manchesterpaul

Thanks from me as well been looking out for this thread to appear for a few days.

Nope! taken from the usual excellent in depth GP report section in the Speedway Star a couple of weeks ago 'Ole Olsen is somewhat bemused by a story emanating from a foreign newspaper interview that he is planning to quit as SGP Race Director at the end of this season. Nothing could be further from the truth. Olsen has a contract with the FIM until the end of 2010 and fully intends honouring it before handing the reins over to his current deputy, Sweden's Tonly Olsson.'

Dont think so, they would just promote from the challenge, therefore Lindgren, followed by Harris. Not sure the logic behind cutting my original sentence in half and in doing so totally changing what was said. It's similar to you quoting and criticizing a part sentence 'the man ran up to the woman and pushed her' when the original reads 'the man ran up to the woman and pushed her out of the way of the falling debris' Ignore the typo of 'either' being written twice but key parts of the sentence in bold 'Zetterstroms place would in effect create a fifth wild card in that either they either outright pick an extra one or alternatively promote the next placed finisher from Coventry.'

Dear oh dear! let's hope the forum isn't about to slip back into inane attacks on a post or poster. I thought we had returned to intelligent adult debate once more. You are as free as i am to set up a thread in order to hear other peoples views. If you don't agree with some or all of those expressed, then by all means make your alternate view known. You should be able to do this without resorting to asinine comments such as the above. It serves no purpose or use. It certainly wouldn't sway folk to your own stance on things. Anyway, i'll do the civilised thing and reply to points you made or opposed. 1. Are you sure that come this time next year Pedersen will show in the standings as being finished?. I'm not predicting he will win it but i think he'll put up a far better show next year. 2. I've never said Zetterstrom didn't win his meeting/s on merit and legitimately claim a place in the GP's. However, you can't deny there has been widespread surprise, even shock, across the speedway world. Most of that is being expressed in regard to him making any impression over the course of a whole tellingly long series. As one-off world finals proved in the past one piece of misfortune can cost the clear best rider in the world a victory on the night, no matter how much he has been head and shoulders dominant over a season. Also, as in Zetterstrom's case a (won't be too critical and say fluke) one-off exceptional night has gained him access to something that needs a season long very high level of commitment. Reading his interview in the Speedway Star before he qualified doesn't bode well. Whilst i don't think he'll be so nonchalent as to chug up to a GP in the 'Trotters' three-wheeler and don a boiler suit to race i really don't see the level of hunger and sacrifice needed on show. If he does take his place well the best of luck to him and i'd be the first to acclaim any success he could attain. 3. I've only argued against one qualifier (Magnus) and don't forget qualifiers include the top eight in the series. 4. I share your question mark over Lindback which is why i deliberately worded my reference to him as 'someone like'. 5. I'm not sure what your point is regarding Golllob. Are you saying he shouldn't be in the series despite being right at the top of the standings just because a fellow countryman hasn't challenged him? 6. I quoted Wolbert as one for the future not for here and now. Obviously he is hardly the finished product. Worth noting that despite your judgement of his gating being pretty poor he is 5th. in the Premier League averages! He is clearly going to improve over time with his gating and be returning to tracks instead of seeing them all for the first time. As with every thread across the forums thanks for your input. It matters not one jot to me if you disagree with my views but please try and put forward your view of events without decrying another's. I'm perfectly open to having my views changed if given a constructive reason to or food for thought. However, if the opening words are a silly insult then normally i don't even bother to read on.

