bellevueace

The point hes making is that no tracks closed through the introduction of air fences

I feel the same about the play offs tbh where a team finishing 4th umpteen points behind the table toppers can be crowned champions. Strange how many people who decry the British final format or the SoN format are big advocates of the play offs, where the same formula is used, in effect losers cwn end up overall winners.

Best ive seen Howarth ride the NSS

I remember going to Gothenburg in 1977 just days after Collins shattered his leg hitting a grid cover at Hyde road, it was a very wet meeting and Collins shouldn't have been riding but gave it a go having to be lifted on and off his bike, he actually finished second in that world final and would have actually won it but I remember Egon Muller coming off when PC was in front but due to his injury he couldn't replicate it in the rerun, I strongly believe only for that leg injury he would have equalled Ivans three in a row, PC was that dominant at the time, throw in his maximums in the consecutive WTC finals, world pairs titles and the host of other titles allied to his outstanding ability on the bike of which ive not seen since and no Tai doesn't eclipse PC. Titles won don't tell the whole stories of a riders career, and if that had been PC in his prime last night his team riding skills would have seen Rob through or if not it would have been nip and tuck. I think the sands of time have eroded the memory of how good PC was, another example, at Hyde Road his handle bars broke in half, he won the race holding the forks with one hand and the throttle with the other, don't think we would see that today

Well overall two superb meetings, Woffinden was brilliant and Lambert came of age, I was hoping we would get Poland in the final as I thought Lambert had the beating of Dudek, having said that when Tai went chasing for the win in the final my first thought was why, surely it would have been better to hold up Saufutinov to give Robert a better chance of gaining that third spot? Emil didn't look overly quick in the final and Rob wasn't that far away. Im chuffed with silver but a bit gutted for Tai as his riding over the two days certainly deserved a gold medal. At the start I said if GB don't win it I hope Russia do and the two best teams contested the final. For the first season of the new GB setup it already looks far more professional and I can only see a bright future for us, as tai said its only the first year of a five year plan, and what a great start, well done lads.

To be honest mate to me its still England

A great performance from Woffinden and Lambert, we all knew Woffy was capable of this but Robert has really come of age tonight, they appear to have a great understanding and Woffinden is showing a lot of the other top boys was the concept of team riding is all about. I thought we might be able to sneak a medal if Lindback didn't turn up but wasn't expecting us to go as well as this. If Emil starts tomorrow as he finished tonight Russia will take some stopping, Poland cant be as bad again but we have every chance of a medal, no doubt Woffy will carry over the form into tomorrow, if Robert can produce the same again tomorrow could be a very special night for Team GB. Well done lads great job so far.

As for the fitness programme being implemented Ivan Mauger stated this being one of the the key areas over 40 years ago and he didn't do too bad did he? As for the psycology again he was well ahead of his time, seems todays riders are just catching on.

Changes cant be made.

The selection would have been interesting if Worrall had not been injured and was continuing his fine form and he was also our best rider in Poland in the WTC. I noticed at the GP in Wroclaw and again last night that when Woffinden and Cook were being interviewed the body language didn't point to any connection between them at all, Woffinden seemed happier riding with Lambert which you can understand as I think Robert would give him the best back up and will probably get most races in Poland. Just got the feeling Woffy and Cookie not overly enamoured with each other?

Made me laugh when T&P kept banging the team riding drum, riding alongside each other when the opposing pairing are way behind not posing a threat is not team riding, far different when you have a rider buzzing around your back wheel for 4 laps. Only Woffinden looks to have the ability to actually team ride for me. Everytime ive seen Lindgren this season hes been awesome, great rider and really on it at the moment.

So what about the Cardiff GP?

And this is why I saved my money to watch on TV, such a discrepancy between the teams, Italy v Sweden, France V GB for example would be no contests on any track, worst racing on the track this season, the whole concept of this competition is bobbins. Probably put Cook in against one of the no hopers to make him feel involved. It hasn't disappointed in one sense though, I thought it would be bobbins it is. Oops Cook not trusted against Finland, oh dear.

Not unexpectedly very uninspiring so far, team riding is dead, compare to Collins Morton, the Morans etc.

Don't think there is any interest at all in this event, think you might be overestimating the crowd number too, overpriced, Tuesday night, no publicity, shambles from the word go.

I would expect a sparse stadium, especially on a Tuesday.

Just checked the forecast, campsite cancelled:)

Oh well at least I can have a weekend in the Cotswolds

Coming down for this but not expecting to get close to taking a point, a weekend in the Cotswolds with the good beer guide will make it worthwhile though

Looking at the scoreline you could be forgiven that this was a gate and go borefest, nothing could be further from the truth, the racing was superb with the Aces earning a lot of points from the back, on a baking hot day there was no dust problem at all, the track rode really well and overall this was an excellent advertisement for the sport. Leaving the stadium people were enthusing over the quality of racing, normally on these types of aftenoons it becomes a slick dustbowl with follow my leader the norm, Kudos to the track staff.

Im going with a home win of around 6 as Leicester look a good side and one that can go really well around the NSS, if Cook shows any negative reaction from Prague and the Lions are all on it they could even nick it as we can make things difficult for ourselves at times.

I wasn't expecting a point so am happy with that but getting so close to the win is frustrating, I always felt we would be a 6 man team on the road with Drozdz struggling, dosent bode well for visits to Wolves and Rye.

I can see a comfy home win, I just don't think the Aces are going to be anywhere near as productive on the road as we have been the past couple of seasons, would settle for a point but not convinced we will manage that.

Cook not going well enough at the moment