chunky

Of course, you can't really judge much from solo laps, but at least Tai looked competitive there. Decent time, but it's what happens tomorrow that counts... Steve

I think we can just pray to the "speedway Gods". After all, there are quite a few individuals out there (and I'm not talking about riders) who think they are "God"!!! Steve

Wow... Commentators only comment on sides as the "National Team" when it is the actual "National Team" in action. A "National Team" is a team representing a "nation", with individuals being selected from across the nation, rather than from a region. EXACTLY the same as a "National League" which covers the whole nation, rather than a region. That applies in every sport, including speedway, so no, speedway is no different. Really John, that is a particularly feeble attempt to substantiate your argument.

That is good to hear! I was just sure I hadn't heard otherwise... Other than the Archers and Hammers, Ray also rode for Eastbourne, Wembley, Oxford, Ipswich, Poole, Norwich, and St. Austell. Steve

I watched that - WOW!!! He should have won it, but I have no idea how he didn't end up in the crowd! I will admit that I didn't know anything about Danny until now, but he is certainly a rider I would pay to watch... Steve

The ONLY pretense here is you attempting to define a word as something it isn't...

It has nothing to do with opinion, it is FACT! Opinion cannot take precedence over fact, regardless of how much you hate the fact(s). A "National League" is a league that covers the entire country. FACT. A "National League" is no indicator of standard. FACT. A "Northern League" indicates a Regional League, which understandably would not be as strong as a National League. Yes, the top tier was once called the National League (when there was one division - or at least one senior division). So what? It has also been the National League Division One (although it wasn't always referred to as such), the British League (when there was one division), the British League Division One, the Elite League, and the Premiership. Of these, the "National" and "British" headings merely indicated that it was nationwide. I'm sorry, you can't rewrite the dictionary just because of your opinion or interpretation. Are you going to tell me that orange juice is green, because it is your opinion? Or that a whale is an insect, because it is your opinion? It doesn't matter what it WAS, what it IS, or what it WILL BE. The term "National" means one thing, and one thing only. Steve

It's not sad at all. It is not a case of attracting "a lesser quality of rider"; the "National League" is now designed to be a third division. We never had a "Premier League" or "Championship" back then. The level is irrelevant, and the term "National" was never meant to indicate a particular - let alone superior - level. That is what "First", "Second", and "Third" divisions are for... Steve

Which is TOTALLY irrelevant... Again, please read - and comprehend - what I said. The term "National" has absolutely no bearing on quality, ability, experience, or anything like that. "National" means "nationwide" (on a national basis). Nothing more, nothing less. Steve

Come on John, it doesn't matter how much you prod, or try to convert your opinion into fact, the TRUTH is that the current "National League" (or National Development League) is every bit as much the GENUINE article as the National League of the 1950's. To quote the Collins dictionary, "NATIONAL" ls defined as : "relating to the whole of a country or nation rather than to part of it"" and "affecting a (or the) nation as a whole; nationwide in scope, involvement, representation, etc" and "a competition in which participants compete for a nationwide ranking, title, championship, etc." Comparisons of specific levels are denoted by titles such as Elite League, Premier League, and First Division... Steve

I looked back over some of the comments, and thought I would do some checking. Ray Cresp hasn't been mentioned, and as I said, I'd totally forgotten about him. Last I heard, he was still alive, and I wasn't able to find anything online to make me think otherwise. Yeah, I moved - six years ago! Steve

Okay, here is an updated list from what I can find... Split Waterman. 27/7/23 Arthur Payne. 30/8/24 Dick Bradley. 28/11/24 Eric Boothroyd. 26/4/27 Derek Close. 13/5/27 Ray Cresp. 25/8/28 Billy Bales. 6/6/29 Ollie Nygren. 11/11/29 Rune Sormander. 29/11/29 Jack Geran. 10/12/29 Ian Williams. 4/8/31 Per Tage Svensson. 16/10/31 Per Olof Soderman. 29/10/32 Ove Fundin. 23/5/33 Jim Lightfoot. 11/11/33 Dan Forsberg. 25/3/34 Reserves Josef Hofmeister. 26/7/34 Brian Crutcher. 23/8/34 Sad thing is that Stefan Kwoczala (who passed away a couple of weeks ago) should have been on the list (b. 15/6/34), but was never actually named.

