Grachan

Racist? How the hell was it racist? Never read anything so daft in my life. Nicki's mudguard hit Gollob's arm, but I'd have to se it again to see if Gollob moved in on him. Whoever was at fault, though, Gollob wasn't knocked off. He laid the bike down to try and get a re-run, just as TRick has done before and Scott Nicholls should have done at the start of his semi-final. I'm amazed that the ref fell for it, though.

I've always felt that is you don't touch the tapes and get a flier then good for you. Also, if you make a mess of it and find yourself at the back then tough. Let the races continue.

Certainly gave Gollob a run for his money. If only he'd get some top quality machinery over here he could do well. Remember how good he was for a while when he got his new engine?

Will he officially be crowned World Champion though, even if he can't be caught, or will that be on the final night. Surely Crumpie should be Champion for the whole year, like they do with Miss World and stuff.

I vaguely remember this being brought up and Martin Ashby being absolutely horrified at the idea. A tarmac track would probably be the end of speedway as we know it, as I'm pretty certain thee would be no more broadsiding on the corners. They use tarmac tracks in Japan and lean the bikes on the corners without sliding.

It was the same with the old tactical substitute rule though.

The interesting thing about that is that while we all talk about how well Lee Richardson done, he would have been fourth in Poland's averages.

Jonas D is probably been named as Wild card for winning the Swedish Under-21 final ahead of Lindgren and Lindback. Oh yes, he's quite a hot prospect in Sweden is our Jonas.

Slowing down and using easier words makes a lot of difference. Of course it does. And why is it 'poor old Mr Walasek'? I reckon it's 'poor old Sophie' for not having the brains to realise this. You also find that the same people who can't understand why other peple can't speak perfect English tend to make a funny face, safrican american, or go 'Ooookkkaaaaayyyy' if ever someone speaks fluently in another language other than English, as if doing so makes you some kind of retard. Typical English reaction to johnny foreigner I'm afraid.

It all sounds very nice and proper and footbally. Trouble is, if the host nation don't reach the final you have no crowd.

If Lee had been used (and he was the best rider on display in the GB Team) and won the race, we would have scored 33 and so would Sweden. Equal second. Also, Scott may have scored in a TS ride when Lee came in last I believe. Second without even the need of a run-off. I'm not criticising, as it's easy to say this in retrospect, but tactical moves could have made a big difference.

A man goes into the doctors and says: 'Doctor, doctor, I can't stop doing pop quizzes.' The doctor says: 'How long has this been going on?' 'Ace' the man says.

The thing is, whenever people on the radio do football predictions, about 90% of the time they say it will be 2-1 one way or another. Therefore, if it is actually 2-1 it's just a case of it actually coming up that particular time. Ray Houghton especially- 'I'll go, erm.... 2-1' he says.'

I reckon Havelock would make a good manager actually. The thing is, if Middlo had used Lee Richardson - who had won his previous ride - as a Tactical Sub/Joker instead of Nicholls - who had just come last - GB might have been in a run off for second. It was the logical choice. I was shouting at the telly that he should use Richardson, and my friend who has never been to Speedway but conveniently has Sky Sports, was saying the same. What does he know though?

Surely, if Nicholls knows the track, he should be there to give advice to Stead and Harris even if he doesn't feel the need to ride it himself.

Not always if it's on the run in to the first bend though.

One thing I've noticed, having watched it again. The talk was about Smolinski getting a roller, but if you watch PK at the start, he also makes a move just before the tapes go up. I wonder if the fact that he then found himself at the back was why it wasn't called back as an unsatisfactory start.

Definitely. I wonderd if they would try it and without a doubt that's what they did. As Tony and Kelvin were going on about Sweden looking set to wrap up the meeting I was shaking my head and mumbling (in a non-insane way of course) 'no they're not. Hahahahaha'. Wouldn't it have been interesting, though, if Rickardsson had suddenly slowed on the last lap to let Watt through. (Later EDIT - they couldn't do that could they, as it would still have given the Aussies a chance. Doh!)

Can I take it you think that Poland being 6 down had nothing to do with luck at all then?

I found my exercise book, entitled "Swindon Robins 1977 Results, Scorers, Averages etc (+ other big meetings)". I'm doing this from memory now! There's once match. I think it was May 26(?), Swindon 52 Sheffield 26. Swindon used R/R for Jan Andersson. Kevin Young was number 8. One ride - 2 points plus a bonus. Could be that one.

In general, I'd agree. But can you always clearly define 'country of origin'. Suppose you have an Irish mother, an Australian father, was born in India, lived in China for 5 years, then lived in England for the rest of your life. What is your country of origin? On the subject of Speedway riders, I remember Gordon Kennett once considered riding for Denmark because he kept being overlooked by England, though I don't believe he ever actually went through with it. I think he had a Danish wife.

A great climax to the meeting, which started poorly but gradually improved. The Poles definitely played for it in heat 24 too. I was wondering before that race if they would deliberately finish two places behind Rickardsson as it was their only chance, and I have no doubt at all that they did. So, Gollob is just amazing then is he? So how good does that make Leigh Adams? I did wonder, though, if Gollob was trying to keep the German in front for a bit in the early laps as they needed Sweden to come last, but maybe I was looking too much into it. That race either proves how stupid the Joker is, or proves it's a good idea. Not sure which. I hate the Joker idea, it's unfair and ridiculous, but without it we probably wouldn't have seen such a good race.

I think people will be looking at the GB team with a lot more trepidation than they were before. The original side held no real fears for the other sides, but suddenly I think they will be looking at us and seeing us as the team with the dynamic young guns to kep an eye on. In the past we've had to enviously watch, say, Kolodjiez or Lindback bursting onto the scene. Well now, maybe, it's our turn to scare the hell out of everyone with our exciting young riders, and about time too! Then again, maybe we'll get stuffed. But right decision anyway.

I really can't understand why some people are saying this. Watch the race again. Nicki made a couple of dodgy turns, but there was no way he was letting Lee past deliberately. I've seen people let riders past in World Champs qualifiers etc, and it looks nothing like that. It wasn't particularly in Denmark's interests to do so either at that point in the match.