Subedei

Anyway, what I find interesting about Polish league racing is the apparent clarity of the rules. You touch the tapes, or exceed the 2 minute allowance and it's a 3 man race - you're out of it. Doesn't allow for any smart tactical moves by a manager to buy time, etc. And the good old fashioned tactical rules - you're 6 behind after Ht 4 and you can replace a rider with another rider. To me, it makes sense. How about anyone else?

Torun are missing Zabik. It's easier to cover a misfiring rider if you've a full compliment of riders, but if you're using rider replacement it becomes harder.

The recent eclipse in Andersen's form is also interesting. Think maybe he's paying the price for spreading himself too thin. I can see Wroclaw going with either a wholly Polish side in the next round (they were considering it for this round), or giving Lindback another try. A couple of points from a foreign rider just isn't acceptable to the Poles.

I'm realiably informed that the Fairies have released the lovely ZKZ Kitten. But now she's taking a little break from the forum and so I'm having to do the league table myself. The averages will be posted tomorrow, but Ryan Sullivan is still going to be heading the pack. A maximum last week and another this week - great stuff from the Aussie, who's performing indifferently elsewhere. Obviously, her absence has reduced interest in these threads, but hopefully she'll be back very soon.

Here's hoping Dog comes back and gives us his insights into the meeting. I thought it a good effort from Zielona Gora against a super-powerful Tarnow team. When TR and TG are in form, they're going to make life virtually impossible for any team.

And after today's round of meetings, the Ekstra Liga table looks like this (Team.. Meetings..Points..Small Points): 1..Torun..11..21..+34 2..Tarnow..11..19..+114 3..Czestochowa..11..18..+29 4..Bydgoszcz..11..17..+44 5..Leszno..11..14..+18 6..Wroclaw..11..13..-28 7..Gdansk..11..8..-52 8..Zielona Gora..11..4..-159 League table details taken from: http://www.btzpolonia.pl

And the final Ekstra Liga meeting of the day sees Ryan Sullivan's Czestochowa taking on Leigh Adams' Leszno. This could be the most interesting encounter of the day, with both sides looking to make up ground on the league leaders Torun. ------------------------------ Leszno..44 9..L Adams..2,3,3,3,2 = 13 10..A Skornicki..0,1,2',2,1 = 6+1 11..J Rempala..1',0,1,2,0 = 4+1 12..D Balinski..2,1,3,1',1 = 8+1 13..R Kasprzak = 0 14..N Kosciuch..1,0,1',0,1 = 3+1 15..K Kasprzak..3,3,2,1,1' = 10+1 Czestochowa..46 1..R Sullivan..3,3,3,3,3 = 15 2..S Ulamek..1,2',2',3,3 = 11+2 3..G Walasek..3,3,1,2,0 = 9 4..S Drabik..0,0,0,0 = 0 5..R Holta..2,2,2,0,2' = 8+1 6..M Szczepaniak..2,1',0,0,0 = 3+1 7..D Romanczuk..0 = 0 Ht 1..K Kasprzak, Szczepaniak, Kosciuch, Romanczuk 4-2 (4-2) Ht 2..Sullivan, Adams, Ulamek, Skornicki 2-4 (6-6) Ht 3..Walasek, Balinski, Rempala, Drabik 3-3 (9-9) Ht 4..K Kasprzak, Holta, Szczepaniak, Kosciuch 3-3 (12-12) Ht 5..Sullivan, Ulamek, Balinski, Rempala 1-5 (13-17) Ht 6..Walasek, K Kasprzak, Kosciuch, Drabik 3-3 (16-20) Ht 7..Adams, Holta, Skornicki, Szczepaniak 4-2 (20-22) Ht 8..Sullivan, Ulamek, K Kasprzak, Kosciuch 1-5 (21-27) Ht 9..Adams, Skornicki, Walasek, Drabik [E/F] 5-1 (26-28) Ht 10..Balinski, Holta, Rempala, Szczepaniak 4-2 (30-30) Ht 11..Adams, Walasek, Kosciuch, Drabik [E/F] 4-2 (34-32) Ht 12..Sullivan, Rempala, Balinski, Szczepaniak 3-3 (37-35) Ht 13..Ulamek, Skornicki, K Kasprzak, Holta [Ex] 3-3 (40-38) Ht 14..Ulamek, Holta, Skornicki, Rempala 1-5 (41-43) Ht 15..Sullivan, Adams, Balinski, Walasek [Ex/T] 3-3 (44-46) ------------------------------ Notes: 1. Ht 4 and K Kasprzak replaces R Kasprzak for Leszno. 2. Ht 6 and K Kasprzak replaces R Kasprzak for Leszno. 3. Ht 8 and K Kasprzak replaces R Kasprzak for Leszno. 4. Ht 13 and K Kasprzak replaces R Kasprzak for Leszno, while Holta is excluded for Czestochowa. 5. Ht 15 and Walasek gets up to mischief at the tapes for Czestochowa. 6. A faultless maximum for Sullivan, again. And a great away win for Czestochowa. Bonus poinst calculated per British Elite League. All details from: http://www.sportowefakty.pl

