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.

Just a quick post to wish the Robins a very happy 60th Birthday! It's exactly 60 years today since the bikes first roared at the Abbey. To mark the occasion, one of the original bikes from 1949 will be ridden on the parade at the meeting tonight by former Abbey favourite Barry Duke. What are your best Abbey memories from years gone by?

Didn't Crump ride for both Australia and Poland just yesterday? I couldn't give a fig what Woffinden was up to in the pits, or was wearing either for that matter. Not that I actually have any figs...

I can remember posting the same thing last year, and probably the one before that - jokers should have no part in a World Cup tournament. Why oh why can the authorities just not let the best team win?

Like I said, "Lemon Squeezy" for the hosts! Crump showed all the tactical acumen of a King's Lynn manager at the death, gift wrapping the title for the Poles and even adding a pretty little ribbon on the top. Madness, and not in a "jolly 80s leap about with your trousers rolled up" kind of way either.

I'd give her 1. Snails love Charlie.

Lemon Squeezy for Poland. A full strength Denmark might have given them something to think about, but I can't see Australia, Sweden or Russia posing too many problems. It'll be tight for the minor honours though.

My sentiments entirely, bunny! By the way, what time are you getting to the World Cup Final barbeque tomorrow?

I'm a big fan of the best 15 riders in the world being in the series irrespective of nationality, but if GB has a seeded place then surely it has to be Rico's.

Well, "Love and Pride" amazed me I must confess, but it still doesn't explain why the British Number 1 was just an interested observer, although I think that everyone has had their say on that one. Par for the course overall for Team GB. We're a million miles away from being competitive at this level, that's for sure. Getting beaten at home by 20 points is not much cause for celebration and we'll be hard pushed to get anything other than embarrassed on Thursday. Great to see Zagar showing no ill effects from his bucking bronco act at The Abbey, and also to see the Rinky Dink laying the smack down. Snails love the Rinky!

I thought that this thread was about the World Cup Team, not "when did you last win the league"? FWIW I haven't once touted up Rosco for the job, but I do know that he'd pick the best team for the meeting in hand, not chuck someone in who isn't up to the required standard. I guess that Rob Lyon is just trying to make a point; sadly for him, at the moment it's just that he doesn't seem to have a clue.