Papa Bazarou

Papa B is in town again this year stopping at the City Hotel this time - time for a 2005 forum flag signing at the Brda on the Friday though ! Mateusz - check out my webshots below and the 2004 Bydgoszcz pics, you are in there, we were just to the left of you on the back straight, hope to meet up this time. Rico, Davy, TST, Pugwash, Mateusz, Lawrence see you all there. Anyone know if Splatty or f-s-p are going this year ?

Yep Bydgoszcz again this year - Wizzair.com from Luton to Gdansk this time, stopping at the city though. We can still meet at the Brda on Friday night again I hope ?

Only just got round to tidying up my webshots - I've posted a few from Wroclaw (all using the Olymous C-350 zoom) - all very typical of a Polish event, but also a couple of nice shots of the square at night. Check out who is on the back of the beer bottle ! They were a special gift from the Polonia fans from Bydgoszcz. In a nutshell, they have a beer promotion, you collect the bottle tops (red, blue, white and yellow) and printed on the underside is a member of the Bydgoszcz squad - collect them all and you get a promotional team scarf or shirt. Excellent idea - perhaps the UK promoters could do a similar thing ? Check out the link below. Enjoy.

Thanks Matt - some good action shots on your web site as well, and look at all those forumites ! I didn't manage to pop into Sams or PoW's - I always go into Callaghans bar which is at the top end of the stadium by the Holiday Inn, it has a beer garden, perhaps all the forumites should meet in there next year ? room to spread out rather than spilling into the street ? A couple of aircraft now on my webshots using the Canon, plus a couple of miscellaneous ones - the Blackpool shots from last year are on the Olympus, the cat and river also on the Canon.

Why thank you kind sir ! The trusty old point and shoot didn't let me down ! (Olympus C-350Z) No flash hold it steady and open that shutter ! I've yet to post my Wroclaw pics on webshots - I will do soon. Remember I said a while ago I was after a 300D - well I treated myself a couple of weeks ago from PCWorld (only £499 with the 18-55 lens plus a 256mb CF card thrown in ) Don't worry all - I'll not have a chance to snap bikes, too involved with taking the moving pics which gives great satisfaction when you capture decent action. Matt, I have taken a few snaps of aircraft and pleased with the results so far (will post a couple on the old webshots) - I just need a decent lens !

I've posted a few snaps on my webshots below - didn't take many, but got a couple of interesting ones with the slow shutter in the stadium during the fireworks (link below). Anyway my claim to fame for this event was getting my flags on P61 of the programme in the shots from round 1 at Wroclaw - they're well travelled now

Interesting . . section 077.3.6 of the FIM SGP 05 rules states "Track reserve riders are not permitted to take part in heats 21,22 or 23 unless they have qualified to do so according to their position in the intermediate classification" so if there is a tapes ex or 2 mins exc in the semi's then no track reserve would come in, yet if throughout the meeting if they have had enough rides, then its conceivable that they could score 8 or so to qualify. You've only got to get a couple of riders injured early doors in the meeting and withdraw, and TR's could get a few rides apiece. Add into tapes exc.s etc.. they could just end up with 6 rides or so - but how likely is that to occur ?

Just back - not a bad GP - plenty of re-runs, drama, controversy, and good racing as well. Hats off to Trick - what is he 32 points ahead now ? Start engraving ! This 5 ride format is ideal for him, lets face it Trick to score less than say 8 (cut off point usually) from 5 - it just doesn't happen, so he's going to make semis consistently. Then he has the ability to turn those into final places - If only the final at Eskistuna hadn't have been stopped - then he'd be even further ahead.

slighty unfortunate . . that was a very hard back straight, the way his handlebars snapped momentarily on Tricks elbow .. could ahve been carnage . . a credit to their skill to keep it in tact nicki on adams .... ooooh hard yet again

Sam and Tony M seem to be having trouble with their mikes - are they now sharing ?

Fairy4ever, I've been known to create the odd flag or 2 in the past, mainly for the GP trips. Please take a look at my webshots below for a couple. My original Bees one (which I've still got) with the original fighting Bee is well travelled, its done Poland x many, Norway, Denmark, Slovenia, Czech Rep and Australia. The 2nd one I made last year with the new Bees logo and rider action shots (AJ and BJ) on it has been to Poland twice, and now resides in Bydgoszcz ! I donated it to one of my Brydgoszcz pals after the Wroclaw GP (due to AJ riding for Bydgoszcz again) and I'm informed that it will be adorned on the fence at each home match. For the logos etc on that, I used HP iron on transfers. I must admit I wrecked 2 flags in the process but it was worth it - iron temperature is critical on that one ! I also made a special Bydgoszcz 2004 flag for all forumites to sign during the meet up at the Brda hotel last year. I'll be doing another for this year.

