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    #76
    Speedway has to be the easiest sport to follow if you want to avoid the score Likely Lads style.

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      #77
      True, though I have to remember not to idly flick through social media and come across the result.

      Meant to mention that, weather permitting, I will be at both days of the Speedway of Nations Final at Belle Vue's National Speedway Stadium in Manchester this weekend.

      Really looking forward to seeing Tai Woffinden race for the first time in over a year since the final two 2020 GP in Toruń and Robert Lambert who I haven't seen ride in an even longer time.

      Poland, Australia, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia and France make up the rest of the competition.
      Last edited by Ray de Galles; 16-10-2021, 12:38.

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        #78
        Given my abject contrariness and my love of the underdog... allez le France!

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          #79
          World Champions, mun. World Bloody Champions! Will try to write a more considered report some time later but that was just amazing!

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            #80
            Wow, and I can't wait to hear all about it.

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              #81
              I was following it on updates and tuned out until I realised that they used the semi- and final system. Robbed ‘em!

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                #82
                Only in the same way GB were robbed in 2018.

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                  #83
                  Speedway of Nations Finals
                  National Speedway Stadium


                  So, it's been a week and a half and I haven't written anything up until now because I've still been processing, and revelling in, everything that happened over the weekend.

                  It's perhaps my most enjoyable experience watching Speedway, certainly the only event that rivals it is seeing Tai Woffinden win his first solo World Championship at Toruń in 2013. This may just have the edge because Tai was odds on to clinch the title at some point that night, barring a crash ruling him out of the meeting, while GB's win here was wildly unexpected right down to the last.

                  Poland were dominant throughout the heats and it seemed clear for most of Saturday and Sunday that it was going to be a three way battle between GB, Denmark & Australia for the two semi-final places to determine who would claim silver and bronze.

                  The two races below are an example of the intensity and extremes of the racing between those three nations (and of the finals as a whole) with the classic back and forth passing of Denmark v Australia the good side and Tai's horrific crash the stomach-churning opposite. I've genuinely never been more convinced I'd seen a rider seriously injure themselves, to see him walk away was a welcome shock (especially on later finding out he had a double fracture of one leg).

                  [URL="https://twitter.com/speedwaygp/status/1449700467743858691?s=21"]https://twitter.com/speedwaygp/statu...743858691?s=21[/URL]

                  [URL="https://twitter.com/speedwaygp/status/1449441573939331075?s=21"]https://twitter.com/speedwaygp/statu...939331075?s=21[/URL]

                  One lovely moment was when with Tai still prone on the track and most of the stadium shocked in to silence, the large Polish contingent present started almost as one to chant his name deafeningly for minutes until he got up. I thought at that point that their clear and overwhelming love of the sport and riders meant I couldn't begrudge them their certain win.

                  They showed it again after the final when immediately following their agonising fourth failure in a row to claim the world title they let off their pyro, waved their scarves and applauded both the GB and Polish riders on their laps of honour. My experiences watching the sport in it's spiritual home of Poland have left me really admiring everything about the country's attitude towards it and this was only increased by their behaviour during the weekend.

                  Talking of crashes, Sweden's slim medal hopes were finished early on by the collision between Jacob Thorsell and team mate Pontus Aspgren in only their second heat which ruled them both out of the rest of the meeting. This compounded the loss of Freddie Lindgren a month prior due to his horrendous crash at the Vojens GP. With no reserves in the country or able to be flown in it meant the only remaining team member, compulsory u21 rider Phillip Hellström Bängs, rode every remaining heat solo and became perhaps the crowd hero of the weekend in doing so.

                  Latvia and France were to all intents and purposes one man teams with Andžejs Ļebedevs and David Bellego dragging them through but both were competitive throughout, justifying their place in the final and the format itself.

                  On to the second day and with Dan Bewley (although a huge talent and track specialist) in for Tai, I was mentally settling for Bronze at best. A rainstorm overnight made track conditions tricky and there was the threat of rain throughout the Sunday. The dirtline was right by the fence and made for a very risky ride at times, which would end up proving extremely significant.

                  However, with Jason Doyle really struggling to score almost at all for Australia, Robert Lambert riding typically excellently and Bewley really stepping up it ended up being a relatively trouble-free path to the semi-final for the Brits.

                  There they met Denmark who had just outscored them over the 42 heats but Bewley rounded Michelsen to claim third place (with second and third enough in this format to win a heat) before Lambert really secured the win by bombing under Madsen on the line.

                  That only left the final and while it was clear that, as always, anything can happen on a one-off race (especially when avoiding last place is enough to win) I don't think there was any serious expectation that we would topple the Poles. Topple is the right word though because under pressure from both Bewley and Lambert Maciej Janowski went too wide on the fourth bend of the final lap, and with team mate Bartosz Zmarzlik blocking him, he decked the bike.

                  This meant that the two GB riders only had to stay upright to win the race. The only problem is Lambert, at least, didn't realize that and was vying with Zmarzlik for first without realising what had gone on behind them. At this point I was screaming out loud "DON'T RACE HIM! JUST STAY ON THE BIKES!", as were thousands of others, I imagine.

                  In the end GB claimed second & third and the world title and I think the clips below sum up the feeling in the stadium. I've seen myself in the footage, either hands on head in disbelief or applauding & screaming wildly, punching the air while I genuinely teared up at how great sport, and this sport in particular, is.

