Mr. Clemens

Indeed neither should Rudeski play tennis for GB nor Hargreaves if he is not english nor zola budd or anyone else. It is a matter of opinion but I think that people should partake in sport for their country of origin whichever country that might be and I have always believed this and always said this. So my part of the question is answered. Also having been a member of the Polish community for 30 years I believe also that the Poles would much rather a Pole have ridden instead of Holta. In the play offs look for a Pole riding in place of Holta.

Being this person you are, you must be in a position therefor to answer the question 'why is it with all the riders that poland have at their disposal they should need to use Holta in the first place'?

Surely he will be riding on a speedway bike !!!!!

Holta shouldn't be riding for Poland, simple as that. He is not Polish whether he has a Polish passport or not. He could think of changing his name to 'Zola Budowski'. The question that needs to be asked is 'why is Poland, where the sport is at it's most popular, in the eyes of the people, with so many home born riders available, in need of Holta in the first place?

'Luck', said Mae West, 'luck has nothing to do with it'.

Simon Stead and Chris Harris must be given their chance to shine in Poland just as they were given the chance at Swindon. They will acquit themselves well in Poland just as they did last night. As for Screen, I will leave that decision to Joe's better judgement. If he personally believes he can perform in Poland then I am sure he will do. If he doesn't think so, then I am sure he will do as he did last year and step down in favour of the one he thinks will do a job he can't. I feel though that Screen will be there and he will acquit himself as well as anyone else.

Long live Floppyness

The reason why they probably didn't sing the National Anthem is because when they do so, Sky TV has a penchant for either sticking their cameras up the riders noses or down their throats. This is done in order to irritate and humiliate in the hope that a rider might stumble over the words, sing a few flat notes and generally make themselves look foolish. Most likely in the same way they were expected to make themselves look foolish on the track in front of the mighty Danes.

