PersonalResponsibility

Tom Brennan has averaged less than King, Harris, Lawson, Dan Thompson, Rowe & Flint in the Premiership this year. I like him, and he's probably still one of our better riders realistically, but he shouldn't be a shoe-in after this season. I would personally go with Bewley, Lambert, Rushen & Cairns. We're going to finish probably 3rd at best, so it's as close to a free hit as you'll ever get in a World Cup final. If the format stays the same then the youngsters won't get another international chance until the 2029 SWC - what's to lose?

I don't think it makes much difference, certainly not as much as it used to. There aren't many technical tracks in Poland or the GPs now. It appears that being small + lightweight is a big advantage these days.

It sounds like it won't make any difference. Emil and Artem have Polish passports, and won't be allowed into the GPs as Poles, so they'll still be out. Perversely, Grigory Laguta would have more chance of getting to a GP and he was the one downplaying the war...

No different to having a transfer window in football (the world's most popular sport)? I can agree with your point about getting a lesser guest, but having a transfer window seems like a perfectly normal rule. You can't set out rules to account for riders retiring mid-season, we're supposed to be a professional sport.

What's that got to do with anything? If the deadline for declaration was Saturday midnight, fair enough. It doesn't make much sense but whatever. It's just classic speedway rules ambigiuity though.

Lebedevs 10 - 12 - £250 MORE Madsen 7 - 9 - £1000 MORE

Why not just leave it up in the corner, though? Easier than trying to remember 4 different scores when they flash up every so often. Sky Sports had it right as always.

Not sure why Kelvin thinks Timo Lahti used to be Finnish, too? He's only 34.

Anyone know who did the track changes in Riga? If so, can we ensure they can't do any other tracks?

If only the promoters had the power to do something about this dastardly problem...

Good for him. However, the UK doesn't operate a squad system at present, so it's irrelevant whether he made it "perfectly clear" or not - if he's happy to sign a contract then honour it, if not then don't bother. My point was more that this type of stuff just gets overlooked so much, so continues to happen. It's too late now anyway, the ship has sailed, but it's just a bit sad to see fans brushing it off so lightly. Poole have had some of the world's best riders over the years, and were one of speedway's biggest clubs, yet fans are now seemingly unbothered that Zach Cook(!) is dumping them for a meeting in the Polish 2nd tier. I thought they'd be up in arms but perhaps that's just me.

That attitude is exactly why UK speedway gets shoved to the bottom of everyone's priorities. Cook has signed a contract with your club, he should honour it. Why are you not p1ssed off that he's decided he couldn't be bothered to make it work, so has just dumped your club? Instead it's just "oh well, Plymouth is rubbish anyway lol 🤷🏻‍♂️" and no blame apportioned to the rider who didn't turn up. He's happy to take the money when it suits him, but not when another club comes along offering more money. I'd almost guarantee that if it was an important individual meeting (that benefitted Cook himself) at Plymouth, and he had to make it to Poland this afternoon, the travel options would miraculously appear.

I've been burned before so I'm going to attempt some reverse psychology and say it... There is zero chance of Zmarzlik winning this GP.

Not sure why they attempt to build any drama, they always put all 4 back. That was stretching the concept of 'first bend bunching' to the very extreme though.

It's a shame that rain has effectively ruined this as a spectacle. Fricke and Dudek being the only unbeaten riders feels quite apt.