lucifer sam

Main Man, but come you took so long to get on with your play-off matches? And why didn't you restage the meeting in the afternoon today?? All the best Rob

I looked through the Complete History of the British League, but the averages are team-by-team, rather than a summary of the top averages. I'm still going to go through the Stars, all I need is one from the end of each October. And sorry, but IMHO the No. 1 Brit has to be an individual World Champion - a rider who never finished above eighth doesn't cut it for me. The No. 1 has to be a winner, not an World Final also-ran. All the best Rob

Any chance of a restaging tomorrow afternoon? How long does it take to drive from Newport to Rue House - could the riders do both? I can't believe that this situation has been allowed to develop. There's no way the play-off final should be taking place in the final three days of the season. The deadline for the NL play-offs was 47 days ago. All the best Rob

I'm after a quick summary of the 1980s 9.00+ BL averages as well, but they don't seem to be readily avaiable in one location. I guess I'll have to plough through the Speedway Stars and post them here. And personally, I can't see how Chris Morton can No. 1. He never finished above eighth in a World Final. He was a very good rider, but not quite there at the very, very top level (i.e. Individual World Finals). I've got 20 names (which I will change around after studying the averages), but I've got a firm idea who my Nos 1 & 2 will be - and they will be winners, not eighth placed riders. The No. 1 has to be a World Champion, not nearly men such as Carter and Morton. All the best Rob

Great to see the Hitmen having such a great season. They've already taken the National Trophy and KOC, could the league title be about to follow? Buxton Speedway is a credit to the Moss family and all involved. A terrific little club, who have brought on so many youngsters over the last 16 years. They are the perfect example of how speedway should be run at this level. All the best Rob

Given that the NL cut-out date for the play-offs was September 12, how on earth did we get into this situation in the first place? All the best Rob

Well, I would say that he is fault, because you can only get grit thrown up by a competitor's rear wheel is if you're getting beaten. Kolodziej did blow it under pressure in the GP challenge, but he showed enough at Bydgoszcz to show that he should be in the GP. All the best Rob

Cheers, Conkers. All the best Rob

Now he isn't in the 2011 GP series, I assume Tai will be entering in the 2011 Under-21 mini-GP series. Good luck to Tai in his quest to become World Under-21 Champion. All the best Rob

Just call me Mystic Rob. All the best Rob

There's six key meetings to fit in the next two weeks: NL Play-off Final: Newport v Buxton - date TBA Buxton v Newport - Sunday, October 31 (date from Buxton official website) NL KOC Final: Buxton v KL - Sunday, October 24 KL v Buxton - Wednesday, October 27 (both dates from BSPA website) NLRC - date & venue TBA NL Fours Final - date & venue TBA Any ideas when the three other fixtures will be arranged? Is there anywhere which could stage the NLRC on maybe Saturday, October 30? It's a bit unsatisfactory that so many important meetings have been left so late in the season. All the best Rob

Steve Lawson would definitely feature in the Top 20 National League riders of the 1970s and 1980s. In fact, I would place him third behind Joe & Tom Owen. All the best Rob

Phil, that's a shame, any chance of the meeting taking place early in 2011? All the best Rob

I would like to see the Czech GP shift to Pardubice, which is one of the best racetracks in the world. It's true that Pardubice probably needs a little improvement in a couple of other areas to be able to stage a GP, but if the carrot was dangled in front of them, I'm sure that they could make the necessary amendments. Prague has been a rubbish meeting for too many years now. All the best Rob

I was surprised at JD in someone's top three!! I'm working on my own top 20 (got a list of sorts, but want to check it with the lists of BL averages first, because at the moment, my list is decided largely on honours). JD is likely to feature, but at the bottom of the list rather than the top! As for Carter's honours, OK maybe Halifax can't be pinned on his door (although sometimes an inspirational No. 1 can propel a team to success), but how about the fact he never won a single international round of the World Championship? All the best Rob

I can't agree with Carter as No. 1. Away from domestic British Speedway (couple of British Finals and couple of BLRCs), he won the 1983 World Pairs with Peter Collins. And that's it. Never finished on a single World Individual Final rostrum either. Carter flattered to decieve at the highest levels of the sport. He never inspired Halifax to win anything either. Carter's talent alone places him in the top 5 British riders of the 1980s. But he lacks the roll of honour to push himself into the top couple of positions, which should be reserved for winners. All the best Rob

