucky as he lost momentum as Hans came across him. Chris just saw his chance, and kept it all wound on. As he went around Greg on the exit of turn 4 he had so much speed he almost hit the back of Hans. As he shut the throttle I thought that chance may have gone, but the switch to the inside was quick thinking, and just shows how sharp his racing brain is. For the record did anyone else notice after the race that Hans looked for Greg and apologised to him? I'm sure the Hans-bashers will conveniently ignore that, but well done Hans. They will rut up though. Chris is strong enough to ride them, and make moves as others make mistakes. At Cardiff there's usually a little bit of dirt around the outside late on. If he can grab a semi spot he should be able to get out wide and use that to his advantage. It's the line AJ uses, and he has a good record at Cardiff. Parken will be harder, and there seems less dirt there.

Yep, I was pleased to see him get up because he could easily have broken his ankle under the bike as he came to rest. But you're right, it was a comedy classic. 'Anything TRick can do I can do better'. If only he could have come down on the wheels. *edit* Good on him for having a laugh at himself. That guy in his pit crew couldn't stop chuckling so I think Rune had to see the funny side. Top man.

You give a very poor example. Had they been tied on points then either AJ would have been shocking, or Lindback much better. You can't try to apply the rule to riders that have had such different nights. The whole point of any count back system is to split riders that have finished on level points. If two riders were to finish level on 7 points and were tied for the last semi spot they would have to be split somehow. If one rider had failed to finish a race because of a fall (for eg), and the other had completed all his rides my rule would make sense. The rider that had fallen had made a crucial error that the other hadn't. That should count against him.

I don't agree that a zero is a zero. If you finish the four laps, but are last, that is quite rightly considered a better result than not finishing the race. I'd even say that a fall or engine failure should be considered a better result than not taking to the track/being excluded under the 2 min rule/being excluded for touching the tapes. If you are excluded for an in-race offence then that would fit in between these two.

I've said for some time that he aint all that, but he is better than the very poor showings in the first two GP's.

If he has got away with that one (relatively speaking) he is every bit as lucky as Scott was a couple of weeks ago. It was such a freak accident, but they tend to be the worst ones. I really did think he must have broken something in/around the shoulder because of the impact with the track as he came back off the fence. He's also very lucky that the bike didn't hit him as it took flight. All the best AJ.

Well, I'm happy to say that I called Nicki as a very real threat long before the season began. He has been a class apart, and good on him for it. He fully deserves all the credit at the moment, and is riding as well as Rickardsson or Crump ever did at their best.

Congrats Chris. Easily the most exciting rider in the GP's this season, although not quite the best. Superb performance tonight with some truly brilliant moves.

I can see where you're coming from, and watching Mark has been a pleasure for all speedway fans. There are very few riders that have the pure racing ability that he has. However, one man does not a team make. Chin up, and get behind the boys that turn out for us at Cov (whoever gets the nod).