SPEEDY69

Okay I'll make it a little easier. You say that Tai has at least two sets of bikes, one for the GP and one for league racing. In Cardiff, he will have one set in the UK and one in Poland. At no point at any time do these two sets of bikes ever meet, so he couldn't take bike number three from one set and exchange it for bike number three from the other set? Surely you can see how that it is ridiculous to suggest the reason for not competing is because of a lack of equipment. I'm much more inclined to believe it was a money issue than an impossibility. However I'd question your figures there as you've simply made them up. Bringing a bike to the UK in the back of someone else's van (and this goes on all the time with riders), costs very little and nowhere near £2000. Forgetting the spin and figure massage to support points, people decide on priorities all the time on the balance of want/need/resource etc. and I think he decided the British Final was simply not a priority. It's that decision I think was wrong. Checking out now!

Suggest you read my post again. Cardiff proves he could have Careful, everyone knows it's impossible. He couldn't simply have transported/built a bike in the UK at some point given the time he had, maybe got a certain tuner here to help him (PJR), that would've been impossible.

Which reinforces the point that he is able to transport equipment to the UK for Cardiff and still have equipment in Poland for the next day. This is no different to having equipment in the UK on Friday and racing in the Polish GP on Saturday. Or are you suggesting his bikes circle Europe in two vans which are never or it could never be arranged for them to be in the same place at any time? It's an excuse. I believe he simply decided it wasn't a priority for him which he is entitled to do but I disagree with the decision because of the impact upon the British Championship and fellow riders.

The point is, which some don't seem to recognise, is that he will have bikes in the UK and Poland on consecutive days - something which people seem to say is impossible.

This has dragged on and i think all points covered. Nothing has changed my view though that Woffinden should be in the Cup side but he should also have been in the British semi-final (he may not have reached the final of course). The GP weekend is a red herring to me. Bomber did both, and Tai is doing almost the same on the Cardiff weekend with Poland either side. Gp practice is more about sponsor schmoosing than any real benefit for the GP itself and they have understood if he'd missed it for his National Championship.

No, I don't think they should, unless they have a role at that meeting e.g. advertised as photo opportunity or signing autographs etc. Not simply just to hang around the pits. This is not being mean but if a professional rider they will have been paid to ride unlike all the supporters and free entry should stop once they stop riding. This is for general admission - it may be that for a long serving rider one club may give them free entry and I don't mind that.

A lot people seem to be saying he's not of international standard or he is etc. How many of the Brits are competing regularly against the top international riders? Woffinden in Sweden & Poland and doing well, as well as the GPs. Harris in the GPs, doing badly. Nicholls in Sweden and Poland and doing well. The rest are EL or PL.

I would go with Woffinden, Cook, King & Nicholls with Lambert at reserve, although Lambert could easily take King's place in my view. I think Cook is fast starting enough to have success in the WC and Nicholls is beating & mixing with the big guns in Sweden this year and these are the guys that'll be in the WC - this is maybe why I'd take Lambert over King as well because he's shown before he is not scared of the big occasion internationally but they have both had very inconsistent seasons this year.

Ha, no - lost interest in F! many many years ago. You can get close/exciting racing at all levels but if the result doesn't mean anything to you then it loses its appeal, especially when there are so many rounds. That was my point.

Didn't watch the GP at the weekend and although it seems from comments that many found it enjoyable I can't say I missed it. I'm just bored with the GP circus, Jonsson vs Pedersen or whatever, seems to have been the same old riders for years now and I couldn't care who wins. I think there are simply too many rounds and that makes each GP not particularly significant - shame, because it's a sport I love but I'd much rather be following a team or even GB in a test series.

So, he gets a bit het up and goes to see the referee - a £7.5K fine plus £1.4K costs and licence suspension seems a bit steep to me. There must be more to it than that? When we've seen behave in such a way towards other riders or officials I don't remember them facing such harsh penalties? Ultimately, could it see Leicester closed down? Taken over by Horton or is that just me touting a conspiracy theory?

Yes, seems daft doesn't it but there'll be winners and losers and the winners may well not agree to change! Whoever gets it right in having a trump card at reserve will win the play offs.

I did chuckle when I saw the article about Tai and Greg citing concern over riding on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday - this is the life of a professional rider and has been for years and years. Greg talks about mechanics schedules, years ago the rider also drove around in cars/vans! Racing three days in four, as Mr Jones said, is not unusual.

Repeated tomorrow at 6am UK time I think if anyone missed it this morning or didn't get to watch it last night.

The qualifiers in 2014 were for the 2015 GP - you might remember he got knocked out in the quarter final stage. Then had a reprieve due to injuries, got knocked out again. Then had another reprieve when someone smiled on him offering a place in the challenge without asking those in line before him. I am not saying any of this was his fault though but he was favoured by the BSPA at the time. I also remember the Cardiff wildcard selection process in 2013 was changed for one year only (without telling the public or the majority of the riders) and handed to Harris. Again not his fault but I can't stand bias/favouritism, whatever the level, and we all know that goes on with the GP wildcards.

I'm not concerned about him not riding in Britain, that's his choice and reflects his priorities. However, the British Final is one meeting and I think he is being disrespectful to the other British riders by the 'give someone else a chance' line and it devalues the event. Again though it reflects his priorities. We cannot in any way recall Tai as others have said and whilst I have sympathy with the circumstances of Wozniak being told to give up UK, it's happened before and will again. I'm all for getting more Brits into teams but as HA said before, untried foreigners are cheaper than Brits as a loan or transfer fee has to be paid. Perhaps the BSPA should impose a club levy for new riders to the EL from abroad to try and even things up? Just a thought.

Only in the 2014 qualifiers.

Lakeside should win this at a canter, 15pts +, say 54-36

Although I agree with you, if you buy a ticket online and can select a seat then this won't work, unless they have to go around sticking 'Reserved' on the seats already taken - I don't know if you can select a seat online?

Can't stand that sort of behaviour, jeez, not even a fellow countryman.

Or who may help sell the event

Absolutely. It carries no meaning to many fans I'd suspect.

Day licences are available which you get on the day - Ian can fill you in. Be sure you sign on for insurance purposes. STR are SCB licensed and operate as members and I know they have events/practices at King's Lynn, Scunthorpe, Mildenhall, Rye House and they did IOW as well but not sure this year.

It's clear you're trying the distraction technique but it completely misses the point of the thread. Woffinden has no issue with BSPA, wants to help train others but won't support the British Final, live on TV at the new stadium because he really can't be bothered - there is no other legitimate excuse. If it's because of poland or gps then wholly selfish. It devalues the tournament.

Helmets only come off if not fastened properly or they'retoo big to start with - often see this with those new to motorcycles as they don't like the feeling of a tight fit. Sounds a nasty accident.