Whilst Sky were hyping up the upcoming final round of this years series - mathematically likely already done and dusted - my mind was wandering to 2010 and eagerly anticipating what could likely turn out to be the best series ever. There will be a minimum three way battle royal with Jason Crump, Emil Sayfutdinov and Nicki Pedersen. There is just a little chance that we would have a runaway leader in Sayfutdinov but the quality of the field being higher as a whole next season should help to avoid that. Pedersen will be like a fresh rider next year. It remains to be seen whether Tomasz 'peter pan' Gollob will maintain his form next year and be a fourth strong candidate. One thing that should be pointed out whilst mentioning the 'duel' for the championship we have witnessed. If Sayfutdinov hadn't missed out last night on the additional nine points still available to him and pulled to within ten of Crump, he wouldn't have been an unworthy winner should he then have pulled out another excellent performance in the final meeting and overhauled Crump. Crump has had a poor run before his injury and presuming he takes a a recuperative break for three weeks he would only have had one meeting affected by his injury. In contrast Sayfutdinov has, if my memory serves me correctly, had a couple of meetings where he was shockingly unlucky as in tape exclusions etc. including the semi-finals. Ideally it would be great if Pedersen, who is only four points clear of the cut off level, drops out of the top eight. As he would automatically be selected as a wild card this would ensure the (sgp) new wave inclusion of Fredrik Lindgren and Kenneth Bjerre who would join another with relative youth on his side in Andreas Jonsson. Wild card candidates look promising with riders such as Matej Zagar and Tai Woffinden in the running and subsequently being capable of proving their inclusions valid. Surely Chris Harris would turn out to be more competitive next year???, especially if the tracks are made more raceable. The GP Challenge has the potential to have provided three very good riders for a change. I say potential as hopefully Magnus Zetterstrom will do the honourable thing and withdraw. One only has to read the pre-challenge Q&A in the Speedway Star to see that it would be more fitting for a younger rider to be given the opportunity. I'm not taking anything away from his performance on the night, all credit to him. However, thankfully the Grand Prix series avoids the pitfall of a one-off single night performance to determine the best rider in the world. Zetterstroms place would in effect create a fifth wild card in that either they either outright pick an extra one or alternatively promote the next placed finisher from Coventry. Maybe someone like Antonio Lindback could then be added to the series. If Lindgren is already in by virtue of a top eight place then Chris Harris would be next in line for promotion from the challenge as he finished fifth behind Lindgren in the meeting. The two other qualifiers from the challenge are very respectable. Pretty much everyone is looking forward to Chris Holder participating and Jarek Hampel is unlikely to turn out to be one of the annual polish dead ducks. He is in the top seven of the averages in the three major leagues with excellent figures. As for the remainder? well even if he does a 'Leigh Adams' i'm sure Greg Hancock will still rattle up a few heat wins and possibly the odd rostrum place. I'm presuming Scott Nicholls was the one in the recently touted story of a top rider who was to be announced as a surprising omission for next year. Dependent on whether the selectors are bored with Runa Holta's inclusion and want more fresh meat we still have two places up for grabs. All in all i can't wait for next seasons contest. One footnote, we may well get a German rider in the not too distant future. I couldn't believe that Kevin Wolbert was not snapped up to race over here at the start of the season. He had shown many signs of being a great prospect in international meetings. His performances in the Premier League have been excellent, moreso with everyone else having had a head start and visited most tracks already.

Many thanks Vicar for unearthing the stats. Pretty impressive crowds mind all the same for most meetings. Wierd state of affairs Speedway Star dutifully quoting 7,000 each week. Oh well life goes on lol.

Thanks for the response superguest the same thing had crossed my mind. Would be good if could hear from anyone who has ever attended these meetings to confirm or negate the published 7,000 figure every week. Even allowing for this being the British speedway forum it's clear we have many contributors from abroad.

Been noticing that the Latvian team Daugavpils who race in the polish division one have had at pretty much every meeting (possibly all haven't got time to check right now) an attendance of 7,000. With such outstanding support for the sport why are there not more tracks in Latvia? I take it that the reasons for gaps on the terraces during the Grand Prix must be because of exhorbitant ticket prices when compared to the local economy? With the figure always being given as 7,000 exactly in the Speedway Star, barring an amazing fluke mathematical sequence, this must be the capacity. If so, that means the GP gets under 7,000 despite the crowd clearly having an influx of extra spectators from outside the country, so where do the regular supporters who follow second tier polish league racing disappear to - priced out?

