shalefan

My 2nd year at Cardiff and I thought it was far better than last years. I thought that overall the track held better even with what seemed to be a bit of a problem between turns one and two. I thought the whole meeting's racing was better and the entertainment was good as well. My son (13) never came last year and already wants the same seats as this year for next. Great sporstmanship shown to by a lot of the riders during the event. AJ's gesture to Bomber after his fall was fantastic. Crump encouraging Bomber to stand on the back of the vehicle to take the fans cheers was very good to at the end. It would be good to see the stadium filled with even more fans. Would it not be better to have them empty seats filled somehow, maybe even cheaper seats at the top could be the way.

Have to say not enjoyed tonights meeting. For me its been a bit boring, hope the British GP is better than tonights.

Great stuff Chris, ride on from here and don't let your standards drop. Awesome riding in an overall decent meeting. Good luck and looking forward to the net GP.

Like to add my congrats to Jason and his backroom staff. Well done Jason.

Shazzy, honest I contacted several of the two groups Hotels and central reservation dept on the evening the dates were set and the following days and they have all said the sdame to me. Not only that they did say that they have been called by hundreads of Speedway fans and they have all been told the same. Can I ask Shzzy just as a matter of interest what one have you booked into

Fairy, this cannot be right wih regards to Travel Inns and Travelodges. You say you have to be quick. You cannot get much quicker than when the dates have just been released on the TV. As said I phoned straight away and got told and keep getting told that no one can book a room unless nine months in advance. They just wont take a booking now for these motels/hotels, that's why I am baffled as to how people are saying they have booked with these two groups ?

How have some people on here said they have booked to stay in a Travelodge. I have tried from the day they let out the dates for next years GP to book a room in a Travelodge or Travelinn but when through they are telling me they cannot take any bookings that far in advance. I even contacted head office and they say the same?? Nine months in advance only they are telling me.

As I have said before on here, maybe not this thread but others. The Reading track this season overall (note overall) has been pretty good. Prior to last Thursday the track staff seemed to have at last got to grips with it and some very good racing has been witnessed in the EL. However in passing my opinion above I have no alternative but to say that Thursday and Saturday's track (albeit Saturdays track was a lot better imo) were not of the standard that has been seen at Reading this season. Thursday's track was probably the worst I have seen it with regards to preperation and performance. I did note however that during Sky's commentary on Thursday the studio guests were saying and I quote them not me that with the heat as it was it was very difficult to prepare, coupled with the fact that practice had been during the day as well. I know people will say this track done it and that one has done it but the comments were from two riders, surely there view should be respected. I was disappointed on arrival on Saturday not to see more dirt on the track which leads me to wonder if a certain Mr Olsen had any influence on track preperation over the two meetings, I mean we all know his liking for a slick track.

Oh dear this is appalling news. I had to leave as the last race ended (bloody work I had to be up at 4am this morning) so I missed the rest of the night. Nothing short of disgusting actions by a few. I know people were being stripped of any alcoholic drink on entry to the stadium. I saw staff asking to look inside peoples bags and getting them to either drink it or dispose of it. Was the bar selling bottles of drink? I thought they only sold in plastic cups ?

Have to say I was one who said 'Horses for Courses' and thought it was right to bring Louis in. Have to agree totally with you Rabbit and your post. Spot on.

One interesting note about all of us (including me) who were not happy with the track the other night, what with the dust and lack of shale. Having seen the sky coverage of the meeting it was interesting how Sam and Chris kept refering to the fact that practice was held prior to the meeting therefore getting the track as we all want was a hard task almost impossible with the weather so hot. There words basically not mine and they are still riding, well, I can't work out if Sam is or is not. Maybe another lesson learnt that a good clear day should be had between the practice and the laying of the track for the meeting?

Blimy why not go the whole hog then bv91 and put young Mr Bridger in along with Ed Kennett. Would not like to be in the trenches with you bv91. Giving up before getting started what sort of attitude is that! The point is that Louis can gate better and is very much on form at the moment. It's a team effort and whilst Steady has been left out of this round he is still very much part of the GB set up. I think the phrase is 'Horses for courses' . Steady is doing just fine and hopefully will take this the right way. Hopefully he will still progress and his day will come. If team GB were to win then Steady should receive a gong to for his part in getting us there.

I have to say that the original deal was very good value for money. I honestly thought that BSI had got the pricing right. Glad I got my tickets in advance. What I would say now is that I cannot see why kids have got to pay £25, BSI you have got this bit wrong.

