False dawn

Finishing order: Przemyslaw Pawlick Artem Laguta Patryk Dudek Craig Cook Michael Jepsen Jensen Piotr Pawlicki Peter Kildemand Vaclav Milik Kai Huckenbeck Leon Madsen Mateusz Szczepaniak Matej Zagar Gleb Chugunov Martin Smolinsk Andrei Kudriashov Roman Lakhbaum Martin Vaculik If I'd have been Craig in that line up, I might have crumbled. The number of big names is overwhelming. And did I get it right that Craig posted a zero in his first ride? To finish 4th is outstanding. You are on the verge my boy. The Dude won't finish out of the top 8. You have a chance to be our next hero. Line up those sponsors. Get the tuner you like. This is it. A top 8 finish next year, and the World's your lobster.

I think I've issued more "Nerd Alerts" than most. I look up averages, I try to work out guest and rider replacement eligibility. Hell, I can tell you which gate is most advantageous in each half of a meeting. I love all things mathematical and I love this sport. So I am so pleased that GSA's, team declarations, inter league average calculations and even riders coming in from abroad are easily subject to my spreadsheet analysis. Give me the data and I'll tell you what's permissible, acceptable, or even a bit dodgy. Given that I've spent the last n months trying to get ahead of this process, I have to tell you. I'm obviously too old, suffering from early dementia or simply too thick. I guess I'l have to take future pronouncements on trust. Not a comfortable position for me at least. Are you okay with this?

Well get used to him. He is going to be World Champion. This year. (you heard it here first)

"DAN'S THE MAN FOR KINGS" according to their website. Would love to see Dan have a decent run and move on in the sport (not that I biased of course, having been a Storm supporter).

I kind of get where you're coming from and I respect your opinion (really, no sarcasm). But who's loss is it that Tai doesn't ride for Team GB? I'm old school and believe that any rider should be knocked out to be picked to ride for the National side. I like Tai (even the tats!) and want him to do well. But if he was my lad I'd kicked his a**e from here to next Wednesday for turning his back on the National side. Oh I don't know. Having read what I've just typed, I'm on both sides of this argument. Am I alone?

Emil for the win then! Penelope Pitstop ?

right There's a meeting at BV 14th October. 4th round of the British championship. I'll introduce you to the main players

turn left Krzysztof

NKI had memories of that run off with Lebedevs in the SWC !

Well I'll be the first to hold my hand up. I thought the idea of signing a no.1 on a silly high average was suicidal given the strength in depth other teams were building. At the very least I foresaw significant team changes after a few weeks as we saw at Wolverhampton (who's changes I thought were astute btw). But no, Swindon have done the business, even doing without JD during their recent run of success. They are real championship (small c) material.

Some will say that Craig, or any other Brit (other than Tai) ain't good enough to compete on the World stage. Well I say, that's a bit chicken and egg. Get our boys out there and some of them will rise to the challenge. Look at the mountain it is to get into the GPs and then stay there. The GP challenge route is tough by anyone's standard. Then clawing your way into the top 8 and staying there, bloody heroic. Let's salute Craig for getting this far. If he qualifies, let's celebrate. Oh I know he rides for some clubs up north. But who cares? He's one of ours and we should be proud.

I love the report on this match on the speedwaygb site and their explanation of the members of the Perterborough team..... "....with Jack Holder also absent." Is that what's called diplomatic?

Could be more interesting..... We hear you've been banned in the UK. Can you tell us what that's all about?

Rosco described the current situation as an engine tuner merry go round. Speedway riders without a sense of loyalty? Whatever next?

Despite what others have read into my previous posts, I have no argument with Jack. He was released by Peterborough to ride several meetings in Poland for, we're told, a sum of money. An agreement described by the Peterborough management as benefiting all parties. Clearly we're not one of those parties.

I think people are being a bit over critical of the commentary analysis. Rosco did a reasonable job and he will get better when we get more "fixture clashes". The meeting was as good as you get in GP terms. And the final was superb. Come on people. You get a really good meeting, unpredictable to the last and you still want to pick holes in it. Sit back, enjoy the racing and be thankful you can watch speedway from all over Europe (The World) contested by the very best in the World. And can you believe that last bend swoop? We are lucky indeed.

So the secret weapon at reserve worked then? Hang on. But Leicester won. Must have been a different secret weapon. (Coventry loanee).

Increased torque = quicker starts but also = a lot more lifting in the corners on grippy tracks Increased bhp / revs = faster top speeds but also means less time to react to trouble Big sweeping tracks without a lot of shale are an answer to both of the above. Pay your money, and take your choice.

An object lesson for some, eh?

And he edited it!!!

I guess if they want to talk about his continued sponsorship, he'd turn up.

Well I know it's only the last few percent of a nonsense, but how can Pawel ride for Torun last Sunday, and this Sunday and not be available on medical grounds for Leicester this Saturday? Can anyone look at this fixture and treat it with any seriousness? If you had anything like a full strength Leicester side, they might give Rye something to think about. Enough anyway to get some local fans (even from Coventry) to forego the GP and go and shout for their favourites. Sorry no contest. But wait a minute, Rosco on BT, maybe I'll reconsider

I guess the authorities might have considered his no show as a contemptuous gesture which may have added to the final outcome.

Do you know, I thought I was having a senior moment. But hang on, that announcement is on the Grand Prix site. Where on the SCB or BSPA site is this decision announced, explained or detailed? This can't be right. There is more information on FaceBook. But then, I really am showing my age

Or, "If only we'd scored another 16 points, we'd have won"