Surely it has to be a prime candidate for the front or back cover of next week's Speedway Star? lol. In view of the fact that no publicity is bad publicity (look at the column inches amassed by the Cardiff fisticuffs) we got to start sending that picture to websites that have a picture of the week section or pictures page.

Dontcha just love Saturdays? The usual 1-2-3 1. Watch Manchester United win. 2. Watch a nicely entertaining grand prix. 3. Off to my girlfriends where a nice meal is awaiting. (usually go out for the rest of the evening first, but Manchester is on it's annual no go zone 'under occupation' tonight)

Just popped back and seen the request for an english link. This one (is for me anyway) far better quality than the 'coalhouse' link) Full Screen Link If you haven't, for whatever reason, got a good feed just take away the 'popout' and watch it in page.

Might be because people are multi-tasking on their computers lol. I'm watching both Manchester United versus Arsenal - wow! live edit as i type - i'm watching Manchester United BEATING Arsenal and also what looks could develop into an excellent GP. Some fine racing just now. Both internet feeds are running superbly as well. Last you'll hear from me for a while it's all happening right now lol.

Forgot it was Tuesday and that means Swedish League racing. Yep, i forgot the former not the latter part of the preceding sentence. Anyway, reason for posting is to give a heads up that the Sopcast feed is outstanding.

I reckon Harris IS in semi-finals hancock misses out

Should i send some spare 100 Watt light bulbs to the track? How the lighting is reaching the required standard as per SGP regulations beats me. I doubt it's near the TV requirements?

It was hardly gate and go he had to battle and from the outside who would have thought it so early lol. Last post from me for now thankfully my friends have missed the start and only just arriving. I suggest anyone struggling for a feed to try again all is fine here.

Despite continuing domination of the inside gate, 7 out of 7 now, racing is improving. Bad start to the meeting only expected in view of the conditions. OK! now we DO have speedway, a very nice win and from the outside gate by Bjerre. So long as it doesn't start raining heavy we could have a good meeting as time goes on.

Weather having a slight toll on the gates After 4 heats inside red a maximum 12 points and outside yellow 2 points. That despite Crumpie having had a race in yellow. Pretty much looks a full stadium. Most of the usual streams are working fine.

If you're the one getting married Steve commiserations you're more stuffed than you thought

There can be no doubt that it is inherently unfair and makes a key difference when all teams don't race each other. This time the 7-2's were available courtesy of Belle Vue. Quite often there will not only be a team a clear margin weaker than the others but a couple stronger. Therefore leaving a pretty poor system in place if some teams not only get to race the weaker teams but also avoid the stronger ones. I know the idea was to allow every track to be represented - purely commercial to squeeze out every fan they could (however the roads from Manchester were unsurprisingly clear bearing in mind we had no chance of success would only see 4 races with the 'team' in it). But why should the Pairs be different to all other tournaments in this aspect?. Most sporting tournaments, including speedway, have a qualification threshold at some point in the structure. When the inclusion of all teams is so severely detrimental to the sporting contest it isn't right. What happens when speedway recovers and we have 16 teams in the Elite? do they all participate in the final and and end up having 1 qualifying heat to get to the semi-finals.

? Seriously I just hope there were many non-speedway fans saw it. Lots of good stuff in it.

God bless speedway - what a sport!

Sky's commentator, even at this late stage, still forcefully insisting teams have 5 rides!!!!!! Places Lewis Bridger quoting 5-1 and 3-3 in the shade.

Whilst i actually make my own i'd like to add thanks for making this race card free for people to use. A very nice gesture. Only slight whinge is there that there is more than enough blank space spare to have added a running total bar above each teams grid - hey! just call me Oliver lol

Wow! cover your eyes...looks like Hans and Nicki about to get a room....came close to kissing in the pits lol. Yet another epic duel between them though. Does mean for the second meeting running the 'Final' is meaningless regards the championship.