Snap tape2tapevideo

Starting Line Ups for Tomorrow Red – Australia 1. Travis McGowan 2. Ryan Sullivan 3. Todd Wiltshire 4. Leigh Adams (Capt) 5. Jason Crump Blue - Great Britain 1. Lee Richardson 2. Mark Loram 3. Scott Nicholls (Capt) 4. Chris Louis 5. Chris Harris White - Sweden 1. Andreas Jonsson (Capt) 2. Antonio Lindback 3. Fredrick Lindgren 4. Mikael Max 5. Peter Karlsson Yellow - Denmark 1. Niels Kristian Iversen 2. Nicki Pedersen 3. Bjarne Pedersen 4. Hans Andersen (Capt) 5. Charlie Gjedde

Hope the start girls get in right from the off tomorrow to. First two heats yesterday they were all over the place. Not hard is it lol

Spot on Steve as others with a similar post. I keep saying thats the worst we have had it at Reading this season, why I don't know, maybe it is the Olsen factor. Just hope they learn, WE WANT DIRT all over, give us a racing track please

Your having a a giraffe - Arena

Middlo has to be ruthless now and I'n afraid drop Steady for Chris Louis, whilst it's easy to say Steady has not ridden a last, in last nights meeting there was never a hint he would finish first either. The right thing for Team GB, giving them a chance would to bring in Louis. MIDDLO DO IT!

I have read all the previous posts on this and have to say that being a regular at Smallmead last nights track was dreadful. To those that do not go to Reading everyweek I can assure you, up to last night the track preperation has been very good. Since about a month'ish after the season started they seemed to have got the track sorted. There has been a lot of passing and plenty of dirt all over. I cannot remember seeing so much dust this season as last night. A few Reading fans around me were also saying the same thing. I spoke to a guy from Oxford, stood in front of me before the meeting. He had not been to Reading for a number of years and there was I telling him they had got the track sorted now, DOH, slap back in my face or what. I can only think one thing here and it has already been said MR OLSEN step forward. He is renowed for this type of track. Did we not have a situation at one of last years GP's where they watered the track against his wishes in between a race and he went barmy at them. The funny thing was the very next race was superb. I really hope thay can get this sorted for tomorrow.

Bill not sure if the Airshow was the problem this morning for you as only trade people can go up till and including tomorrow. The corwds normally build up when it's open to the general public which is from this Saturday, gates open 09.30hrs onwards.

I know we have other posts on travelling but I thought this needed pointing out on it's own so forgive me. Just a step further with regards to travelling to the final on Saturday. Right, this may be useful to some that could use this route. As previous experience tells me when travelling on the M3, A3 and A30 at this time of year I thought I would share it with people just to make them aware. People that may use the M3 south bound or roads mentioned if cutting across country be aware that this Saturday it's the Farnboro Airshow. All roads including the M3,A3 and A30 get very congested with very long tail backs of traffic. I know this as I work at Heathrow Airport and learned my lesson many moons ago when trying to get home to Basingstoke after a shift.(took me near on 3.5/4 hrs to get home one year). With the M25 often blocked you may think that by going down the M3 or one of these roads and cutting across country you can halve your time. Be warned.

Steve, You really need to move on from keep attacking the Reading Stadium. It has been said and I think you know that Coventry could not hold it because of a dog meeting. The decision was taken to stage it at Reading rightly or wrongly. It's there and we have to live with it. I cannot agree that its the worst Stadium in the Elite League but thats a personal point of view, I don't like Arena, Eastbourne or Wolves. I have said on another thread probably Coventry has the best facilaties. Your own stadium may be better than Readings mate but don't get carried away in thinking that has no problems, it's old like most of the elite league tracks. In a way Reading can't win because when the new Stadium opens it may ( I stress May) attract some of Speedways top competitions because of the mere fact it is new. Now many will not like that and moan about.

I'm not so sure that they have been reading the forum, maybe it's a case of just being a bit realistic at this moment in time. The boys done well and should be proud of there efforts. For the younger ones it's good experience and shows that they can do and are not that far off the pace. For the boys that did not get in the team they have seen again what it takes to compete at the very highest level.

I would just like to add that whilst many fans still have a go at the Reading track for being slick and in the past that has also come from Reading fans, overall this season the track conditions have been much better and racing has been a lot better. I only hope Thursday and Saturday are as entertaining as tonights meeting. I beleive BSI reckon they can get between 7000 - 8000 inside Smallmead (phew that's tight). One thing that makes me laugh with a lot of comments about the facilites at Smallmead that I read on here is, that whilst I agree the stadium has been let go now for sometime and is in need of repair which we all know will not happen due to the knew one coming, some of the stadiums mentioned have facilities that are not that clever either. Reason being is that most of the stadiums in this country are also ageing fast. Coventry's stadium I would say is probably a good shout for being the best.