Subedei

Think he added a couple of comments in the quote as well as the smillies. Specifically: But I agree with you. Hardly a pressing need to quote the entire piece.

The Subedei selections for Cardiff are as follows: Tomasz Gollob - 200 credits Andreas Jonsson - 200 credits And yes, unlike Gustafsson last evening, I've gone round the bend.

First carcal said: Then he said: Time to make your mind up carcal.

Think a Hampel win would suit Shale Eater just fine. Remember Shale Eater wears a Pirates bib and, as such, will be shouting for riders other than the champ.

Ryan Sullivan (8), David Norris (11), Andreas Jonsson (13) and Greg Hancock (15) have recent GP history on their side as far as the semis are concerned. In the 3 previous GPs riders in those draws reached the semis every time. Not looking good for Bjarne Pedersen (3), Tomasz Gollob (10), Lee Richardson (14) and Leigh Adams (16), since those draws have yet to provide a semi-finalist. Not an easy 1st race for Norris, but he beat both Gollob and TR at Cardiff last year.

I don't know. That's why I put both in. Besides from which, Garf will go mad if I don't include him.

So, it’s only a couple of weeks away. The Big One: Cardiff 2005. We know the riders, but how do we see them going in the sport’s showpiece event in the Millennium Stadium? Listed below are the riders (I’ve included Bjerre and Hampel, since it remains unclear which one will be there) and my thoughts on their prospects: L Adams: It’s been a disappointing GP series so far for the highly fancied Australian. The semis are once again proving to be his Achilles Heel and it looks like they always will be. But he can always spring the odd GP win and has gone well at Cardiff in the past. I take Adams to make the semis and then bomb out. H Andersen: Is having a fine season domestically and maybe as well as he expected in the GP series, except for a disappointing opener in Wroclaw. Was eliminated from Cardiff last year after a tussle with Holta saw the Norwegian on the deck and Andersen excluded. I can’t see him pulling up any trees at the Millenium Stadium this season. He’ll be doing well to make the semis. K Bjerre: Has done very well in his 2 GPs this season. Made the semis in Eskilstuna and won his 1st heat in Krsko. I think he’ll adapt easily to the temporary track in Cardiff and if the draw’s kind to him, he may even make the semis. T Chrzanowski: Can’t see the unfancied Pole doing anything on Cardiff’s temporary track. Hasn’t a hope of reaching the semis. J Crump: The champ’s having a great season, without ever hitting his stride yet, in my opinion. He’s a class act with skill, determination and a will to win that is 2nd to none. He’ll make the final and he might even win it. He has to, or TR will be disappearing over the horizon to his 6th world crown. T Gollob: The Polish folk hero made a decent effort at Cardiff last year. And his duel with Nicki P was one of the highlights of the meeting. He’s not having the best of times in the GPs this season, but he made the semis in Krsko. Engines look to be his main concern, and Cardiff isn’t really a power circuit. I take aTomek Gollob to make the semis and then the final and then the top spot on the podium. The mighty TG to win in Cardiff. J Hampel: Has missed the last 2 GPs with injury, seriously denting his hopes of automatic qualification for next season. And Cardiff isn’t his type of track. I can’t see him doing anything. G Hancock: Won at Cardiff last season. But this season has seen him slipping down the order. He’s not made the semis in the last 2 GPs and I don’t see that changing in Cardiff. A Jonsson: Was absolutely sensational at Cardiff last season. And I can see him doing well again this year, and he needs to. He’s had a disastrous series thus far. I take Jonsson to wow the crowd again with the daredevil riding he’s capable of and I think he’ll make the final. A Lindback: Has had a great start to his GP career. But the wheels came off a bit in Krsko for the young fellow. I still see nerves and pressure as being major issues for the guy and for that reason I don’t see him making much of an impression in the intimidating surroundings of the Millenium Stadium. That said, he’s got the talent to prove me wrong. S Nicholls: Rode very well in Krsko for little reward. I can see him doing a similar job in Cardiff, but hopefully with a place in the semis as the reward. D Norris: Was the hero last year, defeating Gollob and TR on his way to elimination at the last hurdle before the semis. This season he’s been troubled by a head injury that doesn’t seem to want to clear up. I wouldn’t expect too much from the guy this year and then he might just delight you. He could make the semis, but I doubt it. B Pedersen: Was disappointing in Wroclaw, outstanding in Eskilstuna and then disappointing in Krsko. Does that mean we’re in for an outstanding Bjarne in Cardiff? I doubt it. I think he’ll be amongst the also-rans. N Pedersen: I’d say Nicki P is riding better now than at any time in his career. But the competition’s a lot hotter this year. He’s pushed himself into contention for the crown by making the finals in Eskilstuna and Krsko, but another slip-up and it’s all over for him in my opinion. He’s won at Cardiff before and he could win again this year. But I don’t see it. He’ll make the semis L Richardson: Is having a terrible GP series this year. But he made it to the final at Cardiff last season. I don’t think the new format suits Richardson. I can’t see him making the semis this time around. T Rickardsson: Has been outstanding, absolutely outstanding in the GPs so far this year. The ultimate professional and surely worthy of emulating Mauger’s 6 titles? And there looks to be more determination about the fellow this year. He’s taking no prisoners. A certainty to make the final as far as I’m concerned. R Sullivan: I thought the guy did well in Eskilstuna without much reward. The reward came at Krsko where he looked more like the rider that was a challenger for the crown just a few seasons ago. He might make the semis at Cardiff, but then again he might not. And my prediction: 1. Tomasz Gollob 2. Jason Crump 3. Andreas Jonsson 4. Tony Rickardsson I'll end with a couple of questions: 1. Will Jonathan Green get TG to speak to him again this year? 2. How many times will Sophie Blake interview Lee Richardson? Thoughts anyone?