Look for a revival from Tomasz Gollob. Less temporary tracks, and 5 rides a night minimum for the main man. Perhaps not World champion material, but could figure on the rostrum a lot more than in recent years - suggest that he'll be looking forward to the format. For the title - don't care really, as long as it is a battle royal, different victors at each round, with plenty of drama, controversy and top racing. They'll be a dummy or two spat this year I am sure, with every race point counting if you dont make the big final. My tip though is Nicki, Tony and Jason right down to the wire, a drama filled last round with Nikki coming out on top, and with Tomasz snapping at their heels, they'll all be in the top 4. Should be good.

Wasn't it at a prague GP? Can't remember the year but could have been an A-Final. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If its the one I am thinking of it might be heat 18 in the 2001 GP at Bydgoszcz. I was there it was awesome. Leigh Adams, Hancock, Hamill and Gollob, knocking 7 bells out of each other, trading places, 3 abreast, a bit of grass tracking from Hancock, unfortunately I think it ending up with a Gollob EF on the 3rd lap, but it had everything. That particular night it rained a couple of hours before the start, they dragged the slops off the top across the white line, Greg used that 'new piece of track' to his advantage ! but still a great race.

To wet the appetite in readiness for 2005, I've dusted down a few of the old VHS copies of the early GP's. Have just watched the 1996 GP from Wroclaw, Tommy Knudsen being the victor, a popular choice with the locals having ridden for Wroclaw in the league - with my Coventry hat on I was also happy ! 5 rides per rider as well, much prefer that format. Gollob was also in there a bit ragged at times, but very spectacular. Then there is the 1999 GP at the same venue, the track was not at its best very bumpy, but a couple of moments to note, Hans Nielsen dispatch of Henka, Tony and Crumpy on the first turn resulting in a a very awkward crash for all 3 - ruthless. Then the A final of all A finals Jimmy Nilsen traps and leads for 3 and 3/4 laps, only for Tomasz Gollob who was a good few bike lengths behind going into turn 3 to produce an awesome Gollob lunge under Jimmy, past the apex locks it up on the boards (in fact backs it in big style), Jimmy glides by only for Tomasz to cut back wheels totally in line at full speed to pip him on the line by a tyre - simply brilliant ! Also going to take a look back at 1995 the innagural GP - a Gollob victory if not mistaken. If anyone can remember the year Gollob did the wall of death up the air fence (both wheels off the ground), kept it on and still made the pass let me know the year - thats one I want to look back at ! So looking forward to 2005 to be able to see Gollob in action at least 5 times per GP - it will suit him most definitely this year - with every point counting potentially towards your overall GP score, they'll all be racing and not protecting positions. Anyone else have any particular GP's from days gone by that stick in memory banks for good action ??

Track reserve CAN ride in the semi-final if they have fairly qualified. They just cannot replace an excluded rider. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Fairly qaulified meaning they've scored enough points to be in the top 8 thus into the semis ? It also mentions that the 2 track reserves will take rides in turn. So what happens if Antonio has a touch of the colly wobbles when the pressure is on with his left hand and a few tapes exclusions (like SWC 2004), plus other riders being excluded in the same way or under 2 mins ? The track reserves could end up having a few rides each between them and score enough to make the semis under their own steam (if good enough of course) Also if a 1-16 rider is injured and withdraws in his 1st heat, would the track reserves alterante for the rest of his programmed rides ? so that sceanrio plus a few tapes excl or 2 mins exclusions from others - they could be very busy. Under the old system - you goofed (tapes or 2mins) and it just meant a gap on the grid. Lets hope the organisers don't pick also rans but riders who could pop out and mix it up as track reserves if given the chance and take points off the main contenders. (eg. Ales Dryml or Tom Topinka at the Czech GP as reserves if say Lukas got the wild card for that round) Putting a poor reserve on the grid fills the start line, but after 30mtrs they're not in it. I remember a few years ago in the old British Final, Overseas final etc. (1990ish), Lee Coleman and Rob Homer getting a few rides in big meetings at Brandon as track reserves, no disrespect to either but they were never going to do much, so why bother, in fact juniors could have a fall at the back resulting in a re-run (no awarded races in the GP) which could upset the apple cart with the main contenders in the race and a different race outcome in the 2nd running, but we'd much rather have 4 rider races, with 4 competetive riders battling for 4 laps. The only thing with sticking reserves in for tapes excls or 2 mins, is that you'll have slight delays in the meeting as the 2 mins will have to be re-started to allow the track reserve to get out on track.

Will Leigh Adams get used to the fact its the A Final - its now called the 'Big Final' ! (page 18) and am I reading the track reserve section correct .. 2 nominated track reserves that can take the place of a 2min exclusion or false start (tapes excl.) (section 077.3.6 page 10) so no 3 rider races then ? could result in a couple of upsets if soemone gets injured in ther opening heat, replaced by a track reserve who makes it through !

