21st century heathen

As ever with the good old Beeb it depends where you look. BBC website ...and I'd be willing to bet that the interactive text on News 24 shows something different again. Having said that it's only the temps that are out from what you have seen. Hot rather than warm is certainly a significant chance.

I wouldn't expect the pre-match sales to be anytihng to write home about. It may be the right choice of venues, but it's a long way to go for a rain off. Most people are going to wait, then just pay on the gate. Can't remember how many of our British pennies they're asking, but I remember thinking it was expensive.

As quoted on William Hill website Speedway World Cup Run Off Sweden 11/10 Australia 11/10 Poland 11/2 Czech Republic 20/1 Speedway World Cup Denmark 9/4 Great Britain 5/2 Australia 5/2 Sweden 7/2 Poland 16/1 Czech Republic 66/1 Now second faves

The team with the most race wins goes through. (I think)

I'm glad you've taken the time to post because I for one would like to offer my congratulations to you personally. Not everyone agrees with the way you go about leading our team, but I think you've got it spot on. The top four clearly pick themselves, but who do you add? I'm a great believer that the young guys should be given their chance rather than just picking the same old faces. You gave David and Chris their chance to prove themselves, on their own track, and they blew it. (harsh but true) Joe was clearly up for it, and has raised his game. I must admit I thought the best of Joe was in the dim and distant past, but he rode brilliantly. As committed to racing his little heart out as ever he was. If you're reading Joe, well done mate. From what is caught on camera Scott looks to do a good job as captain, so no complaints there. He does sometimes seem to take a couple of rides to get the bike spot on. After that he rode very well. Mark was different class. Six starts in a row Has he ever managed six starts in a season before? Lee rode very well considering the injury, and a tight track wasn't going to help. Unspectacular as usual but still finished the night with double figures. Likely to ride better at Poole so that can't be bad. David also rode extremely well. There was nothing he could do when the bike took off, and only dropped one point in his completed rides. Nothing to be ashamed of there Floppy. Hopefully Poole won't be too slick, in case our gating deserts us. We certainly have the riders who can race as hard and fast as anybody, so we have to be with them at the first turn. Good on ya lads and keep it up.

Well I'm nowhere near but there are storm cells popping up over the UK now. In particular there is a huge line of storms stretching all the way from London to Bristol/Cardiff. The whole lot is going BANG in a big way. It's heading into the midlands. The south coast should be OK. No new storms developing in the channel at the moment.

I think they all did a fantastic job, but Screenie certinaly did it the hard way. Fully deserved his chance, and he took it with both hands. Good on ya Joe

Too late we've seen it.

Glad to see someone knows what's going on. I assume that if tonights meeting was rained off it would have to be on Wed, tomorrows on Thurs, and the play off on Fri???

Midlo probably could, but I think he's got something on this afternoon.

C'mon the Brits. I've now put my money where my keyboard is. Sadly the odds on Sweden have changed from 4/1 to 10/3. Still, with a fiver on them and the Brits it makes things interesting. I was glad to get there and see the 5/1 (for the Brits) quoted last week hadn't changed. I think the boys can do it this year. Lets just hope everyone who can make it will get right behind them, and forget club loyalty for a week. Give them a cheer for me

I doubt anyone has planned ahead in case of rain offs. I did mention the storms the middle of last week but it now looks as though the south coast might escape the storms/downpours this evening. Keeping an eye on the radar this afternoon though.

They backed out at the last minute last year because they couldn't put a team together, and are not involved this year. Sad really. With respect to Italy and Hugary I know who I'd rather watch.

Was that skybet? Taken from William Hill website. Speedway : World Cup - Qualifying Heat 1 Great Britain 11/10 Sweden 11/8 Poland 7/2 Hungary 50/1 Speedway : World Cup - Qualifying Heat 2 Australia 4/5 Denmark 5/4 Czech Republic 13/2 Italy 66/1 To win SWC Australia 6/5 Denmark 3/1 Sweden 4/1 Great Britain 5/1 Poland 9/1 Czech Republic 33/1 Italy 500/1 Hungary 500/1

Right here mate.

Just an early warning that maybe...

Not if the storms kick in on Monday, and they have to try rearranging matches.

CM - I notice you fancy the Poles to do well. I honestly don't see why. Do you really think they will be that good at Eastie in particular? As for the Drymls...are you serious? Both may be good riders, on their day, and on the right track but no consistant enough or enough back up. The Czechs always get in the way, but I wouldn't consider them a serious threat. (waits to be proven wrong ) Brits Swe Den Aus

William Hill have us at 5/1 4th faves. (behind Aus, Den, Swe) In the three years since the new format WTC started we've had terrible luck with injuries. Again our boys are carrying injuries, but seem to be coping quite well. Lee is suffering, and probably shouldn't ride. At his best he's a great rider, and we really do need him. Rider for rider it's hard to chose between GB, Aus, and Swe. On paper the Danes look inexperienced but seem to be able to pull it all together, and rise to the occassion. Considering the tracks being used I think we have our best ever chance. Although there's no great home advantage, as most of the riders ride over here full time, I think we have an edge. David is virtually unbeatable at Eastie, especially this year. Mark and Joe have plenty of experience there, and Scott rides well on any track. Deano is always an option. He rode there for many years, and knows the lines. Lee may struggle badly on the tight turns. I genuinely believe we can win there. At Poole, if we're there, we have Mark, Scott, and Lee as ex-riders, David is flying everywhere, and Joe seems to have suddenly found some form. Despite the typical British attitude towards sport we do have a good chance this year. (and at 5/1 I'll have a couple of quid) Give us a bit of dirt though please. Our riders are not the sharpest or most consistant gaters, but boy can they race. Poole in particular has to have some dirt on it for us to stand a chance though. If it's slick then I fancy the fast starting Danes to do something a bit special. Hard to believe that Nicki is probably the oldest, and most experienced, rider in the Danes team, at 26?

I expect that nobody has thought that far ahead. Expect a 20min delay while they argue about it tonight, if the situation arises.

In place of? Charlie?

Should be the best match of the season. What fantastic line ups. I'm hoping we will have the edge in a last heat decider.

...Always possible to find an open store... Unless you go out early. Apart from the 7 eleven always being open Swedes and the Danes don't seem to be in any hurry to get to work. I did enjoy the trip thanks. (despite your weather) Prices depend where in the UK you are, and what sort of place you're going to. (dodgy local pub or a city bar) Maybe £2.50 would be a decent average. (local pubs usually have a £1 a pint night) A Breezer would cost me no more than £3 here. We have a similar chain to the 7 eleven (Spar) and they're not the cheapest either. It would be maybe 90p for a 500ml bottle of coke, and maybe 40-45p for a Mars/Twix etc in there. As you can see even comparing 'like for like' you guys pay way too much.

This was from the 7 eleven and similar, but admitedly the breezer was from the Hard Rock Cafe so a little over priced. I paid £7 for a rum and coke in Sweden last year. (only had 1 though) By contrast I went to Kos and had a double cocktail, and 3 shots of watermelon vodka for 5 euro, about £3.50. (had lots of those)

Can't argue with that. I had a free pint off a couple of Danes sat behind. Didn't want to drink any more, didn't want to waste it, and didn't want the money. As for the prices... (just as bad as Sweden) £1.65/£1.70 for a 500ml bottle Coke 85p for a Mars/Twix £5.00 for a Breezer etc... Fast food was about the same price though.