Subedei

Tarnow look pretty much unstoppable at the minute. Quite a spearhead, Gollob and Rickardsson - both looking pretty good for the forthcoming grand prix series.

U Tri Korunek (Three Crowns) is in the Zizkov area of Prague, not far from the National Monument on Zitkov hill, but a fair old hike from the Marketa stadium. It's probably about 10-15 minutes walk from Wenceslas Square. Edit: And here's a map: http://www.prague-hotel.ws/map-prague-hote...tri-korunek.asp

Heard the Gollob crashed at the weekend. Anyone know how badly?

The best bars in Prague can be found in the Zizkov suburb. But it's a rough area.

The airport is about fifteen miles from the city centre, so you'll struggle to be close to the airport and the bars.

I'd give it to Stead now. Yes, I don't think we are producing good young riders, but we don't really seem to encourage them. Poland came to the WTC last year with Gollob and a group of young riders. They did reasonably well, but this year and in future years they will be among the favourites. We will keep returning to the semi-dependables and you have to think last year was their last real hope of winning it. Not sure the Polish authorities mind if they are competitive as wild cards. Just getting them experience. But, as I said, Poland know they have Gollob and now Hampel with hopes of winning and certainly there at the death.

Think BSI would have a hard job justifying including Andersen, Pedersen, Sullivan, Richardson and Nicholls in 2006 if they fall to pre-qualify from this season. So there should be places up for grabs as I can only see Andersen breaking into the top eight. As for Pepe, I think Ipswich will benefit hugely from both his not being in the circus this season and his desire to break back into the circus again.

Think Pepe is in the past as far as the Polish authorities are concerned now Rico. They tend to give their younger riders a chance in the grand prix meetings in Poland. That is the wider point I was making. If Loram was Polish he wouldn't stand a chance of getting a wild card shot - nor would Norris. But we always fall back on the semi-dependables.

Agree with both of you, which is why I said: Furthermore, the Poles also have a couple likely to be near the top in Wroclaw (Gollob and Hampel) so they can probably afford to give a youngster a try.

Rumour (and rumours are just premature facts remember) suggests Ipswich's new Pole Robert Miskowiak is to be the wild card in the first Grand Prix at Wroclaw. There were those who advocated Piotr Protasiewicz, but the Poles tend to allocate their wild card chances to their younger riders. Unlike here in good old GB where, no doubt, the wild card will go to Loram (if fit) or Norris. Surely it is time that Britain gave the wild card to a young hope for the future, rather than the old semi-dependables? Or maybe we just don't have any bright hopes for the future. Any thoughts on Miskowiak or the wider point made?

I bow to your greater knowledge.

Here is my problem with the formula as laid down. Every Grand Prix starts with Crump, Rickardsson, Hancock and Adams in heat 1. One of last year's top four is guaranteed to start off with 0 in his first heat. It is simply unfair. I can understand it for the first Grand Prix but after that surely it would make sense to modify the race card. The rider identification Nos could remain the same, but in different heats. Say Crump finishes 5th in Wroclaw, for the next Grand Prix place No 1 in the heats designated for No 5 and so on. The way it is set up, every Grand Prix is the same except for a different wild card at No 16. It is unfair and it is wrong.