Subedei

You can almost visualise the Polish track staff nodding dutifully as Olsen lays down the law and then toddling off to do whatever Tomek's told them he wants.

Wieslaw Jagus would be a risk, but it looks a safe bet that Kolodziej will take his place. And, anyway, Marcin Rempala was a risk at Poole in 2004, but he shocked a few people. As for Protasiewicz, from what I've seen of statistics (they don't tell the full story, obviously), I'd say PePe's most impressive form has been in the BEL, so it would be a brave decision to leave him out. The Poles are really up against it, following a very poor display at Rybnik and if they want to qualify for the final, I think they need as much BEL experience as possible to augment Gollob and Hampel. But not Skornicki. If the Poles aren't that interested in making the final, I'd say they'd be better off calling in some of their young talent for the experience - Hlib, Miedzinski and so on. But I'd guess they're not in the squad.

The self same way that Leigh Adams was allowed to take 6 rides, including a Joker ride, in the race-off last season. The rules are exactly the same as last season. The only "controversial" matter involving the Poles seems to be the late substitution of Jagus for Kolodziej.

Well, that mae culpa went down like a lead balloon.

I'm always left wondering what it is about the SWC that brings out the best in Gollob these days. He's had a couple of good GPs this season, but it's all been from the gate. And, of course, he's always a force in the Bydgoszcz GP. But he really shines in the SWC - his team-riding with Russians in 2003, his defeat of Crump in the race-off at Poole in 2004, his tour-de-force in 2005 and now his latest heroics last night.

I thought Crump was slightly fortunate to get away with that one, but it was a tough call for the referee - all four restart would've been the best option.

I think Poland have to stick with Protasiewicz for his EL experience. I can't see them bringing Walasek in. I'd expect to see: 1..Gollob 2..Hampel 3..Protasiewicz 4..Ulamek 5..Kolodziej

Come on, you know the 'Bird doesn't joke about serious matters such as riders' behinds.

It was a little ambiguous. As for Poland, I expected more from them tonight. They were very poor, while Team GB were excellent value. I knew Team GB had a good deal of talent, I just suspected that they'd lack for horsepower - they didn't and were excellent value.

We all make the occasional error of judgement, me more than most. But let's all stick around and have a little fun, the odd (and some of them are very odd) arguments and a discussion about a sport we all care about very much.

And, anyway, unless I'm much mistaken, Messrs Crump and Adams also scored more than Loram, while Nicholls and Richardson managed the same score.

I think Middlo will stick with what he's got. No one let him down tonight. However, it's possible one of his riders might decide to fall on their sword, as Screen did a couple of years ago, if they don't cut the mustard at Reading.

Fair play to Middlo tonight - his team did him proud. But will this be just another noble failure at the end of the week?

Bloody hell, you want Loram out of the team, while Nigel Pearson wants him back in the GPs. Personally, I think both are ridiculous notions. But Pearson's is less ridiculous.

Which, in fairness, hasn't just been introduced this year. Team GB, together with Australia, Denmark, Sweden and even Poland used the Joker at least once last season. It just so happens that when Team GB used it, Nicholls scored nothing. And I think Lee Richardson had 6 rides in the final, while Adams certainly had 6 in the race-off.

I assume Rybnik is the Polish equivalent of Brandon, with all the shenanigans at the starting gate. A very poor performance from the Poles, especially Protasiewicz. They'll need to make changes for the race-off. But I still don't hold out much hope for them, unless Denmark can upset the Swedish applecart in Malilla on Tuesday. If they do, it could make for interesting viewing on Thursday (is there anywhere I can watch it in West Cumbria?). I expect Team GB to win the race-off, so long as Denmark aren't in it. But Sweden, with or without TR could be there for the taking by the Poles. Anyway, my assessment of the individual performances: Lee Richardson - put his troubles behind him to do sterling work for the team. Simon Stead - another who put in sterling work for the team. Chris Harris - he never gives up and provided excellent entertainment and a solid score. Scott Nicholls - can't fault his performance tonight. Mark Loram - another excellent performance. Juha Hautamaki - tried his best. Kauko Nieminen - got himself into the thick of the action a few times. Kaj Laukkanen - another who got himself into the thick of the action at times. Tomi Reima - took a very nasty tumble, for which Crump could've been excluded. Juha Makela - wasn't disgraced. Piotr Protasiewicz - pretty hopeless really. Seb Ulamek - did enough, I guess, but the Poles will have expected more. Wieslaw Jagus - disappointing. I doubt he'll be at Reading. Jaroslaw Hampel - subdued, but came to life in Ht 23. Tomasz Gollob - wsan't making starts, but provided wonderful entertainment. Ryan Sullivan - he's getting back to his best, but must've got sick of Gollob flying past him. Rory Schlein - out of his depth a little. Leigh Adams - what is it about Adams and his first race? He always seems to lose his first heat in Poland and then go unbeaten. Was excellent tonight. Jason Crump - the guy is just on a different level to everyone else at the minute, but he could've been excluded in his first outing. Todd Wiltshire - a encouraging display and he seems critical to team spirit for the Australians.

