Rico

Glad to try and help Hutchie. Re Travel Plus, without knocking them, it removes half of the adventure of the trip - much more fun finding your own way in a foreign land imho . Each to their own - it suits some people. As for Air Polonia I have e-mailed them asking when they are releasing their flights but haven't had a response as yet. If I find out I'll post something on here. In the meantime I'm just going to keep checking the site. Rico

The Polish Rail Site should help you make your mind up. They don't quote prices, but you'll get an idea of the time and availability of trains on the different journeys (6-10 hours from Berlin, 4-5 hours from Warsaw). From memory the cost from Warsaw to Bydgoszcz is around £12 first class each way. Rico

I assume you mean "Does anyone know where we can book tickets from ?" Am I getting old or can I just not be Arsenaled with people not being able to use the English language What do you mean - for the stadium ? If so keep an eye on SGP Site and you can fill a form out on there. By the sound of it you should be more concerned about your hotel arrangements. You must meet Uncle Rico over there. Papa Bazarou will vouch for my integrity Rico

I am not aware of any airline that flies direct from the UK to Bydgoszcz. You can fly into Warsaw and catch a connecting flight to Bydgoszcz. However as I don't like flying I am happy to catch the train and see a bit of the countryside on the way. Rico

Hey Hutchie Have been to Bydgoszcz for the last 4 years so hope I can help. Will definitely be going back there this year. I've always flown into Warsaw as it's worth a visit en route. Hotels a plenty, however they aren't overly cheap. Have considered going via Berlin previously but just always ended up going via Warsaw. I am waiting on Air Polonia releasing their summer schedules and hopefully be able to fly for a decent price. Lot seem reasonably priced at the moment as well if you want to book up well in advance. A train to Bydgoszcz is our usual mode of transport which takes around 4-5 hours depending on the train you get. You can buy tickets from a German website in advance, but we're confident enough about buying ours once in Poland (we've found that there is an English speaking ticket agent in Warsaw airport). For the extra cost first class is well worth it. As for hotels in the town we are booked into the Pod Orlem which is a lovely hotel. Not quite as modern as the City, however I've always found the City difficult to book. One year we had to wait till the last minute but the Pod Orlem came up with the goods just when we had visions of sleeping on the street. First year we went we stayed in the Ratuschowy, which was much cheaper but nowhere near as nice as the Pod Orlem. Depends on your budget / preference. Then the GP - atmosphere is always amazing and it might be something different this year after Tomasz's defection - I'm sure the locals will still be right behind him though. Keep an eye on the SGP site and you can book tickets in advance. Hope the above helps. If you need anything more specific give me a shout. Rico

It's down to the finishing order of the meeting at Poole, in which Stead replaced David Howe. Rico :roll:

Come on Rip Van Winkel Rico :roll:

Good to meet up with you and your lot on the Friday night Papa B - a fun evening of drinking had by all. Shame you guys didn't appear in Chesterfields on the Saturday night - it was quite good there, but perhaps not as busy as it was last year. I think the Poles might have been emotionally drained by that point. Still, great time had by all. :twisted: - we (Tom and I) may make the trip to Coventry for the ELRC so we'll catch up with you then hopefully. Rico :roll:

Mateusz we just hope your city can recover from Rico!! It's survived since visits in 2000,2001 and 2002. Surely it can take another visit Hope to meet up with you over there Mateusz. Your photo doesn't help too much though. Just look for the Bydgoszcz fan in shades Rico :roll:

So from postings so far I make it Myself, legendary Tomek from Yahoogroups and 7 others Papa Bazarou and friends Jools and bloke Mateusz, friend and family. We are heading out tomorrow (Weds) morning Beer tent at practice ?? Make sure y'all go to Chesterfields (under the City Hotel) after the meeting - that's where it seems everyone goes. The atmosphere is usually good in there. Rico :roll:

Zajebiste Miguel ! Xcuse me french Rico :roll:

At Bydgoszcz there are 3 areas of seating Main Grandstand - numbered seats Sektor A - numbered seats Rest of stadium - free for all. That's why at meetings like this the crowd arrives very early to get as good seats as they can. Rico :roll:

