BigFatDave

from - http://www.speedwayworld.tv/ TEAMS have been declared for the first Speedway World Cup qualifier at Abensberg in Germany on Monday May 28. The host nation face Slovenia, Latvia and Finland with the winners progressing to the final stages of the competition in July. SLOVENIA (Red): Matej Zagar, Jernej Kolenko, Isak Santej, Maks Gregoric, Denis Stojs. LATVIA (Blue): Leonids Paura, Aleksandrs Ivanovs, Vjaceslavs Giruckis, Kjast Puodzuks, Jevgenijs Kozlovskis. GERMANY (White): Martin Smolinski, Christian Hefenbrock, Tobias Kroner, Mathias Schultz, Thomas Stange. FINLAND (Yellow): Kauko Nieminen, Juha Hautamaki, Joonas Kylmakorpi, Kaj Laukkanen, Tero Aarnio. Looks like a pleasant evening coming up, a few top-class riders in there. Don't know much about the Lats: are they there to make up the numbers? (mental picture of the Latvians rolling up numbers furiously!)

...and he's just coming into some form as well! I have to take exception to the comments of Rob B re SWC becoming a farce - some of the finest racing I've seen has been in it, and not just from the Big Six either. Only seed two? Let's see - who do you leave out? I think the format as it is is fine - after all it works, and if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

******* Oath Rodders! I'll be ******* Edgerkatin' the ***** and learnin' them ta ******* *******, guzzle **** and ******* talk Proper!! Should be a ******* ***** *******, whaddayareckon? Absa*******lutely, Ol' Bean! Toot, Toot, Pip Pip!

More to the point, what about the Under 21's? Once again, from http://www.speedwaybikeaustralia.com/ UNDER 21 WORLD CUP - Posted 18 May, 2007 The Australian team for the Junior (u21) World Cup is Troy Batchelor, Chris Holder, Cory Gathercole, Rob Ksiezak and Trevor Harding Junior. They will go into battle at Poznan, Poland in June. Looks like a pretty good side there, whaddayareckon?

In case you're getting bored with the Pommycentric thread this one's for the Rest of the World, and here's the Latest on the Greatest, from http://www.speedwaybikeaustralia.com/ BOYCE CONFIDENT FOR WORLD TEAM CUP - Posted 18 May, 2007 Australian Team Manager Craig Boyce says his squad for this year's WTC, which comes to its climax at Poland's Leszno circuit, is coming together nicely. He said; "Barring injury I think the top four pick themselves. It will be Leigh Adams (Captain), Jason Crump, Ryan Sullivan and Rory Schlein. We actually take six riders with us and i'd imagine our fifth and sixth riders will come from Davey Watt, Adam Shields and possibly even Chris Holder (Premier League). All three of those boys at the bottom end have various strengths and weaknesses and it will just depend on how they are travelling at the time. IMHO Doolan and Batchelor are also in the mix for SWC. That takes care of Oz, Denmark just about picks itself; what about Sweden, Poland, USA etc. What about the "Minnows"?

Ahem! Excuuuuuuse me! I'll be backing the Aussies as usual, don't think the Poles are Top Dollar this year and we want revenge for last year, and the year before, and the year before that! As for the Danes we shall see, but man for man IMHO we can Flog 'em!

I hope he's OK, Kayla. He must have given the fence a bit of a thump! Not the first prang at Broadford recently, with Matt Jones of MJM Speedway Spares breaking a leg there as well. Speedy recovery to all concerned. Regards and Respect, BFD.

No, yer right there General. Don't forget he had a coupla horror years with illness and then getting the run around from promoters. I wouldn't write him off just yet, specially with IMG on the Horizon. He seems to be getting his form back without too much added pressure; plenty of vacancies in EL at the mo! If we see him again around SWC time who knows what'll happen?

Don't care where they race as long as its not on a Goat track like Wroclaw. Be good to see 'em Downunder again - missed the last one - I think I was in East Timor at the time saving the World again!