I understand from a contavt in Poland that Andy Smith has signed a contract with Torun - can anyone confirm that ?

For one who takes an interest in aviation and a frequent flyer through work (UK domestic) , it does not surprise me. - 3 low cost operators Wizz, SkyEurope and Airpolonia.com all competing - its cut-throat and an airline operating with just 3 big aircraft will have to be smart to survive. We did try airpolonia.com this year for the Bydgoszcz GP, and whilst the loadings were good - full in fact no doubt swelled by the many Speedway fans, the service was prompt so you couldn't fault it there. One thing to note was that whilst Airpolonia.com had 2 relatively smart looking 737-400's with nice colours and interior as depicted on their web site, they were also operating a 3rd plane - all white apart from the wording, a 737-300. It is this aircraft that we had the pleasure of flying out and back on to Poznan for the GP, but to be honest it was knackered inside. - I mean rubber type mats under the seats and black gaffa tape bound around each armrest to cover the old ashtrays, not to mention the yellowish interior panelling - it was shabby. SP-KPL for all you plane cranks out there. I know that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but . . . . A bit of research on the web has shown that it is in fact an old aircraft ex-United Airlines (USA - shuttle service) who had the aircraft for 14 years - now leased through a leasing company. During its life with UA it has no doubt performed many rotations - hence the airframe was probably nearing its life, thus they off-loaded it. Then there is the approach and landings which many have reported about on here, they will live on in our memories ! Still it looks like Ryanair and Easyjet are spreading their wings into Poland now, so at least they have (apart from a few older birds) a relatively new fleet.

Tak ! The guy is a legend, the fans are awesome ! Yes the racing in 2004 at Bydgoszcz was not as hot as previous years, but the atmosphere made up for it.

Check out the link below to relive some of what Bydgoszcz 2004 had to offer ! Papa's Webshots

Just got back myself - quick summary more to follow when I get the chance . . Privileged once again to see Lord Tomek strut his stuff (even though he was probably lucky to get a 2nd bite of the cheery in the final) the racing overall though this year being a bit more processional then what we've seen Bydgoszcz serve up previously - Gollobs racing lines though are simply unique. Stadium atmosphere superb - the best of the 3 I've been to - crowd seemed even bigger than before - exiting the 2nd turn you could not move. For those Nikki bashers out there - the Bydgoszcz home fans have also taken him to heart as well - 2 very 'straight to the point banners' were removed by the security staff before the start, each simply they told Nikki in no uncertain terms where to go ! It all stems from a recent league match when Nikki ran I believe 1-1-X-X, the X's involving dumping home riders into the fence - say no more Met fellow forumites - f-s-p (all the way from Finland !), pugwash + other half, starttart, rico, henryw, splatty and all the coventry members, plus Addy at Poznan airport on the return leg ! A superb advert for Polish Extraleague racing at Torun on the Sunday was witnessed by all. Not known as being a Crumpy fan but see him in differnt light after Sunday - one of the best races I've seen in a long time - for those that were there, you'll know what I'm talking about ! A very well presented meeting - quality racing, good shaped & prepared track, committed riders, tidy stadium, passionate fans - English speedway is a distant second - or probably third if you take Sweden into account ! And yes Joanne - AirPolonia - interesting flying techniques - the most bizarre of approaches to Poznan on Friday - left, right, right a bit more, no left again, up a bit, down a bit, left again, ahh quick blip on the throttles so we make the end of the tarmac and don't eat grass and there we are - welcome to Poznan ! Poznan airport itself was fine though - brand new only built last year I think. And as for the landing at Stansted this afternoon - we bounced big time - I fly on a regular basis - it was hairy ! Look out for Papa's webshots - I'll publish them soon.

1. Jonsson 2. Gollob 3. Hampel 4. N. Pedersen Right, now where is my passport ? flight leaves in 10 hrs !

Everyone is of course welcome - the more the merrier. Sounds like there should be a rather large gathering of Forumites and their entourages. Rico <{POST_SNAPBACK}> and I expect every forumite to sign Papa's Bydgoszcz 2004 flag. The kebab shop down from the Brda won't know what's hit them on the Friday !

Small Lech stands all around the top walkway, not forgetting the amazing Polish barbecues - you get a cardboard tray with a spicy sausage, slice of crusty bread and a dollop of mustard type stuff - it must be an Eastern Eurpoean thing as you get the same in Czecko and Slovenia - must be tried though.

2 weeks to go and we'll be in the Brda - all being well of course ! Splatty if you haven't checked out my webshots below - please feel free. This will be our 3rd visit and I'm suspecting we'll be going for the exit of the 2nd bend again - see the webshots to get a feel for what the place is like. Gauranteed wherever you sit, it will be mental ! A nice atmpospheric type of mental however !