lucifer sam

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

And so Rye House finish fourth in the NL but aren't in the play-offs. All the best Rob

I think I'm going to keep Crumpie as my captain for this round - thanks! All the best Rob

There was indeed. It's a shame, because most of the locals were really friendly, it's just one family that are the problem. I wouldn't want to mess with either of the "ladies" from that family. I felt sorry for Jeff Scott, who missed watching the meeting, because of an incident that wasn't anything to do with him (he was just unfortunate enough to be a witness to it). All the best Rob

Whoops, yep Plymouth can make it as well. In fact, it requires a narrow home win for Rye House or a draw between Rye & Plymouth, for the Buccs to retain 4th. Either a win for Rye by 7 points or more, or any kind of win for Plymouth, and it's rather embarrassing for the NL. All the best Rob

Looks like the Rye House Cobras have lost a place in the play-offs, due to the early cut-off date. Three points from their final home fixture will take them above Bournemouth into fourth place in the final league table. All the best Rob

Can't believe no-one has commented on this meeting yet. It was only just completed in time before the 9.30pm curfew, after a number of re-runs in the opening races, with Ben Reade getting well & truly entangled in the satefy fence after picking up drive in Heat 2 and ending up with a foot injury. Weymouth looke hot favourites to win early on, taking a 10-2 lead, but with Simmonds & Stephens both unbeaten, Plymouth had the match won with a heat to spare and could afford to keep their maximum men out of the final heat, in which the Wildcats took a consolation 5-1. Some weird team management from Weymouth, with trump card Gary Cottham given reserve rides in all the wrong places. Some good action, with Nicki Glanz, Jaimie Pickard (who has improved no end since I last saw him) & Tom Brown all producing some good passes. The Plymouth track has improved a lot since my last visit in 2007. All the best Rob

Just to add the overall standings for 2010: 500cc: Brandon Freemantle 90 Adam Kirby 82 Adam Portwood 68 Tyler Govier 61 Andrew Ross 54 Cameron Hoskins 36 Nathan Stoneman 14 250cc: Robert Lambert 88 Nathan Greaves 77 Nathan Stoneman 76 Reece Downes 63 David Abraham 58 Jack Jones 49 Jordan Hazelden 47 Lee Cutler 37 Daniel Sibson 16 Congratulations to Brandon Freemantle & Robert Lambert on winning their respective classes. Some good racing yesterday - especially between Nathan Greaves & Nathan Stoneman in the 250cc class. All the best Rob

It wasn't. It was his old value. But his old value was that from the previous transfer window, not the start of the season. It was all explained quite clearly. Don't try to blame other people because you didn't read the rules properly. All the best Rob

Will the Park & Ride car park still be free for speedway visitors tomorrow afternoon? All the best Rob

I'm considering this one, although I would have preferred less time between the two meetings. How long is the British U15 round going to last - and what is there to do between the two meetings? All the best Rob

Dirt, you can't stop someone writing a biography about you. And there's no reason why there has to be just one biography either. Maybe one day Bruce Penhall will write his own autobiography, as Briggo and Ivan Mauger amongst others have done recently. In the meantime, you are entitled to your opinion on Penhall, although I think some of your views on Penhall place you very much in the minority. As for the 1983 World Final, I think Bruce would have won it. A big fast track such as Norden would have suited him well. And I enjoyed the Steve Johnson book - I read it when in Italy for the GP around five years ago. No, it doesn't provide any hard-hitting revelations (in fact, Bruce is much more hard-hitting in the Kenny Carter book "Tragedy"), but it was a pleasant-enough read. All the best Rob

The last rider to win the World Championship without any prior regular British experience was Egon Muller in 1983, who only had a very brief spell riding for Hull around a decade earlier. Jerzy Szczakiel (1973 World Champion) is the only World Champion never to ride for a single British club. Gollob hasn't rode over here since 2000, but arguably the three years he spent over here helped him as a rider. The British tracks are all sorts of weird and wonderful sizes, and it tends to help riders to come over here at some point in their career, to hone their skills. All the best Rob

I'd be interested in the answer to that one. I assume Cradley spoke to Bruce a couple of times - although probably not around 1984, as Oxford were given the choice of any Cradley rider prior to the 1984 season, because Cradley had lost a lot of money the previous year due to having to pay out bumper points the previous season for the all-conquering 1983 team (Oxford plumped for Simon Wigg, after giving serious consideration to signing Gundersen, meaning that Nielsen & Gundersen were very nearly 1984 British League team-mates, which would have been interesting!!). But which other teams other than Cradley spoke to Bruce after his retirement? Can't recall seeing Bruce Penhall answer that question before. All the best Rob

Nice try - putting in Gollob as captain two hours after he's completed his 24-point max. I think the transfers need to be made before the meeting takes place. All the best Rob

Rebels77, as a young Bruce Penhall fan, I found the attitude of the British crowd at that meeting somewhat hypocritical, to say the least. I can't remember anyone kicking up a fuss when Dave Jessup and Larry Ross allowed Michael Lee & Ivan Mauger to beat them in their final heat in the 1981 Overseas Final, but Penhall does it a year later and suddenly there's a huge uproar. True, he shouldn't have done the wheelies, but otherwise Jessup & Ross did exactly the same. All the best Rob

Tony, could you ask Bruce how Heat 19 of the 1982 Overseas Final was supposed to finish? In the Penhall book by Steve Johnson, it is revealed that the other three riders were supposed to finish in a different order. But in which order? Because I can't see an order which would have allowed all 4 Americans to qualify without the need of a run-off (which Shawn Moran lost). All the best Rob

No, as I explained before, the ref can award the postitions as of the time of the incident, as long as one rider crosses the line before the race is halted. That's three times I've explained it to you now. Read the FIM rulebook - it's all in there. All the best Rob