arnieg

The event should be held where it generates most revenue for the sport, and experience suggests that means it stays at Somerset. And can I say the semi finals were just fantastic.

Think most of these would struggle to do much better than a 5 point average. for example it is hard to see Skurla doing any better than Zdenek Holub. My choice would be Joel Andersson - but I imagine he's already been approached by several teams (possibly including Berwick) and has good reasons why he doesn't want to ride here at the moment. no doubt the same applies to Anders Thomsen, but there might be a few other less established Danes worth trying (e.g. Patrick Hansen, Frederik Jakobsen, Jason Jorgensen, Jonas Jepersen) I was very impressed when I saw Ilya Chalov, but let's face it that's just not going to happen.

Apart from 1975 these all appear to be single meeting competitions or cup competitions with elimination rounds and a final. http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/dmbulgarii.php

Russian League tables here: http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/dmrosji.php And the Soviet Union era here: http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/dmzsrr.php

To be fair Wajtkneckt is a far better rider than his Rye House performances. He has been very indifferent in all three Hoddesdon appearances I've witnessed, but excellent at a variety of other tracks where I have seen him.

But the circumstances were such that this match would have been called off even if it was indoors!!!

Crowd noises Having a track less than 20 miles away. Test matches involving two teams of riders who represented the best of their country fighting for the pride of their nation.

Validated doesn't mean approved. It merely means it has been registered as a valid application that they will determine at some point.

Hamill and Crump have both ridden in the last 12 months.

Looks to me as if the application has been withdrawn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and a new one submitted (meaning permission is unlikely before October!!) Details here: http://pa1.swindon.gov.uk/publicaccess/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=O7RY9CPTHSC00

Casey Donholt (331), Mikey Buman (507) and Adam Mittl (508) are the top East Coast Americans - personally I don't think there is much to choose between the three of them. Based on 2015 results Legault's ranking would be above Donholt, Mittl and Buman (but as he won all 7 meetings it is hard to tell how much higher) while Kehoe and Rideout might just creep into the bottom of the list. nb There were 7 events at Welland - five with five or fewer competitors and two where Buman and Mittl came up from New York state. (Note an event typically consists of 3-5 speedway races in a mixed motor cycle meeting) First results from Welland 2016 season: 28 May - 1 Legault 2 Kehoe (2 competitors only) 18 June - 1 Zach Peters 2 Legault 3 Kehoe (6 competitors) 25 June - 1 Legault 2 Kehoe 3 Peters (6 competitors) Note Legault only competed in four of eight events in 2014, but won them all. his 2013 record was 7 wins in nine appearances,coming second to Buman and Kehoe in the other two. So quite a feat for Peters to beat him last month. I suggest Zach Peters should be added to the list as well! http://www.wellandmotorcycleclub.com/racing/speedway/results.htm There is no other speedway in Canada at present apart from an annual longtrack meeting at Belleville. Vlad doesn't remove riders until they have been inactive for two years. You may also notice he includes 85cc Swedish and Danish riders* and other youth classes (eg Dan Thompson (686) and Joe Thompson (781)) * 464 Jonathan Grahn and 672 Benjamin Basso are the highest ranked of these.

Slightly more than 300 on this list https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18wvOs1SUYAz9O50h3xcKFBNzceM7HtRnAhwaLMKHFD0/edit?hl=ru&pref=2&pli=1#gid=0 but if you look at the riders around 300 in the rankings you do get to EDR 2nd tier level (e.g. James Sarjeant, Daniel Gappmaier, Nike Lunna, Carl Wilkinson, Luke Bowen, Adam Roynon) so 300 riders of sufficient ability to compete in the EL is about right.

I'd agree with that, and add Mickie Simpson. We do need to remember that these youngsters have a long way to go. Being the best at this level is no guarantee of success at NL let alone PL level.

According to some of the pro "remain" corners of the British media it already has!