This one is tricky. For starters, who should be the No.1? Unlike the 1970s (where everyone plumped for Peter Collins), there isn't an obvious candidate. Michael Lee was our only individual World Speedway Champion of the decade and could mix it and beat the best, but as an effective force, he was snubbed out with his ban in early 1984. Kenny Carter didn't fulfil his potential (his list of honours is quite short, especially on the international stage) and again he rode for little than over half the decade. Chris Morton did last the decade, and he won a few things, but never finished above eighth in a World Final - so he never shone at the biggest stage of all. Simon Wigg won four British League titles (with Cradleay Heath and Oxford) and also won two Longtrack titles during the decade, but should someone whose main focus was away from speedway be the best Brit of the 1980s? Peter Collins won more World titles (three Pairs and one WTC) than any other Brit in the 1980s, but while still a great rider, he was past his best in the 1980s (largely due to a painful injury sustained at the conclusion of 1980). Kelvin Tatum is another under consideration, but I don't feel he's quite the Best Brit of the entire decade. Hmmmmm, this one needs a little more thought than the 1970s. All the best Rob

This was always going to be a very tough season for young Tai Woffinden. The loss of his father during the winter would have been a devastating blow to the young man. To cope with that, the responsibility of being given the Wolves captaincy and a full year in the GP series - well, it must have been a bit of a strain on him, to say the least. In the circumstances, 49 points from 11 Grand Prix rounds is not too bad a haul. Although he hasn't sustained it across a full round, he has had his moments, when he's been able to beat the world's best. But Grand Prix rounds are very tough and he's only reached 1 semi-final in 11 rounds. But what now? Would another full year in the Grand Prix be of benefit, or would it be better for him to have a break of a year or two before he gets another chance? I tend to go with the latter. I would like to see Woffinden returning to the series in either 2012 or 2013, by which time he will have had the opportunity to build up his machinery, his confidence and hone his skills. I still think he is a major talent (he is the cream of the crop, as far as young Brits of his age are concerned), but for that talent to blossom, maybe a couple of years away from the spotlight, would help him. I think another full year in the GP series in 2011 could damage his confidence. All the best Rob

After tonight, I think the four seeded riders for 2011 should be: 1. Nicki Pedersen 2. Emil Sajfutdinov 3. Andreas Jonsson 4. Janusz Kolodziej All the best Rob

BFD, there's no doubt that the racing has improved this year - but I still regard 1998-2000 to be the best years of the Grand Prix, with 2000 as the best individual year (the year that Loram won the championship). Replacing Ole Olsen with Tony Olsson has improved the series no end, now all we need is a return of the cut-throat KO format. All the best Rob

You're starting to show your obsessive tendencies, old chap. All the best Rob

Gollob as captain please - cheers Ballinger. All the best Rob

... until tomorrow. My seeded riders would be: 1. Nicki Pedersen (if he doesn't have a stormer tomorrow and steal Holder's eighth place) - because he's box office. 2. King Emil - because it would be ridiculous to leave out one of the best three riders in the world (alongside Crump & Gollob). 3. Hans Andersen - one last chance to prove himself. 4. Not sure yet - I'll make mind up after seeing how Kolodziej and Jonsson perform tomorrow. I wouldn't go for: 1. Davey Watt - 2011 would be one year too early for him. 2. A second Brit - there's no-one good enough. I think Woffinden will be - but not until 2012 or 2013. All the best Rob

Anyway, to add my tuppence about Gollob, I'm glad to see him finally win the championship, as he's such a exciting rider to watch. I remember being blown away when I saw him live at Bydgoszcz, the TV coverage doesn't quite do it justice just how amazing Gollob is around there. To me, though, the injury he caused to King Emil takes the shine off just a little bit. That was such a dangerous reckless move and Gollob was highly lucky that he didn't join Emil on the sidelines for the rest of the season. And Gollob is very much a one-time champion. He's made the most of his opportunity this year, but had either Crump or Sayfutdinov been fit for the whole season, they'd have beaten him, as 2011 will demonstrate. All the best Rob

Of the Grand Prix era. Not of all-time. All the best Rob