Cardiff Track A Disgrace

[TwoMinuteWarning 69]

Newspaper article:

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Dugard blasts Grand Prix trackBy Brian Owen

 

Track specialist Bob Dugard has warned a rider could be killed or seriously injured at speedway's most high-profile meeting.

 

Dugard has described the track used for Saturday's British GP, which attracted 45,000 fans to the Millennium Stadium, as a disgrace.

 

Some of the top riders in the world struggled desperately to cling on to their 500cc motorbikes or were thrown badly off course as ruts quickly developed in the temporary circuit.

 

There were similar problems last year but criticism led by Nicki Pedersen was overshadowed by home delight as Chris Harris won the final.

 

This year's GP was littered with near misses, notably when Jason Crump suddenly veered sideways yards from the finish line and was almost overtaken, or taken out, by the hotly pursuing Scott Nicholls.

 

Dugard, who prepares the highly praised circuit at Arlington Stadium said: "The track was an absolute disgrace.

 

"I think if that had been any other meeting the riders would have refused to go back out after a few heats. They are trying to put too much on to the surface at once, trying to get too deep a level.

 

"You need to use mature shale. They have tried and failed miserably to get a good track there for eight years now.

 

"They were quite lucky not to get a really serious injury or even a fatality.

 

"If Scott had run into Crumpy or, even worse, if Andreas Jonsson had hit Hans Andersen when he was facing the wrong way, it would have been very serious. It's not good enough. Pride makes the riders go out there and do it. Most track people take safety very seriously."

 

Four speedway GPs are now staged on temporary tracks in stadia larger than those routinely used for league speedway. Retractable roofs at venues like Cardiff and Parken in Copenhagen mean fans can travel with no fear of the meeting being called off.

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[wjm 261]

Thank god some one said it.

[Matt Davis 156]

Is there any reason then, why the so wonderful Bob Dugard isnt on the track curating team at Cardiff?

[Subedei 0]

Is there any reason then, why the so wonderful Bob Dugard isnt on the track curating team at Cardiff?

 

Now, can you really see that working? Bob Dugard likes to be the boss, master of all he surveys, but Olsen rules the roost at the GPs.

 

[matt webb 1]

I was a bit drunk when I watched this on Sky, but didn't one of the riders say they need to sort the one-off tracks out or the riders will have to do something about?

[shazzybird 10]

Now, can you really see that working? Bob Dugard likes to be the boss, master of all he surveys, but Olsen rules the roost at the GPs.

 

 

Colin Meredith prepares the track, I feel sure as soon as he sees this he will reply with the same reply he gave to me when I asked him about the track and why the ruts were so deep on the start line.

[Subedei 0]

Colin Meredith prepares the track.

 

That's never a good sign, is it?

 

[shazzybird 10]

if you can't say anything nice ...........

[Blazeaway 1,501]

Soooooo thats now the Track, Ben Barker, Billy J, The Fans, The Ref and Nicki P all branded a disgrace!!!

 

Anyone else got anymore, perhaps a thread entitled "Cardiff The Disgraced" could be started?

[John Hannibal Thomas 0]

Soooooo thats now the Track, Ben Barker, Billy J, The Fans, The Ref and Nicki P all branded a disgrace!!!

 

Anyone else got anymore, perhaps a thread entitled "Cardiff The Disgraced" could be started?

you've missed out the presentation!

[wjm 261]

Soooooo thats now the Track, Ben Barker, Billy J, The Fans, The Ref and Nicki P all branded a disgrace!!!

 

Anyone else got anymore, perhaps a thread entitled "Cardiff The Disgraced" could be started?

 

 

I really don't like Holtas hair , I cant put my finger on it , it just doesn't suit his face.

[salty 2,202]

Fair play to Dugard for saying what many thought. The track was a disgrace, which makes 2 out of 5 that have been dangerous this GP season. Pity Pearson and Tatum didn't question the BSI fella (Bellamy?) about the poor state of the track when they interviewed him on Monday night. Seemed quite content to let him use it as a free commercial to bang on about how great everything was.

[shazzybird 10]

Billy J ...... what the one with the nice ears!!!!! How did I miss that thread

[lucifer sam 3,953]

Is there any reason then, why the so wonderful Bob Dugard isnt on the track curating team at Cardiff?

 

Matt - did you see the dog's dinner he made out of Eastbourne on Sky the other week?

 

All the best

Rob

[kluson 6]

Soooooo thats now the Track, Ben Barker, Billy J, The Fans, The Ref and Nicki P all branded a disgrace!!!

 

Anyone else got anymore, perhaps a thread entitled "Cardiff The Disgraced" could be started?

 

What about Belinda Carlisle?? I thought her band were great!!!! what a guitar player.

And the singer doing Delilah out of sync with the backing track that was cool.

Don't forget the wasted seats on the first bend saved for VIP's but they never used them,

My hot dog was rank too.

Can't wait till next year!!!!! That's if Health and safety don't tell us all it's too loud and too dangerous and everyone else doesn't moan so much no one can be bothered,

Get real people this is the best family entertainment around, a great day out worth travelling from Helsinki for