                  [URL="https://twitter.com/speedwaygp/status/1449805366926131202?s=21"]https://twitter.com/speedwaygp/statu...926131202?s=21[/URL]

                  [URL="https://twitter.com/speedwaygp/status/1449812460102295557?s=21"]https://twitter.com/speedwaygp/statu...102295557?s=21[/URL]

                  After the medal & trophy ceremony I found myself at the front of the main stand doing something I've not done in a while, shaking hands and congratulating the British riders and management team with genuine awe for what they'd achieved. I was particularly pleased to do so for Lambert after he lifted the trophy - a rider I loved during a short spell with Rye House Rockets where I once saw him break the track record twice in one meeting after it had previously stood for five years.

                  I came very close to not going to the event as it was only a few days after a Wales away double-header and a busy time in work. The weather forecast also threatened a real likelihood that the second day would be washed out risking a 450 mile round trip and overnight stay becoming very anti-climactic.

                  I'm so glad I went ahead though, it seems certain to be my favorite sporting event of 2021 and one of the most memorable I'll ever see.




                  Last edited by Ray de Galles; 27-10-2021, 21:49.

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                    #84
                    Great write up there Ray. Sounds like a fantastic weekend.

                    It feels like it's been a meteoric rise for Dan Bewley but checking my records it was actually 2017 that he got a full maximum down here in the National League and finished fourth in the Under-19s.

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                      #85
                      The season has been extended into November for... reasons. The Championship has been a mess this season, possibly more so than the Premiership for a change. Lost a club midway through, two others under threat of closure (with one unlikely to come to the tapes next season), putting SIX of the eleven teams through to the play-offs (although the Premiership's four from six beats that, obv), and running the Knockout Cup ahead of those play-off fixtures. Serious surgery (again) needs to be done but what's the betting it'll be same old, same old come the AGM?

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                        #86
                        Oooh, I hadn't noticed the Championship Grand Final had been postponed to when I was back from holiday.

                        I'm half-tempted to go to the second leg but I'm worried it would take the golden glow off the end to my season because of a) Poole's terrible track and b) Poole's terribly high likelihood of winning - at least in part due to that track.

                        That's before I even get to thinking about the risk of bad weather.

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                          #87
                          I thought the season couldn't extend into November as it was something to do with insurance cover.

                          Loads of bleating about Poole pushing back so they could have the second leg at home and how it's not their fault as they've not had any meetings rained off. This, of course, conveniently forgets that they were one of the clubs cancelling meetings back in June when there were still government restrictions.

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                            #88
                            Kent Kings rider Dan Gilkes has reportedly been told by an e-mail from the club that they are not running in 2022.

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                              #89
                              Bloody hell, after Lakeside and Rye House going and with Kent and Eastbourne not running next season (or at all again maybe in the latter's case) I don't even know where my nearest track will be any more.

                              https://twitter.com/kent_kings/status/1455165738767978501?s=21

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                                #90
                                Oxford?

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                                  #91
                                  At this rate there'll be just about enough clubs to fill one league.

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                                    #92
                                    Originally posted by HeavyDracula View Post
                                    Oxford?
                                    Are they confirmed as racing for 2022? I mean, I'm not holding my breath for them to return at all, just in case.

                                    Talking of tracks reopening, I saw rumours about a second GP in Britain at Odsal being a possibility with the new Discovery promotion of the series.

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                                      #93
                                      Is there still a team in Mildenhall? That may be closer than Oxford (just). But more difficult to get to

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                                        #94
                                        Yeah, the Fen Tigers. They've just won the third tier National League.

                                        Though I'm pretty sure if Oxford aren't running Peterborough will be my closest track likely to be active next season, at least as the crow flies.

                                        It would definitely be my preference over Poole which would be the next nearest.

                                        If Swindon, Eastbourne and Kent do all come to the tapes in 2023 that situation will be improved, but it's a big if.
                                        Last edited by Ray de Galles; 01-11-2021, 21:24.

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                                          #95
                                          So what is it, sixteen standalone clubs looking at coming to the tapes next year across the three leagues. Seventeen if Oxford do run. Speedway certainly seems to be dying as a team sport, there were twentyseven when I first came to in 2014.

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                                            #96
                                            To go back to the positive mood I was finishing the season on (and before Poole spoil it by winning the second tier title tonight) I wanted to share this immensely wholesome video. Freddie Lindgren, his good lady and their lovely dog covering that ace song from the latest 'A Star Is Born' :

                                            https://twitter.com/spottedspeedway/status/1456171877706215425?s=21

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                                              #97
                                              Early talk has the Premiership continuing with just SIX teams next season, with Oxford first having been invited to join and then that invitation rescinded. So Oxford will be in the second tier, although even there it's rumoured that Rob Godfrey has denied them Friday nights. Oh, and Dan Bewley isn't riding in the UK next year.

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                                                #98
                                                Why would Poole winning spoil things?

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                                                  #99
                                                  Originally posted by Sporting View Post
                                                  Why would Poole winning spoil things?
                                                  Because they’re the Tory party of speedway.

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                                                    Yeah, and as well as their smug, monied, entitled arrogance they produce a track which risks rider safety and hugely increases home advantage.

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