fatface

All of those are capable of winning a GP. Had he not perked up in recent years, people would have had Lindgren in the same bracket. Ditto Andreas Jonsson before he had a stormer of a year and finished second. Did you also find it a bit samey when riders like Phil Crump, Shawn Moran, Soren Sjosten, Chris Morton, Kai Niemi, Jan Andersson make lots of world finals and not win any? That's sport, not everyone can win, but you need those contenders to fully appreciate the winners. A few years ago, all those sprinters had no chance against Usain Bolt, but seeing the best of the rest trailing in his wake is what made the spectacle.

This may sound daft, but I think he was actually past his best when he won it. Certainly in the mid-to late 70s, he would have a strong case for being in the world's elite. After that, I think he was on the fringes at best. There is scant evidence from World Speedway in or around that time, except for the Norden World Final which you can hold up as evidence that he was one of the very best. It was just that everything was geared up for a Muller win for that final - his superior GM machinery, access to practice on the circuit, input into track preparation. He was also effectively seeded through with a place reserved for the leading German from the much easier continental rounds. Aside from those who battled through from the tougher (intercontinental) half, I'd have the Moran bros, Knudsen, Crump, Andersson, Schwartz, PC all above him at that time. In short, the 83 championship is probably the poorest example to choose if you were still advocating the one off World Final as the best model. For me, a backwater venue, a daytime lack of occasion feel, a tailored track and a result that didn't accurately reflect the very best in the sport, that was the beginning of the end of the World Final right there. Certainly 20 or even 10 years earlier places like Bradford, Pocking, Vojens and Amsterdam were unimaginable as World Final venues, but after Norden, the bar had been forever lowered.

Hmm...still not convinced its the same. This was two wheels along the fence. Ivan will always be arguably the best ever, but did he ever perform a wall of death overtake? He was a very calculated rider and let's be honest - not averse to blowing his own trumpet - but was this type of thing he would engage in? I'd be interested to hear from any neutrals who swear blind he did.

Yes, I've seen riders clout the fence at Exeter and gain the benefit - some deliberate, some not so! But I think that's different to the 'wall of death' tactic in this instance. I don't think that's something Mauger, nor anyone else has deliberately deployed.

Apart from the Tony Rickardsson single first turn move at Cardiff. I've never really seen anything quite like that....a rider deliberately using a berm of dirt resting ion the fence as a tactic to overtake. He came out of the turns more like a motocross rider than a speedway rider. Quite unique. I wonder if we will see other riders attempting this one from now on? It would be very risky business for those less skilled than Sayfutdinov...he should really issue a "Don't Try This At Home!" statement.

Thanks for sharing. Fantastic stuff. What a sport it is at its best

Was this a second half common to all World Team Cups? If so, I was never aware of it. Were there any others around that time people can share? Particularly interested in 1980, 81, 83, 84? Thanks

Always found Simon Wigg very amiable. I'm sure thousands would say the same.

Sadly, I think you are right! A passable Star of Anglia, but certainly no Spring Classic! Although, they are well before my time and based on nothing more than anecdotes among fans, I was surprised to see Charlie Monk and Norman Hunter as riders who never made the big night too. Perhaps to maintain the underwhelming feeling, a list of the worst riders ever to reach the World Final?

How about a World Final of non-World Finallists? Obviously only riders eligible when there was a World Final. I'll have a crack... 1. Bobby Schwartz 2. Alan Grahame 3. Ron Preston 4. Mike Faria 5. Preben Eriksen 6. Bob Kilby 7. Andy Grahame 8. Steve Bastable 9. Peter Ravn 10. Peter Nahlin 11. Bobby Ott 12. Gary Guglielmi 13. Bruce Cribb 14. Lars Gunnestad 15. Neil Collins 16. Mike Bast Hmmm...passable for a Star of Anglia or the like perhaps?

Not someone who immediately sprung to mind, but his league figures are far more impressive than my memory had gave him credit for. Maybe it's because he didn't seem to feature too much in Test Matches or the World Championship. Did he race again in the US or was that it for him? Don't recall the injury either. Fill me in :-)

"The forum has become a platform for juvenile insults and personal attacks above reasoned debate" How's that for you?

