flagrag

Well I am hoping that now Charlie has proved that she can do the live anchor role that we will be able to have her at all GPs doing the presentation from trackside and then we may be able to get all the the GP's in HD as it is a lack of HD equipped studios in London that is holding up showing all GP's in HD. With being spoilt last week by having 3/4 meetings in high definition which all looked superb we had to go back to standard coverage of the Elite league match which just looked fuzzy and washed out compared to what we got used to last week. I believe the time has come now for BSPA/stadium owners and Sky to get together to find a way of improving lighting at live TV matches even if only on a temp week by week basis and moved round like the studio unit so that we can have weekly HD speedway

I feel that Charlie did a very good job last night and dashing round the pits all night trying to get interviews and comments from riders and team managers, I know she asks quite a lot of the same questions all th etime but most of this is fed into her by the producer and match director it wasnt helped last night by sky just adding onto the world feed so they never knew when they were going to cut back to something that was important. Charlie is so enthusiastic about her speedway now and is really getting into it im told she has even been seen at sheffield with her brother on nights off. she enjoys being involved in the productions and see's it more than just another interviewing job she wants to suceed at this. My only worry is though like Suzi Perry she does a lot of other work and that she may taken off to do something more high profile for Sky or BBC

Ole Olsen and Steve Brandon do have a very hard job to do with pleasing the fans as well as sponsors and tv companies I know a few broadcasters have been unhappy with GP meetings over running this year and this has been fed back to BSI and the GP team if the meeting overuns it can turn into a very expensive game for broadcasters with scheduling being put out,adverts missed and most importantly the additional cost of broadcasting with a HD satellite uplink from the track likely to cost around an extra £2,500 per 15mins plus £150 crew cost then then the Ob facilties provider possibly wanting another £3,000 for overun the costs soon mount up. Overall I do agree that possibly some of tracks do start off far to slick at the start of the night and I thought that was to happen at Peterborough until Buster watered it and the track blended together

I think the ticket prices for the world cup this year have been very reasonable with advance tickets for last nights match at Peterborough actually cheaper than an elite league match and the prices for the playoff seems very well priced again. Is a shame that the GP challenge is so expensive as I think they could have had a good crowd for that but £25 is way over the top and evidence was there last night lower prices bring increased numbers with a lot more people watching compared to last year at Coventry when again prices too high

I am wondering if there has been some airline delays and the Polish riders have been delayed or that due to the bad weather they have not been able to practice as planned so everything is moved back a bit

I am not sure what the weather is like in the Peterborough area but Charlie Webster from Sky has just posted on Twitter that the start time for tonights meeting has already been delayed which is a bit worrying as further rain is predicted this afternoon lets hope the meeting runs

It would not surprise me if Darcy Ward is now called up after seeing that Poland are not fielding the strongest team also I am sure IMG would be very pleased as could possibly add another few hundred fans on the gate with more Kings Lynn fans and neutrals coming over

I think they should book a big name act but only release the name of the artist on the local radio stations on the day I would say if could get Stereophonics or Tom Jones you could add 20,000 on the gate i remember when Radio 1 arranged a secret gig in Leeds with Oasis only announced the location and artist on the day and tehy had 25,000 turn up

The Polish selection all comes down to money if Poland qualify straight through the final the everybody is missing out on a good crowd on Thursday at Leszno for the race off as I dont feel without Poland in the race that many Polish fans would go to watch the meeting and there will not be that many fans from Russia,GB,Sweden,Slovenia or Germany that would go to the meetiing so I am sure the selection has been done on a commercial thing but shame for British fans not getting to see Holta. The Aussie selection does make sense but personally I would not have gone for the expense of bringing Sullivan over and would have used Davey Watt or Darcy Ward as Sullivan didn't really go that well last year when he came over

If it was a choice between the two I would choose Cardiff but I would like to see what a GP would be like at Wembley but I have heard that BSI are looking at using a football stadium for a future event in the UK and have done noise tests at a couple of venues. I think the most likely places would be Coventry Ricoh or Manchester city ground