Poor old Sky commentary team seemed to miss the changing track record. Matej Zagar was still track record holder come the final according to Millard and Sam.

Are the figures not for "paying" customers? Maybe last season BSI handed out a lot more free tickets to sponsors and such like.

Polish results for 29 May 2005: Bydgoszcz 53 A Jonsson..13 J Krzyzaniak..5 R Sawina..7 M Robacki..9 P Protasiewicz..13 K Buczkowski..1 K Klecha..5 Leszno 37 L Adams..11 A Skornicki..1 J Rempala..2 D Balinski..9 L Jankowski..3 N Kosciuch..0 K Kasprzak..11 - * - * - *- * - Czestochowa 52 R Sullivan..13 S Drabik..8 G Walasek..12 S Ulamek..2 R Holta..15 M Szczepaniak..2 M Ciura..0 Torun 38 W Jagus..5 M Jagus..0 J Crump..10 A Smith..4 M Puszakowski..1 K Zabik..13 A Miedzinski..5 - * - * - *- * - Tarnow 64 T Rickardsson..10 R Wardzala..5 J Gollob..1 G Rempala..10 T Gollob..14 M Rempala..12 J Kolodziej..12 Gdansk 26 T Chrzanowski..8 G Klopot..2 G Hancock..8 R Kosciecha..2 K Jablonski..2 S Dabrowski..0 M Jablonski..4 - * - * - *- * - Wroclaw 54 R Miskowiak..5 P Swiderski..6 K Slabon..9 T Gapinski..11 H Andersen..14 R Jamrozy..7 M Pacholak..2 Zeilona Gora 36 N Pedersen..14 A Huszcza..7 M Staszewski..8 K Stojanowski..3 P Swist..3 Z Suchecki..0 A Marcinkowski..1 - * - * - *- * - A super maximum from Rune Holta as Czestochowa humble the champ's Torun. The mighty aTomek Gollob unbeaten by an opponent as Tarnow annihilate Gdansk. Jonsson's Bydgoszcz heavily defeat Leszno. Another heavy defeat for Zielona Gora, but it looks like a slight improvement for ZKZ Kitten's heroes. All results taken from: http://www.sportowefakty.pl/ekstraliga.htm

I hope that the Grand Prix was a success for the promoters sunnygirl. It looks as if once again Crump has shown the huge extent of his will to succeed. A great achievement for him to make the final. The guy's a true champ.

