SPEEDY69

Willing to help out or willing to earn a few quid getting some laps and testing in before the other leagues and GPs start? To me you're either in the team or not and if Lynn were my team, I'd rather they found another option (disliked Rickardsson's 6 week stint for Ipswich at the start of one season) but I know many people disagree.

I don't believe that is really the issue. If the other leagues paid less, they'd be less inclined to prioritise them. Although Swedish fixtures are mainly on Tuesdays, if they only earnt half of what they get now, they'd drop it like a stone. Travelling to these places is tiring but it's nothing new - PC used to do over 100 meetings a season and that was over 30 years ago when travel was actually more tiring as flights were less convenient/available. As long as fixtures are known in advance, they can be scheduled in so the fixed race night thing is a convenient excuse. What these very few rich riders want is to increase their earnings still further and they think that by holding out for the UK to change is the way to do it and I don't think we should fall for it.

Completely agree. There is only one reason why they won't ride here (and we're only talking about very few riders who are actually in the GPs anyway) and that's money. That's their choice and they're entitled to make it but our speedway shouldn't be held ransom to the rich few. I don't think it will be long before the money runs out in both Poland and Sweden, tracks are already struggling. Anyway, what's all this got to do with King's Lynn?

Squads are a poor idea in my view as some teams will simply pick specialists for each track and I think it will further irk the fans.

This is very similar to the work done at Foxhall a few years back. It certainly hasn't reduced the number of falls on bends1&2 but then there have been significantly more in recent years anyway since they've been in the PL. There is definitely more space but the challenge for any track in my view is how to make the inside line a winner again because otherwise they migrate to the 'fast in, drift to the outside and ride the fence to the exit' riding so often seen at Poole in recent years. It used to be the exception/a brave man that went around the boards but now they all do it! I think this is an excellent move and although it could make then more vulnerable at home, some fans may prefer the unpredictability it could offer.

Not for me. He is a great middle distance runner but that doesn't compare to an athlete that excels as several events such as Daley T or Jess E. I agree with that even if shortlisted, Woffinden would get nowhere near enough votes to trouble the scorer. Kevin Sinfield - who's he?

F1 is boring that's why - the title was won by one team and one of their pilots was always going to win. I've never liked Hamilton anyway, all for the Brits is he? He moved to Switzerland so that he didn't have to pay his fair share to the NHS, Schools and other essential UK infrastructure and now lives in Monaco, a well known tax haven.

Gary O'Hare & Rob Hollingworth are still riding regularly - how about bringing Loram, Louis & Screen out of retirement? Seriously though, I'd be extremely surprised to see Gollob and surely has to be Bjerre. Maybe PK & Stead.

No, you've completely missed the point. This thread is about Jon Cook's attributed comments about people who don't understand his explanation as being either thick or biased. The word retard was introduced by SCB in the original title of this thread, not by Jon Cook.

Why? Just going on previous events where I thought the better rider was at reserve and were always going to get lots of rides. They can be deployed flexibly as well, in any heat which may be to the teams' advantage. As to who decides, as I said in the original post "the team should have to justify why their reserve is at reserve to the organisers/committee and get agreement in advance. "

I really don't get why Jon Cook is receiving such abuse on here. I always like to see the good in people and don't have him down as a nasty person - it's always easy to mis-interpret written comms because you don't get the intonation or the wink and smile at the end for example. I take no offence from his attributed comments, my issue was with who had decided on the H/L list and he explained that it was agreed by consensus across all promoters - therefore I have no issue with it, so what if so and so is on there but this guy isn't? The decision has been made. Accusations of favourtism to one club or another are answered by his explanation and if people cannot understand that then.........

sorry posted on wrong thread

Allowing a reserve is a sensible idea. They should be able to replace another rider for any reason, the same as in league racing. The only possible abuse can be where a team has a recognised better rider at reserve than in the 1-4 - the team should have to justify why their reserve is at reserve to the organisers/committee and get agreement in advance. Don't see the point in restricting it to u21.

There's a lot of bluster on here about this. I couldn't really care what he says but I will just question one thing - are you really sure he is saying people are this way if they disagree with the list or, as I read it, if they think it wasn't a list which was agreed on by all promoters? There is a difference, and if they all agreed, why should I question it.