Today's third Ekstra Liga meeting sees Gdansk hosting a Wroclaw side that doesn't look to be fielding either Hans Andersen or Antonio Lindback. But Ipswich star Robert Miskowiak makes a rare Ekstra Liga appearance for Wroclaw this season. ------------------------------ Gdansk..55 9..T Bajerski..1,1',2',2 = 6+2 10..T Chrzanowski..3,2,3,1',0 = 9+1 11..R Kosciecha..0,3,3,2',3 = 11+1 12..K Jablonski..3,2',2',3,1 = 11+2 13..B Pedersen..3,2,3,2,3 = 13 14..S Dabrowski..0 = 0 15..M Jablonski..3,1,0,1,0 = 5 Wroclaw..35 1..H Andersen..0,1,1 = 2 2..P Swiderski..2,0,0,3,2 = 7 3..T Gapinski..1',1,1,1,1' = 5+2 4..R Miskowiak..2,3,0,3,0 = 8 5..J Hampel..2,3,2,0,0,2 = 9 6..R Jamrozy..2,0,0,1,0 = 3 7..M Pacholak..1' = 1+1 Ht 1..M Jablonski, Jamrozy, Pacholak, Dabrowski 3-3 (3-3) Ht 2..Chrzanowski, Swiderski, Bajerski, Andersen 4-2 (7-5) Ht 3..K Jablonski, Miskowiak, Gapinski, Kosciecha [Ex] 3-3 (10-8) Ht 4..Pedersen, Hampel, M Jablonski, Jamrozy 4-2 (14-10) Ht 5..Kosciecha, K Jablonski, Andersen, Swiderski 5-1 (19-11) Ht 6..Miskowiak, Pedersen, Gapinski, M Jablonski 2-4 (21-15) Ht 7..Hampel, Chrzanowski, Bajerski, Jamrozy 3-3 (24-18) Ht 8..Pedersen, Hampel, M Jablonski, Swiderski [E/F] 4-2 (28-20) Ht 9..Chrzanowski, Bajerski, Gapinski, Miskowiak 5-1 (33-21) Ht 10..Kosciecha, K Jablonski, Jamrozy, Hampel [Ex] 5-1 (38-22) Ht 11..Miskowiak, Bajerski, Gapinski, M Jablonski 2-4 (40-26) Ht 12..K Jablonski, Kosciecha, Andersen, Jamrozy 5-1 (45-27) Ht 13..Swiderski, Pedersen, Chrzanowski, Hampel 3-3 (48-30) Ht 14..Kosciecha, Swiderski, Gapinski, Chrzanowski 3-3 (51-33) Ht 15..Pedersen, Hampel, K Jablonski, Miskowiak [E/F] 4-2 (55-35) ------------------------------ Notes: 1. Hans Andersen rides for Wroclaw in place of K Slabon. 2. Ht 3 and it looks like Kosciecha is excluded for some reason. 3. Ht 4 and M Jablonski replaces Dabrowski for Gdansk. 4. Ht 6 and M Jablonski replaces Dabrowski for Gdansk. 5. Ht 8 and M Jablonski replaces Dabrowski for Gdansk, while Hampel replaces Andersen in a tactical move by Wroclaw. 6. Ht 10 and it looks like Hampel's been excluded for something. 7. Ht 11 and M Jablonski replaces Dabrowski for Gdansk (there seems to be a pattern emerging here, but I'm not certain). 8. A bit of a hammering for Wroclaw and a terrible day for Andersen. Bonus points calculated per British Elite League. All details from: http://www.sportowefakty.pl

Today's second meeting sees Tommy's and ZKZ Kitten's favourites Zielona Gora at home to TG's powerful Tarnow side. It'll be tough for Zielona Gora, but the last time Richardson was in the side, they turned over arch-rivals Leszno. ------------------------------ Zielona Gora..42 9..M Staszewski..2,2,2,2,1 = 9 10..K Stojanowski..1',0,1' = 2+2 11..R Okoniewski..3,3,2',0,0 = 8+1 12..L Richardson..1,1,3,1,3 = 9 13..P Swist..2,1,2,1',0 = 6+1 14..Z Suchecki..3,0,0 = 3 15..A Marcinkowski..1,1,1',2 = 5+1 Tarnow..48 1..T Rickardsson..3,2,0,3,2' = 10+1 2..S Burza..0,0 = 0 3..G Rempala..2,3,0,0 = 5 4..J Gollob..0,3,3,2 = 8 5..T Gollob..3,3,0,3,3 = 12 6..M Rempala..2,1,1,1,2' = 7+1 7..J Kolodziej..0,2',3,0,1' = 6+2 Ht 1..Suchecki, M Rempala, Marcinkowski, Kolodziej 4-2 (4-2) Ht 2..Rickardsson, Staszewski, Stojanowski, Burza [Ex/T] 3-3 (7-5) Ht 3..Okoniewski, G Rempala, Richardson, J Gollob 4-2 (11-7) Ht 4..T Gollob, Swist, M Rempala, Suchecki 2-4 (13-11) Ht 5..Okoniewski, Rickardsson, Richardson, Burza 4-2 (17-13) Ht 6..G Rempala, Kolodziej, Swist, Suchecki 1-5 (18-18) Ht 7..T Gollob, Staszewski, M Rempala, Stojanowski 4-2 (20-22) Ht 8..Kolodziej, Swist, Marcinkowski, Rickardsson 3-3 (23-25) Ht 9..J Gollob, Staszewski, Stojanowski, G Rempala 3-3 (26-28) Ht 10..Richardson, Okoniewski, M Rempala, T Gollob [E/F] 5-1 (31-29) Ht 11..J Gollob, Staszewski, Marcinkowski, G Rempala 3-3 (34-32) Ht 12..Rickardsson, M Rempala, Richardson, Okoniewski 1-5 (35-37) Ht 13..T Gollob, Marcinkowski, Swist, Kolodziej 3-3 (38-40) Ht 14..Richardson, J Gollob, Kolodziej, Swist 3-3 (41-43) Ht 15..T Gollob, Rickardsson, Staszewski, Okoniewski [Ex/T] 1-5 (42-48) ------------------------------ Notes: 1. Ht 2 and Burza gets into mischief at the tapes for Tarnow. 2. Ht 6 and Kolodziej replaces J Gollob for Tarnow. 3. Ht 8 and Marcinkowski replaces Suchecki for Zielona Gora, while Kolodziej replaces Burza for Tarnow. 4. Ht 11 and Marcinkowski replaces Suchecki for Zielona Gora. 5. Ht 13 and Marcinkowski replaces Stojanowski for Zielona Gora and Kolodziej replaces Burza for Tarnow. 6. Ht 15 and Tarnow win as Okoniewski gets up to mischief at the tapes. 7. A brave effort by Zielona Gora. Bonus points calculated per British Elite League. All details from: http://www.sportowefakty.pl

It's Ekstra Liga time again. Today's first meeting is a local derby between league leaders Torun and Bydgoszcz. It'll be a tough task for Bydgoszcz, without Andreas Jonsson (or are they, he's in the line-up?), to turn over Crump's Torun. ------------------------------ Bydgoszcz..49 9..A Jonsson..0,2',1',3,2' = 8+3 10..J Krzyzaniak..2,3,2,0 = 7 11..R Sawina..3,3,3,1',1 = 11+1 12..M Robacki..0,0,2'2 = 4+1 13..P Protasiewicz..2,3,0,1,3 = 9 14..K Buczkowski..1,1 = 2 15..K Klecha..3,2',2,1,0 = 8+1 Torun..41 1..J Crump..3,2,3,3,0,2',3 = 16+1 2..K Zabik R/R 3..A Smith..2,1',1,0,0,1 = 5+1 4..M Puszakowski..1',0 = 1+1 5..W Jagus..1,3,1,1,2,3,2' = 13+1 6..M Jagus..0,0 = 0 7..A Miedzinski..2,0,1,0,3,0 = 6 Ht 1..Klecha, Miedzinski, Buczkowski, M Jagus [E/F] 4-2 (4-2) Ht 2..Crump, Krzyzaniak, W Jagus, Jonsson [Ex/T] 2-4 (6-6) Ht 3..Sawina, Smith, Puszakowski, Robacki [E/F] 3-3 (9-9) Ht 4..W Jagus, Protasiewicz, Buczkowski, M Jagus 3-3 (12-12) Ht 5..Sawina, Crump, Smith, Robacki 3-3 (15-15) Ht 6..Protasiewicz, Klecha, Smith, Puszakowski 5-1 (20-16) Ht 7..Krzyaniak, Jonsson, W Jagus, Miedzinski 5-1 (25-17) Ht 8..Crump, Klecha, Miedzinski, Protasiewicz 2-4 (27-21) Ht 9..Crump, Krzyzaniak, Jonsson, Smith 3-3 (30-24) Ht 10..Sawina, Robacki, W Jagus, Miedzinski 5-1 (35-25) Ht 11..Jonsson, W Jagus, Klecha, Smith [Ex/2] 4-2 (39-27) Ht 12..Miedzinski, Robacki, Sawina, Crump 3-3 (42-30) Ht 13..W Jagus, Crump, Protasiewicz, Krzyzaniak 1-5 (43-35) Ht 14..Protasiewicz, Jonsson, Smith, Miedzinski 5-1 (48-36) Ht 15..Crump, W Jagus, Sawina, Klecha 1-5 (49-41) ------------------------------ Notes: 1. Andreas Jonsson does indeed line up for Bydgoszcz. 2. Ht 2 and W Jagus takes the R/R ride for Torun and Jonsson gets up to mischief at the tapes for Bydgoszcz. 3. Ht 5 and Smith takes the R/R ride for Torun. 4. Ht 6 and Klecha replaces Buczkowski for Bydgoszcz. 5. Ht 7 and Miedzinski replaces M Jagus for Torun. 6. Ht 8 and Klecha replaces Buczkowski for Bydgoszcz, while Miedzinski takes the R/R ride for Torun. 7. Ht 9 and Crump replaces Puszakowski in a tactical move by Torun. 8. Ht 10 and Miedzinski replaces M Jagus for Torun. 9. Ht 11 and Klecha replaces Buczkowski for Bydgoszcz, while W Jagus replaces Puszakowski in a tactical move by Torun and then Smith is excluded on the 2 minute rule. 10. Ht 12 and Miedzinski replaces M Jagus for Torun. 11. Ht 13 and Crump takes the R/R ride for Torun. 12. Ht 14 and Miedzinski replaces Puszakowski for Torun. 13. The Bydgoszcz faithful will be happy having beaten arch-rivals and table-topping Torun. Bonus points calculated per British Elite League. All details from: http://www.sportowefakty.pl

Very good home straight. I'm impressed. And you're probably right, so let's hope TG is on GM.

Following the success of the last one-stop shop for the GP series, I'm trying it again for the Golden City GP. Will TR carry on breaking records in Prague's Marketa Stadium, or will the champ break a record? Crump's won the last 3 GPs held in Prague (a record he shares with TG's 3 Bydgoszcz triumphs). Maybe Jaroslaw Hampel, 2nd in the rain last year, will win his maiden GP, or perhaps you favour someone else. The last Czech GP will, naturally enough, be best remembered for the Hancock-Nicki P clash - the 1st one that is, no one seems to remember Hancock's pretty forceful, some would say "dirty", ride in the re-run. Let's hope there's no unfortunate incidents this year, and that the ran stays well away. Anyway, my prediction for the Czech GP is: 1. T Gollob (I'm as constant as the Northern Star) 2. J Hampel 3. J Crump 4. B Pedersen

Pawel Hlib continuing to impress.

It's just plain silly to suggest that Ivan Mauger couldn't have coped with the present tape-touching rules. Like TR, the guy was a total professional and he'd have adapted, just as Neilsen and Gundersen adapted and flourished. In fact, Mauger would probably feel that the present-day rules would have suited him more than his contemporaries.

Is the ultimate destination an American GP held in the UK?

From memory, Brian Larner bailed out of his partnership with Ian Thomas mid-way through Newcastle's ill-fated British League season in 1984.

No, it doesn't really matter. But it does provide for a vibrant debate and exchange of views.

Don't really think Ivan Mauger can win whatever he does. If he stays silent he's criticised and if he was shouting off he'd be criticised as well. Would Ivan have won 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 if there had been a GP series when he was in his pomp? Who knows? But you've got to think that Olsen would have lifted a few in a GP series and maybe Simmons, Jessup and a few others would have come to the fore. Would TR have won 6 if he'd been in a 1-off final instead of the GPs? Who knows? You'd have to fancy Gollob getting a title if we'd had 1-off finals, as every so often it'd be held in Poland and the Poles would have pulled out all the stops to help him. But would Loram have won in a 1-off final? He won the GP series without winning a GP. Edit: And Rob, I think Cordy Milne should be in your series to be honest. Or should it be Jack Milne? One of the two, anyway.

Robert Nagy was a decent enough rider when he was with Glasgow. Won the 2nd Division Riders Championship one year, I remember. When he first came over, I believe he was known as "Macfarlane's Folly".

Well, I've already made my selections.

The Old Royal Palace, within the precincts of Prague Castle (which is, essentially, a collection of churchs and palaces) is painted pink. Regarding taxis, I never use them in Prague. I book airport transfers through the hotel and when in the city I walk everywhere. But it's sensible, if you insist on using a taxi, to book through the hotel.

Would that not mean a change for the final also. Since, if the run-off is on the Friday, practice for the final would have to be Saturday and the final on Sunday.

And it's called Karlovy Lazne.

There's a huge nightclub just off the Charles Bridge on the Old Town side. It has, I think, about 5 floors each catering to different tastes and an internet cafe.

And just to round off the weekend's action in Poland, the current top 10 in the averages are: 1..R Sullivan..Czestochowa = 10.22 2..J Crump..Torun = 9.73 3..L Adams..Leszno = 9.56 4..T Gollob..Tarnow = 9.50 5..P Protasiewicz..Bydgoszcz = 9.49 6..N Pedersen..Zielona Gora = 9.42 7..R Holta..Czestochowa = 9.24 8..G Walasek..Czestochowa = 9.02 8..T Rickardsson..Tarnow = 9.02 10..A Jonsson..Bydgoszcz = 8.43