rabbit

I'm British, they're British, they're representing Britain (i.e. me). Therefore I'll cheer for anyone representing my nation (or group of nations in the case of GB) whether individually or as a team. Same in any sport. Whether I 'like' them for their on-track/field behaviour or not (and I don't know any of them personally, so don't see how team rivalries/partisan home team support can have much to do with it). Sometimes you have to think of the bigger picture and have pride in your nationality or identity. Sure it's cool to see a rider or competitor you like from another nation do well, but if he comes up against one of our lads, it's home advantage every time. I wanna see our lads n lasses put the Great back in Britain every time! It just doesn't happen that much unfortunately. Just my opinion

Quality postings on this thread. Just a shame the implications are so serious. As for the usual suspects involved in the whinging..when I saw the names - no surprises.

Couldn't agree more! Looks like Leigh and Todd leading the way yet again so far.

Still Lunchy - least it's summer out there! Imagine having to nip out if it was the depths an a Britsh winter! Have decided to rename your van the Lunchy Passion-Wagon! Watch out Aus - he's coming to a town near you shortly!

Hows the mode of transport faring Lunchy? Eating up those miles?

Nightmare combination - water in the Bundy and soggy Superkings.

Le Stade de France is crying out for a GP I reckon. They already host motorsport so as far as organisation is concerned it's not like it's anything new to them to have a track in there. Easy transport links from all over Europe and smack bang in the middle of a capital city for fans to visit. I know it's not that simplistic obviously, but outside of the established speedway nations, it's the one that shouts out loudest to me at least.

Didn't he attend one of the GPs a while ago as a guest of BSI?

And who cares? They're both so far down the list the chance of either of them getting a ride is minimal...

Greg i think Stefan has done his UK stint - he rode for Eastie for a while and was then banned for a year I think. He never returned.

Will be a shame if so. Always liked Stefan - he was harshly dealt with over the drink incident and never really got back to the level he was before. Another of the 'what might have been' class of riders maybe? Be interesting to see if he crops up in a team somewhere along the line once the season gets going.

And?? If people thought Poole was bad / too small for the final then they'd have a field day at Smallmead. Now when Reading have their new super-duper stadium that's being talked about - maybe I'd agree with you.

I assume you've never been to Smallmead then Sube?

Wookieboy - I have no interest in either arguing the point or dragging up old stories. I merely offered a possible alternative scenario for debate not an actual reason. I'm not hans so can't help you... Besides you can see how open it is to misinterpretation when you say it happened when he had only just come out of turn 2...think you'll find he looked across as he was on the back straight and closer to entering the 3rd turn. See, so many differing explanations in our memories... To be honest, it's done and we're over a year on. It's not important! Just let it go and move on. Whatever the ramifications of anything he may or may not have done in your eyes, his exclusion (based on his past performances and future potential) from next year's GP series is harsh IMO, which is, if i'm not mistaken, the actual point under debate here.

I'd agree Mr S but the great thing about the GPs was that it could, if done correctly have the top 16 on show by putting the top guys in and not basing the wildcards on commercial decisions and whose face fits. Once you start making selections that way, as we've seen, someone deserving misses out and those being ushered in raise question marks. If you had to name a line-up of the world's top 16 riders I wonder how different it would look to that named for the series next year. i can think of at least 3 or 4 changes to start with! And yes, the GP Challenge should be back. No question about it. And make the national championships something worth being in with qualification through that route as it used to be. Whilst I've no wish to go back to the old one-off world final, there were some good points about the qualification system as long as everyone starts from the lower rounds and we didn't end up with a situation that kept seeing Andy Smith back in year after year simply because he only needed to put together 3 decent rides in the challenge!

Ever consider that he may have looked across as he felt he was going into the corner too fast and shut off to stop himself from taking the rider off if he didn't. It's all down to interpretation, and an action made in a split second and the only person who knows what happened is Hans himself. It's old ground but consider the fact that the rivalry between the Danes and Swedes and indeed other Scandinavians, is as fierce as that between the English and Aussies, or between the Aussies and New Zealanders, and it makes the thought of collusion between the two nations quite funny. Anyway, no point in rehashing the old arguments, we all have different opinions.