Is that for real? They're not that far apart.

The Saturday race night will restrict the choice of rider at the top of the team due to Poland. However, Doyle proved that it can be done and there were many rider years ago who used to ride Sat nights and then Poland on Sundays. The flight situation is now easier than ever - I can only think they must earn so much from Poland that it makes UK racing not worth their while. What the BSPA should be doing is ensuring the continuation and growth of speedway by looking after all clubs. I don't have the information to say that this has not been done but they have implemented rider control before! By the way, is Buzz owned by Rik Frost, now of Poole? Have to agree with others, the opacity and subjectivity of the HL list leaves us all guessing a bit - they have a habit of doing this with various lists etc.

He could but that's very low level and haphazard. Who's to say they're the best teachers, or have the best ideas, or access to tracks and overseas organisations etc. That is the point. How many ex/ageing riders have said the same - loads. It would be good in the BSPA could get someone like Nielsen on the books to formulate a structured plan or similar as he was one rider who had everything needed to be successful at the highest level. A lot of the low-level initiatives simply fade away. I seem to remember Jan O starting something, Phil Morris, Les Collins, Loram/Havvy/Screen and countless others. Next year with a new National Stadium it would be a shame if it's not put to best use.

According to Scott he had a two year deal at the start of last season so hasn't he already joined?

Agree with the last para. I won't be crying about it but I do stil prefer EL racing. Racing at any level can be strung out or close and riveting, don't think that makes much difference. What you do get at lower levels are more basic mistakes and falls.

Agree. Funny how people make 5 from 2+2! The issue was much more complicated than that and centred around support for British riders from their federation e.g. development opportunities for youngsters with test matches or training (for example like the danes do when hiring Lynn before the season starts) and the like, Euro Champs but principally for those starting out as they need more help. It's all a litte bit more complicated than "shown no interest".

I think this thread is about the best USA rider ever. Now that's a subjective question! For me, Hancock has shown his consistency and as an ambassador and exempler to others there is no-one to match him. Those that criticise for the fact he achieves only because he makes great starts (which is not down to luck of course) need to see this years GP series where he has frequently come from the back, including last to first in Aus. His lack of serious injuries - whilst there is a strong luck element of course, (definition of accident), there are things riders can do to minimise the risk and Greg has proven to be very skillful in this regard. Other riders people remeber as greats, such as Mauger, Fundin, Briggs, Nielsen, Rickardsson, Lee, Jessup, P Collins, Simmons and others also had long periods without injuries. For me, there are a few USA riders I'd highlight - Autrey, Ermolenko, Penhall, Sigalos and Hancock. Autrey kind of paved the way for USA riders to compete in Europe which got the ball rolling. Ermolenko had strong periods of dominence and could have won more than one title, especially if he'd remained injury free so has to be up there. Sigalos too looked set to get better and better until injury affected. Penhall of course won two world titles but I'd place him below Hancock (Les Collins was very unlucky not to win in 1982) because Greg has been at the top, on and off the track for so long, on any surface, length or location of track.

It's a new audience with BT I guess that have yet to see speedway on TV so it may get them interested, although not in big numbers I don't think. I will still take out Sky Sports in April for the EL as team racing is my preference. To be honest, although I've watched the GPs this year it mostly hasn't been live and I won't really miss it as it's become all too predictable & same old faces. The World cup I will miss but will try to get along to the UK round.

It's not about who I'd like to see in there - that would have a vastly different look! It's about fairness. Lindgren and Milik finished ahead of Lindback in the official qualifying event and in my view that puts them ahead on a 'playing fair' basis.

Disappointed with the wildcards but have almost lost interest in GPs these days - there's too many of them and they're too predictable. AJ has been favoured so many times now - he'll never be world champ, (unless they bring back rolling starts!), and has had numerous chances. Lindback failed to get through qualifiers Kildemand failed to get through qualifiers Hampel fair enough but he's dull to watch Drop the seeding, except for serious injuries and promote more from the qualifying event is much fairer in my view. But as we all know, the series is there to make money and commercial decisions are inevitable.

That's true, but it does annoy me that it takes 31 days to cancel but less than1 day to add any package