Subedei

And so, after the thrilling opening chapter of John Postlethwaite's SWC 2005, in which the depleted Britons put the invading Danes to the sword and made progress to the final in Wroclaw, what will the second chapter at Eskilstuna bring? Can the non-blood Pole, Rune Holta, help the aging Polish wizard Tomasz Gollob to steer the Poles through to the final in their home (adopted in the case of Holta) country? Or will the soon-to-be-crowned (again) king of speedway Tony Rickardsson, together with his sidekick the erratic princling Antonio Lindback, lead the Swedes straight through to the final? Or will Australia's "Holy Trinity" of Crump, Sullivan and Adams triumph in Sweden. Or maybe you think the rank outsiders Germany will, as Cassius Clay did so many years ago, "shake up the world"? It's a tough one to call, but I'm going for the Poles to get straight through to the final, leaving Australia and Sweden in the race-off.

If you wait long enough, this one'll mutate into a Poole thread. They all do eventually.

I didn't think he looked altogether comfortable from the 2nd lap onwards. And besides, the tactical ride went to Andersen, who'd hardly impressed too much up until then. Yes, he won it, but it was risky. A better bet would've been to have gone 6 down when Nicki P was scheduled to come out, since to that point he'd been unbeaten.

I suppose the "back straight" crowd could be termed the "Lech Beer Brigade".

I disagree. I thought it was more a series of errors by Nicki P, rather than tactics. There's got to be easier ways of "dropping" a point than trying to ride into the fence on every bend. Whatever. Richardson is very much the "man of the moment" around the Abbey at the minute. In fact, his form over the last month or so, in the Elite League (leaving aside Belle Vue) has been super. He even did well in his 3 rides for Swindon at Eastbourne last night.

Roy Keane of Manchester United called supporters who occupy the "best seats" in the stadium, mostly non-paying guests of sponsors and the like, the "prawn sandwich brigade". Part of their day out is generally a pre-match meal and other things the "ordinary" supporter doesn't get, such as prawn sandwiches.

What a fantastic display by Team GB, they certainly made me look more than a little foolish. But what a correspondingly pathetic display by the Danes and in particular Gjedde. Picked as a track specialist, he did next to nothing. I can't see him being in Poland and unless they raise their collective game, the Danes will not be riding on Saturday.

I'd say that TR had it within himself to win the titles in 2003-2004, so perhaps the question should be why has he decided to show it this season? The "new" TR showed himself towards the end of last season. He won the GPs at Krsko and Hamar at a canter in 2005 and finished 3rd behind Gollob and Crump at Bydgoszcz. Out of the last 9 GPs, TR has won 7, and but for the intervention of Nicki P at Eskilstuna, he'd have won 8 of them.

Strictly speaking, I wasn't wrong. They do both ride on Polish licences. Their holding a Polish passport is additional.

What chance have Team GB got if Denmark are allowed 2 riders in a heat?

Sounds like an idea signing for Poole. But, remember everyone, it's an urban myth that "Captain Pugwash" contained characters called Seaman Staines and Master Bates.

Wonder if he'll win his first heat and then run 4 lasts?

I agree. Team GB has no hope of winning it this year. Forget about bringing Loram back for the race-off (or final) and stick with the younger riders. It's valuable experience. Didn't the Poles turn up with Gollob and a group of youngsters last season? This season, with a great chance of winning, the Poles are going for their stars (and Holta), but last season they knew they didn't stand a chance.

Ouch. They don't take much nonsense from riders over in Poland, do they?

Only 1 can ride in a given meeting. Tarnow have Tony Rickardsson and now Scott Nicholls. Wroclaw have Hans Andersen and Antonio Lindback. But only 1 foreigner can ride for a team in a given meeting, except: Andy Smith (Torun) and Rune Holta (Czestochowa) who ride on Polish licences.

You hope Middlo's fit for the race-off? Surely things can't be that bad? It's got to be 20 years since the guy raced in anger.

If the lower tiers are into play-off mode as well, they probably go on the same dates as the Ekstra Liga. Thus, there could be no speedway - apart from Leigh Adam's testimonial - in Poland on 28 August, 2005.

I'd imagine that, as a BSI-FIM event, Ole Olsen will be race director. I don't know about the Swindon track, but it's a knocking bet he'll have no say whatsoever in the Wroclaw track, unless he happens to want the track exactly the same way as Gollob & Co want it.

Better leave your Cross of St George at home though.

Anyone know how many days practice the Poles have been having around Wroclaw this week? I'd guess they'll have had a fair few laps.

Think there's a thread below. Edit: And here it is: http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/ind...showtopic=20090

You're an optimist. I don't give Team GB much hope in a race-off in Poland that'll probably included Poland and Australia. Swindon is Team GB's only realistic hope of qualifying for the final.

It'll be nice for the Oxford supporters to another chance to see Gafurov I suppose.

Yes, and they were in the race-off last year as well.

Leszno is closer by some distance. The Tarnow meeting could see a heavy home win, but Czestochowa (Holta, Sullivan, Walasek) won at Leszno (Adams, Kasprzak) in the regular season. And tommy says Leszno is better than Bydgoszcz. That said, the Tarnow meeting should see the Gollobs, Rempalas, TR and Kolodziej against Andersen and Hampel.