Rico

I thought he was fairly legendary in Chesterfields last year as well MK ! Certainly still appears to have the old 'magic'. Rico

The Ostrow v Zielona Gora match is on the Sunday Subedei and we still intend going along to that. This news has made me choke on my pierogi ruskie - I can't believe they aren't even starting the season. If this turns out to be the case then we'll just have more time to enjoy the delights of Krakow. Although it depends on what time Tarnow's match starts if they are at home that day - might be worth considering. Rico

Disagree strongly. Nicholls is a far stronger in the category "natural motorcyclcist" than Richardson. I expect Scotty to finish comfortably in the top 8 this year and make more than 1 rostrum place. Lee will finish in 10-14 again. Rico p.s. If this inspires Lee to glory I will not claim any credit whatsoever.

From memory it was around 1500hrs(ish). You are reliant upon whatever scheduled time the flight out there goes that day, e.g. if it leaves at lunchtime from Stansted it will have an allotted 25 minute turnaround in Bydgoszcz and then straight back to Stansted. As things stand the outbound flights are Thurs dep 1140 arr 1445 Bydgoszcz Fri dep 1845 arr 2145 Bydgoszcz Sat dep 1140 arr 1445 Bydgoszcz Sun dep 1845 arr 2145 Bydgoszcz Mon dep 1845 arr 2145 Bydgoszcz Return Flights Thurs dep 2210 arr 2320 Stansted Fri dep 2210 arr 2320 Stansted Sat dep 1510 arr 1620 Stansted Sun dep 2210 arr 2320 Stansted Mon dep 2210 arr 2320 Stansted What the final times will be only Ryanair know. Hope for everyone's sake that the final times are suitable. I feel sorry for Tone Deaf + family who are unsuited by the current state of affairs (hope you do make it and can make alternative arrangements if these are the final flight times) and those wanting onward connections from Stansted. Rico

Sounds like a fantastic way to do it - really enjoyed the week I spent in Zakopane in Dec 2004. HenryW and I are flying into Krakow on the Wednesday and getting the train across to Wroclaw during the day on Thursday to meet up with the other 6 of our group. Just wondering what the M.C. might stand for Major Chav ? Hopefully we will see you and your good lady on the Thursday night around the square, if we don't bump into you drop a text and we'll sort something out (if you can still remember the lesson I gave you last year). I'm sure we can arrange something nearer the time for a meet-up for those going. There are plenty of watering holes to be found on the main square. Rico

Hey MK. Don't forget the club PRL too - we must take you there this year, NikkiF will thoroughly recommend it We are staying in the Radisson SAS as well - top drawer hotel. Rico

You must clean your ears out f4e. Never a good idea sending me to the bar - last year I asked for 12 kamikaze. My reward for attempting to talk the local language was a tray of 20 - still they all got drunk quick enough. Anyone staying at the Brda on the Friday might want to warn them in advance to get an extra member of staff or two on as the poor guy will have a heart attack when we converge upon him (it's over 50 as Tone Deaf = Tone Deaf + 2 and B52 + 3). Interesting to see how this has mushroomed as the first year we partied in the Brda on the Friday there was maybe around 10/15 of us and now ...... Rico

Only stayed in Gdansk once and we were based in the Holiday Inn, right opposite the main station. Wasn't particulalry cheap though, but depends on your idea of 'reasonably priced'. Rico

Mr Davis, Just think "it'll be out of a glass or a bottle". It doesn't matter which country you will be in for the majority of the day, I am sure you will have a ball. There is a well stocked bar at Stansted airport that I have spent many an hour pre-flight in. Regardless of arrival time in Bydgoszcz you will be taken out on the town on the Thursday night and at the end of proceedings left naked tied to the statue on the main square for the pigeons to feed on in the morning. I hope the pigeons aren't TOO hungry Rico

Jason, The Poole fixture list shows that the meeting is in GB, not at Poole itself. Rico

Kevin, The post directly before your one had a quote with the link in it for Polrail. I dunno - some people you just can't help Maybe you are better suited to go with Travel Plus again Rico

