Seb the Snail

Give it a rest colin; you're more likely to see hell freezing over!

The only flag that I've got is navy blue, has lots of pretty stars on it, and says "Mr Clean" in big white letters. I guess it's retired from the GP circus too. Priceless orion. Was that the meeting when he was the highest scoring rider of the night? Thought so.

Thank you Ghostwalker, my case is rested. Reading between the lines, Tai has apparently been nominated because he isn't very old, and Bomber because he won 1 meeting 29 months ago irrespective of what he has done since. And yes, colin, I am English and proud of it, but I totally fail to see the relevance of your point in this instance.

Ah right, so it's not based on ability, it's not even nationality (as most of us suspected), it's all down to Tai's age. Bless. Possibly because they are more accomplished speedway riders? Just a thought; or is 7.47 Tai actually a better rider than 9.15 Matej? Not that I'm basing my view on EL performances alone... Higher average in all 3 European Leagues seems a good place to start? Britain - a whisker in it, but Lee wins 8.56 - 8.54 Sweden - no contest, Rico came 10th in the league ahead of the likes of Gollob, Emil, Freddie and Holder. Poland - Rico (7.22) the top Brit once again, well ahead of Tai (6.58) in second place. Better record in the SWC... the leading Brit for years, including 17 points in the Race Off this year (as many as Chris 9 and Tai 8 put together). Do you want me to carry on?

The fundamental flaw is that there seemingly have to be Brits in the series by right. I've posted before that I would have no problem with the Top 15 being made up of 5 Danes, 5 Poles and 5 Aussies and I stick by that view, although I guess that there's now a Russian worthy of inclusion. This is a World Championship, not some Charity Event. Woffinden is a bright prospect but he is about 4th or 5th best Brit* depending on your point of view, so I'm really struggling to see how anyone can justify his inclusion in next year's series. He'd have got there in the end, but no way does he deserve a place for next year. As several others have suggested, Zagar and Lindback would have made way more sense. We'd have still had the British Champion at Cardiff for any patriots to get behind, and right now that's all that we deserve. * For the record, I'd go Richardson, Harris, Nicholls, Kennett, Woffinden, Bridger, Stead.

I've got no problem with Hans and Freddie being included in the 2010 series, both riders are definitely in the world's Top 15 even if they weren't in this year's Grand Prix Top 8. The selection of both Brits, however, does the credibility of our sport no good whatsoever. Bomber has struggled abysmally on the world stage in the last couple of seasons and must be grateful that Scott's woeful campaign stopped him from finishing rock bottom. He was soundly beaten by riders such as Messrs Ulamek and Walasek this year, both of whom must be cursing the nation of their birth this evening. If Bomber's selection is mystifying, the choice of Tai is almost beyond comprehension. Tai is a 7 point rider with 1 season of Elite League experience, a big ego and a PR machine to match. His stats on the continent are even worse and he has never yet ridden the tough heats at Number 1. Disgraceful doesn't do it justice. If we "must" have a Brit then Richardson is the only candidate anywhere near the World's Top 15, above Harris and Woffinden in the Elite League averages, a street ahead on the continent and top scorer by a distance in last summer's SWC. Evenso it's more the likes of Zagar, Lindback and Protasiewicz that I feel sorry for, and yes, maybe even Ulamek and Walasek as well. What an absolute farce.

If Kennett and Woffinden are selected for next year's series then the last shred of credibility for the GP will be gone. Absolutely shameful picks; they have no pedigree across Europe and aren't even at No 1 in our watered down Elite League yet. I might just drag myself to Cardiff for the social aspect, but apart from that would rather watch tiddliwinks on my Saturday nights than a contrived mockery of a sham of a circus like this. Truly pathetic.

No, I don't Parsloes; as I said quite clearly I don't think that there should be a Brit in the 2010 series. I just think that Harris is a better rider than Woffinden at the moment and therefore more deserving of consideration if the powers that be think there needs to be one. Both are behind Richardson. In your opinion. Harris has years of GP experience, a race win under his belt and a higher average (gained while riding at 1). Your second point just shows what a charade the whole GP circus has become; a World Championship should be about ability, not a popularity contest.

All hail the mighty Clean One! GP nights just won't be the same without him. That final race said it all for me - just a whisker away - the story of so many seasons at this level for Swindon's sliding superstar. Thanks for the memories Leigh.

There really shouldn't be a British rider in next year's series, but if there "has" to be one then then it should be Richardson or Harris in that order. No one else is even remotely near the required standard.

Exactly how I see it. The notion that GB "deserves" a GP rider is absurd.

Emil for me please.

Saying that we should use the PLRC as a guide to who should be in the GP is as moronic an idea as I have ever read on here. Unless, of course, you think that they should pick James Wright ahead of Chris Holder? The permanent 15 should be picked on their ability to ride a speedway bike not some quirk as to the nation of their birth.

Didn't Greg Hancock win the GP in question? Last time I looked he was definitely over 35 too. Age and nationality should be irrelevant; the only thing that matters in a World Championship is ability.

Another awful GP track, another lesson in tired cliches and stats that we've heard a thousand times before from Dullard, another set of comments from Louis and Sudden Sam that were about as incisive as a plastic spoon. On nights like tonight I just don't know why I bother.