Flyin' Ryan seems to be doin' OK so far this year General, whaddayareckon? Maybe he's just had a gutful of the BSPA? Seems to be enjoyin' ridin' in Poland & Sweden plus guesting in Denmark so far.

from http://www.speedwaybikeaustralia.com/ KIDS HEAD FOR POLAND Former rider Mick Poole will head up a 10 strong team of riders and fathers heading for the Under 16 World Champion ships at Czestochowa in Poland. They leave on June 27 and return in Mid July. There will be 6 youngsters from down under competing and MA has kindly arranged matching race suits for the riders. Any Poms going?

Not to mention Thumbs Up!

Smart thinkin' 99! Get the Barmy Army down there as well! Maybe Lewis Hamilton'll follow Mark Webber's lead? Nothin' wrong with a bit of Nationalism, let alone a chance to stick it up the Poms, By Jingo!

Good pickin' young Ryan! I reckon Leigh'll give it a big shake this time, Lord knows he's due! Jason's got a point to prove to, so you might have a decent quinella there! Box Trifecta with Hans?

Shame on ya, Steve! IMHO the SWC gives you better racing than the GP's - teams like Oz, the Danes, the Swedish etc take this comp very seriously, and at least half-a-dozen or so fans will travel from the other side of the world to watch it. Must agree a team of Nicholls, Stead, Harris, Richardson and Howe for the Coventry leg would be the best you can put together, may even get you straight through to the final though that can be a double-edged sword, gives you too long between races I reckon; having said that, Poland this year will be very hard to beat at home. Go OZ!! Flyin' Ryan looks on form as well now he's not racing Elite League, 'tho how long that'll continue is anyone's guess.

Whatever happens it should be the first two weeks of January again. I know there was a push to get a round in Queensland but only David Tapp'll know for sure. Have you seen the new website yet? If anyone will know they'll be the first. See Ya at Mildura, Ozyace?

G'day youse mob, and howtheheckareya? Rocket Rod Colquhuon has put a well-worth-a-visit website together for all Oz News etc: http://www.speedwaybikeaustralia.com/ Should keep you up to date on all your Aussie heroes!!

I reserve the right to comment on this thread in about 6 weeks time when we get our 3/4 of an hour of badly edited "highlights". Roll on IMG!

Looking forward to reading about you in the World News section under Football Violence!

Be good to see Mr Nice Guy on top -could be his last serious chance. I'm going for a Jason-Leigh quinella, any order. Jason is deadly serious about defending his title, having felt he let himself down not holding on in 05.

B*****!!! Don't think I can make it M8! Have several for me.

Just be grateful you don't live in the Outer Sections of the Galaxy like us Aussies m8 - 3/4 of an hour of highlights 6 weeks later - and that's on Cable. Hopefully IMG improve things. There must be a pub with Sky not far away?

Haven't had a chance to watch it yet bloke; I'll let ya know after I've seen it. If they showed it I was under the Poole Flag on Turn One, standing on top of Bryn to get a better view.You've gotta come next year if only to keep Johnno outta trouble!(Fat Chance of that!) Seriously its a great fortnight, put in for yer holidays early, so many cool people and lotsa fun. Jimbo from TPT is bringing out 60-odd (and I do mean ODD) supporters from Pomgolia this year - all them Poms to stir!! PS caught it tonight - great racing - ya gotta come next year, no ifs or buts!!

Remember watching Igor, Kurilenko, Somorodov et al in the 60's - they brought a whole different style to British Speedway - hoping for a Speedy Recovery.

Popped in and said hello to Jan this morning; she's as sunny as ever and thanks everyone for their concern and best wishes. Phil has had to go back into Hospital, I think they're gonna tie him down this time! He's spewin' 'cos he's broken the Toy! I'm sure he'll be back on however many wheels he wants as soon as. The SS looks a bit second-hand, nothing a new front end won't fix, but I believe Phil knows a coupla good Mechanics! I'll PM you his email if ya like, you take care too, none of us are getting any younger. I might be getting Fatter but! Bad case of Medieval Margarine - Middle-Age Spread!