Fourentee

King replaced by Jesper Kristiansen.

You're one up on me, then, I've not seen him race. Certainly heard plenty, though! Wouldn't be surprised to see him post double figures if he gets the hang of the track quickly. Really looking forward to this, always good to see the young guns having a go. Quality field, fitting tribute in a memorial meeting. Nice to see William Lawson returning to the old stamping ground and I like what I've seen of Richard, for that matter. Let's hope for a good turnout. Edit: Good to read the touching memories of Jack Lee; thanks for taking the trouble to post.

It's Richard (son of Steve) and William. For NicWolves, the last I noticed, Darcy Ward was due to make his comeback tomorrow at Newport but I haven't checked in the last few days.

Top three straight through to final, numbers four to seven in a last chance race-off for the final place. Similar to British final, where it's top two straight through and three to six fighting for two spots. Lindgren won the last chance race and booked his spot in the one-off final, where he finished second.

And fourth, in his 24th successive Swedish final, PK! Edit: Quite a weekend for THJ, winning the junior and third with the big boys.

Purely and simply, it doesn't get better than this.

Peter Toogood stepped forward after Monday's match to back the Lyon long-term strategy, so that's hopeful. It read as proper backing rather than the dreaded football club chairman vote of confidence! And I was interested in Tai Woffinden's remark after Monday that they were in it "for the next three years rather than the next two matches". I was impressed when hearing Lyon at Ryton and have seen nothing subsequently to change my mind.

Good effort, Orion. But clearly no takers.

Thanks to Snyper and Rob for their assistance. A Scottish team in the early qualifiers would be brilliant! I'm not well up on the scene north of the border, but Tully and Lawson spring to mind for starters. I suppose the issue would be who funds it?

Post of the day! Reverting to the Scottish thing, didn't Scotland enter the WTC as a nation in days gone by, or am I just imagining that? The days of Harkins, etc?

He was down for quite a while, but walked back to the pits. Seemed OK. Didn't go in the rerun (and who can blame him?!). They were all lucky to get up, to be honest.

That heat 14 isn't a speedway race, it's a cavalry charge! All four virtually abreast down the home straight! Cracking call to put up the link, Anders.

This would be as opposed to the stunning run of success that has seen how many victories in the last 20 years?

Way OT, so apologies, but this reminded me of the late John Peel's celebrated comment when he went to see a Billy Joel/Elton John concert and was asked afterwards how Joel had rated. He said it was just like watching Elton apart from the songs, the costumes and the sense of fun.

Yes, he certainly got close to the team captain at Cardiff.

I think you make a good point there, Grachan. I couldn't see the sense last year of blooding the kids in the race-off, when there would be more pressure, rather than the first match. If you're going to do it, it seems to me that this is the right way round. Having said that I would have picked Richardson like a shot but fair play to Rob Lyon: He set out his stall from the off, said we had to bring the young ones through and named his side accordingly. At least he practises what he preaches.

Must add a note of thanks to racers and royals for repeatedly flagging up these matches and the link. Most appreciated.

Ah, but are you looking at the horses for courses approach here or the longer term? Should King then be in the race-off side?

I like Danny King, but come on. Woffinden rode well when blooded in last year's World Cup competition and is averaging seven points a match in his EL debut season. And if you think Rob Lyon picks his men according to who shouts loudest on Sky then there's no hope for you.

Sadly, yes. Lee is a good writer and in a way that makes it worse!

Pretty much our experience too. Hard to work out if you and we were just lucky or whether that was the general experience and the ones who had problems were in the minority.

Fancy them all being called Hanna. What are the chances?

Unexpectedly, and admittedly rather late, I have a spare ticket which anyone is welcome to have for free (assorted friends have already made their own arrangements). I can meet in Cardiff to hand it over; alternatively, as I'm driving anyway, the recipient can have a lift from the West Midlands too! Anyone interested just drop a PM. Edit: I now have a taker for the ticket.

Unexpectedly, and admittedly rather late, I have a spare ticket which anyone is welcome to have for free (assorted friends have already made their own arrangements). I can meet in Cardiff to hand it over; alternatively, as I'm driving anyway, the recipient can have a lift from the West Midlands too! Anyone interested just drop a PM. Edit: I now have a taker for the ticket.

Anybody know when GB have to name the side?