And here that one is: http://www.rkm.rybnik.pl/index.php?option=...id=253&Itemid=9 Looks like it was raced last Friday, 07-07-06, but don't quote me on that. I guess it was brought forward due to the SWC.

All things come to those who wait: Torun versus Leszno Torun..45 9..A Dryml R/R 10..K Slabon..1,2,0,0 = 3 11..B Pedersen..2',0,1,1' = 4+2 12..N-K Iversen..3,2,1',2,3,0 = 11+1 13..W Jagus..3,3,3,2,2,1 = 14 14..D Stachowiak = DNR 15..K Zabik..0,1,1,1,0 = 3 16..A Miedzinski..3,1,0,3,3 = 10 Leszno..45 1..R Dobrucki..0,1,3,2,2 = 8 2..D Balinski..2,3,1,1,2' = 9+1 3..M Loram..1,0,2 = 3 4..N Kosciuch = DNR 5..L Adams..2,3,3,3,3,3 = 17 6..A Kajoch..2,0,0,0 = 2 7..P Hougaard..1',0 = 1+1 8..K Kasprzak..0,2,2',0,1' = 5+2 Ht 1..Miedzinski, Kajoch, Hougaard, Zabik [Fall] 3-3 (3-3) Ht 2..Jagus, Balinski, Slabon, Dobrucki 4-2 (7-5) Ht 3..Iversen, Pedersen, Loram, Kasprzak [E/F] 5-1 (12-6) Ht 4..Jagus, Adams, Zabik, Hougaard 4-2 (16-8) Ht 5..Balinski, Iversen, Dobrucki, Pedersen 2-4 (18-12) Ht 6..Jagus, Kasprzak, Miedzinski, Loram 4-2 (22-14) Ht 7..Adams, Slabon, Iversen, Kajoch [E/F] 3-3 (25-17) Ht 8..Dobrucki, Jagus, Balinski, Miedzinski 2-4 (27-21) Ht 9..Adams, Kasprzak, Pedersen, Slabon 1-5 (28-26) Ht 10..Adams, Iversen, Pedersen, Kajoch 3-3 (31-29) Ht 11..Miedzinski, Loram, Zabik, Kasprzak [E/F] 4-2 (35-31) Ht 12..Iversen, Dobrucki, Zabik, Kajoch 4-2 (39-33) Ht 13..Adams, Jagus, Balinski, Slabon 2-4 (41-37) Ht 14..Miedzinski, Dobrucki, Kasprzak, Zabik 3-3 (44-40) Ht 15..Adams, Balinski, Jagus, Iversen 1-5 (45-45) Notes: 1..Ht 1 and Miedzinski replaces Stachowiak for Torun. 2..Ht 2 and Jagus takes the R/R for Torun. 3..Ht 3 and Kasprzak replaces Kosciuch for Leszno. 4..Ht 6 and Miedzinski replaces Stachowiak for Torun. 5..Ht 6 and Kasprzak replaces Kosciuch for Leszno. 6..Ht 7 and Iversen takes the R/R for Torun. 7..Ht 8 and Miedzinski replaces Stachowiak for Torun. 8..Ht 8 and we've a re-run with all 4, after Torun's Miedzinski takes a tumble on the 1st turn. 9..Ht 9 and Pedersen takes the R/R for Torun. 10..Ht 9 and Kasprzak replaces Kosciuch for Leszno. 11..Ht 9 and Adams replaces Loram in a tactical move by Leszno. 12..Ht 11 and Zabik takes the R/R for Torun. 13..Ht 11 and Miedzinski replaces Stachowiak for Torun. 14..Ht 11 and Kasprzak replaces Kosciuch for Leszno. 15..Ht 12 and Zabik replaces Pedersen for Torun. 16..Ht 14 and it's Zabik-Miedzinski for Torun and Dobrucki-Kasprzak for Leszno. 17..Ht 15 and it's Iversen-Jagus for Torun and Balinski-Adams for Leszno. ----------------------- Bonus points calculated per British Elite League. ----------------------- All details from: http://www.sportowefakty.pl

I didn't conceive of you being so fickle. But, I don't think there's much chance of a revival of the Middlo hair.

I've never offered or been asked to contribute to speedway, which is just as well, since I've nothing to offer. That said, when all the talk was of asphalting or concreting the track at Brandon, I thought I might be in with a shout. As for Middlo, it's obvious that he has his critics who he'll never be able to convince and his defenders who'll never desert him.

Mauger fell off and as he himself said, if you're sitting on the track when you should be racing, you don't deserve to be world champion. I often feel slightly sorry for Jerzy, especially when I see his bewildered, bemused expression on the podium. Like Egon Muller ten years later, Jerzy took advantage of the final being on home turf, with all the assistance - not the least, I believe, around 150,000 Poles roaring him on - that implied. Veni, vidi, vici.

He could've entered the qualifying rounds, couldn't he? Or are they beneath his princely status? By not entering the GP qualifiers and through his serial failure he's absolutely right to say that if he doesn't qualify by right, he's no business being there.

Happy now, dear lady?

I don't hate the GP series, just the chauvinistic seedings of last season. And I'll probably argue that point not just until the cows come home, but until they go back out again.

So, the above quote from Nicholls was just balderdash?