Subedei

That maybe so Cornishman, but I think you'll find the Poles have already handed both Kasprzak and Kolodziej at least one "wild card" go in the GPs as well. We stick with the semi-dependables. It's a fair chance when Cardiff comes around next year, if there's a "wild card", it'll be Norris or Loram again.

I thought the rumour was that Matej Zagar would get another chance as a Wild Card at Lonigo.

And just in case you're wondering, there's no Polish Ekstra Liga action on 10 July, 2005. The fun and games start again, with the penultimate round of the regular season on 17 July, 2005.

Far be it for me to defend the Millard, but having watched it again, I think you'll find the quote was: "Bjarne Pedersen will be out in the re-run, his hopes still alive."

Krzysztof Kasprzak is top of Poole's averages and he has an average of 8.46 for Leszno in the Ekstra Liga. But he rides at No 7 for Leszno and will do for the rest of the season. Janusz Kolodziej has an average of 7.71 for Tarnow in Poland and he rides at No 7 for them and he will do for the rest of the season. Both those riders are programmed for just 1 ride in each Ekstra Liga meeting, but can replace any rider during the rest of the programme up to a total of about 6 rides. They're young, good and Polish, so the authorities help them by creating a rule whereby a good young Pole can remain at No 7 in the team no matter what his average.

Until they want £50,000 for him again.

I don't think any scoring system could mask the fact that TR is miles ahead of everyone. He's made every final and he's won 5 of 6 finals. In any scoring system he's going to be miles ahead. Your argument works, sort of. But you've got to think that the 20 qualification heats would be different if they counted more. And in that circumstance, it's far from clear that Nicholls would have ended with 14 points.

It must be tough coming into the circus mid-way through. Kasprzak did okay in the 1st GP, Zagar did very well in the 3rd (but he knows Krsko like Gollob knows Bydgoszcz) and Iversen did okay in Copenhagen. There's just no easy rides in the GP this year, with the reduced field. You don't have quite so much chaf in with the wheat. And you're straight in against the wheat this time around. It's tough for them.

I'd say there's more than 15 riders better than Lindback, but Lindback's making finals pretty regularly this season.

Did it? It showed he is capable in the qualification heats, but he came a cropper in the semis. And you need to be hitting the finals. I don't want to be nasty, but what is it now, 50 GPs since the last British winner?

I'm serious. I would have: 1..Kasprzak 2..Lindback 3..Sullivan 4..Ferjan 5..B Pedersen BP to look after the reserves. Sullivan and Ferjan just get in Lindback's and Kasprzak's way if they hit the front, while both Lindback and Kasprzak are quick enough to keep out of each others way. Edit: Oh dear, a Poole takeover of the GP thread and it's all my fault.

I'm getting worried about the number of times we're agreeing tonight young fellow. Edit: That's a joke, by the way. I think we posted similar sentiments about 3 times in this thread.

Young Davis didn't quite manage it then. Maybe next time.

It always seems to be BP that's dumped into the fence. He'll be thinking the other riders don't like him soon.

BP will be okay. He's made 3 finals this season. And Nicholls should do enough, although losing out after hitting 14 in the qualifiers will be hard to take. I think Richardson, Chrzanowski and possibly Sullivan are skating on thin ice.

Surely not. That would mean there'd only be a couple of thousand there. And it looked more than that.

I hope so.

They were in Cardiff. But Nicholls had to ride his testicles off to get the win. Hampel virtually shepherded a slow Gollob around at Cardiff and tonight Gollob looked to me to eliminate Hampel's rivals on the first and second bends. Nothing untoward, just effective team riding. It actually might have cost TG a better gate pick for the semis.

Think Middlo's got to seriously consider pairing Kasprzak and Lindback. They're both fliers and unlikely to get in each others way. BP, Sullivan and Ferjan just ride too conservatively for them.

What's interesting is that at Cardiff, Gollob and Hampel were together in their last qualification ride and Gollob got the win he needed, tonight Hampel and Gollob again with Hampel getting the win he needed. On both occasions I feel the two Poles helped each other out a little. Gollob's first and second bends seemed designed to ensure Hampel was away in front.

Okay, a pretty good GP in the Golden City tonight. And didn't they hammer through it. No messing about and all wrapped up and in TR's bag before 9:00. There was some good racing, a bit of controversy and a touch of rain. My assessments of the individual riders are: L Adams: Almost made the semis, but didn’t. He didn't look on the pace all night and will surely be looking ahead to next season. But you begin to doubt that he'll ever be champ. H Andersen: A bit hopeless really. T Chrzanowski: A bit hopeless really. You can't see him being around next season and he'll probably not be missed. A decent rider, but not GP standard. A Dryml: A bit disappointing really, considering the form he's been in this season. But it's tough to come into the GPs as a Wild Card and be competitive. Of the Wild Cards this season, only Matej Zagar has shone. J Crump: Another disappointing night for the champ you feel. He made the final, but didn't look to have the pace all night. I suppose he should be pleased in the circumstances, but I doubt he is. T Gollob: At last Gollob looked on the pace, but he fell at the semi stage. Should be happy to be back on the pace and looking forward to the rest of the season. J Hampel: Another super GP performance from young Hampel. He'll be happy to have finished on the podium and surely it's only a matter of time before he gets onto the top spot. G Hancock: Won a heat, but pretty dreadful really. A Jonsson: A little unlucky not to make the semis. A couple of times his bike lifted costing him valuable places. A Lindback: A decent enough display from Lindback. S Nicholls: Last time I said he was a little unlucky, this time he was very unlucky. Or was he? He was sublime in the qualifiers, but again he fluffed the semi. It must've been soul destroying and it'll be interesting to see how he copes. B Pedersen: His good GP, bad GP run continued with a 2nd place. He'll be delighted with that, but he'll be wanting to break the sequence in the next GP. That's for sure. N Pedersen: Made the semis, but that's about it. Not a good GP for Nicki P. L Richardson: A bit hopeless really. Like Chrzanowski, he's not GP class. T Rickardsson: Same old same old from TR. Does enough in the qualifiers and semis and then wins the thing. Outstanding. R Sullivan: Started very well, faded, made the semis and then went out. He should be happy with his performance, but you wonder if he'll be around the GP circus next year.

Which makes you wonder about the last couple of years. Since the Krsko GP last year, TR has won 6 of the last 8 GPs.

The fact remains that Gollob's engine in a Jawa case was slow and his engine in a GM case is fast. And that engines, whoever rides them in the GPs, in a GM case are looking a lot faster than the Jawa ones.

And, for the next round: 150 on TG 150 on Andreas Jonsson So, if both fail, it leaves me enough for a big enough bet on TG at Bydgoszcz. And no doctoring TG's odds for Bydgoszcz young Turner.

And nor do Penske frames. But the rider makes a hell of a lot of difference. And TR is the difference, not his frames or his engines, good as they may well be.