The Danes have an embarrassment of riches. It's a tough choice.

Are you trying to get me another 25% warning?

He's an enormous talent, uber-professional and leaves nothing to chance. He's raised the game in much the same way Mauger did in the late-1960s and 1970s. And, this year, he's so much more determined than in recent seasons. He wants No 6 and it's going to take something special to stop him.

I'm afraid he didn't make it that far. Barely made it into the semis. Nevermind, when I reviewed the riders in the Eskilstuna thread I managed to put Hancock in the semis. As someone once said, it happens (or words to that effect).

That gives me an idea. Perhaps we could send him to Sellafield for reprocessing.

Possibly, probably. But, with a hint of the hopeless, helpless romanticism of the Poles I'll keep faith and go for TG at Cardiff. Actually, he didn't do too bad at Cardiff last season and it's not so much about power there as some of the circuits.

Sound advice there Liontamer.

I thought it was a pretty good GP with some fine racing. And it's a pleasure to watch TR ride. He's fantastic. But I don't think he's that far ahead of the champ, or Nicki P for that matter.

Thanks tricky dicky. But if you'd read the thread you'd have seen that I picked those on account of their draw (Crump and Rickardsson aside), based on the 2 prior grands prix. So, it wasn't really anything to do with me. And now, factoring in Krsko, draw Nos 8, 11, 13 and 15 have provided a semi-finalist at all 3 grands prix.

Okay, my thoughts on the riders individual performances (and let's hope I don't make a silly error like putting riders in the semis who weren't): Adams: A poor GP for Adams. Slightly fortunate to make the semis and bombed out in the semis. Andersen: Will be happy with a place in the semis. It was about all he deserved. Bjerre: A super 1st ride, but then disappeared. Shouldn't be too down-hearted. It's all good experience for the fellow. Chrzanowski: Out of his depth really. Crump: Will be disappointed with running last after a decent overall performance. But fortune favoured him in Eskilstuna a little. Gollob: A welcome return to the semis for aTomek Gollob and he was a little unlucky in the semi. Hopefully the Polish folk hero can build on this performance. Hancock: Looks increasingly like 2004 was his last hurrah. Slipping down the order and not looking as competitive as last season. Jonsson: Better not say anything, again. Lindback: Looked like nerves, or pressure, finally got to the youngster. A mistake in his 1st ride, tapes exclusion in his 2nd and a justified exclusion (in my opinion) in his 3rd, told the story. Nicholls: I feel for the guy. He put in a magnificent effort and I thought he deserved to be in the semis. B Pedersen: A bit anonymous really. N Pedersen: A great performance from Nicki P. Fully deserved his 2nd place and has put himself into a 3 horse race for the title, in my opinion. Richardson: Pretty hopeless really, again. Rickardsson: TR looks more determined than ever this season. Another awesome display of power and skill. A fully deserved win for the guy. And he's looking good for title No 6. Sullivan: I thought Sullivan did okay at Eskilstuna, without quite getting the points he deserved. Tonight he got the points from a creditable performance. Zagar: Fantastic achievement to make the final. Rode really well and deserved his 3rd place.

I'd say that 6 out of 8 wasn't half bad.

A fantastic performance by TR in the final. And Nicki P did well to pass Zagar, who did very well to make the final. And the champ? At the back. But he'll be back. A 2 horse race, or a 3 horse race? It's 1 of the 2 in my opinion. The rest are nowhere.

Gollob slightly unfortunate going down the back-straight in his semi. But at least he looks to be heading in the right direction. Think Leigh Adams has fallen too far behind Crump and Rickardsson to mount a challenge this season. If it's not a 2 horse race, it's definitely a 3 horse race. Rickardsson, Crump or N Pedersen to take the crown. And in the competition: 240 x 1 + 240 = 480. Far from the best, but at least I'm still in there.

What a ride by Zagar in the semi - fantastic. If you put your credits on the wild card, you're laughing. The champ and aTomek in the same semi. Can't see them both getting through. But you never know.