Subedei

Walasek had all his races won by half-way down the back straight on lap 1. His most difficult opponent tonight was Sophie Blake. I was surprised to see the great man Tomasz Gollob deigning to be interviewed during the meeting. Still, about all she managed from him was that he was "happy".

I guess they think that with the wide open spaces at Wroclaw, it's pretty safe without an air fence.

I didn't look at Page 1 after the conversation went onto another page.

Despite Havelock talking about the guy having "cartoons" going on in his mind, Gollob's biggest problem in the GPs this year has been a lack of speed. He thought of switching to GMs during the winter, but he stuck with Jawas and was nowhere. Now he's on GMs and is again looking a world-class performer. He started to look the part in Prague, but he's been on a different level at Eskilstuna and now Wroclaw. But let's not forget Walasek. He got a 15-pointer tonight.

And confused him so much, he saw Holta pass Gollob in Ht 24.

Anyway, speaking of Tomasz Gollob, he was absolutely superb tonight. It's great to see him back on top form. I've said all season that he's been under-power in the GPs, but now with a super-fast GM under him, he's looking great again. He certainly gave Nicki P plenty to think about. Edit: Actually, he seemed to give his mechanic plenty to think about after that heat as well. Maybe disappointed with the start he made.

How'd he manage that? Gollob wasn't in Ht 24 and Holta's on his side.

You could debate whether the Danes are worthy of a slot. They haven't exactly set the world on fire at Swindon or Wroclaw. At least the Australians made a good go of it at Eskilstuna.

Think you'll find that little lot adds up to 63, not 62.

And for the attention of Nigel Pearson, Piotr Protasiewicz rides for Bydgoszcz, not Zielona Gora, in the Polish Ekstra Liga. However, I think the graphics that Sky used tonight were supplied by BSI and the FIM.

Think the tactical moves by the Danes knocked the stuffing out of Australia. That's assuming Ryan Sullivan has some stuffing to have knocked out.

If Crump was riding, the Danes would be out of it.

I assume that having Gollob at No 3 means he'll be out in Ht 25?

Sounds like the "other people" will be black and blue by the time you've finished. Are you sure you're "all red and white"? What about the ceremonial pink cowboy hat?

True. Darkin was a "going and down" a couple of times.

If only the Russian's could've had Gollob team riding with them again, they might have stunned the Czechs. The Germans were out of their depth, but it was all about getting experience I feel. They didn't even bother trying any tactical moves, just let all of their riders get 5 rides against class opposition. Personally I think the Russians and the Czechs wouldn't have posted much higher scores than the Germans last night. It was definitely a step up in class from the Swindon meeting.

Presumably the Poles will fiddle around with their riding order so that Tomasz Gollob's out in Ht 25.

The Poles obviously look very strong for Wroclaw, in particular Jaroslaw Hampel who rides for Wroclaw in the Ekstra Liga. I can see Walasek coming into the Polish team at the expense of either Kasprzak or Protasiewicz. If TG can repeat his form from last night, the Poles should walk it. I wouldn't count out the Australians, whose "Holy Trinity" of Crump, Adams and Sullivan are all in the top 5 of the Ekstra Liga averages. The Czechs are no-hopers, but the Drymls could get a few points. Which leaves the Danes. They were rather pathetic at Swindon. Only Nicki P looks like a truly class act. Iversen is a weak link, no matter what Newport and Oxford supporters might believe. And Andersen's Polish form has been indifferent this season. I'm going for Poland and Australia to make the final.

They were both superb. And what was really special about it was that at no stage did either Leigh Adams or Tomasz Gollob seek to "close the door" on the other rider.

Got to say that TR would come in very handy down the Quayside on a Saturday night. With an elbow technique like that, there'd be no trouble getting served.

Think they'd have had to give TG a 30 minute break before the race-off if he'd won Ht 25. I mean I was exhausted just watching it, God alone knows what state Gollob was in after riding it. He's not getting any younger you know.

That's a jolly valid point. I meant to type Swindon, I thought I'd typed Swindon, but all the available evidence shows I typed Sweden instead. And, you know what, if you look in a couple of minutes, it'll show that I did type Swindon. But, by that time, it'll be too late.

The Germans were just dreadfully unlucky to get drawn in the 2nd Event. They'd probably have been close to double figures if they'd been at Swindon. But the Eskilstuna meeting was very tough.

Maybe it's because you Britons (remember, I'm a Mongol) are so often the losers, or, if you prefer, the lossers.

Was it Great Britain he rode for? I think Briggs and Mauger rode for Great Britain for a long time, but I could be wrong.