Hey, just thought of something; Ray Cresp is still alive, isn't he? If so, he should be high on the list, being born 25th August, 1928. Can't believe I didn't notice it before... Steve

Amother currently hovering just outside the published list is our old friend, Bob Andrews, who was born on 27th October, 1935. Steve

As far as I know, Arthur Payne is still with us. Brian Crutcher comes in ahead of Broady, as he was born 23rd August, 1934. Steve

Honestly, way too much is made of the team riding aspect. Even though there was more in the old days, it certainly wasn't as prevalent as everyone seems to remember. That's why we remember it so well, because we can only recall particular riders and instances! The problem at the weekend was that most teams were unbalanced. Zmarzlik and Dudek should have been more evenly matched, and so should Sayfutdinov and Laguta. Thing is, if you don't get out of the gate (or at least to the first turn) together, it makes it really difficult, particularly at a track like Togliatti. The best instance of team riding was when Doyle took one of the opponents wide (can't remember who it was), and made a gap for Fricke to come through. Again, this is one of the problems with modern track surfaces along with modern superfast bikes which produce excessive wheelspin. Trying to slow down a race to allow your partner to catch up can be a very risky thing to attempt. Steve

Not missing the point at all. If a nation doesn't have three strong senior riders, it is highly unlikely that they will have a competitive under-21. Again, that is where GB are lucky; the best under-21 is also the nation's second best senior rider! I have said this before though, that throwing kids in at the deep end can be very counter-productive. In hindsight, it may have been better to take another under-21 instead of Harris, but you must admit, once you get past Woffinden, Lambert, and Cook, the list of Brits who can genuinely compete at world level is pretty bloody sparse! Funny thing is, we have a lot of "good" youngsters, but none of them (outside of Lambert) are anywhere near ready. Having said that, history will show that VERY few of the best teenagers actually develop into true world-class riders, and that youth development programs actually generate little in the way of world-class contenders. What happens in reality is that once every few years, someone special comes along, and any connections to a youth programme are likely to be coincidental. That isn't just a British thing, and neither is it a speedway problem either; it is the way of things. Steve

You're really missing the point. Everyone whines about how flawed the modern systems (GP's, SoN, etc) are, but the old systems which people seem to prefer are no less flawed! As I have said repeatedly, whatever system is used, there will always be anomalies and weird occurrences. I agree - in principle - with your comment about two semis and a final, but there aren't enough nations of suitable strength to provide two decent and competitive semis. Forgetting the poor track in Togliatti, how much better could it have been had we had Woffinden and a fit Lambert, and the Germans had Smolinski with Huckenbeck? Like many others, I think the biggest flaw with the SoN is the compulsory inclusion - and use - of Under-21's. If you want to find the strongest "nation" (be it pairs, 4-man teams, or whatever), then let them choose their strongest riders, regardless of age. Of course, the system benefits GB (when the riders are fit) because of Lambert, but instead of equalizing team strengths, all it does is favour teams like GB and Poland. Steve

The only embarrassment is that we don't have enough quality replacements, which isn't exactly Rosco's fault... Even had we taken Bewley - or anyone else, for that matter - instead of Harris, we would still have brought up the rear. Steve

Showing your age, pal!!! Like me...

Of course the British Final was tough. My point refers to the comment where the poster apparently thinks that only winners should advance to finals. In those days, you could finish fifth, eighth, sixth, and then eleventh in a series of meetings, yet you would be in the World Final - which it was possible to win without even winning a race! Steve

Trust me, there are enough of those comments that you don't have to read every post or thread! Plus, did you not see the emoji I used? I don't always like emojis, but I use them if I think anyone may misunderstand my intent... Steve

I wish you a speedy recovery. You have obviously just got home from hospital after having your sense of humour removed... There has been a constant battle on here as there are those who believe that being born in a foreign country makes you British, yet being born in Britain to British parents makes you an Aussie... Yes, IT WAS A JOKE! WHOOSH! Iainb clearly got it...

Good call!!!

Hancock? Tony Hancock was the blood donor, so Chris Harris must be the points donor... Ouch...