Tactical Sub

Okay, as my impartiality, contraryness and eyesight have now been questioned for expressing an opinion, that's it from me on this 'discussion' forum. Any review of my previous posts would show I'm pretty much mainstream and not deliberately 'against the grain'. My thoughts on tonight were pretty much based on my own interpretation of the evidence:- 1) There will always be a degree of passing where there is such a spread of ability, track knowledge, experience and quality/set-up of machinery amongst a meeting with as many as 23 riders in. 2) A lot of the passing took place whilst those with lesser experience/ability/equipment were being relegated to their rightful place after gating at or near the front. There were odd occasions but rarely was a Dane or Pole passed once having reached the front. 3) On a big wide track there are a number of racing lines. The natural trajectory of the various routes gives them advantages at different points on the lap and hence overtaking and re-overtaking occurs. This happened a lot tonight but often with the same net outcome. 4) I have spent a lot of time in Poland and watched a lot of racing at Leszno. It is a great track but it has usually been set up differently than tonight and better for it in my view. Of those who have questioned my view of Leszno tonight I wonder how many others of them have seen 15-20 meetings there. 5) I understand my view of the track has to some degree been mirrored by Leigh Adams who has said that tonight things were "a bit different to most of his 12 years racing there". But hey, I guess he's just blind and contrary too. Cheers folks, this forum is a really great idea but given the quality of debate (do we really think Poole 2004 has any relevance to tonight's meeting ?) it's not one for me anymore. PS - Well done to Poland.

Thanks, I will - then I can get away from the thought police fascists that seem to be the norm amongst the 'entertained' on here. Then again, I've only been watching the sport for over 30 years, so why the hell should I be entitled to a view.

Thanks for making my point for me - as I said, "in my view". You're entitled to yours and I believe I am to mine. PS - It was the masters football on SS1, although the pitch was a little less slicker than the thing on view on SS3.

Yawn - sure this'll get slated but in my view that has to rank as one of the most soporific meetings I've seen in ages, boring track, terrible surface. Thank god for the fantastic atmosphere created by the fervent Polish crowd which just about saved the event from oblivion. Let's be honest, all four meetings were won by the home team, apart from the one where the home team didn't field their Norwegian ringer, so the whole thing was no less predictable. As for GB, there's no point slagging the riders tonight off, why not focus on the British system that has just 15 GB riders in its top division, nearly half of whom are has beens or never-will-be's. How the hell can anyone be expected to produce a world class team with only 7 or 8 top division riders to choose from ? If we can't support the growth of talent in our second rate league at home, why should anybody react indignantly when we're useless in world class company abroad ???

Good post Norm, totally agree. In fact Scott was absolutely chuffed for Bomber and the only bitter person I can see is the original poster, whose fixation with Nicholls seems to verge on the psychopathic. If the main thing he can draw out of last night is another dig at Scott then you've got to wonder about his sanity. Maybe it's just a defence against the humiliation of our Bomber scoring more than all four of his Polish chums put together. Anyway, such rancour is merely a sideshow to the true hero, step forward Mr Harris, the most exciting rider in the GPs. Fully deserved, great win, great racing, great night. Have to say, I'm glad I didn't go now as I would never have made it to work today and been sacked, but I hope the celebrations and party were suitably long and hard into the night. GB is proud of you Chris, well done.

Hope I'm wrong but it would seem like the Aussies, if their big four go well and Travis supports, or the Danes who revel in the slick. Can only see GB challenging Sweden but will be there regardless to support. Think we should get off Middlo's back too - at least for the moment. He's produced a team to lose by one point against the Aussies, beat the Poles twice and comfortably get through to the final finishing a handful of points behind the pre-tournament favourites on a track which suited them. Fair enough if we get embarrassed on Saturday have a go but remember we are ranked 4 in the world and will finish at least 4th come what may.

To be fair to Sky I think it was Swedish tv that provided the pictures. Perhaps the commentary may have been more understandable if it had been in Swedish too ?

