arnieg

Niklas sayrio 82 and Timo Lahti at 111 (but strong recent form makes me suspect he'll soon be in top 100 improvers. Partanen and Mustonen both in top 200 risers You can find the spreadsheet if you follow the link in Dolgin's signature, for example on the rating of racers thread https://docs.google....f=2&pli=1#gid=0

There seem to be far to many posts on various threads about the poor prospects for British riders coming through. I think it is time to acknowledge that while there has been a long long period of decline British speedway does appear to be in a position to regain some of the ground it has lost. Here is some data from Dolgin’s world rankings (with the usual caveat that while it is far from perfect it is a useful indicator) - incidentally the first [dated 16 August] to show Jason Doyle as world number one! By absolute points score, these are the world’s most improved riders since the start of the year: DoB Pts improvement 1 Daniel Bewley Gt Britain 20.05.1999 2315 815 2 Krzysztof Kasprzak Poland 17.07.1984 4007 810 3 Edward Mazur Poland 24.09.1993 2759 707 4 Dimitri Berge France 05.02.1998 2785 660 5 Steven Worrall Gt Britain 23.09.1991 3562 612 6 Jason Doyle Australia 06.10.1985 4733 594 7 David Bellego France 15.05.1993 3155 556 8 Pawel Miesiac Poland 27.04.1985 3129 537 9 Tom Bacon Gt Britain 25.02.1993 2075 532 10 Vaclav Milik Czech 22.05.1993 3890 524 11 Krystian Pieszczek Poland 23.09.1995 3727 506 12 Sam Masters Australia 23.01.1991 3713 503 13 Robert Miskowiak Poland 21.11.1983 3507 500 14 Tomasz Jedrzejak Poland 14.07.1979 3600 473 15 Jake Allen Australia 11.08.1995 2687 471 Three Brits in the top ten, furthermore they are generally younger than some of the riders from other countries in the list. Looking further down the list the top 100 contains: 20 Poles – dominate the list as expected, 12 of the riders are 21 or under, including Bartosz Smektala (38) and Dominik Kubera (48). 17 Brits – including nine in the top 50 – the three noted above plus Jack Parkinson-Blackburn (28), Josh Bailey (31), Danny King (35), Danyon Hume (39), Jack Smith (43), Jake Knight (50). Adam Ellis and James Shanes are also in the top 100. There are another 20 in the top 200 including some such as Jack Thomas, Georgie Wood, Josh Bates and Max Clegg who might make the top 100 based on form since mid-August. Of the top 17: seven are 21 or under and a further four are 25 or under; only Stuart Robson (at 54, age 39) is over 30. 15 Danes- top Dane is under 21 finalist Frederik Jakobsen at 19, followed by 250cc rider Kenneth Jurgensen (36), Mikkel B Andersson (40 & brother of Redcar’s Jonas who is at 57) and Nikolai Klindt (41). Klindt is not the only experienced Dane as Mads Korneliussen, Kenneth Bjerre and Bjarne Pedersen all appear in the lower reaches of the top 100. There are only five 500cc riders under 21 from Denmark in the top 100. 10 Aussies – Chris Holder (17), Max Fricke (22) are the only Aussies in the top 50 in addition to Masters, Allen and Doyle. I suspect Rohan Tungate (currently at 72) will move into the top 50 based on recent form and to my suprise Jack Holder is outside the top 100 improvers (at 107).The start date for this exercise which is half way through the Australian season down nder muddies the waters slightly. 9 Swedes- perform very badly. Only Joel Kling (32) and an 85cc rider (Lukas Woentin) are under 21, although their biggest improver Jacob Thorsell (25) is still only just turned 23. Only one of the other six: Viktor Palovaara (67) is under 26. Joackim Christensen (who rides for Vastervik’s B team) and Oliver Berntzon are not far off the top 100. 7 Germans – Sandro Wasserman (60), Martin Smolinski (71), Erik Riss (79) and Daniel Spiller (80 – included here because he has been representing Germany and riding in their national championships) are the only 500cc riders in the top 100. The other three are 250/125cc riders, including Celina Liebmann. [This is probably a methodology issue I can’t believe that the 125cc/250cc Germans are that good.] 6 Americans – including three in the top 30: Austin Novratil (21), Max Ruml (27), Luke Becker (29), and lower down two further 17 year olds (Gage Geist [45] and Dillon Ruml[68]) and 20 year old Jeremy Estes (46) . Broc Nicol is a surprise omission. [n.b. because they largely only race against each other rankings of US based riders are in my view a bit suspect.] 4 Russians – European Under 21 Bronze medalist Sergey Logachev is the most improved Russian at number 23. All four are under 21, the others are: Viktor Kulakov (62), Gleb Shevchenko (77) and Pavel Laguta (83). And the appearance of two French riders in the top 10 is pretty impressive. Highest riders from countries not already mentioned are Nikke Lunna (30 – Finland), Dmitri Mostkovich (34 – Ukraine), Fernando Garcia (42 – Argentina) and Nick Skorja (47 – Slovenia). note: Skorja, Kubera and Becker are the only riders from last year’s top 50 improvers likely to feature again (although Ellis is close to the top 50 and may make it again by the season’s end). Summary: Polish domination to continue, prospects for Sweden very gloomy and GB should be challenging Australia and Denmark for number two in the world rankings in a few years if this trend continues.

