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Tomas Gollob & Tony Rickardsson

Crump had a super ride in the final, and looked dominant. You could argue that he was a touch fortunate that NP made a mistake in the semi, because for me he was the best rider on show, however, Crump has had a lot of bad luck in the GP's over the years, so perhaps things are beginning to even themselves out. Congratulations to him. TRick just didn't look interested, if he's to go out with a bang he'll really need to up his game next time. Hancock looked very fast, and although there can be no doubt that he was rightly excluded when he took Bjarne off, he deserves credit for the fact he was clearly trying his hardest to avoid him. Antonio just couldn't get out of the gate, and with the track as it was you couldn't afford to not be making starts. I'm sure he'll get it right next time. Bjarne started off slow, but began to pick it up a bit later, frankly though he never really looked like making the semis KK gave a fair account of himself given the fact it was a one off wild card appearance. Nicholls started off well, but let nerves get the better of him in the form of a tapes exclusion. Owes KK a pint or two. Lee Richardson started slow and got slower. Showed what he is capable of in his last ride but by then it was too little too late. He really needs to pick it up if he's to continue his GP career next year.

That was a really good meeting, some excellent racing, definately worth watching the video back tomorrow. Love him or hate him, when Nicki P is on form you can't help but admire what he can do on a speedway bike, he didn't do anything stupid tonight, just rode very fast.

Fair play to Nicki P, there were no dodgy moves from him tonight, he just showed what he can do, he was brilliant in the final.

In theory that works quite well, but unfortunately, in practice it just makes the first 20 heats into qualifying races and the only heats that matter are the last four. At least with the current systemevery race potentially means something.

Slanderous. In all seriousness though I tend to believe that apart from the top 8, the rest of the GP places should be filled by qualifiers. I really don't like the notion of somebody selecting who gets to race for the world championship. Having said that, on the evidence of my previous posts on this thread, I clearly can't be taken seriously.

Please accept my total and utter sincerest apologies, I don't really know why, but for the last couple of months I've been labouring under the impression that NKI was riding for Reading this year. I am mortified by my own ignorance

At least Andy qualified. And no I mean NKI not Matej. Most people expected Zagar to be in the GP, but I'm sure NKI's inclusion raised a few eyebrows........ until Readings line up was announced.

Its not even subtle though is it? NKI in the GP, world cup at Reading... theres not even an attempt at integrity, the whole affair is a massive conflict of interest that wouldn't be tolerated anywhere except British Speedway.

I see you point, it would make it closer, and slightly further down the field this would be a good thing but, you said yourself the best rider won, isn't this the ideal scenario?

I've always suspected you Mongols talked nonsense. Now I have it confirmed. I can be in Poole stadium in around half an hour from my house, whereas it takes around 3 hours to get to Brandon. Utter utter nonsense. Again.

Anyway, three sets of brothers have appeared in GPs together: the Drymls, the Karlssons and the Gollobs. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I think that may be wrong there Subedei, I think Ronni Pedersen made a few GP appearances last year or the year before along side his baby bro Nicki, which, for those of you who can't count, would make it four sets of brothers.

The words Glutton for Punishment spring to mind

Undeniably at the current time Scott Nicholls is a better rider that Anton, however if anybody seriously considers that by the time he's 27 Anton won't have easily surpassed the achievements Scott Nicholls has made in his career they're deluding themselves frankly. Should Nicholls be in the Grand Prix? In my opinion yes, I think it would be hard to argue that he isn't one of the top 15 riders in the world. However I can see exactly what Subedei is getting at. BSI have consistantly said "finish top eight to qualify", which for a variety of reasons Scott hasn't managed to do for several years now. I'm sure he'll correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure Subedei's opinion on this matter is more born out of frustration with the current state of British Speedway than a genuine dislike of Nicholls/Richardson. We should be at the pinnacle of the sport, leading the way, not being let in through the back door. Can anybody honestly say they'd be rallying for a Pole/Swede/Dane to be included in the series if they had consistently failed to reach the cut off on their own merit? Of course you wouldn't.

Well, the curtain comes down on the Tony RIckardsson show 2005. Will he back and able to repeat the feat next year?

AJ was hard done by there, regardless of what Tatum says about him trying to cut back, he still had to turn the bike, should have been all 4 back imo. Nice little piece of team riding by the Aussies on the first lap to deny Scotty a place in the final.

Yeah, they looked to be having a ball

Two fat blokes with stupid wigs We are such a classless race (Sorry if anybody knows those two people)

Does it? I'd have suggested it shows how open the meeting has been.

Gutted for Anton, if he hadn't packed up while leading he'd be in the semis. Can't complain too much though, as I've said before, ensuring your bikes are working properly is as important as being able to ride them.

Damn you SCB, deleting posts when you realise they're wrong

That is definately a good thing about Scott, whenever he's involved in a crash, he is always concerned for others, as was seen earlier with AJ.

No, he's got four points from four rides, mathematically impossible. Edit. The above may in fact be wrong, if he wins his last race he may sneak in.

He clipped the kickboard going into the 3rd turn, straightend up, clipped Hans Andersens back Wheel and went into the fence at some speed. Walked away unscathed though fortunately.

Crump was clearly disadvantaged in the first bend by what can only be described as first bend bunching, if he'd put the bike down, which he could have, then by your logic someone would have been excluded, would it have been fair of the ref to turf Crump out?