Great stuff from young Lindback, very enjoyable to watch and well done the Swedes. Tactically they got it right too - hold your home meeting on 3 of your 5 riders home track and set it up so it doesn't suit your main rivals. Now why don't we take note ?

Smallmead league scores this season, excluding double points for tactical rides:- Loram 13(6) & 10(5) Nicholls 11(5) Harris 9+2(5) Richardson 6(5) & 9(5), also 13+1(5) in KO Cup Stead 6(4) Louis R/R & 11(5)

I thought it was 16th July today not April 1st ?

Depends on your definition of team I guess, but my personal view is that I'd rather have five blokes riding consistently going into the next stage than be reliant on two to score maximums or near maximums. The crash and engine failure were their own fault and actually worked against GB, as did the Finn's in the 4th heat and the Polish tactical impacted more on us than the Aussies, in my view. As I said though, no complaints with the Aussies who did score one point more and won fair and square, the racing or any of the riders, just that silly rule.

(Reluctant) congratulations to the Aussies, same to GB - the best team by a distance. Really good meeting, improved when the track got sorted but spoiled for me by the ludicrous joker rule and Gollob getting 6 rides. Another GB 'world cup if' but how motivated would Hampel have been to pass Harris in heat 23 if Jagus had just got 1 point in heat 22, rather than Gollob's 6 ? And how bothered would Gollob have been in heat 24 knowing that Poland were already on their way to Reading ? Stop BSI meddling with perfectly good speedway meetings, please.

For once BSI and co get it right. Nicholls finished high enough up the standings to merit another crack (and I'm one of his biggest critics). Richardson, as one of the top riders in the World Cup (the top non-Pole) and having put an exciting second place in a GP in also was a shoo-in. Realism not chauvinism from BSI - well done. (Would still prefer a qualifying meet though !)

Phew, just back from Wroclaw after stopping off in Berlin, which just happened to be holding a beer festival. To be honest I don't know what it came over like on the TV but live this was one of the most boring meetings I have been to in a long time - 25 heats of gate and turn the power on for four laps. The only passing I can remember came when someone on a slower bike gated and the others then reeled him in. With regards to the Brits:- Joe - Machinery problems combined with the fact that his best days at this level look long gone meant that he was just a (big) fish out of water. Only a floppy-esque transformation can turn Joe's career round. Simon - I was really impressed with him, competitive in each race and gave the impression to me (and the Poles around us) that with top level equipment he can sustain a career at this level. Scott - Afraid to say it, cos I really like the guy and he's really gone well for Cov this year, but when it comes to the big occasion he just ain't at the races. Easily good enough but needs to get his preparation, gating and head sorted so that he can consistently perform at GPs and World Cups. One good performance per year at world level is just not good enough mate. Sort yourself out. Lee - Was magnificent in Wroclaw. Somehow though this just proves my point about the track, now Lee's got his machinery sorted he was able to stay in front after his characteristically good gating. Take nothing away from him though for Swindon and Wroclaw. Bomber - Again not up to it at this level but for him you can add the word YET. Worth him riding for the experience but this was never going to be his track and it showed. Did enough at Swindon to justify is place and needs to continue this year's improvement. If so he'll be alright too. Overall, I'd say we weren't too far behind the Swedes and Danes - both of their jokers scored more than ours - and all three number 1s had 'mares. The Poles were inspired and pretty much invincible on their own power track and I guess we all knew that it would take something special to get anywhere near them. Still the beer was only 70p a pint......

Ole Olsen, Peter Schmeichel, Niels Bohr, Hans Christian Andersen, Mr. Carlsberg, Mr. Lurpak, Victor Borge and the Little Mermaid - you're boys took a hell of a beating ! Just got back from Swindon and thought this was a fantastic evening, great atmosphere, good crowd, well-presented (good idea to bring in the excellent Kevin Coombs) and the GB boys were just fantastic. 13 race wins says it all - you did us all proud boys, all of you. Got to say that Steady and Bomber were magnificent and it just shows what can happen if the young Brits are given a chance and persevered with for a while in the EL.