lucifer sam

Good choice. I think there was perhaps an even better race in 2001. Gollob v Hancock v Hamill v Adams, I think it was. All four lead the race at one point.

I don't think anyone has argued against Wolverhampton being extremely unlucky in 1993, and very possibly being the most unfortunate team of all. Wolves were extraordinarily unfortunate, although fair play to Belle Vue, who rose to the challenge on the final night, especially their lesser lights. But BWitcher seems unable to acknowledge alternate answers. Every team mentioned on this thread is valid to a certain degree. It's a discussion and there is no one right or wrong answer. Here's another to throw into the mix. Oxford (the National League champions of 1964) were well on their way to winning the first British League in 1965, when No 1 Ron How was injured in a GB v Russia test match at the start of July. In a season where there was no guests and no rider replacement (e.g. no chance of bringing a rider of the calibre of Henka Gustafsson to score paid 16), they were allocated a rider of junior standard, Jimmy Heard, to replace one of the best riders in the country. Somehow, Oxford remained in title contention until September, and finished fourth, just seven points behind champions West Ham. As well as Hammers finished the season, it's easy to locate four additional matches that Cheetahs would have won with Ron How in their side. I'd still say Wolves '93 were even more unlucky, but if anyone said Oxford '65, it is also a valid answer.

Marvyn Cox passing World Champion Erik Gundersen from the back in a Golden Helmet match-race at Oxford in 1986.

So you're saying a team who didn't finish top of the regular standings can't be the most unlucky team ever? That would rule out Wolves '93, as well as many of the other leading candidates, such as Belle Vue '78, Harringay '53 and Cradley Heath '82. Not sure I agree with you there.

He rode at No 1 after Hans had a bad patch in early 1982, while he was getting used to riding on the Godden. Nielsen finished top of the Birmingham averages in all three seasons. I agree that both Alan and Andy Grahame were very classy riders, and they were also fantastic team men. Between 1981 and 1989, there was a Grahame in more than half of the championship-winning sides.

The best racing I've seen on a week-to-week basis is at modern day Scunthorpe, so I understand Rob Godfrey's statement. If I'd have been privileged to watch racing on a weekly basis at Hyde Road in the 70s, maybe I'd disagree. To be honest, I don't think the racing is any better or any worse. The big difference is the atmosphere during meetings - that's not the same. And that's down to crowds being a fraction of what they were.

That sounds like the days when the World Final draw was known before the final. In his last ride in the 1987 ICF, Hans Nielsen deliberately let Jimmy Nilsen through, so that Nilsen finished second in the meeting and Nielsen third. As a result, Nielsen had gate 1 in both rides against Erik Gundersen (the winner of the ICF) in the two-day final. Nielsen and Ivan Mauger had it all planned out. It didn't pay off on Day 1, but then paid off big time early on the second day. Nielsen sped away from Gate 1, while Gundersen was slow off Gate 4 (very poor on Day Two, only Nielsen won from it). The whole final was transformed with Nielsen now in command. I can see Peter Adams planning this to Tai's advantage in the case of a close championship battle. That's, of course, if the wording is wrong on the Speedway GP website and it does mean draw number (which surely it must).

The Speedway GP site, however, states: Once qualifying is complete, riders will then take turns to choose their gate positions for Saturday’s meeting, with the fastest rider getting first pick and the slowest selecting last.

It is what it says. I only hope it's poorly worded and means the rider can pick his "draw position" rather than his "start position", as it states.

Seems a bizzare move. Surely the best races often occur when a top rider is often a less than favourable gate and has to pick their way from the back. One rider gating seven times from the same start position does not provide the best racing.

But Peterborough headed the league table, heading into the play-offs. Were Reading that unlucky, when they failed to top the league table and subsequently also lost the play-off final? After all, if the second leg was at Smallmead, it could be argued that it may have panned out differently and Racers snatched the verdict. Having the second leg at home can be a big advantage in a tight situation - and Racers didn't win that right. I'd plump for Poole 2010 instead, who headed the table by a mile, but then lost to Coventry in the play-off final. To me, they were more unfortunate, although that's not denying Coventry, by far the better team in the play-off final.

It was your initial reluctance to place any praise at all on Belle Vue, and put it all down to Wolves' injury crisis. On balance, it's always a combination of the two. As others have said and I've agreed with, Wolves were very unlucky. But, at the same time, Belle Vue made some inspirational team changes, and came from nowhere to the league title. On the night in question, their riders showed the greater steel, while one or two of the younger Wolves bowed to the sheer pressure of the occasion.

Never liked Olsen, even before that. Steve Roberts has detailed why.

Great thread. BWitcher being a sore loser - and then denying being a sore loser. PS Wolves '93 are one of the most unfortunate teams in terms of missing out on a league title. I would also suggest Belle Vue '78 and Harringay '53.

Limited to riders I've seen and with the clarification that's it favourites rather than best: Hans Nielsen Jens Rasmussen Jan Staechmann Charlie Gjedde Niels-Kristian Iversen Erik Gundersen Jan O Pedersen Brian Andersen Per Sorensen Thomas Jorgensen I never saw Arne Pander ride, while Ole Olsen wouldn't be included in my favourite 1000 Danish riders - he was a complete git to Hans Nielsen!

5.30pm: http://www.scunthorpe-speedway.com/?page_id=9468

2019 fixtures: http://www.scunthorpe-speedway.com/?p=9504

Yes, he's a nice chap and a great photographer.

Steve, I reckon a lot of it is cosmetic. The track needs a few grasstrack bikes going around on it to rip up the weeds, and the terracing could be sorted by a gang of fans. The only areas where a lot of cash might be required are the complex interior (which would be preferable, but not essential, in terms of speedway) and the speedway pits, which are a bit dilapidated.

Top-flight titles for Pirates: 1969, 1994, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018. Starman, would like you to borrow that abacus, so that you can count up to 10?

I somehow doubt he'll post on here again, even after his release.

No, because he rode for Sheffield in 2018, on an average of 5.20. That will remain the same. That's how it works.

Nearly unique then The point is, that if a rider competes in a league, and doesn't do enough meetings to gain an average in that league, then he retains that average, even if the conversion factor changes.

Don't be daft - he rode for Sheffield last season on a 5.20, so will retain that average. Likewise, he will retain his 4.00 with King's Lynn. I think it's probably unique for a new rider to compete for two different teams, and not do enough meetings with either to gain a new average.

Scorpions open on Friday, April 5th vs Leicester: http://www.scunthorpe-speedway.com/?p=9437