Given Ryanair's uncertain flight time how happy would you have been to arrive in Bydgoszcz AFTER the big derby match ? It'll be the first time I have been to Krakow in about 18 months and it's about time I reunited myself with the place, albeit for one night only. Rico

Where are you getting your fixtures from Papa B ? All the lists I have seen have Leszno away on 7 May. RKM Rybnik - Unia Leszno CKM Włókniarz Częstochowa - BTŻ Polonia Bydgoszcz Marma Polskie Folie Rzeszów - Atlas Wrocław Adriana Toruń - Unia Tarnów ŻSSA We are looking at going to the Ostrow - Zielona Gora match. Rico

Not meaning to speak for PapaB, but I'd imagine considerations were a ) price , b ) Ryanair can't seem to make their minds up on what time their plane is going to depart Stansted. See the Bydgoszcz Tickets thread in the GP section for the latest ETA of flights and of course c ) Poznan is a lovely place to visit. Poznan is certainly under consideration for the Sunday after the GP, but it does depend on the E-liga play-off meetings. Rico

I think I will just check on the morning of the day I am due to leave and see what time they want me at the airport. Am so glad I don't have to try and sort a connecting flight for this shambles. I knew there was a benefit to living down south. Rico

HenryW and I have our fingers crossed that Krakow hold out till their home fixture on 3 May, then at least we will be able to say we have seen them in action. Given their current roster it doesn't look great. Rico

Siema Tommy. Is this news regarding Rybnik definite ? If so, who do they have in their squad and is there anyone else they can sign to bolster the ranks in Ekstraliga. Rico

Hi Luce, I just meant in general Ryanair's cheapest flights would be cheaper than Air Baltic's. Whether or not Ryanair's cheapest flight is available on the days you might want to go is another matter entirely. As I am not attending this GP I hadn't even looked at the prices for that particular weekend. Sorry Addy, I only discovered Air Baltic last year purely by chance after the BA flight my colleagues were booked on shot up in price. I just thought it might be information worth sharing, especially for you Manc-dwellers. I'd have thought you should be saving your pennies for the booze-fest 2 weeks later Rico

Just to throw in another airline that hasn't been mentioned. I went out to Riga at New Year and used Air Baltic. Their prices weren't too bad, although Ryanair's cheapest fare will doubtless be cheaper than theirs on occasion. They fly direct to Machester (3 times a week) and Heathrow (daily). Also they co-operate flights with SAS so connections from Regional airports via Copenhagen are possible. Website is here. Rico

Even though I won't be able to go to the Latvian GP personally I just thought it worth acknowledging the excellent stream of info coming from Latvia itself. A great help to anyone considering a trip - keep up the good work guys. Rico

Glad to see my face is above where the page has been cut-off in the Bydgoszcz picture on the website. The embarassment of appearing in the Speedway Star was killing me. Considerately I had put my hands up to block HenryWs face from the shot in the Star. Rico

Very diplomatic of you HenryW, given that your hero (Pepe P) was clearly pretty much useless under the old format, where he apparently faced too much pressure in his races. Given we agree Pepe is likely to benefit from the current structure (until any semi-finals he makes ) I am refreshingly surprised by your advocacy of the previous system. I think the current system will work and agree that we saw something of a freak year in 2005. We might see the same again in 2006, but, assuming TR disappears into the night with his millions of $s, the future will see a far more competitive series given the currently in force regulations. Rico

Try this link. Click on Sport, rekreacja, Underneath Stadion / Hale / Tory use the dropdown button and select BTZ Polonia The map then zooms right in to the stadium. If you use the - (minus) button slowly to zoom out you can then see where it is in relation to the city centre (Stare Miasto) Hope this helps. Rico

Get bus or taxi from Gdansk airport ( link here) to Gdasnk Glowny station then train to Bydgoszcz Glowna. Timetables for trains can be found at Polrail website. Pretty frequent and reasonably fast trains between the 2 cities. We flew into Gdansk last year and the taxi driver ended up driving us to Torun, pretty much the same distance as Bydgoszcz from Gdansk. I'd say the train is definitely a more comfortable way to travel. Rico

Until well after your bedtime Mr Davis Don't worry we'll find you somewhere to drink upon arrival. Rico