Cheekee Raylee Monkee

How about 'Elite' League teams actually tracking 7 of their own riders?

I thought he already had a plan. Skip the British Elite League & then it would be onwards & upwards. Oh, hang on. Plan B is rejoin Coventry "for a month" & then it would be onwards & upwards. Oh, hang on. Plan C.............................................

He (Millard) could always shut up then !!!!

Sorry to see the lack of points from both Scott & Bomber & Scott was simply off the pace. The top of the leaderboard is pretty much packed with riders not racing in the UK so its difficult to see how that can excuse Scott's performances in the first 2 GP's. As we all know, Bomber is racing in the UK & he isn't doing much better. I can't really see where a race win is coming from for either of them. As to the wisdom of Scott opting out of the UK, the best time to judge that will be in October at the end of the season. I recall that TRick did some early season meetings in Britain a few seasons ago. I didn't agree with it at the time but 'British Promoters will be British Promoters'. He realised that it helped his early season GP form to have some meetings in the UK. I think that the GP this season is showing itself as an increasingly inferior product - which is unfortunate given that it hasn't got a lot to beat in the excitement stakes if you compare it with last season. The essential reason is poor track preparation. Having only missed Cardiff once in the past I certainly won't be going this year.

That's true Snyper. But this year, for me it isn't quite enough.

Just watched the recording. What can I say except the racing was right up there with the 2007 German GP.

"With every turn of the wheel" !!!!

I've only missed one before now. But I'll not be going this year due to: - The track surface is a disgrace & the only overtaking tends to be when someone hits a rut (Crumpie nearly falling off on his own down the straight last year pretty much summed it up for me) - The prices are taking the Piscz - If the GP riders can do without the UK, I can do without shelling out my hard earned to see them. BSI/IMG are a major contributor to the woes of UK speedway (although to be fair to the BSPA they don't really need any help in this regard) so I don't feel like lining their pockets. I do however fully intend to go to the PL best pairs to witness some exciting racing on a great race track. Bah humbug But if you are going to Cardiff I genuinely wish you an enjoyable time.

Bengt Jansson (that is if you can get him to actually say anything !!).

Sad to say that I agree. I fear that the extraordinary night in Cardiff in 2007 may go down as something of a 'Szczackiel-esque' (is that a word...... It is now ) moment. Best we savour the memory. I find it painful to watch the GP's from a Brit point of view and if I hear Scott saying that he is "that close" to winning a GP once more I really will weep into my beer. They are both good riders but as proved consistently in GP's & in successive World Cups, GB does not have a genuine world class rider. The point has already been made by another correspondent that Scott (consistently) and Bomber don't bother with the GP qualifiers. So if they don't make the top 8 what justification is there for either to get a wild card based on either performance or potential? If it means that there is no Brit in the series in 2009, so be it. We'll still watch it on TV & go the Cardiff (there will be a Brit wild card). We bang on about Tai & for me its a pleasure to watch his sublime talent at Rye. But he's just 18 and who knows when he might reach his peak. We need to be reasonable in our expectations - so let's stop this talk of a GP wildcard for 2009 & let the lad develop naturally to fulfil whatever his potential ultimately proves to be. Oh and what is the gentleman's club (BSPA) doing to nuture and support Tai & the other young Brits? They could do a lot worse than grab Ivan Mauger when he comes over to run his training schools every Spring. Why not pay the great man for an additional day & insist all the GB squad spend a day with him at somewhere like Scunthorpe - or abroad where the weather would be more settled for a pre-season 'masterclass'. Can anyone say that a day spent under his guidance regarding on and off the track matters would not enable each of them to walk away better equipped to succeed in the season ahead? But that would mean investing a couple of bob - & that would never do. Maybe a day spent with the Galloping Mauger might open the eyes of young Mr Bridger?

I'm all in favour of abolishing practice. How many times do we hear riders say how good the track is at practice & then come the meeting it fails to produce good racing? Domestic experience over Bank Holiday weekends (when it doesn't rain of course!) also seems to indicate that more than one meeting in a couple of days leads to a poor surface that is usually too slick for good racing in the second meeting.

SOunds great. How do I apply?

Olle would be a superb subject for a book. As a former Hackney supporter, I can't tell you how much it pains me to say that !!! At the very least he should be the subject of the main interview in a forthcoming edition of Backtrack although I appreciate that his career was reaching its conclusion in the period covered by the magazine. But I reckon he just creeps in so go for it Tony Mac !!!!

I don't know if any of you out there will know this. But apparently, Rune Holta is a Norweigan riding on a Polish licence. I think Tony Millard may have mentioned it..............................................!

Sir ! I am cut to the quick. You will be hearing from my legal advisers messrs Hoodwink, DeFraud & Scarper (Solicitors, Commissioners for Oaths). And believe me, I uttered a few oaths when I read your post. It was nice to see Mr Jansson blossom once he went to a decent club....... See ya Monday for Lakeside v Coventry (to greet our World Cup heroes) and I believe that its your turn to pay for us to get in..........

