Grand Prix hots up

The speedway Grand prix in Cardiff promised much and certainly didn't disappoint last weekend.

Not only did we get some spectacular racing, which can almost be a given at the Millenium Stadium, the result has thrown the world championship wide open which could lead to a thrilling climax in three rounds time.

Current world champion Greg Hancock started the round 10 points ahead of his nearest rival Nicki Pedersen but now only leads by one point but from a new challenger in the form of Chris Holder.

It was mentioned during the meeting how hard it is to score a maximum in the Grand Prix these days, such is the quality of the field, but Holder came just about as close as you can get dropping only one point in racking up a total of 23.

It is the Australian’s second victory in three years at Cardiff and now he can be described as a genuine world championship challenger rather than just a young pretender and you could see how much it meant to him after winning the final.

It increasingly looks like it could be a three horse race between Hancock, Holder and Pedersen for honours this year unless Jason Crump pulls something out the bag.

Further down the line the race to see who will finish eighth and grab the final guaranteed spot for next year’s championship is hotting up nicely.

The top seven looks pretty set unless something dramatic happens but only two points separate last year’s runner up Andreas Jonsson in eighth and Antonio Lindback in ninth.

Lindback’s first place three weeks ago followed up by a third place in Cardiff has put him in with a real shout of a top eight finish while it is baffling to explain the wildly inconsistent form of Jonsson.

One race he can look like a world beater, the next you sometimes wonder how he is a Grand Prix rider.

There is no doubt that if he could sort out his consistency he would be right up there but until he does that he has a fight on his hands to guarantee his place for next season.

IT was great to see Workington Comets secure their first piece of silverware last Friday and let us hope it is the first of many this season.

Even a late change which saw Adam Roynon replace Richard Lawson could not upset the Comets as they stormed to victory and has given everybody at the club a lift after recent injuries.

Bach and Roynon were imperious in the heats and then overcame Somerset in the semis and Scunthorpe in the final.

In that final some fans might say poetic justice was served as Josh Auty fell and was disqualified and I’m sure it raised a smile on a few fans faces who are still angry following his challenge on Kenny Ingalls a few weeks ago that ended the American’s season.

That apart it was a thoroughly professional performance from the duo and hardly ran any last places - the key to winning the competition.

We hope as many fans will get down to Derwent Park tonight to see the trophy paraded and let us hope that form can be carried on into the league and see the Comets finally clinch the holy grail of the title that they have waited so long for.

THERE are close finishes predicted to both World Championships and Premier League seasons and the Elite League will be no different.

Poole and Swindon have been slugging it out at the top for weeks the duo well clear of the chasing pack and one of these two will be favourites for the title when the play offs come around.

But who will join them there is anybodys guess.

Eastbourne are currently third but only seven points separate them from Birmingham in seventh so it will be fascinating to see how things unravel as the season reaches its climax.

I’m sure fans of most teams will have their abacuses out trying to work out all the permutations - looking at things like that just makes my head hurt.