Steve Shovlar

Where can I buy some of Barry Briggs youth serum? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-44898416/speedway-what-does-it-take-to-become-a-racer

As I said last night, Woffindens pit crew failed to turn on his fuel tap. He had to go fishing for it on the first bend and was fine in the heat after that, albeit half a lap behind. The stadium cameras then picked him up giving a bollocking to the tall mechanic who had his arms raised in apologies. Every heat after that he checked his fuel tap as he approached the tape. I haven’t seen it but on BT he said it was an ignition problem. Clearly wanting to keep any issues “in house” rather than blame his pit crew in public.

Article in Sunday Times. Tai Woffinden extends title lead after Jason Doyle suffers crash in Cardiff showdown Australian rider in hospital but Briton thrives at home grand prix In the end, it was all about Tai Woffinden. Almost. Britain’s most naturally gifted and naturally maverick speedway rider since the ill-fated Michael Lee. A thrilling evening before a 40,000 crowd ended with him finishing second in Cardiff for the third time, last night to the imperious Pole Bartosz Zmarzlik. All the same, Woffinden’s lead in the world championship was extended to 20 points at the season’s halfway stage. “It doesn’t matter,” he said afterwards. “Winning the Grand Prix is just a platform. The important thing is that I’ve extended the lead.” There were sub-plots. Unheralded British rider Craig Cook won three successive heats. Troublingly, the reigning world champion Jason Doyle took a terrible fall in heat 20 on a track that posed difficulties all night. “It was hard out there,” said Woffinden. “The man-made tracks are so gnarly. You need a big set of balls and to know how to ride and when you see the other three best riders in the world next to you, it’s the ultimate trial.” As Doyle lay prostrate, his bike careered into him. An ambulance came onto the track. Doyle was briefly unconscious, but after a lengthy delay, he was alert as he was stretchered off to hospital. Once again, the dangers of this remarkable sport were laid bare, but Doyle will be back. “I didn’t want to look,” said Woffinden of Doyle’s tumble. “I had to keep my head in the right place. He’s had his x-rays and I just hope he’s OK, but when you get on that bike, there are things we all know…” Woffinden is seemingly on course for his third world title. But for all that the British Grand Prix is the ultimate showcase for Britain’s best rider, Woffinden and Cardiff have never been easy bedfellows. A runner-up in 2014 and 2016, Woffinden hitherto played the occasion rather than the four-lap races. This time, Woffinden and his 500cc bike went close, but again not quite close enough. As ever, the organisers went for spectacle in the faintly ludicrous shape of a 50ft inflatable trophy; a sex-appeal-free band knocking out a version of Sex on Fire; indoor fireworks; the Welsh and British national anthems; WWF-style cheerleading (“ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, are you ready to go racing?”) and the usual eardrum-challenging cacophony. It all smacked of a self-conscious lack of a confidence in a sport that again proved to be as thrilling and as dangerous as it was when Barry Briggs, Ivan Mauger and Anders Michanek were staples of terrestrial television. Woffinden and second-place Fredrik Lindgren met in the first heat and, with the swagger of one who knows no other way to conduct himself, Woffinden led from first to last, so far ahead that he could finish with a wheelie. Lindgren finished third. Pantomime villain Nicki Pedersen and Woffinden clashed in heat 5. Woffinden was last into the gate. After a restart when fellow Brit Robert Lambert took a painful tumble onto the cinders and was excluded, Woffinden was last out of it and, bike stuttering and spluttering, he finished third out of three when his ignition failed. There was still a territory-marking wheelie. If British speedway looks like a one-man show, Craig Cook won heat 6, holding off Przemyslaw Pawlicki at the end for only his second victory in 36 heats. He would win his third in heat 11 and then his fourth two heats later, before his luck ran out when he fell in heat 20 and failed to finish his semi-final, but it remains the finest night of a journeyman career. Bike restored, Woffinden won heat 9 with a bravura display of chance-taking, no-holds-barred riding. With Patryk Dudek shadowing his every manoeuvre, Woffinden took the long way round and although the margin of victory and the wheelie at the end were small, the ability and bravery were superlative. Woffinden began heat 13 on the outside, but a sluggish start meant he could not squeeze past Greg Hancock. This time, there was no Woffinden wheelie, but there was a clasp of hands with Cook who was second only to Zmarzlik, who, surprisingly, began the evening eighth in the championship. Yet when Woffinden and Zmarzlik finally met in heat 17, the Brit’s 52.5sec was the fastest of the evening and the Pole trailed all the way. Zmarzlik and Maciej Janowski qualified from the all-Polish first semi-final. Woffinden won the second ahead of Hancock. The final was a Zmarzlik masterclass. “I was waiting for him to make a mistake,” said Woffinden, “but it never came.” His wheelie at the end was barely noticeable, but the bigger picture remains a joy for him to behold.

I purchased a £19 seat. I didn’t necassarily actually sit in it though. And no, I didn’t go and sit in someone elses seat either.

I had a rather good seat for 19 quid. https://www.dropbox.com/s/6l41hil4pphj5y6/File 21-07-2018%2C 22 54 11.jpeg?dl=0

Should be unasailable now unless there’s an injury. Hope the BBC follow up todays coverage with a report but think some yank ruining a good walk with a golf club or some driver being paid 36 million a year driving a fast car in a boring ‘race’ will take up all the sports time.

Dear Sidney stop showing everyone your lack of mental capacity. If a rider is good enough they will get a team place. What part of that don’t you understand? Do you want me to make it even more simplistic for you?

Thought ref was crap. Cook was pulled back and warned when it looked like a perfect gste, then Hancock got pulled for the same and ref apologised. Lamberts exclusion with Doyle and Magics ex with Doyle. Crowd booed him several times.

How did the event come over on TV? Being there we all thought it was brilliant but that might not have come across on The box.

Watched him at the fan zone and he ws very good with everyone. Definately matured.

Wow an imbecile congrats to you!

Excellent GP with some great racing. Hope Doyle is OK nasty crash. Deserved winner is Zmarzlik. Woffinden extending his lead. Cook breaking his duck. Crowd looked very good which was perhaps a suprise.

Not privy to replays here but looked like Doyle tried to close the door when Lambert was already there.

How did Emil get through over Holder. Both finished on 7 with Holder beating Emil when they met. To do with second places?

Medics taking their time. Shows how riders put themselves on the line at this level with tiny margins of error. Lambert saw the gap and fairly went for it.

Horrendous. Hope Doyle is not seriously hurt. Best wishes to the champ.

Nasty crash for Cook. Lucky he has enough fir semi. Rode very well tonight. Well done to him.

We are not privvy to interviews on bt in the stadium. We enjoy what the sport is about by attending the event. And a brilliant GP it is.

He opened his flap, turned on his fuel and raced away. We saw on screen that he was bollocking his mechanic. Clearly fuel not turned on. If he managed to repair an electrical fault under the flap in twoseconds he is remarkable. Possibly covering his mechanics arse in the interview?

Tais mechanic needs sacking for not turning on fuel. Lambert finding out what GP riding is all about. Brilliant racing shame on those that never bothered to attend. Big crowd only £19 cheapest seat.

Murderous getting in. Bag and body searches. Expect to miss a bit by arriving 15 mins before the start

If they are good enough they will get a team berth.

Just bought our tickets from the ticket office. Only £19 this year! Cheap as chips! We just move once meeting about to start.

If we click we will be there.

Bbc breakfast have mentioned the GP! Shock! Mike Bushell has a go. Its on at 8.35ish.