Far too sensible LW. And I couldn't agree more. Think the GP is nowhere near a representation of the world's top 16 riders whilst the likes of Peter Karlsson, Holta and now Hans sit it out. Sporting politics and commercialism have taken over I'm afraid.

Would hate to be a defendant if you two ever get called up for jury service. Would you like to prove it beyond reasonable doubt? I'm with Crazysue on this one - was sat on the apex of the 3rd/4th turn and had no idea of any of the contoversy until I got home and still don't think it's as cut and dried as some people seem to make out.

Just what i was thinking Sube. Optimistic in the extreme. Reckon if he finishes 12th it will be a good year for him.

So has Hans. Won a GP too if I'm not mistaken. Hasn't done him much good either has it?

Cheeky wotsit Woody. You wait 'til Cardiff next year...I have a very good memory! And thank you F4E...that's very sweet of you. xx I'm very proud of my grey rinse.

But Sube - a while ago you were saying the the next batch should be the ones to get in because the riders from 8-16 had had their chance! I thought you would have been happy with these nominations. FWIW, think Hans has been very hard done by. The GPs will be a poorer place without him next year if this is true. A rider capable of winning GPs although admittedly his form has dipped slightly this year. I'm still to be won over by Zagar - unproven in the top leagues and only showing up on tracks he is well used to. Look how poor he was at Lonigo. PUK is obviously a talent but again don't expect him to pull up any trees. Would have included Bjerre ahead of him to be honest. As for PePe's inclusion...well the Poles will be happy but it's hardly an inpsirational choice. With the other 2 youngsters in there Kasprzak will have every right to feel aggrieved not to get a place.

Not really sure who has fast-tracked to the top - certainly not the likes of Lindback and Hampel to name two, they've done it the same as everyone else, hard work and results - and they still have a way to go. Been given opportunities yes, but they still have to go out and race the top guys and find their level. I would agree with your argument if i could, but apart from giving lads chances to shine and then picking the best to go forward, I don't see any evidence of fast-tracking and that any of the moves afoot to give the youngsters a chance is deterimental to the sport as a whole. Has Simon Stead for example been fast-tracked? Or Chris Harris? They've done the same as everyone else - shown raw talent, been given the chance and taken it. If the places were clogged up with old boys then they may have given up years ago. The nature of the sport is such that fast-tracking would only work for those with talent - if they don't score then they're soon out on their ear. Unlike other sports, the margin for progression and failure is so much more acute and the duds soon hit the wayside. For all these lads out in the States chancing their arm in the mini-leagues, there might be one or two who will make it to the big-time. But without the chances who knows whether there's the next decades Hamill Hancock or Penhall? I say fair play to them - and good luck! A strong American scene with plenty of young enthusiastic riders is what we need for the sport worldwide! I still don't see why you are so opposed to the youth having chances though - can you not see that today's youngsters will be the stars of the future? It's OK quoting the names of riders from years long past (who I have to admit I've never heard of) but who is say that these guys who you're rubbishing don't have the same effect on some of todays fans. As I said before, it's all relative. Phew...need a lie down now. It's too early for such serious debate. Apologies MainMan for hijacking the thread somewhat. Please keep the info coming from Stateside. I'd hate for any of those taking part look in on this and think we all share Speedyguy's views.

So my response to you would be - do you consider those guys you've mentioned to be 'stars'? Because talking as an EL fan, they would hardly warrant a second glance from many fans of our league (and that's no disrespect intended to them at all, I'm just talking relative pulling power if you like). It just brings me to conclude that you can't decry the ambitions of the lads named in the American teams above, who may well be stars to some of those fans who went to see them. It's all relative who you consider a 'star' to be and who puts bums on seats. A star to you is just a rider who maybe should have quit years ago to another... Don't forget also that the main aim of the Conference League was to be just that - a fast track route to blood up and give experience to up and coming riders into the next leagues up the ladder. Somewhere along the line though, the edges became slightly blurred but I think I'm right in saying that it is still the main ethos behind the league.

Of course. This is the women's section - right?!