Grand Central

. BSI has run a World Team competition, right up to world final stage, whilst finding it quite reasonable to do so with absolutely zero reserve provision for injury In a Speedway meeting of all things. Any one who regards that as a reasonable cost cutting measure may very well view a few budget airline trips to Latvia as being an expense they can avoid quite happily. .

I don't want to be accused of being negative, I'm trying to be helpful. But, no, last year there were quite long periods of complete silence throughout the meeting from the PA. Quite eerie at times. So unlike the 'classic' years which gave the event it's name. If you have the ear of anyone at BSI it is an area they could really 'ramp up' from 2014.

Actually, I really do think it was. I just don't think ANY of the officials on show that night, were up to GP standard though. There are any number of GPs - indoor and outdoor - that could have been called off for the same fictitious reason if the starting gate had so unfortunately failed. Alongside that perfect storm of Greg and Nicki leading a dressing room coup. Thankfully that is unlikely to happen again.

'Know it all' ! KT may not be the font of all knowledge. But perhaps it would have been more accurate to say 'knows a damn sight more than me'

Fair enough, quite understand. It's just that I expressed a wish yesterday for just a little extra info. And everyone rounded on me as if I was traitor-to-the-cause.

From what PR told us I don't think that the races were taken too seriously to be taken as proper 'results. A fee was paid to the riders, not points and prize money so it was not meant to 'matter'. Tape offences etc were not penalised and there was no 'runoff' etc as positions were not too relevant. Must have been quite an experience to have attended, and participated in though.

BSI have put a short video package of this meeting up on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=majPPW-mtQ4&feature=youtu.be All looks and sounds as good as people have said. .

All really good news. Thanks for passing on the information.

That was actually in May 1980. My memory of the incident was that Mikael Lohmann was blamed on the terraces for the incident, particularly by the Halifax fans. Their anger being largely tempered by the horrific injuries Mikael suffered and his previous 'Duke' status. I thought it was subsequently understood that his footrest had broken causing him to 'straighten' up and 'spear' McKeon a-midships. Not really 'fencing' at all. There was a feature on this in a recent Backtrack edition

I happen to think that a meeting of this type could be a cracker. I shall certainly be keeping a check on YouTube in the next few days to see if any justifiably proud parents have taken some illicit video of their lads at the Millennium. .

I agree that this is a very positive thing. And the fact that it is young British riders who are bring given the chance is great. A bit odd to criticise any Speedway fan being marginally interested in who those lucky young guys might actually be. Similarity, the thread title. Being a bit jokey ... Is it no longer possible to chat in a way that retains a little 'lightness' of touch ?

.As you rightly say it may be nice to know who is riding. So let's just be nice, eh? .

It is June 23. The day of the Top Secret test meeting in Cardiff. I know that the most recent Sky televised meetings at Coventry and Lakeside LOOKED as if they were being held behind 'Closed Doors'. But this one actually is keeping the public out; not just coercing them to stay away by presenting substandard fare. So I just thought there may be some smidgen of interest among us here. The information on Speedwaygp website last week was " In order to maximise this opportunity, BSI Speedway, will put on a practise event that will be open to selected British (non SGP) riders on Tuesday June 23. This will give BSI Speedway and the Millennium Stadium the opportunity, not previously available, to run through many elements of the event. " After that we have been told absolutely nothing at all. Unless I've missed it. Anyone able to enlighten us with a little more ? .

To be fair, for most of his time, Sam has been used as the 'comments' and 'colour' man who was supposed to have an opinion rather than offer BBC-type impartiality. The fact that he has never fulfilled that role well but still continuingly employed is amazing. His total inability to see anything other that 'Greg's point-of-view' in all the years he has worked has proved quite comical at times. But only when we have been able to decipher what the hell it was he was trying to say.

Ah, the old 'cold morning' excuse. Next we will get the 'large Oaks from little acorns' one being used.

About ten years ago. I have just about recovered.

For anyone interested the line in question is on page 221. I would hate for anyone to attempt to read the turgid tome from the start and lose the will to live before you got to it.

That guy looks like he could be World Champion, this year. Oh, but ....

At first I thought that Sidney was displaying his age again. But then a second look at his post and I realise he may be ahead of the game. He gets his milk in ibottles ! Steve Jobs' legacy is safe. .

Amusing to hear Sam struggling to find the right word to describe Emil's manager Tomasz Suskiewicz. Ended up settling on 'coordinator'. I think the word 'puppet-master' may be beyond Sam, but I think we know what he was trying to say.

Word from Sweden is that he is watching it from behind the Sofa. The kids are making hand gestures at him, they learnt from Nicki.

I'd score Nicki a 9.90 there. Tom Daley has a lot to do to improve on it with his next dive.

You were saying ?

Pleased to hear Sam Ermolenko reach to to the far limits of his intellect and vocabulary to pass his unbiased comments on Greg Hancock 's actions this evening. As illuminating as a 5W low energy lamp, as always.

Absolutely. Unfortunately I cannot make it that night. Bizarrely the 4th of July has been 'annexed' my US friends, of all things. Let's hope this threads a good indicator of the 'buzz' created.