frigbo

It is, it's full of people who can see it going down the pan in the UK and are desperate for it to improve!

I don't believe a word of it. You've never complained about someone who performs a role you don't or can't? - not a chance! Of course I couldn't do better - I've never ridden. However, had I the riding experience of those 5, I would be absolutely distraught if I couldn't have done better!

It's little wonder the riders were upset to see you go. With an attitude like that, they could get away with blue murder! "One heat winner lads, never mind you all tried really hard!"

Who's slagging off the sport, Neil? People have simply commented on GB's abject display tonight. You can't really believe that that was good enough tonight? - although I understand you can't say so on here. If people within the sport keep finding excuses and spinning the "they did their best" line, the sport and riders in this country will never get any better!

And ridden in as many World Cup Finals

Not at all. Are you trying to tell me that if a plumber or electrician performs poorly in your house, you wouldn't moan about them because you haven't been one yourself? It's utter claptrap.

Oh dear Neil. If in doubt, play the can you do better card. Really expect more from someone within the sport.

Jeez we sucked! Simon Stead, do not darken the national teams door again - simply abject! I though Cry Baby Allen actually did ok based on his ability. The rest were shocking! One saving grace of the night was the sight of the mighty Spinka gracing our TV screens. We are not worthy! Jim Lynch was uninspiring and defeatest from the off, let's face it - It's Rosco time!

Spot on - 1973 Daily Mirror sponsored tournament around the UK tracks. England, Australia, NZ, Russia, Poland, Sweden and Norway/Denmark. One big group of 7, rode each other once over a 2-3 week period. Matches were over the 13 heat format. The final was a 39-39 draw, PC beat MIchanek in a runoff at Wembley after Anders knocked him off and was excluded. Not sure combined teams add much credibility to a World Cup tournament.

Great idea in theory, not workable though IMO. The gulf between the top 5 and the rest is massive - some 2 teams matches would be complete batterings (Denmark v Hungary anyone?). Also it has been proven that Speedway supporters do not attend matches without the home nation in, it would be a financial disaster. The current format at least allows enough competitive teams in each meeting to keep it interesting, Saturday being a classic case in point.

Totton, Hants 11.03.1939

A thread congratulating Nicki on his fantastic sportsmanship in the Final would be far more appropriate.

Both Aussies I believe, Kev.

Ippo junior Chris Basey-Fisher

From link listed earlier Batteria/Heat 1 - Re-run: Ferjan M. 3; Korneliussen M. 2; King D. 1; C. Holder (Ex) Batteria/Heat 2: Sullivan R. 3; Carpanese M. 2; Stead S. 1; K. Legaut 0 - Time 66,42 Batteria/Heat 3: J. Monberg 3; A. Maida 2; H. Stichauer 1; M. Gregnanin 0 - Time 66,38 Batteria/Heat 4: P. Ljung 3; K. Laukkanen 2; M. Gregoric 1; Z. Bancze 0 - Time 66,40 Batteria/Heat 5: Ferjan M. 3; Carpanese M. 2; Gregoric M. 1; A. Maida 0 - Time 67,50 Batteria/Heat 6: King 3; Monberg 2; Legaut 1; Laukkanen 0 Batteria/Heat 7: Sullivan 3; Stichauer 2; Bencze 1; Holder ® Interval scores 1 FERJAN Matej H - 3 3 3 2 KING Daniel GB - 1 3 2 3 HOLDER Chris AUS - Ex R 2 4 KORNELIUSSEN Mads DK - 2 2 2 5 CARPANESE Mattia I - 2 2 3 6 LEGAULT Kyle CND - 0 1 1 7 SULLIVAN Ryan AUS - 3 3 3 8 STEAD Simon GB - 1 1 3 9 MAIDA Andrea I - 2 0 1 10 B. MONBERG Jesper DK - 3 2 1 11 STICHAUER Hynek CZ - 1 2 (Ex) 12 GREGNANIN Marco I - 0 0 1 13 GREGORIC Maks SLO - 1 1 0 14 LAUKKANEN Kaj FIN - 2 0 0 15 BENCZE Zsolt H - 0 1 0 16 LJUNG Peter S - 3 3 2 17 TESSARI Daniele I - 18 MILANESE Alessandro I -

Holder is having a 'mare!

Pretty sure that's the case

All i know is that he was a Swindon junior who helped Midd'bro out at the Abbey in '95.

Lex Fielding was killed in a track crash in Aussie in 1971.

Last year I stayed in Krakow (flew direct from Bristol) and took the train to Tarnow on the Sunday for Speedway. It's a straight run on the train, left Krakow at 13:00 and was back by 20:00. They're not too hot this year though, teams like Wroclaw, Zielona Gora or Rzeszow will be the closest matches with Tarnow.

Bridger's riding style needs to be honed before he's going to make much more progress IMO.

2 vehicle wide access road would be good. I nearly stuck Dave Jessup's van over the Bridge trying to make room for a Ford Focus to pass me. It's in the a*se end of nowhere! - although to be fair, once inside, the stadium is actually rather tidy. Pub looked pretty good though, not that I could sample it - car and young 'un in tow (making her Speedway debut!)

My first visit to Rye today, what a bizarre location for a track - I was convinced I was lost as the road got narrower and narrower! - I was waiting for Peter Rabbit and Toad Of Toad Hall to pop out at any minute! Racing was ok, although the odd camber on bends 1 and 2 didn't really help the new boys at times, I was certain Szczepaniak was going to disappear on more than 1 occasion. Top performance from Batch, certainly showed Mr Holder who was top banana today. There again, so did Linus Eklof Nobody really stood out as worth sticking in Rosco's notebook just yet - Zengota looked the best of the new boys after Eklof's heat 1 win (he got gradually slower and slower as the meeting went on!) Kasprzak was frankly embarrassing, Bridger typically erratic and I felt a touch sorry for the two Germans. Both were good gaters but lost positions in nearly every race and weren't really taking to Hoddesdon at all. Everyone else was much of a muchness really, although Wells is clearly a decent prospect at only 16.

March '87 I think.

Both Swedes Kev I haven't got any DOB info for either though unfortunately.