Fantastic ! I do recall the Backtrack article - an appetiser if ever there was one. I also recall George Barclay had an anecdote or two about Jack in one of Ivan Mauger's Speedway Extravagana's. Have you any more news about the books as I haven't heard of them & would be most interested ? Cheers

And another thing !!! They really must get rid of the aptly named Joker - or at the very least play the theme from its a knockout every time a start line girl parades the damn thing & sign up Stuart Hall for the commentary.............

Millen the Villain. Now there is a subject for a book. Are you listening Tony Mac ?????....!!!

Go Bomber !! Great to see such a great performance.

I have all the time in the world for Mark and am so sorry to see him injured again. But Mark is such a quiet, nice guy that I think that even he would not describe himself as a leader in the way that an effective manager needs to be. I do think that his knowledge should be tapped into and he seems such a popular guy with the other riders I am sure that they - especially the younger ones would heed his advice (except about gating !!) and encouragement.

Being an old Hackney fan you won't be suprised when I say Bengt Jansson. I also think that although his best period was before the 1970's, Briggo would be a great read. Also Neil Street - others have mentioned Streety in this thread and I can only echo their views. Others would include Dave Jessup (is he really as mean as they say - I think we should be told !!)? John Davis (there has been a brief item about him already). I also think that Crazy Jack Millen could fill a book (again a brief item has already been in the mag but there must be so many stories about the guy), Len Silver was a stalwart promotor of the time and is still going strong today. How about Mike Patrick - he was at just about every significant meeting and knew all the riders - he must a yarn of twelve? I'd also like to see something about the mechanical developments following the 4 valve revolution - there were various engines from Jawa, Weslake, Godden, ERM, Maeley and GM. Hope this helps

Interesting debate re Scott Nicholls. I don't think for a moment that its a question of him not trying or being in a comfort zone. For me its a question of is he good enough? I think that Scott has not proved that he is up to it at present. Yes he is British Champion. But by the same logic you could say what about including the Russian or Finnish, or Latvian etc. The fact is that Scott is the natinal champion of a weak speedway nation (in terms of the ability of its riders). Scotts average sscore over 9 GP's was about 9 points. Hampel's average prior to last night was about 10 and I think he missed one earlier in the season - so the notional points tha Scott might have got in Prague is probably academic. I also don't think that Cardiff's attendance would be particularly harmed if there was no Brit in the series. After all we have a wild card place for the event and its not as if there has ever been a Brit in the series who has been anywhere near in contention for the GP championship when the circus hits Cardiff. So we would have a Brit to cheer and we would be (as usual) safe in the knowledge that whoever he is, he will fail magnificently! If he were to do well then so much the better. Scott is the best we have and that sums it up. Who is coming through the ranks? I have a lot of time for Bomber but can you really call him or Simon Stead potential world champions. The GP's are something of a threat to British Speedway because of the disruption to our league programme and the ability of elite league tracks to run on a Friday or Saturday night - which lets face it are attractive nights to stage events as most people do not have work/school the next day. I reckon that British Promotors would lick their lips at anything that threatens the viability of a 10 round GP series. The real issue is that the obsession with foreign riders - particularly in the Premier League - means that Britain is virtually incapable of producing genuine world championship contenders. Foreign riders will use the premier/elite leagues but when it no longer suits them we don't see them for dust (e.g. Gollob, Rickardsson, Jonsson etc.). So is it time to raise the drawbridge? Fans only have themselves to blame. Our culture is one of an obsession with success and not good racing. You don't need superstars for good racing. You need properly prepared tracks and riders prepared to race. So what if the are not 'names'? I am of the old 'happiness is 38-40' school and I admit it. I go to Rye House & Arena Essex and their recent fortunes could not be more different. But look at how they are run. Len's Rye giving British kids a chance which after a few seasons is now bearing fruit whilst Ronnie at Arena has a bunch of on loan (mainly foreign) journeymen. But if a team loses a few matches everyone gets on the promotors back. look at Waggies last year a Oxford and all the changes to the team. Ridiculous. Len also sticks with his riders and gives them a chance to ride through a lean patch. Lets not even start going on about the lack of opportunities for juniors such as they have in Poland, Denmark, Sweden etc. in comparison with Britain. To my mind British speedway needs a complete shake up and for that it needs an independent controlling body able to take longer term strategic decisions and to not have any promotorial vested interests. Frankly I can't see that happening, so I think that we are in for more of the same. I just hope that British speedway will continue to survive in whatever form as no matter what we all find to moan about - and I'm a guilty as anyone, its still a fantastic sport. Enjoy your speedway everyone!

Interested to read the debate. Surely the key question is who are the best 15 riders in the world rather than the arbitrary numbers game about how many from each nation?