arnieg

Denmark didn't need to drop Bjarne, and if they had chosen their strongest team wouldn't Mads Korneliussen have been chosen ahead of Klindt and Hougaard? The fact that these two scored 12 as opposed to King and Bridger's 1 gives an indication of the challenge ahead. But did Danny and Lewis go to Poland with the intention of gaining as many last places as possible? NO. Did they try their hardest? I'm sure they did. What more could you ask from them? It seems everyone on here wants either to say "what a wonderful effort" or "dreadful and its all the fault of X" I think the truth lies somewhere inbetween. I can't say I was thrilled at Rob Lyon's appointment and wouldn't have made all the same choices that he has, but I think he's made a pretty good start. He seems to have a strategy and appears to have made some progress in turning Team GB into a team. On the basis of this year's performance I'm quite happy to give him some more time to develop Team GB. Verdict: an encoraging start and a qualified success, and Rob deserves our support. Overall the World Cup has been fantastic (and not for the first time). We've had the Russians demolishing the Danes, some of the finest racing of the decade at Peterborough in a meeting where Australia and Poland were neck and neck and the drama of GB's strong performance at Leszno and Sweden's late run to pip them at the end. Once again the World Cup (in three meetings) has provided more excitment, entertainment and drama than an entire season of Grand Prixs. It's been a brilliant week for speedway - but as usual the forum is full moaners

Surely the test series that would pull in the crowds and get Sky coverage would be GB v Russia ...if only

Wow! Wow! Wow! That was a meeting and half. Brilliant racing. I thought King v Gollob would be the race of the season, but then came Crump and Zagar (not forgettting Miedzinski). Add a very tight contest between the Poles and the Aussies and a big crowd with a great atmosphere and it was an unforgettable night. Top marks to King, Zagar and Miedzinski in particular. Three of the best meetings I've ever seen are World Cup meetings (the race-offs at Wroclaw and Poole are the other two), but it is still only the second best meeting I've seen at Peterborough (Panthers v Long Eaton in 1994) My only complaint. Yet again they sold out of progs well before the start - If anyone has a programme that they no longer require and would be willing to pass it on (in return for a suitable payment) I'd be very grateful

Who is the top Brit in Elite League averages? Lee Richardson (Kennett is next) Who is the top Brit in the Swedish Elitiserien? Lee Richardson (Nicholls is next) Who is the top Brit in the Polish Extraliga? Lee Richardson (Woffinden is next) He may not be in the World's top ten, but he is the best we've got

What a fantastic meeting. Brilliant result for the Russians, and a superb show from Bjerre. I'd say the Laguta/Pedersen decision was right, but it was a marginal one. With international speedway dominated by a few nations predictability is one of the sport's greatest enemies. I've been expecting the Russians to do this, but not for another 3 or 4 years when Artem Laguta and Vodyakov are ready to compete at the top level. This result really gives the World Cup a shot in the arm. The only downside is the dreary abuse that seems to dominate this thread. Dooraki

20 June 2007 Team manager at Lakeside - Malcolm Holloway I would expect it to be Tim but I have no objection to Malcolm filling the role. Now... if it were mr. Legg....

Attendances seem to be holding up well - isn't the credit crunch being felt in Sweden? (If not, why not?) have Swedish clubs done anything specific to maintain attendances? Stats: (average Elitserien attendance) 2007: 2742 2008: 2738 2009 (to date): 2731

And who will they ride against? Mars's finest?

1 John Cook 2 Denny Pyeatt 3 Denis Sigalos

But more importantly who's the ref

:lol: Nice line ....but isn't he too old for the under 21 world cup

Two appearances - 39 days apart... and oddly both against the Budgies

Maybe we've been spoilt by Sky's coverage (even if it does generate endless complaints on here) Motors TV is low budget and the US speedway scene is not exactly up to the standards of the Polish Extraliga BUT I enjoy it, I'm grateful for having the opportunity to watch it, and it does make a pleasant change from Sky's drearily predictable Elite League coverage (It's going to be an exciting night tonight, both teams want to win...). Yes it could be improved and I'm sure that note will be taken of the constructive suggestions. However I'd like to thank those behind the coverage, Alex Raby's team and Motors TV, for their efforts.

Bit disappointing really - only passed the World Champion :wink: Enjoyed watching it live on't interweb thingy (thanks for the pointer RnR), didn't see you in the crowd shots Doug - you should have waved! Surely Bjarne wasn't trying to get his average down

Wells qualified because he can ride a speedway bike (note he scored in all his races) and given that he is only 17 (Robert Mear 20, Kozza Smith 21) he did well. As for Gomez at least he is prepared to travel 8,000 miles to represent his country and race against new opponents on new tracks in order to improve. How many British riders have competed in the European Under-19 championship in past years?

I noticed that not content with winning four races on Wednesday Lee Richardson was practicing after the meeting at Poole. Sounds to me like a rider who is serious about winning , and has the current form to back it up. (Something mystic Andy Smith managed to miss in his S Star predictions)

As Churchill would say: OH Yesss!!!!

Nicky Glanz rode in 2007, but Brits also competed in 2000 (Adam Allott and Glen Phillips) and 2008 (Joe Haines and Jack Roberts) Adam is the only Brit to reach the final so far

This looks like it should be converted to a sticky - very helpful

My recollection (from an article in an old Speedway News) was that there was betting on the racing, and after a few meetings it was apparent that riders were supplementing their income by betting and rigging the races. Nobody wanted to watch rigged races, and the riders were run out of town

For those of a statistical bent there are basically five sites that must be bookmarked. In no particular order: 1) Speedway Researcher (as already mentioned) 2) http://www.lubusports.pl/mat05/index.php particularly for its detailing of national championships from around the world 3) http://www.speedway.org/history/ for Swedish and World Championship results 4) Roman Lach's Polish speedway history at http://www.rlach.republika.pl/ 5) And my favourite - Brian's international speedway site (see above)

Charlie is long before my time, but his son Richard was my first boyhood idol. Richardi s alive and well and living in Southampton. I have been I regular contact with him since he bought my book I believe he will be paying a visit to Reading this week (he's providing some items for the Reading speedway exhibition at the Reading museum that opens in a couple of weeks)

There is a similar set of Swedish stamps. Ove Fundin, Olle Nygren and Tony Rickardsson all have a stamp devoted to them.

Not a bad idea - and maybe it'll be warmer than your last visit

WE went up to the Hunter Valley wineries yesterday (and after a little wine-tasting) - Maitland is just 15 miles up the rode. When we arrived the place looked all deserted and locked up, but we found an open gate where a water tanker was at work. So we got in to have a quick peek. The Showground is fairly easy to find. The site feels like Peterborough, although the buildings have the same air of modernity as those at Long Eaton. There is a greyhound track inside a trotting track. The large very elderly looking grandstand has a plaque (very discretely) attached to it commemorating the origins of speedway For more on Maitland: http://vintagespeedway.homestead.com/Maitland.html [more recent pix on www.speedwayplus.com (under West Maitland)] For more of the debate: http://www.historicspeedway.co.nz/Start%20...y%20(world).htm My observations: Sports aren't created, they evolve. So there can never be a meeting truly described as the first, just a series of events that converge into what we now recognise as the codified sport. Secondly history is determined by those who write the history books not those who actually make it!