Track was slick and dusty with as prominent blue grove, but given that large pools of water from Saturday's meeting stopping downpour were still visible on the centre green we shouldn't be too critical. 3 1/2 hours for the 46 races. One alteration to Derek's scores, Daniel Gilkes scored 11 in qualifying for the final (where he suffered a nasty looking fall on the final bend - any news on how he is?) 2 points from a fourth lap EF cost Jenkins a place in the 500cc final. There was a controversial race when Jenkins steamed under Kyle Bickley, causing(?) Kyle to pack up. Bickley dropped his only other point to Woodhull, while Brennan recorded the four fastest times in the heats. Sam Bebee withdrew after one ride. Although there were only four competitors the 250cc was the most competitive class with Edwards, Flint and Kemp involved in some tight first laps. The 150cc is the Nathan Ablitt show. Josh Parnell missed the final with bike troubles. In the 125cc's Dan was the faster Thompson in the heats,but Joe got the drop in the final. Jordan Palin and Mickie Simpson both had falls which could have cost them places in the final (one of Mickie's was on the last bend while leading). The nearest Joe Thompson came to defeat was in his final qualifying race when Jordan Palin did his best to block his opponent (with Corbin Pavitt just behind looking to exploit any gaps that opened up)

However if the FIM/BSI were to say to Hampel "drop out now and we'll give you a wild card next year, but if you ride we won't give you one," that could be very persuasive. Lindgren could hardly be said to be making up the numbers, he is in top 8 and above Nicki Pedersen, so I'd like to see him continue.

A 2.33 average for Sheffield in 1993 puts Rob Homer above Steve Johnston in that season's Sheffield averages!

The real problem is that once you have a 'one foreigner' rule it makes it easier to move to two and then three. Moving in that direction would make it increasingly difficult for the likes of Buxton to compete, and less attractive for EL and PL teams to run junior teams. In the long term that would mean a smaller league and even fewer opportunities for Brits (of any age).

It says something about the speedway community that you can do that. In 1983 I was in a similar position as a Reading supporter exiled in Leicester and travelled from Smallmead back home on a Leicester coach.

I made up a coconut chilli chicken baguette and took it along with a tray of fruit (melon if you are interested) and had my bag inspected. The security guy clearly saw the fruit, screwed up his face but decided to let me in. I suspect they are tired of arguments with people who complain (rightly) that it is impossible to buy anything healthy inside the stadium, and so exercise some discretion. Being aware of the policy I was expecting to be sitting outside on the naughty step but it was nice to get to eat my sarny (and very tasty too) seated with a view of the track. At tracks where the catering is dreadful (Birmingham and Peterborough springs to mind) I will always take food and eat it in the car park if challenged. Others (eg Wolves, Lakeside, Kent) I find the quality and choice acceptable (if a little stodgy) and will purchase something inside the stadium. Simple moral - if you want people to purchase food in the stadium just make the effort to provide something edible and affordable.

A fantastic result for Danny King, and a few words of praise for Paul Starke who came so close to a place in the semi finals. In September 2012 after six years in the NL/CL he had dropped back down to reserve for the Isle Of Wight and I think most observers (me included) thought his career was going nowhere. However determination and application have brought about a remarkable turn around in his performance. WELL DONE PAUL.

Sad to hear - I was wearing my Gnistorna cap at Belle Vue last night. I visited Hammarby last month and it is sad to see the state of speedway in the city that gave us the legendary Getingarna, home of the mighty 'Mich'.

Which would be fair enough IF Luke Bowen had come in to the Kent team on his 2006/7 average. But ...

So you force double uppers to ride Elite only, and then what? Half of them retire because the EL doesn't offer them enough fixtures and they can't get rides abroad. Result fewer British riders and more mediocre foreigners in our top league. To get more top class British riders you need more Brits at every level right down to 125cc. That requires effort and does not happen overnight - and it should be acknowledged that there have been some positive signs in that direction over the last couple of years.

But the rain we are getting now is the rain forecast for this afternoon. Meaning it is passing over more quickly than expected, and so we should have more time for the track to recover as it now looks like fewer showers this afternoon. Fingers crossed