Subedei

Is it possible the Russians will be without Sajfutdinov?

Which is all very well, but doesn't explain why Workington are getting a facility.

Someone remind me why Workington are getting a facility to cover the missing Reima?

Problem is, a few people thought last season was a farce when you had a reserve who could take the rides of a rider withdrawn through injury. That led to the likes of Walasek, Kennett and Holder being withdrawn with dubious injuries in the final. Surely the sensible thing would've been to have a reserve you could use up to five times to replace under-performing riders or a withdrawn rider?

Only if the Danes are six points down, otherwise it's three rider races. And, of course, each rider is only allowed a maximum of six rides.

No, after last season's fiasco in the final, there are no reserves tonight. Personally, I'd have tweaked the rules to allow a reserve to take up to five rides without having to have a rider withdraw through injury, rather than get rid of reserves altogether.

And this Polish site: http://www.przegladzuzlowy.pl/news_dps.php?id=1089900149 And their information came from this Czech site: http://www.speedwaya-z.cz/view.php?cisloclanku=2008071401

Timbuktu?

Yes, Tony Millard does. And he's right: http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/2008/02/...nde-grand-prix/

It looks as if there'll be a change in the Czech Republic team for tonight, with Filip Sitera replacing Lukas Dryml: http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/2008/07/...juz-w-coventry/

Of course, we Mongols didn't occupy the Kremlin, we destroyed it.

Problem with that, of course, is that it means no dramatic race-off, so it's a non-starter.

And, of course, the Russians and Poles have such a long history of close co-operation. I can hardly think of two nations more unlikely to help each other out.

The semi-weird Grzegorz Walasek will be lining up for Poland at Vojens, although it's not yet known which of the Poles will make way for him: http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/2008/07/...edzie-w-vojens/ I'd imagine it'll be Wieslaw Jagus, but it could possibly be Kasprzak. Walasek top-scored for the Poles in last season's SWC event at Vojens.

But Sajfutdinov could just as easily have been in both heats.

Well, here's Ht 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3ijhZIaWe0 And the race-off between Hampel and Adams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fdH3_bGuvc

I took that to mean that the leader was part of the talented quadruplet.

Okay, maybe I'm missing your point, but "quadruplet" means four and "trio plus 1" (the hapless Hungarian - you had a choice of four) means four, so where do you get five from?

The SWC is my favourite speedway competition. It combines individualism in a team environment. It is a team event, you can see that when you watch a genius like Tomasz Gollob in action. He's out there assisting a Russian to improve the standing of his own team.

I thought the commentary was excellent tonight - no screaming, no shouting. I suppose we'll be cursed with screams of "Come on Scottie" and the like from the imbecile on Monday.

I'm not entirely sure the Russians understood the rules - they made some weird decisions, making tactical changes and yet ensuring that every rider still had five rides.

The thing about the Joker in the SWC, as opposed to league competitions where it's used, is that in the SWC it can wipe out a lead in a single race, as happened tonight. In the league competitions in which it is used, with the "bar" for use being set at 10 points, it can only claw back a maximum of 7 points, with an 8-1.

A bit tough on the Poles - only a race-off because of the much-maligned "Joker" rule. But it is the rule. And no doubt the Poles will get to use it on Thursday. I doubt Jagus will be there - expect to see the semi-weird Walasek taking his place. And I'd have been inclined to go with Gollob in the race-off. No one ever seriously expected Hampel to beat Adams in the race-off, did they? Gollob's the Pole who has done it consistently at the highest level in high-profile, high-pressure races, such as GP finals and the like. Anyway, congratulations to the Australians. But while people are being a bit "sniffy" about the Poles' chances in Vojens it is worth pointing out they finished second to the Danes in the SWC round at Vojens last season. And that was one place ahead of the Australians. It's not yet over for the Poles. But they need to get Kasprzak sorted out.

Did he also claim that this is just a "dress rehearsal" for next season when the SWC final will be at Brandon? It seems that Lynch and Peter Oakes are just seeking "wish fulfillment" and if they say it often enought it'll happen, in spite of Unia Leszno and BSI having a contract for the 2009 race-off and final to be staged at their track in Poland. I e-mailed Unia Leszno and they confirmed: "There is no doubt that SWC race off and final in 2009 are in Leszno."

It is good to see the Indians having a renaissance season. They seem to have been in the doldrums forever.