MARK246

I know the points still count, but all the riders he beat in his last meeting were reserves. So he's just the top scoring reserve.

Sounds like a GP circus moment, what a joke you can be world champion with out winning a single GP race. 10 points through to the semi's, 5 second places. Second in the semi final. second or third in the final. that is either 16 or 14 points, 11 GP's, total 154 points for thirds circus over.

Spot on post. I have been to GP system meetings and it is flat compared to the old one off finals. There is a choice though no one forces anybody to go. Given the option the 75,000 that went to Wembley is now 40,000 at Cardiff and many at Cardiff eg. the Polish supporters possibly never got to Wembley. Whether you agreed with the winner or not on the one off final it was all there and then much more exciting.

Have to go for the old one off final, got to be better than the "face fits club circus"

Where in Britain would you run another GP, Coventry was used before but the crowds were quite small compared to European venues. If the ACU asked for the European GP as well as the British GP you may get two, but if they don't ask they can't expect to be given more. Most of the GP riders ride in the Swedish and Polish league so there's less home track advantage than is assumed. The schedule is for financial reasons not rider advantage, if IMG think it would benefit them to run in Russia next year instead of Sweden they will go there.

Maybe they want to run two, and have the federations help to do it.

Thought Richard Hall was the best British rider in the qualifiers, why dosen't he get nominated.

Interesting quote. I also heard the interview by Nicki on Swedish television. He said in english that if the GP were anywhere else apart from Bydgoszcz that he would have laid the bike down in the final when Gollob went past. Was this intervew aired on British TV? Also on Swedish TV was Ashley Holloway's interview. Glad to hear he's lost his Wiltshire accent and talked in either Danish or Swedish. I still can't speak Swedish after living here for 2 years and still have my Wiltshire accent, so fair play to Ashley. Was his interview on British TV?

Good for him and abroad as well. If he has a nationality choice he should go British. after tonight in Poland he could be in the GP in 2 years as a permanent wild card.

Sad to see the British learnt so little about Polish tracks at the SWC. Never mind same again next year.

Post 442 don't make for good reading on a British Speedway Forum

Don't think a run off with Penhall would have been a problem for Les Collins,he had already beaten Penhall in race 4 (from the back). As for Carter he lost it in heat 15 in 1981,not much else to say about him really,except his talent never matched his ego. Three world final apperances isn't a lot for a man people call "the best ever."

He's not really lucky to be seeded, he is lucky that there is no British alternative capable of being competitive at GP level.As such he's become self selecting, but that has to be better than just one British representative or none . The fault is not his but the system's, anyone given the chance to ride at the GP will do it. (The wild card riders shows this) While this situation occurs the best thing would be, for other British riders to push their names forward for the nomination. Although like it has been said on this, and other threads, they in turn would only get the same response on the BSF. For all his faults he's British and as such should receive support from this forum.

Glad to see this is being run. Good luck to everyone involved,hope you have a good meeting .

While the riders you name are improving and will become british "stars" without better coaching they will only be british "stars". IMO the problem with british riders is a lack of overseas experience as demonstrated by the poor WC qualification rounds this year, the best brit was R.Hall. British fans and riders think that the only league is the BEL. The world stops at the English Channel, after Coventry the "we can win the SWC" posters were out in force. Then comes Poland and the truth was clear for everyone to see, a sad day for British speedway indeed. Other than the current GP riders and M.Loram who has the experience. A. Smith, D Norris, you can make your own list but these are the people who need to be involved with a serious coaching system if British speedway is to have an international future.

Thats a real shame I was there thursday and it was a great meeting with Solkatterna.Good quality racing all night, plenty of passing and real close finishes. It's a shame it attracts such a small crowd. After watching BEL (division 1) for twenty years the entertainment is much better in Sweden, sad it may be lost.

I thought the heads and barrels for this engine (Hesketh) were the same as the single they used in road racing. I was always under the impression they were 600cc. Not so sure now, but some one out there must know?

Maybe they will use Danish Elite league after Pedersen "wins" the circus this year.

Thats a bit unfair on Szczakiel and Muller, both won on home tracks but they were the best on the day. Mauger crashed in the run off in 1973, thats not Szczakiels fault. Muller won in 1983 because he used a GM engine which was better suited to the track, plus the fastest man on the day Mike Lee didn't make the start when he needed too. The biggest farce of the one day finals was the Ermolenko win in 1993.How the referee allowed him back in the rerun in heat 15 when he, wasn't under power at the time of the stoppage, and had caused Hamill to crash was beyond belief. Strange every ten years is a fluke champ !

Ask Manu he may know

The one I had was originaly sold to an American Mike Caruso (unsure on the spelling) who rode at Poole.I sold it to Broadside racing two years ago. Richard Hellsen and Finn Thompsen also tried to use them,Thompsen wanted his for the world championship but didn't use it. When I owned mine I was lucky to know Bob Jones at Swindon, he had seen several used (Malc Holloway tried one ) but it was unsure whether it was the same one doing the rounds or not. The SOHC flat top I have has a eng no,2267 T L P S. The conversion from double to single cam was done on two engines ( I know off) that were used on grasstrack by Tig Perry at Antig. I would think that if you contact either Chris or Dave at Antig they would be happy to supply the information you want. They should also have the records from the Weslake factory in Rye.

Not as much as the man who should have won it Les Collins.

Trees, the problem you would have is, IMO if you use contracted riders you will get little help from promoters. In answer to Brian the St.Johns cost about 120 pounds (for a grasstrack meeting) which included a paramedic so you don't need a doctor,parents can rake tracks if needed. The oil,fuel and spares supplier comes free as normal. The public liability insurance at grasstrack is caculated on spectaors but normally less than 300 pounds. The interesting thing to me is everybody is negative, but, Buxton hold grasstrack meetings no problem. The 500cc sidecar association race at IOW no problem. Buxton can run training at 25 pounds per rider no problem. But noone puts on an U 15's champioship.....The only problem is no profits. Like I put before 2,000 pounds will cover your costs.