Given the contributions from shads, ben91 and lucifersam (which coincide with my understanding) perhaps the bigger question is why does this 'official' pontificate when they have such a poor understanding of the rules?

There is some discussion on the Peterboro' thread that it maybe staged at the Showground, I'm sure Gem would like that. I heard something to this effect on Saturday at Leicester but I spoke to so many people I can't recall who I got it from, so I have no idea how solid this rumour is.

And have you noticed how the calls for more detail in the rules often come from exactly the same places as the ones advocating a shorter rulebook

The other problem is the rider gets lot of flak from fans, most of whom only see the hme performances, even though they are often match winners away. ( eg. Hans Andersen at Cov last year or Zagar and Nichols at BV this season. Incidentally aktuellspeedway has a home/away breakdown of EL averages and the Lakeside figures are quite dramatic. Home: 1. Kennett 2. Jonsson 5. Swiderski 7. Nilsson Away 6. Jonsson 25. Kennett (Scott Nicholls is 8th away and 34th at home - BV have five riders in the top 24 away averages)

That is consistent with something I heard. At least for the home fans it would be one match that Peterborough wouldn't lose.

Yes how dare Bewley and Shuttleworth be injured and Williamson fail to be in two places at once

I always found the description of Brian Andersen, the smooth stylish Dane, as the 'mad axeman' was somewhat incongruous, made worse by the overuse of the tag by Peter York who seemed to be the only person who used the nickname.

The six shortlisted candidates interviewed were: Jim MacGregor Margaret Vardy Dave Peet Neil Vatcher Paul Hurry Arnie Gibbons There was an ad in the Speedway Star

Clearly there were better candidates :wink: but a good appointment. Neil has done a tremendous job (given the limited resources and lack of facilities) with the youth development programme. However given the stuff I have been hearing, and the article in last week's Star about changing the role, the really interesting part will be his job description, and how much it differs from the one that the six candidates were interviewed for.

But Lindback is not a newcomer, he has an average. Assuming it is the 7.94 previously quoted then it can be amended if: 1) Poole request the BSPA to amend it (downwards presumably); or 2) The BSPA can exercise their power to give Lindback an amended average under 16.2.3 (a) Can see little point in amending it upwards given 8.00 is the highest credible figure, but given Lindgren (10th in the GP) is on 7.52, Zagar (13th) 7.55, and Jonsson (14th) is on 8.78 I don't see much scope for a downward revision that isn't open to accusations of 'fiddling' As to whether Andersen is injured 'long term' (note - not season ending) I think that would be difficult to sustain if he rides before next Wednesday, but probably tenable if he were to return AFTER the play-offs started. If Lindback is to replace Andersen then presumably he comes in on a 7.00 (as Andersen is 7.15 at the moment) - and that just does not feel right.

Slightly different, but I went to a meeting that ended at 11.50 pm recently. Can anyone recall a meeting reaching midnight?

1972 World Final see http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=29421

Was won by Dmitri Berge. Not a bad meeting, although it did finish at 11.50pm (in part due to 9pm start time) - better than sportowefakty meeting report suggests (perhaps because the Poles underperformed). http://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/629241/francuz-mistrzem-europy-juniorow-slaby-wystep-polakow Krcmar needed to win heat 20 for the title, and had a convincing lead after one lap, but Smektala (finally finding some form) steamed under him at the end of lap 2 which forced a runoff convincingly won by DB to the delight of the home crowd. Logachev impressed, Riss could have been a contender had he not started with a poor opening ride and Joel Andersson came fourth despite hitting the deck twice. I also thought Lasse Fredriksson and Joa Partanen gave good accounts of themselves.

Particularly as the rider he beat to win his race at Swindon was Nathan Stoneman. Maybe he should have been the ones passing on tips to his team mates!

I'm pretty sure TMW has heard of all the NL riders, even Chris Widman

Dave Perks in NLRC (PLRC in today's money) 1984. Leading at Wimbledon when meeting rained-off. Then in re-staging at Peterborough finished joint top with home rider Ian Barney and was leading in the run-off, until... his chain snapped on the very final bend of the last lap. 4 falls... pah I've seen five, e.g. Rob Shuttleworth in a NL Trophy match at Leicester and Arron Mogridge at Iwade, but I can beat even that: 2005 PLKOC Reading v King's Lynn: Kozza Smith fell six times (including one race that was rerun), won his other ride and was then stopped by the medical officer from taking his final ride

Heat 9 Smith was reserve replacement for Kennedy in white Prinsloo in Y/B was a non-starter (not sure why) Kennedy in Y/B as replacement result: R- Y - B - W a 4-2 to Reading Reading protested about re-introduction. AFTER heat 11 referee (John Homer) changed his mind and redeclared result of ht 9 as R - B - W - Y (disq) Poole appealed this after the match, which ended 56-22 on the night 11 August: Poole won appeal, original result of heat 9 re-instated and result altered to 55-23.

Surely there isn't one as track has been altered since NL speedway was last staged there.

Heat 16 should be interesting!

The rule is the same for every match. Whether it is interpreted correctly for every match is another matter.

It doesn't need to as the rulebook already says you go off 15 metres then it's from gate 4. See 15.16 - nothing in the supplementary regulation changes the application of 15.16 to heats 1 to 14

Ditto some things are worth saying twice

Go to http://www.scbgb.co.uk/regulations and download supplementary regulation 2016/2 dated 1 June. NOTE - it only applies to heat 15