Wouldn't expect anything less Mateusz We have booked tickets in Sektor A, to the right of the grandstand just as the riders enter the first bend. We've sat there on each of our visits to Bydgoszcz and it means we don't have to go to the stadium too early to keep seats. Rico :roll:

Come on then folks, who is going along to what promises to be the most exciting GP of the season so far. The Bydgoszcz GP has always been keenly anticipated (certainly in this household anyway) for its superb racing, however with the World Championship in the melting pot like it hasn't been for years this years promises to be even better. There's a large gang of us heading out to Poland on Wednesday, Gdansk for a couple of nights then moving onto Bydgoszcz Friday to Monday. Monday evening in Warszawa then home again Tuesday. List meet required ??? Chesterfields after the meeting is a certainty - highlight of the GP year usually. Rico :roll:

According to www.speedwaygp.com he is definitely riding. Rico :roll: LORAM BACK FOR SCANDINAVIAN GP MARK Loram has confirmed that he will definitely ride in the 2003 FIM Miljopartiet Scandinavian Grand Prix in Gothenburg next week. Loram, the 2000 World Champion, has been plagued by injury over the past 12 months. He missed the final GP of 2002 in Sydney despite traveling to Australia only to be hospitalised 48 hours before the start. He made a good recovery and started the 2003 season in Britain and Poland only to suffer a broken arm, which ruled him out of the first four GPs in Poland, Sweden, Great Britain and Cardiff. Loram was back for the Slovenian GP but then sustained another injury which threatened to rule him out for the rest of the year. But he has again fought his way back, missed the recent Speedway World Cup, and now says he will take his place at the Ullevi Stadium on August 23.

That was a different sentence Tom - anyway I don't want to appear over-critical of your grammar, just making sure Matej's achievement wasn't brushed under the carpet. Rico :roll:

Matej Zagar won his first two races by a street before drawing gate 3 twice in the main event. Rico :roll:

Sammy, You'll find that the vast majority of Swede's grasp of the English language is better than ours and won't have any problem if picking up a ticket at the stadium. Of course, it's always polite to ask first if they do speak English rather than assume. Alternatively you could use www.ticnet.se to book in advance. Rico :roll:

You were doing well until that point Xemi - as much as I like Smudger/Kowalski he isn't in the same league as most of the riders you mention. I would suggest that some of the teams in the Polish league are far stronger than anything in UK Elite League, e.g. Torun with Rickardsson, Crump, Wieslaw Jagus, Pepe and Bajerski would wipe the floor with any of the UK teams. Also, Czestochowa are very strong, however the bottom couple of teams don't seem too strong and would struggle. As an aside - do any of our Polish chums know why Wieslaw Jagus, who looks an excellent rider, has never ventured to Britain - I'd imagine he's been offered the chance on more than one occasion. To conclude , imho Extraleague is stronger than UK Elite League Division 1 is very slightly stronger than UK Premier League Divison 2 very hard to compare with UK Conference, however I'd guess at it being stronger. Rico 41 Days to Bydgoszcz GP !

Gollob jest moj bohater. Bardzo dobrze Tomka ! Rico :roll:

Surely it's all gone a bit far when a supermarket gets to enter a team in the SWC - what next Marks and Spencer's Soft Furnishings ? Rico :roll:

I'll consider myself teased Lioness Joanne took the safe option and left us early in the evening (before midnight). The night got a little lively after that :twisted: And as we're going to Poland we're bound to be on our best behaviour ;-) We're just showing our sensible side (that does come out occasionally) and helping out. :-o Rico :roll:

Let me know if you didn't get my mail offline. Rico

Surely Avesta must be considered to be a proper track!? D'oh ! And I was there as well He got "Dryml'd" in that one though. Rico :roll: Dryml'd = outrageous manouvre swinging from inside to out on exit to a corner resulting in your opponent having to shut off.

Tomasz Gollob will have a change of luck and be victorious. He has looked in good form in the GPs this year and on the first proper track (Chorzow is still new imho) will make up for last year when beaten by a tyres width by Sullivan. Go Tomek ! Rico :roll: