Subedei

Not quite a cat among the pidgeons, more a kitten among the fairies.

Well, it's a safe bet that the track will be dictated by the Polish team, no matter what Ole Olsen says.

You can always plead insanity.

I think the Poles will use Holta in the Swedish qualifier and then home-grown riders in Poland. I'd guess BSI and the FIM are hoping Poland go into the race-off to ensure interest in that meeting.

So Crump was happy finishing 2nd in the World Championship 3 years running? He never looked that happy about it. And consider this: had Hampel been fit for the 2nd and 3rd GPs there's no guarantee Crump would be standing 2nd at the minute, is there? You disagree? Well, true, there's no way of knowing. Just as there's no way of knowing Crump would have qualified for the semis without the refereeing decisions.

Did Gollob not kick up a fuss when Holta was allowed to ride in the Polish championship?

And that was down to being gifted a 2nd chance, after the first running was stopped on the final bend. So, he's had good luck as well.

Okay, your questions and their answers: Lucky would probably be a better word for what he would be feeling with 5 seconds in qualifying and a second in the semi. Wasn't happy finishing second in the world 3 times, was he? No, he wanted to win. I think my point is made.

I thought Crump's first 2 exclusions were dubious. But I have to agree with you that Crump was off the pace all night (but don't let ouch catch you saying that, or you'll be in a 2 day argument, like I have been in the Crump thread). In fact all the Jawa runners seemed well off the pace. It was GMs all the way. Crump and Adams were pedestrian. I think that while Crump was not happy with the referee, a part of his behaviour was frustration at his own performance. At least I hope it was. Because if he's just blaming the referee, he's deluding himself.

Think that's a little unfair on Chrzanowski. I'm sure that BSI and the FIM would have preferred he hadn't qualified, but he's certainly not disgracing himself in the GPs.

Walasek was excluded from a league meeting in Poland a couple of weeks ago for upsetting the referee in some manner.

Lucky old Tomasz Gollob. In the previous 4 GPs only one draw has led to a semi-final berth in each and every one. And that is - lucky for some - 13. And as for Jonsson (14) and Hampel (16) the luck of these draws has to change some time. Draw Nos 14 and 16 have yet to provide a semi-finalist.

And not only fans. It's a mindset British referees seem to have fallen into over the years.

Balderdash. Crump wasn't on the pace, end of story. He'd have been lucky to qualify for the semis even without the exclusions. Norris passed him like was standing still. If Crump only blames the referee for his failure on Saturday, then he deludes himself. And if he does that, then TR will walk all over him in the rest of the GPs this season. Because TR is setting the pace and Crump is not even close to that pace. And I'm an admirer of Crump.

Sad, but true. He needs to get his machinery sorted. He's still a fine rider, but at the weekend he was making great starts and losing it. He only really made the semis because Hampel took pity on him.

You'd have to have an appeals procedure as well. The GP series does need some form of disciplinary procedure, or we're going to end up with a serious injury. The stakes are high. And riders - not just Nicki P - are making some desperate gambles in races. It'll end in tears. It's just not acceptable to have riders kicking out at other riders (Gothenburg last year) or wiping out riders in the last bend of a GP because they've nothing to lose (Eskilstuna this year).

I often - well, not that often to be honest, in fact I'd say occasionally - wonder what Tomasz Gollob would have thought about the old Hyde Road. I'd imagine it would have induced wet dreams aplenty for the guy.

Come on. He was bang to rights in his last heat. Not even Clarence Darrow could have saved him on that one. That said, I'm pleased that you were happy with Crump's pace on Saturday. I am pretty sure that he wasn't. And you're wrong, anyway. Crump's a winner. Only interested in winning. He wouldn't "gladly" have accepted finishing 2nd in ANY heat he races in.

If Crump is happy with his pace on Saturday then he's not half the rider I thought he was.

From today's The Independent: Rickardsson’s dream ride gives him inside track to world title. By Peter Oakes Tony Rickardsson left Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium with the British Grand Prix title in his pocket – and a record-equalling sixth world crown in his sights. The Swede moved what should be an insurmountable 32 points ahead of the defending champion Jason Crump after his third GP victory in the first four rounds. He left 38,640 fans talking about his last race heroics in which he swept past three rivals with his back wheel almost cutting a groove in the fence. The former Poole captain described it as his greatest first corner, explaining: “I have been dreaming that you could actually ride on the fence but I never had the courage to do it. “When there are nearly 40,000 fans cheering it’s amazing what stupid things you can do and it’s the most amazing thing I have ever done and the best lap I have ever done in my life. “There was a bit of motocross, a bit of velodrome racing and a bit of speedway in that one. It was the best first corner in my whole career; I’m so happy.” There might have been joy for Rickardsson but there was only despair for Crump, excluded from three of his first five races, and the British challenge. The Great Britain captain Scott Nicholls raised hopes as he reached the penultimate race for the first time this season but then they crashed as he spun around in his semi-final. He was the last British survivor in another disappointing GP which still leaves Cardiff waiting to salute a domestic champion. Lee Richardson struggled to finish in 13th place and the wild card David Norris never recovered from the first disqualification of a controversial night when he was adjudged to have caused Rickardsson’s heat three fall and reserves Edward Kennett and Simon Stead mustered only one point between them

Did the referee do something to allow Norris to pass Crump like he was standing still? Didn't think so. Crump was off the pace at Cardiff. Frankly he's been off the pace in most of the GPs. But his determination and will to win is keeping him afloat. If he was only angry with the referee, then he is deluding himself.

Jawas are doing okay in the leagues. You only have to look at the top of the averages. Crump and Adams both on Jawas. But in the GPs it's GMs all the way. And I thought Adams had this super tuner in his team this year?

And the only one that counts is that of the fellow called Marek.

Sky always make light of the swearing anyway. Last year at Hamar after Gollob's interview being a prime example: Commentator (paraphrasing): And on a track he's not really suited to Kelvin. Kelvin Tatum (paraphrasing): Yes, he did mention that (laughing).

Hope you have Ms Bliss' agreement.