Looking round on internet and most hotels are very expensive or are not available to book yet. I have tried the Mercure lodge but site says they are full as does other hotels just want to get it booked and sorted

Well just looked and rooms dont seem available at most hotels yet and the ones that are have caught on that its GP weekend with £150 per night for Mercure/Ibis hotel

That does seem a little strange to stage it World Cup final weekend as if by any chance England make it that the attendance will be well down I would have thought. Another thing they have to consider is you are getting close to peak holiday season so kids will start breaking up from school and families going away. The date suggested has now been mentioned to me a number of times so I suspect this is correct and will be the date announced this evening. I know Sky are keen to know as BSI would not even tell the production team the date for next year The other thing to consider I wonder what is going to happen to the world cup speedway as that is going to have to be moved back a few weeks

Well the hotels seem to have covered any weekend in June just in case they go earlier in the month im hoping Boggle is correct and the GP is in another month other than June and that people can book the hotels at a reasonable rate and be charged stupid prices for the weekend away I mean £150 per night is far too high for Travelodge,Ibis premier inn type hotel I do think there was less people staying over this year due to the chnage in start time and if the hotels proceed in trying to rip speedway fans off I may just go down on the day meet up with the team and do another GP abroad instead

Just a quick note to any Sky HD customers you should have the British speedway GP preview show available in HD on Sky anytime on TV service. Alos dont forget to set your boxes for Sky sports annual coverage of speedway in excellent high definition with some more new camera angles to be used for the first time.

If BSI/FIM stick to those prices I think they will make a huge mistake with a very small crowd that is far too much and with it now being on a Friday night most people will not go the prices for the WTC at Peterborough are about right. This meeting is also very likely to be broadcast by Sky sports this year for the first time as there is broadcasters around the world who have requested coverage so I would be very surprised if they film and produce the programme but dont show it themselves.

Dont forget taht quite a few riders and their teams are staying at the Mercure lodge as well as well as other riders and mechanics not involved in the GP

Sad to hear about the young german lad good luck to him I agree I probaly didn't word my last post like how I wanted to say. I should have said if GB had a full team it would have probaly been a different meeting but the lads that went did the best they could. I think it will be between Sweden,Poland and possibly Denmark

This is the thing if it wasnt for injuries the British team would have probaly walked it as would have lined up as Bridger,Woffinden,Barker,Roynon and then between Mear and Auty Im sure that team would have seen off the Swedes and Aussies it just wasnt meants to be the Brits year likewise for the Brits lads in the U21 ind

Anybody know of any Polish coverage as that feed keeps breaking up

I think there will be a few more rooms become available at this hotel shortly as this is the FIM suggested hotel and im told told they have 20 rooms on hold but various delegates will probaly stay in better class hotels

Its a shame Ben Barker is still injured for this meeting as his recent form at Wimborne Road is very good and could have been in with a good chance of getting wildcard position or Cardiff reserve slot

Can any Polish fans confirm whether Canal+ Poland are showing this in HD on TV ?

I understand Ben has flown home to the UK this evening to get treated and to get a 2nd opinion on the injury as I am told the Drs in Germany said it required an operation hopefully the UK drs will have a different view. I know Ben is quite gutted on how this happened and how he is likely not to progress any further in his last year in the U21s as by all accounts he was flying and probaly the best rider on the day and he had bike trouble in his 3rd ride when his number one bike wouldnt start so went out on 2nd bike which was just not as quick as number 1 bike so he dropped a point which in the end would have got him through to the next round.

But a long way to go to Sweden or Hungary with no definite chance of a ride not to mention the expense and possibly having to miss a coventry meeting as Hungary is a Sat afternoon. I'm not sure if there is any wild card places for the semis although I'm sure Bridger wold get that as British U21 champion it is looking like a broken leg or ankle rather than foot.