Congratulations on a great win to all of those boys tonight. Special kudos go to Chris Harris and to Simon Stead. Both these boys took the oppertunity on offer to them and excelled. They inspired the rest of the team to action, non more so than Lee Richardson, who answered all his critic with a brilliant 15 point maximum. Let it never be said again that Richardson cannot 'rise to the occasion when it matters'. Lee Richardson thread quotes My own quote on seeing him at Belle Vue 'I said he looked like 'death warmed up' in the pits on monday night. Looks like he's sunk even further into the pits.' Lee was there tonight 'looking as ill as ever' with the attitude, perhaps, that 'no matter what happens I will do my best for Great Britain'. QUOTE(cdl123 @ Jul 31 2005, 12:52 PM)taken from www.british-speedway.co.uk NEW GB FITNESS WORRYSunday, July 31, 2005GREAT Britain boss Neil Middleditch was left sweating on the fitness of Lee Richardson overnight ahead of their World Cup opener at Swindon.Richardson pulled out of Swindon’s Elite League clash at Eastbourne after three rides with illness.Middleditch said: “I sent a text message to Lee to check on him and he responded saying he had been sick and needed a good night of sleep.” My response to this was >> 'All the more reason for both Simon Stead and Chris Harris to take this opportunity to propel themselves to a higher status in Speedway. Good luck to both these lads and the rest of the team too. Nothing is a forgone conclusion and there is no reason why adversity (and the team being written off) can be the motivation to upset all predictions and come out on top'. From the 'Loram out Stead in' thread 'It's the oppertunity now for Stead to show he can mix it with the big boys. If he keeps his head and just goes out there and ride he can prove it to himself and everyone else.The Best of British Simon!!!!' This being being my response to the view that Denmark was guaranteed to win. 'Nowt like a good dose of defeatism to get the ball rolling. (Or 'realism as th'intellectuals will probably have it). The meeting (inclusive of typical reactions twixt Uncle and Nephew) Heat 1. Joe in last place (audible groan from everyone concerned with the fortunes of GB) GB 0 Denmark 3 Czech Rep 1 Russia 2 Heat 2. Simon in first place (a 'lucky' win for the lad over a GP performer) GB 3 Denmark 5 Czech Rep 1 Russia 3 Heat 3. Richardson wins (wow wasn't he lucky that Hans got excluded for falling) GB 6 Denmark 5 Czech Rep 2 Russia 5 Heat 4. Nicholls wins (well you'd expect him to wouldn't you he's captain). GB 9 Denmark 7 Czech Rep 3 Russia 5 Heat 5. Harris second (Well he isn't expected to beat Charlie on his home track). GB 11 Denmark 10 Czech Rep 3 Russia 6 Heat 6. Richardson wins (wasn't he lucky the ref excluded Charile pheew lucky GB) GB 14 Denmark 10 Czech Rep 5 Russia 6 Heat 7. Scotty second (well he spun at the gate and he's not Nicki) GB 16 Denmark 13 Czech Rep 6 Russia 6 Heat 8. Harris first (Wow what a great piece of overtaking Bjarne must have lost concentration for a moment). GB 19 Denmark 15 Czech Rep7 Russia 6 Heat 9. Joe wins (lucky for him that Hans can't get to grips with the track phew). GB 22 Denmark 16 Czech Rep 9 Russia 6 (Inexperienced Danish team manager fails to use 'Joker'. You live and learn eh) Heat 10. Stead second (that's more like it, the Danes are regaining their composure, this is it now. Good job, though, that Simon had the brains to stay in second place as it prevents another tactical ride. Pheew). GB 24 Denmark 19 Czech Rep 10 Russia 6 Heat 11. Scotty second (Yep the Danes are composed now). GB 26 Denmark 22 Czech Rep 10 Russia 7 Heat 12. Harris second again (yep Hans has realised he can ride a bike, this is it now) GB 28 Denmark 25 Czech Rep 11 Russia 7 (It starts to rain >>> hope against hope >> if we can make it to heat 15 we can steal a win >>> pheew >>>> rain damn you!!!!) Heat 13. Joe wins again (pheew !!! Good job he managed to pass Iversen but Joe's good in the wet >> lucky GB) GB 31 Denmark 27 Czech Rep 12 Russia 7 Heat 14. Stead wins (Charlie's trying too hard and it's wet and it's his home track >> good gate all the same Simon pheew) GB 34 Denmark 29 Czech Rep 12 Russia 8 Heat 15. Richardson first again (>> he must be sick!! >> Nicki lost control though and let him pass for tactical reasons >> not so sayeth Danish manager >> Nicki's not like that). GB 37 Denmark 31 Czech Rep 12 Russia 9 Heat 16. Stead second (Hans'll do it for Denmark now, for sure, with this double points score, this is it he's cracked the track) GB 39 Denmark 37 Czech Rep 13 Russia 9 Heat 17. Lee wins again (>>> is he sick or what >>> well he should be able to beat Iversen >>> he's a GP rider isn't he after all)? GB 42 Denmark 39 Czech Rep 13 Russia 10 Heat 18. Nicholls first (well Charlie's not doing as well has he should be on his home track >> luck's in again GB phew) GB 45 Denmark 39 Czech Rep 15 Russia 11 Heat 19. Harris second in rerun (lucky for GB again Lucas thrown out of the race >>>> especially when everyone thought Harris would be excluded for falling >>> pheew >>> lucky Harris was able to come out for the rerun >>> pheew) GB 47 Denmark 42 Czech Rep 15 Russia 12 Heat 20. Joe in third place >> groan (this is it now the Danes have GB in their sights ready to shoot them down) GB 48 Denmark 45 Czech Rep 15 Russia 14 (This is it now x 2 quoth pundits only 3 points in it but this is where GB's nerve cracks and Danes move in for the kill >>> but we'll be able to say they put up a good show >> but just couldn't cut it when it mattered >>> I wish it would rain). Heat 21. Harris wins !! (Lucky that Darkin packed up and lucky that Ales kept Iversen 3rd >>> but it's the Danish big guns from now on >>> so that's that for lucky GB tonight folks). GB 51 Denmark 46 Czech Rep 17 Russia 14 Heat 22. Screen third again (tut, tut Joe you're letting the side down >> as expected >>> but luckily Ales finally got to grips with the track >>> Charlie too). GB 52 Denmark 48 Czech Rep 23 Russia 14 (This it now though for sure >>>> Nicki's out in this one >>> this will be the first of a hat trick of wins that will seal it for Denmark >> with a bit of luck. Race offs here we come >> groan). Heat 23. Stead second (Wait >>> what's this >>> who is this >> who is Tomas Topinka >> bloke that won t race that's who >> what happened to Nicki >> why is Simon second >>> what's going on)??? GB 54 Denmark49 Czech Rep 26 Russia 14 (We could win this quoth pundit's >>> but we won't really Bjarne's bound to get a flyer and Lee's sick after all ineee eh >> what >>> Richardson sick >>> gerra way wi ya). Heat 24. Richardson first (Blimey Richardson's got a 15 point maximum >> what eh >>> how >>> who >>> why >>> are you sure >> well it says so here >>> mmm >> can't be right >> must be a dream >>> meeting will be on tomorrow >> >> Denmark ull win >>> make no mistake >>> GB's a sick team >> mark my words >> but Mark's not riding >>> yep I know >>> what did I tell you >>> Denmark ull win) GB 57 Denmark 51 Czech Rep 26 Russia 15 Heat 25. Nicholls second (Andersen in front >> must be a last heat decider >> Hans again >> these Danes >> No, No, Uncle Mr. Clemens wi your daft Halifax jumper >> with your chronic myopia >>> your inability to fill your program in properly >> yer senility's kicked in again >> Great Britain's won !!! What >> where (swindon yer dopey ol fart) >>> why >>> how???). You grew up tonight Simon Stead and Chris Harris. Good luck in the final. (They'll need it >>> what >>> eh >>> who >>> why>>>??? Well Th' australia's riding >>> they've got th'world champ and Leigh and Ryan and t'other two. And there's Th'swedes >> an they've got Th'world champion in waiting >>> why >>> what's he waiting for??? An't Poles >>> they've got Gollob and Hampel and t'other three >>> and it's their track >>> and it'll be fiddled for them t' win >>> and they'll have practiced on it for a month >>> like always. An' Nicki'll probably be there too >> wi them other lads >>> you know Hans >> Bjarne and t'other two. >>> what >>> uh >>> why >>> shurrup yer daft old fart).

