chunky

Why rely on "ifs" ("had Lambert...)??? Had Laguta tripped and broken his leg on the way to the toilet before the final, it would have been a very different race! Have I ever ridden a speedway bike! NO! Have I taken part in competitive sport? YES - at the highest level! On many occasions. I have NEVER approached any event - or single match - with the idea that, "I'm not going to win, so I won't even try from the start. I will just wait and see if my opponent slips up..." I can't believe ANYONE would find that concept acceptable, no matter how much better - or indeed, how much worse - your opponent(s) is/are. When you know what you have to do in order to win, you choose the best option FROM THE START Steve

So why did we even go out on track? Tai and Robert could just have said "Well done, lads", shook hands, and saved methanol and tyres... Come to think of it, why did we even compete? We could have just stayed home as you don't think we should have even tried to win... Steve

Let's look at it a little closer - and this is in no way any attempt to discredit Peter Collins... It was mentioned that the England team of Collins' day was much stronger, but that is only a very small part of it. Yes, to win three successive team golds was a great achievement, and to score three maximums even greater - particularly in three different countries. However, look at the opposition... In those three finals, GB/England would have probably won the golds WITHOUT PC in the team - certainly in '74 and '75. How many riders of a comparable standard did PC have to face in those meetings? ONE - Michanek. Maybe you could add Sjosten in '74... So, as great a rider as PC was, and as many medals as he won, I really don't think that these events carry any weight as far as using them to substantiate his claims as the GOAT against riders like Craven and Woffinden. Also, as far as the one-offs against GP's as far as difficulty is irrelevant, as although one bad ride could cost you, the exact same situation applied to everybody else in each respective championship. Every year, the World Final was allegedly "devalued" because of riders who didn't make it to the final. And stating that you can get away with bad meetings in the GP's doesn't necessarily hold any water, because everybody is riding under the same rules. If, at the end of the season, the GP's are decided by, say, 20 points or less, that is ONE meeting. In 2000, Rickardsson had ONE bad meeting, and he finished third, seven points behind Loram. In 1996, Nielsen had a bad meeting, and lost the title by two points. Yes, one bad meeting can certainly cost you. Still, it is the same for everyone, so there is no advantage or disadvantage for anyone. What it comes down to is the fact that you can't say that one-off World Finals were easier or more difficult than the GP's, as they are very different systems. Particularly in the 1980' s, all you had to do was finish in the Top 8, Top 10, or even Top 11 of World Championship meetings to qualify for the next round! Four or five average performances, and one good night, and hey, you could be World Champ! Steve

Nobody said there was a Friday race-off. The name (official and published name) of the Belle Vue meeting was "Race-off 2". What you call "race-off heats" were called "knockouts". Steve

Yeah, just slowed up a little, and kept him outside, but MJJ managed to keep the speed and get his wheels in line. Steve

That's good! Steve

We can probably get it because it isn't being shown on TV where we are. Steve

It's on from the speedway gp website, but probably isn't available in the UK. Steve

Lindgren going for a gap? Nooooooooo... Steve

I agree. Funnily enough, years ago I actually came up with a format for three man teams, with teams riding as pairs. I'll see if I can dig it out... Steve

Maybe they won't, but Smolinski could crush a few dreams! Steve

Okay, what I am loving is not only how Lambert is gating, but how he is being so ruthless on the white line, and is really clamping down on anyone trying to come up the inside. Steve

Um, didn't I say that it would take a few races??? Eh, ? Eh? Steve

People forget that it's not just about protecting your partner; in a race like that, you have to protect yourself as well! Steve

Okay, Laguta got up into 2nd, but NOBODY can deny Tai's efforts there! There was only the one pass, but those are the races I live for... Steve

I always thought Bodie was better - much more "professional"... Steve

No, I don't think it was cool!!! Steve

At this point, you still have to be looking to win races; that will change in the knockout heats. Thing is, while team riding IS important, I don't think the tracks and the machinery make it as easy as it used to be; it is more about speed now than track craft. Oh, and I guess we know which Lindback showed up tonight. Steve

That wasn't the reason I said that; when you are that much on the grass, you do run the risk of that. There is some grip, but I feel the surface needs a few more races. Steve

Just looks a little greasy... Steve

Probably settled that now... Steve

Ready to watch Poland and Chile, apparently... Steve

Goes back to what we were saying after Tuesday, and settling the track by getting some laps in before the meeting starts. Of course, Smolinski was grass-tracking... Steve

The speedwaygp website. You have to sign up, but it is free... Steve

You should know that racing isn't important; it's all about spouting opinions and whining... Steve