RPNY

I think if you read the Book Tragedy you will not forgive - but certainly better understand Carter's behavior. He went through some horrendous circumstances (not that makes what he did in anyway ok) and he had a father who in my humble opinion had a lot to answer for. What he did was terrible but it was an act caused by a man who was not sane of mind. As a rider, they guy was different class. I can remember as a very wee lad seeing him for GB against the Danes at Coventry and boy was he good. As a Brit, no rider you would have wanted representing you more.

IMO, the problem with Nicki has way way too many times done stuff on the track which is just indefensible. Plus there was a long time when if anyone gave him the same treatment he would be straight in their face, trying to intimidate them push them into the fence post race that kind of thing. However now, there is definitely a bullying situation going on. If Nicki even races hard they seem to go after him. Is it Karma? Who knows but he's definitely getting some rough treatment, the last GP in Melbourne there were a few examples of this for sure. However what I would agree with is that there are a few others acting the same but as they are in the right 'click' little to nothing is said. Doyle (who I happen to think is a brilliant rider) is definitely an example. To me it's fairly simple. Nicki, JD, ANYONE who rides dirty should be ejected from the meeting and fined. They will soon revert from riding dirty to riding hard but fair...

Bruce Penhall was a phenomenal Speedway rider and a decent guy. It's a shame we didn't get to see him carry on into his 30s. Little to no doubt he would have added to his world titles. How any one can feel bitter that he A. helped his mates qualify for the next round of the world championship and B. leave Dudley for Hollywood is beyond me!

I would say this is true. He was picked for the World Cup at a very young age and received a wild card pick purely because of the British market. He quite clearly would much rather ride for Aus in the SWC, but that is probably as much to do with being close to Holder, Ward, Doyle etc, as it is to being Aus. That added to the fact he'd probably have at least 3 SWC gold medals if he rode for Aus too. I did chuckle when when I saw him singing the Aus national anthem, it didnt bother me, I can understand it having live abroad for a long time now. I did though wince as GSTQ was playing and he acted how he did. Lets just hope it was just him being caught up in the moment. We've seen him observe the anthem properly in past moments. On the flip side, you cannot complain about Tai's dedication to the cause on track. Every GP, every SWC he's ridden his heart out while representing GB. That alone, should be all that matters.

so in 2 seasons Zmarzlik the only WC that really made a mega impact. And now he's a permanent GP rider anyway..

Really the qualifying system should be done early in the season. Sounds tough to fit in but if you had say one weekend in late April, 4 meetings, 16 invited riders per meeting, with a seeding system worked out to make sure all the 'top' riders aren't put in the same meeting, top 4 from each go to the GP challenge where top 4 qualify for the GP. Do away with Wild Cards, often add ZERO to a GP, in fact if anything weaken the field 9/10. Unless its a situation like Zagar at Krsko in his pre regular days I doubt ever adds to the gate either. I know the usual arguments of needing time to prepare and sorting sponsorship etc will come out, but riders qualifying on the previous years results can often lead to a weakened field. Every rider should start a season thinking they have a crack at being in the world championship.

Such a shame the Russian contingent don't want to be in the GPs. Shame Vaculik isnt. He's shown he wants to be in the GPs. Deserves an opportunity over Lindback IMO.

True however in reality like current times there were only about 5 (at best) whoever had a chance

Vaculik, Emil, the Lagutas, be good if they were in but otherwise good line up for 2016 I know AJ is lucky, but is he one of the best 16 riders in the world? Yes...

Just watched the GP thought it was a belter. Looked so fast, i bet live it was something else. Great racing, a good few incidents. I hate Aussies winning anything but felt very sorry for JD, so close to wining and ends the meeting on a perfect (Aussie) note. Hope he's not too badly hurt that was a nasty crash.

I think since Greg attacked NP riders no longer fear him. He has defiantly been bullied since then, no question the aura is no longer there. Very interesting listening to Leigh Adams. 5 years on and still thinks NP is too much… On a separate Note NP did nothing wrong tonight and Doyley and Masters were both totally out of order.

All jokes aside is this just a wind up?!!

One thing I will say for JP, when there was the cock up in Gothenburg, he faced the media, you could see him was FUMING. Bellamy was the worst ever when things went wrong, just literally pretended they didnt happen.

Best crowds are for the league playoffs. Why would you think that a cup final wouldnt be a big draw? And thats not just for Speedway. Pretty much all sports draw big crowds in playoffs and Cup Finals.

Your opinion, I will politely disagree sir.

But that's a scenario that wouldn't happen unless they were total idiots, If it was Lakeside v Leic it would be held at say Peterborough. On a weekend. Or if Wolves and Coventry at Perry Barr. If you think that would bring no crowd. Well we'll just have to agree to disagree.

You think a proper KO Cup Final would bring no crowd? Please...

If the league fixtures were done correctly then they could also have a cup competition in order to make it a decent amount of fixtures for each team.

It amazes me we don't have a cup competition with a neutral venue on a set date at latter part of season.

Now living in the states I do see the value of the play offs. It creates a great end to the season. Much better then when a team clinches the league with X amount of matches to go. Yes it can be frustrating if you've topped the league all year but it's all about peaking at the right time. Everyone knows the rules going into the season, there are advantages given as a reward for finishing top, the fans love it (certainly most as shown my live and TV audiences) the riders love it, clubs make money, I really see zero down side to having the play offs.

I think and very much hope Melbourne is a mega success. ONLY worry is that all the medal positions and top 8 are pretty much sewn up.

Valid points but not really any solutions or positive ideas on how to move forward. Plus I have never once heard BSI rant and rave or even comment for that matter that the SGP has been this "wonderful success story." They are always upbeat and try to sell any new venue they are headed to but would you expect anything else? Next year I'd like to see 5 'prestige' venues and 5 held at regular speedway tracks. If they can nail Warsaw (that will need some serious PR work) Cardiff, Stockholm, Horsens and Melbourne that would be pretty dam good for riders and fans alike. I do think it is unfair that Poland gets 3 GPs but I guess it comes done to money at the end of the day. Plus Torun and Gorzow are belting tracks. Would personally like to Warsaw, Prague, Mallila, Gorzow, Cardiff, Horsens, Stockholm, Krsko, Torun, Melbourne next year. Latvia, Finland, Italy, pointless having GPs there at the moment IMO.

Only thing that worries me in the GPs is track prep and rider power. Otherwise think things are going well. After the first 2 horror show GPs this year, it's been a belting series.

Belle Vue Aces Coventry Bees King's Lynn Stars Lakeside Hammers Leicester Lions Poole Pirates Swindon Robins Wolverhampton Wolves With Kent Rye added would be nice!