I understand. It's an easy subjective way to belittle a rider they - for whatever reason - don't like. He looks every inch a rider who has all the attributes to be the best of all-time. The professionalism of Mauger/Rickardsson, the overtaking ability of Collins, the technical ability of Nielsen, the coolness under pressure of Fundin/Gundersen. A very special rider indeed.

Both Grahame brothers came to my mind too. Andy was also reserve in 1982. Never global superstars, but certainly very competitive at international level for a few years at least. Shame neither bagged an outright final appearance as they were both up and around the same level as the likes of Phil Collins, Les Collins, Neil Evitts, Richard Knight who can all claim to have been finalists.

Bobby Schwartz is the obvious name surely?

Pesky Brussels bureaucrats ruining British speedway! No doubt that shifty pole Donald Tusk has a hand in all this

Agree 100%. Cardiff is the most expensive speedway meeting of the year, but it's by far the best overall experience and as a result, the best value.

Not my bag either...and yet it's the hottest ticket in town when it comes to London. They are doing something right!

I don't have all the answers. But I do know one thing, tinkering around the edges of the current set up is not the answer. The sport has to decide whether it wants to pander to the grumbles of the shrinking hardcore or attract a new market of followers. Do we want to hang on to what we have for another 5 or 10 years tops? Or be more revolutionary and give the sport a fighting chance of survival for the long-term so future fans can enjoy speedway like I and you have been lucky to do so for decades? The day out idea is bringing all the sports together for a full 4-5 hour show.. rather than an added sport tagged onto a speedway meeting. It's up to you if you stay for the full shebang or just the speedway or - if you are so inclined - the sidecars etc. I don't know if that is the answer, but I'd like to see speedway piloting some alternative models to see what is sustainable for the future. As it stands today it is not. Change is always a difficult process, but in British speedway's case it is now an absolute necessity. The BSPA could do a lot worse than taking a focus group of thirty 15-45 yr olds to different live sport experiences...horse racing, basketball, speedway, darts and find out what they did and didn't like about each experience. I think they would learn a lot about where speedway is going wrong and what other sports are getting right. I'm with a lot of other people on this, I think the racing itself is strong enough and stacks up well as a spectacle against other sports, but the overall experience is very, very poor in comparison.

Yes, you are right. It’s no good not saying how. And I have - several times. Most recently on this thread below. Such threads are now a constant on the forum. The survival of the sport in the UK is at stake. It needs fresh thinking and fresh blood.

I am sorry! Speedway cannot survive much more pussy-footing about I am afraid.

No offence, but let's not dance around it, you have not got another 60 years of supporting in you have you? Somerset is within reach for me and the last time I went there, I noticed how old the crowd was. I'd make a rough estimate that half of them would dead or unable to attend within 10 years. It doesn't take a genius to say that is not sustainable. The sport need to pay more attention to the younger market it is not attracting than the existing ageing hardcore who still grumpily attend.

I think we have long reached the point where we have to stop pandering to the regulars....they are a ever decreasing band will not provide a sustainable future. We all know a pub that had a hardcore of old men who didn't like the jukebox or loud music and has closed its doors. That's where league speedway finds itself now, serving pints to the same hardcore with no new punters coming through the door.

That's interesting to know, but I don't think an event 60 years ago should be used a suitable test case for what might or might not work in 2019. I take the point that additional entertainment put in front of a crowd there for the speedway often has little merit. But a properly marketed "SpeedFest" or "TrackFest" model with different activities on the hour (pick and choose which ones you do and don't wish to see) with surrounding barbecues, food stalls, bouncy castles would - I think - have a chance of drawing in much more families than the current model. The consumer is much more transient these days and we have to create something that has much broader appeal for the family. The sport is heavily reliant on a dying demographic (literally) attending out of sheer habit and blind loyalty. That's clearly not sustainable. It doesn't take an Einstein to say it, but....actually it does take an Einstein to say it..... "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"

I think you know the answer. My suggestions are quick wins that could be done to improve the current product. But I am glad you ask about daytime meetings. My longer term strategy would be much more radical and explore the collaboration of speedway with other track sports - sidecars, short track, stock cars, go karts, greyhounds for a really full family experience and deliver a full value day out to attact a bigger footprint of people, for a longer time and to broaden appeal to sponsors. What’s your big idea?