All the more reason both Simon Stead and Chris Harris to take this opportunity to propel themselves to a higher status in Speedway. Good luck to both these lads and the rest of the team too. Nothing is a forgone conclusion and there is no reason why adversity (and the team being written off) can be the motivation to upset all predictions and come out on top.

I was talking pre meeting run round the track.

Nicki is a great rider and so is Jason. Calculate the points, TR would be in front of the next rider in line by in the GP's, if those two weren't there to entertain us.

Bjarne P will put Nicki P through't fence on't first bend (all in the cause of team bonding and Nordic brotherhood) that'll take care of him. You have to think tactically in these kinds of meetings.

I said he looked like 'death warmed up' in the pits on monday night. Looks like he's sunk even further into the pits.

If Alun Rossiter looks 'fed up' in the pits beware !!!!!

Nowt like a good dose of defeatism to get the ball rolling. (Or 'realism as th'intellectuals will probably have it).

Perhaps you might see something they don't want you to see>

An article on Anders Michanek, what happened to him? And on Arnold Haley too. I would like to see something on both of these.

It's the oppertunity now for Stead to show he can mix it with the big boys. If he keeps his head and just goes out there and ride he can prove it to himself and everyone else. The Best of British Simon!!!!

Thanks for the update Vince. It's likely that we will be at BelleVue on monday to see the meeting there.

While speaking of Bernie Persson, who I agree was always a class act to watch, I recall a somewhat amusing incident at Halifax once. (This again was in the 70's). Halifax's redoubtable reserve Mike Hiftle performed a minor miracle by getting out of the gate first in a race that Bernie Persson was also involved in. As Hiftle raced up the back straight Bernie Persson almost caught up with him ready to make an overtaking manouvre, which everyone expected would happen. Just as Persson was about to make his overtaking move, the 'excitable' Hiftle did his customary 'wobble', which he was prone to do when he found himself in any other position but fourth place. Persson immediately shut off and fell some distance behind Hiftle. You could almost hear Persson thinking 'F... that for a game of soldiers'.

I agree and this was the reason I found it odd that there wasn't a thread started to 'boost and promote' these young riders for those who may not have read about or yet heard of the Academy League. A positive promotion of these meetings, through this forum, would I think make suporters aware of these meetings and motivate them to go see what these young riders had to offer British Speedway. Especially if 'non aligned' supporters, not connected to the main teams riding, went along specifically to support them. I think that would be the kind of positive support that might well 'enthuse' the young riders to put on there best possible show. But as your link indicates the enthusiasm for this league must come from the riders concerned first. Taking into consideration other prior committments of course. But surely those who have created the fixture lists for these meetings should have been aware of what committments these young riders had??

I read in this week's Speedway Star that with the school holidays starting the British Academy League 'gets underway for real'. I am a little surprised not to see a thread already begun discussing the prospects of these young riders in this league. Perhaps I am missing something and a thread is posted elsewhere. If not I think we should all be encouraging these young riders. We will be at Scunthorpe on Sunday where there is the Bulls v Rams match after the main meeting. Also at a Sheffield meeting which coincides with the Cobras v Buffalos meeting. We have talked of going to Buxton to see a meeting there. We noted that Scunthorpe rides there on Sunday August 28th and have decided to go to that meeting. According to the Academy fixture list Buffalos v Rams takes place there on the same day. So we will be at 3 of these meetings all being well. Come on everyone out there where is the enthusiasm for these meetings and the supporting of these young riders ???

If we go (don't be afraid we might not) we will meet you on the grassy knoll.

My belief is that no rider wants to take the 'responsibility' of doing Pedersen harm on the track for all the right reasons. What I do feel is that Pedersen might well suffer serious injury himself. It will come about in a scenario where tries to pull off one of his usual stunts. This will rebound on him, in a way that there will be those who say it is 'Poetic Justice'. I had this feeling about a rider long ago, for different reasons, so much so I was inclined to write him a letter advising him to retire from the sport before he harmed himself. I didn't write this letter as I decided that the rider in question could not and would not make a decision of that nature on the basis of someone's 'hunch'. Problem is though as those around me would tell you, my 'hunches have an unnerving consistancy in being proved right'. It didn't surprise me to learn later that indeed this rider suffered serious injuries that finished his career.