chunky

Exactly... Steve

Nope. As Philip stated, they have to "be ready to race", not just "at the tapes". As was just confirmed on the commentary. Steve

I also think it is interesting that the commentary has now been "silenced"... Steve

But that shouldn't make any difference to a "rule"... Steve

The rules are there apparently for the ref to apply how and when he feels... Steve EDIT: As was just said, the "rule" wasn't applied in Heat 18

My thoughts exactly. As I said, Greg was "at the tapes", but he was nowhere near ready. Steve

Greg was at the tapes, but he certainly wasn't ready... Steve

You've seen it now, so what do you think? I think Tai was ready before Greg... Steve

If the tracks aren't consistent, and the riders aren't consistent, why should the refs be any different??? Steve

Nobody wants to read crappy posts from "hating tarts" on here either... Steve

Okay, found it now; thanks! Just wasn't sure exactly where to look... Steve

That's more of what I was thinking... Adds a little bit of interest with an "us against them" feature. It would be a help to see the whole evening's programme. Steve

Very interesting! Of course, there were no "official" teams in 1928, so that was probably some kind of representative event. You only have a small snippet of the pic here, but were there any other similar events on that programme? Where was that, incidentally? I had a look on the Speedway Researcher website, and didn't find anything. I know that George Reynard rode at some of the northern tracks, and had ridden at Rochdale the previous Saturday... Steve

Right, two-valve uprights, black leathers and monkey masks, all things that can be reintroduced and will bring the crowds flocking back? Get rid of TV or live-streaming, and that will bring the crowds flocking back? Rebuild Hyde Rd, Plough Lane, County Ground, Dudley Wood, Waterden Rd, The Shay, Blackbird Rd etc? That would bring the crowds flocking back? I miss holiday camps, the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Specials, the Kursaal, the family butcher, going to footy and changing ends at half-time, paraffin lamps and gas mantles, and Payne's Poppets, but just because there are bunch of us oldies who feel that we have gone in the wrong direction,, they are not going to turn the clock back for us.... Steve

I know that youngsters need to get the experience, but other than a handful - a very small handful - of riders over the years, very few have benefited from being thrown in at the deep end. Sure, they have potential, but chucking them in against top riders usually does nothing other than destroy their confidence and end a promising career before it has even started. Look what happened back in the 80's (I can't remember what year), when they introduced the "compulsory junior"; it achieved absolutely nothing. Incidentally, please don't just claim that us "older fans" are "out of touch with things". I am one of those, and I am only too aware that things have to change, but I just don't know what the solutions are.... What I do know is that throwing kids to the lions, and putting out a sub-standard team resulting in a tedious and one-sided match is not one of them. Steve

What about Todd Wiltshire, David Cheshire and Lee Derbyshire? Steve

Are my posts invisible to everyone? Arena Essex was the first team I mentioned yesterday, and I named several others. Now you are all coming up with the teams I said! Steve

Same with Anglian Angels and Southern Rovers. Steve

Arena Essex, and the Fife Lions, although the latter never competed in a league. There have been several second/junior teams, such as Devon Demons, Norfolk Braves, and Cleveland Bays. Steve

How about something like this? The Top 8 qualify for the following year. Positions 13-16 are totally out of the following year, EXCEPT if they missed out through injury (see below). Positions 9-12 meet the Top 10 from the GP Challenge (or what is now called the Challenge) in another meeting (possibly to become the "new" Challenge). This meeting takes place at the very beginning of the following year, and includes two wild cards. These wild cards can be any rider, but are primarily designed for any GP rider the previous year who missed out because of injury (missing GP's). Again, if a rider finished outside the Top 12 WITHOUT being injured, he is not eligible. That is why I suggest this is held in the new season, should any rider need to recover from injury. Steve

Exactly what I was getting at a few posts back! It is supposedly the Top 8 who qualify, but then it's like we have automatic wild cards for those who finish 9th and 10th! I'm not saying I agree or disagree with with the actual numbers of qualifiers, but it defeats the concept if they simply pick 9th and 10th too... Steve

This is what I don't really get. Of course, Doyle and Pedersen should be considered as strong contenders, but why then - as Philip says - should the FIM be so concerned about not getting new faces on board when they seemingly feel compelled to take what is effectively the top ten? This is the problem with wild cards; whoever you pick, there are other riders who are equally deserving, but miss out because of age, personality, or lack of past achievement. If a rider qualifies on his own merits, there can be no argument, although we all know that there are certain individuals on this forum who will find an argument! Injuries can be an issue, but who can honestly claim - certainly on the strength of his last couple of outings - that Vaculik doesn't deserve a spot? Even though I am not a Pedersen fan, on his day, he can obviously still compete with the best. Plus, he does add something. As waiheke1 says, Lambert has a strong case. It will be interesting to see just who finishes ninth and tenth this year... Steve

I tell you, Torun could be brutal; it is so tight for the top eight. I think everybody would like to see some new faces, but if riders qualify by right, what can you do? The sad thing is that, at the moment, it is difficult to see any newcomers really being able to break through into the top eight. Steve

I know this is weird, but... After looking at the standings after yesterday, I would not be totally shocked if Freddie doesn't qualify for 2019! He has struggled to recapture his early season form, and it certainly is not out of the question that he misses out on a Top 8 spot. He is currently 15 ahead of 9th placed Zagar. Just a thought... Steve

To be honest, I think we have enough t*ts in speedway already, most of them on the administrative side... Steve