Rico

1. Sweden 2. Denmark 3. Team GB 4. Poland What no Aussies ?? Rico

Martin, Sectors B & C are benches - there is no standing area as such, but that depends on who is around you I guess. Sector A & the Main Stand (Trybuna) have numbered seats, which are reserved. Rico

SJW If you want a reserved seat, you need to contact the club directly speedway@btzpolonia.pl . The internet site appears to be only selling tickets in Sektors B & C, which are unreserved seating. Rico

Great to see Kolodziej included in the Polish line-up. A very bold move to throw a youngster into the SWC. I'm sure he won't let the side down. Rico

Totally agree Janusz Ostry/Charlietheplasterer Loved Odsal - I remember going to a meeting there, Dukes v Wolves and thinking it was one of the greatest meetings I'd ever seen. Bought the highlights video that year thinking it'd be full of races from that night, but not even one of them made it on the tape. Rico

The commentators as far as I am aware are never at any of the GPs outside the UK. The commentary is done in a room at the Sky Sports studio in Teddington. This usually results in passes and incidents going un-noticed if missed on the live cameras. Worst recent one springing to mind was Walasek at Wroclaw - they had to wait until the replay before realising that he had hit the airfence after the race. Clearly it is not considered worth the expense of sending Mr Millard and his partner in crime abroad. Rico

Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme website Rico

Can't see Dobrucki getting in ahead of Pepe myself. Pepe is a GP rider (ok he's not had a great start to the season, but he's getting there) and he won the WC Grand Final at Poole last season (which RD finished 8th or so). Rafal doesn't have the international experience of Pepe. He's done very well for Oxford this season but I don't see him ousting Pepe from the team. I'd certainly have Walasek in the Polish 5 at Poole, just for his track knowledge - Eastbourne is a tough call though based on this seasons form. Rico

Wow the Swedes will be strong at Poole ! I reckon Grzegorz Walasek, who put in a mighty perfromance in the Wroclaw GP and at Poole the week after may get the nod for the 5th Polish berth. Rico

1. Adams 2. TRick 3. Gollob 4. N Pedersen Rico

1. L Adams 2. N Pedersen 3. T Gollob 4. T Rickardsson Rico

Don't you concern yourself Lioness - 0215 and Rico hasn't made it to bed yet. 0620 bus to Heathrow beckons but the 5 hour train journey from Warsaw to Wroclaw should perk things up before we hit the town in Wroclaw tomorrow. Give the boys extra cheers on Friday -sadly I think we'll need them. Hope you made it to the toilet (kind of looks like someone trying to crack one out) Rico

Without wanting to wade through 13 pages of rambling nonsense (I reckon 20% of this thread or less is revealing as to where folks are staying) - anyone else staying in the Holiday Inn right by the stadium. Myself and me compadre Tomek will be there on the Friday and Saturday nights and would be glad to meet up with any forum dudes/dudesses in the vicinity. Don't be shy - Tomek is a celebrity on YahooGroups - only a one time opportunity you get to meet him this year. Rico ps Previous applicants need not re-apply. Your application remains on file and we will contact you if your previous application is to be taken forward. pps FFS why don't I try and sleep before these stupid early flights. 2 hours tonight will hopefully be a bonus. Tomek Gollob TOMEK !

Apologies if stealing anyones thunder by starting this thread. Won't have much net access after tonight. My predictions are 1. Gollob 2. Adams 3. Hampel 4. Pedersen (N) Sub predictions 1. Less alcohol will be consumed during the meeting than in Prague (but more on the trip as a whole) 2. It won't rain as bad - and at least there's some cover for the fans. 3. Nicki will surprise his critics and be angelic 4. Not many people will include Pedersen in their top 4 Rico

Trains around every hour on average. Journey time circa 2.5 hours. You ought to be rejoicing at the thought of an extra day in Bydgoszcz You should be able to take in a Polish league match on the Sunday afternoon at one of the nearby clubs - fixtures won't be decided till nearer the time. Rico

Hey GG4E, Katowice is in the south-west of Poland and Bydgoszcz is in the north-west. Checked on the RAC site and it's 250 miles by road or by train around 7 hours. Doesn't sound like a great option for that GP - much better suited for Wroclaw see this post. Air Polonia to Poznan is probably the best cheapie for Bydgoszcz. Rico

????? In some ways the rain delay will make it special when I look back Scary as in - I don't want to get involved in all the slating of riders so will leave my comment as scary - tRick's crash, Hancock's crash - thought they were scary. Agree re the delay - made for a very entertaining evening all round Sorry to hear you had a bad experience JY - everyone around us was out making the best of it, apart from the grumpy Wolves fans of course Rico

Good to meet you and your other half also Splatty. Shame we didnt' meet till the tram as I'd seen you earlier in the evening - though at that point I was probably on a charge for beer. Have to say, I don't normally drink during the meetings but the delays on Saturday got us started and we had a right old party going on and I don't think I had an empty glass all night (apart from when my mate knocked my pint out my hand). Some great racing, some scary stuff, good atmosphere with some Reading, Peterborough and Coventry fans around us, grumpiest set of Wolves fans you can imagine , a crazy Czech couple sat behind us who looked like they were going home for a good old domestic and to top the night off I'm now the lucky holder of a stinking cold . Still if I had to do it all over I'd do it again. Roll on Wroclaw !! Rico ps Tomek Gollob TOMEK !!! (as was sung all night)

There is a list of reserves for the GP, based on the result of last years Grand Final meeting at Poole. First reserve is Joonas Kylmakorpi (sp?) who was the first non-qualifier, then Simon Stead - both are unavailable at this stage, so the third man Dobrucki gets the nod. Last year there was a slightly different scenario in Cardiff where a rider pulled out the meeting on the Thursday - there was no way the reserve rider could make it (I think it was a Russian - possibly Povazhny) to the meeting in time, so Chris Harris got a very late call-up to the meeting at the choice of the home federation. Rico

0620 Saturday morning from Stansted for my sins - why oh why Anyone else suffering that flight ? Rico ps You might not want to admit to the above as I'm flying out alone (meeting friends out there) and likely to be a little tipsy thanks to my 'love' of flying and lack of sleep.

1. Gollob 2. Adams 3. Rickardsson 4. Sullivan Rico

That's more like it Can't have you enjoying yourself. Rico

Wackie, You do shock me with your comments about getting trollied - I always understood you were a sensible sort As for currency, I've always found using ATMs the easiest and there are a few at the airport. You should introduce yourself at Smallmead one of these days. If you know Big H ask him to point me out to you. Rico

I believe the Holiday Inn for myself and Tomek again this year - we had a room next to Bajerski last year who I'm sure was thrilled at the noise coming from our gathering on the Friday evening last year. Rico

Heading out to Prague first thing Saturday morning. Only sure things so far is the hotel (Pyramida), seats on the straight toward the first bend and that we'll be drinking on the grass outside the bar just behind the main stand (still outside the stadium) for a while before the meeting. You get to soak up the atmosphere as all the crowds wander by as well as drinking lovely cheap Czech beer and (hopefully) catching some rays. After the meeting 2 years ago we went back to the Pyramida for a short while before heading into town. I can see that happening again. Rico