Rico

I'll make sure you hook up with Lawrence and the other Bydgoszcz fans coming down to the GP, no worries. Rico

That'll be a no then Rico

Don't say I haven't warned you about Polish roads and Polish drivers Blazeaway (says he organising a bus trip from Bydgoszcz to Zielona Gora). I guess you'll be too pi$$ed to care anyhow. I'm sure you would be able to sort it out, either through your hotel or preferably in advance with the assistance of perhaps Mateusz but do you really want to deprive yourself of a drunken train journey at 1.30 in the morning - you don't know what you're missing mate. Rico

Thanks for the link again Mateusz. Nice opening footage of the Gdansk fans arriving by train. As for the racing, pretty good all round with something happening in most heats. Given what we had to suffer last night on Sky this was a welcome speedway tonic Heat 4 - wow Emil, you could mistake him for Gollob. Same applies to heat 13 move on Bjarne. Jedrzejewski had a cracking match too. As for Simon Stead, ouch - never really got competitive. Was surprised he got all 4 rides. I'm looking forward to keeping tabs on Polonia as the season goes on - more matches like this please Rico ps The commentator did more good work

and Rico etc etc As you suggested Blazeaway, our party won't be going along to practice - we're travelling over from Warsaw on Friday to Poznan and won't be venturing on another train trip to Leszno that day. Would be interesting to meeting up with The Know if you can sort it out. Rico

Is there no end to your talents Lawrence ? Good work mate. Great picture quality and some cracking races in there too. Rico

After some discussions with HenryW last night I think we'll likely end up going to Gniezno. Neither match is likely to be a close run contest and if that's the case we might as well go to the one that's nearest. Please don't knock me off the invite list for the Friday night Blazeaway Rico

You lightweight Blazeaway, The party will just be starting in Poznan when we get back at about 2.30am. I certainly wouldn't put you off going to Gniezno though. Nice enough place (former capital of Poland). Rico

Could be the old Egg and Chips v Steak argument here. The Gniezno match will be a second division affair, however Bydgoszcz has the appetiser of Simon Stead, main course of Under 21 World Champion Emil Sajfutdinov and a dessert of GP star Andreas Jonsson. Also throw in the fabulous Laguta brothers riding for the away team, its a question of preference really. And also how hungover you are also Rico

What meeting is it Blazeaway ? We've been to Gniezno before and it's a pretty good track. Only about an hour by train from Poznan. Stadium is about a 15 minute walk from the station. Rico

Added to the list queen dougs. Rico

Best view, undoubtedly in with the prawn sandwich brigade, but you'll be looking at £100 + for your ticket. Atmosphere nil. Then as others have mentioned there are numbered seats running from the entry to turn 1 round the bend. We've used them before and they're ok. You can be set back quite far from the track though, it depends where your allocated seat is really. Can't remember how much these tickets were last year. Atmosphere, hmmmm ok but not too lively. Or brave the remainder of the stadium. Tickets last year were around £20. Atmosphere electric. View superb (thanks to having very kind friends in Bydgoszcz). If you don't have people looking out for you then getting a decent place to view the racing can be difficult. Rico

What more info do you want 'score keeper' ? Until we know the start time of the meeting we can't be sure of the times. Cost is uncertain at the moment depending on numbers and where they want to return to. Last years trip to Ostrow was a roaring success as I'm sure those there will testify. This years trip promises to be just as much fun. I'll put you on the list of interested people for now. Rico

I wouldn't have thought the cost of a cab would be too intimidating (maybe £40/50 at a total guess), but it's scary enough on Polish roads during the day - not sure I'd fancy the cab ride up the road in the dark. Best option for me will be to have a few more drinks in Leszno before heading back - believe me things will just be livening up in Poznan at 2.30am, the night will be very much young. As for Reading, yes, I'll be along in the first few weeks of the season, will give you a shout if I'm going along. Rico

Looking at www.polrail.com it appears that there are no trains between 21:55 (GP finishes at 22:00 ) and 01:34. Could have sworn there were other trains in between, but if that's all there is then that's what we'll be using. I'd imagine there'll be a lot of people travelling back to Poznan by train after the meeting. Looks like you might have to pass an hour or two in the bars of Leszno before heading back. You don't require a reservation for the 01:34 train, but there is for the 02:05 train which appears to be a sleeper train. Mama or Mateusz could perhaps confirm if it is possible to book a seat on a 'Pospieszny' service. I don't have my phrase book to hand. Leszno really isn't that big and you'll not get lost there believe me ! Just follow the crowds pre-meeting and post-meeting head to the main square where I'd imagine it'll be a bit lively. Rico

Basic and clean, the Ibis was pretty good value when we booked - around £15 per person per night. That rate was dependant upon staying 3 nights though. We stayed there last year and while its not bang in the main square, its easy to justify rolling into a taxi at 5am for the short trip. Rico

Is it possible for you to either fly out on the Friday or fly from Luton with Wizzair on their earlier flight ? The stadium in Leszno is about a 25 minute walk from the station, taxi takes about 20 minutes from Poznan airport to the station. I'd hate to see you disappointed and miss out on the action - arriving so late at the stadium (unless you have a numbered seat) will see you struggling for a seat for sure. Rico

Hodgy, I'd suggest you get an earlier flight if possible. It could doubtless be done if your flight is on time. The GP starts at 1900hrs local time. I've seen people miss the start of the GPs due to flight delays before (actually saw them fly overhead during the presentation). As for hotels, where do you want to stay ? Poznan or Leszno. No idea if any of the hotels in Leszno still have availability tbh. They still seem to be suggesting some for sale in Leszno at http://www.e-ticket.pl/bzn - no idea of location or standard of the particular motel they have on offer. We've gone for basing ourselves in Poznan as it's got more to offer than Leszno, which is a very small town. One of the trip highlights will probably be the train journey back to Poznan from Leszno after the meeting. Rico

I'd suggest back straight as you are pretty high up with a good view of the whole track. Should be a cracking atmosphere but get there early for a decent seat, and I mean early ! Rico

It looks that way Ped, I think I'd rather get a train than a wee minibus I think and as no-one else has shown an interest I think that's what we'll end up doing. If anything changes I'll obviously let you know. Rico

Just don't play AlGerrie at Scrabble. Rico

You are of course correct Ped. My only excuse can be a stupidly long work day yesterday. Original post amended to avoid confusion. Rico

Can you check my maths is correct for NikkiF and Sandie please (on 1st post). I'm a little confused but think I have the gist of your requirements. Rico

Hi Ped, Only an hour-ish on the train from Poznan to Leszno, so I think maybe quarter-hourly vodka shots for that one No need to book either train in advance. Plenty of options for getting the train to Leszno but the Sunday trip it's pretty much a one-chance shot at getting to Bydgoszcz on the train (see separate thread re possible bus - looks unlikely). Rico

The RAC routeplanner shows it to be slightly further at 120ish miles on the fastest route (110 going the shortest way). Route link Rico