leanne1706

At least you're being honest now - it was an assumption. I agree that it would be boring if Nicki weren't around. To be fair, where else would the entertainment have come from on Saturday night if he wasn't there? The racing wasn't up to much, IMO. When you say he should get his just desserts, at least you mean he should have a poor GP... others on here are saying and giving the impression he should suffer an injury. That's not right. And no, not 'Heat' magazine. Far from it.

But this isn't about the British GP being in London, but the European GP - slightly different. It wouldn't be replacing Cardiff, but running alongside... Media law says you don't have to identify your source. I haven't said anything is definite, it's just something that is being looked at and worked on at the moment. But it certainly is not a rumour, this information has come from someone "in the know". I would love to tell you names, but then I'd probably be out of the loop in the future, and what journalist does that to themselves!? And if your posts could be a little less patronising, that might be nice, too!

You've got a point - if it happens, I'll only go to Wembley.

I have heard from a reliable source that the powers that be are currently very close to confirming that next year's European GP is to be at Wembley Stadium. Apparently, this was meant to be the "big announcement" during Monday's live Sky meeting but they are yet to confirm arrangements so they put it off and announced the 10% thing instead, which was, as we know, announced earlier in the day on t'Internet anyway. So, Wembley anyone? Will be great, IMO. No need (for me) to search for a hotel, shopping during the day, night out in the City afterwards - bring it on!!

Oh purlease! Seriously, how can you tell he did it on purpose? You're making the assumption that he did it on purpose, let's be honest.

How do you know he did it on purpose? Have you asked him??

Because his EL average is 7.38, and Tai's is... ah, there's my point. He doesn't have one. Olly is known to go well around Brandon and has beaten GP riders on his home track. Tai, on the other hand, is yet to prove that he can do the same. Why take the risk when we have a rider who has already shown he can do it? BTW, I'm not saying Tai couldn't do it, because I reckon he could, but he hasn't proven himself at Brandon like Olly has. Common sense, if you ask me. I think we should wait and see how the boys do, then knock them if they disappoint. At least give them a chance, and give them your support. We've all seen how having the crowd behind you can make a difference.

If you look above, you will see that I have said if Nicki, or any other rider, pushes a rider into the fence it is unacceptable. If you *are* talking about the cheering when a rider falls off, I beg to differ, it doesn't happen all the time. It didn't happen when Bomber and NKI came together on Saturday, for one example... It bothers me and I will express an opinion about it, even if there is "sod all" I can do about it - that's what this forum is all about, expressing opinions! I'm not sure what you mean by "what goes around comes around"...

Completely agree. Stead didn't seem to show any frustration or annoyance with his performance. I'm not so sure about using Ed at Brandon. While he has had a couple of good meetings there, is that enough for him to be guaranteed a good meeting again? Not saying Olly is guaranteed a good meeting, but he has more knowledge of the track so there's more of a chance. Tai, on the other hand, should definitely be in. He would at least show a bit of passion!

I think you're right, LW. Just angers me that people are so narrow-minded!

I didn't see Nicki cheating either I did see Holta take Nicki out, and I did see Bomber fly into the side of Hans. Is that not cheating? No, because they're not Nicki... I don't mind the booing, and I have not said I have a problem with that. It's the cheering when he fell that made me sick, and also the swearing and inappropriate hand signals. Uncalled for and not nice when there are kids around. Well, not nice when there's anyone around, but particularly very young kids like the couple that were sitting behind us.

We had similar seats in M2 and only paid £60 and they were purchased from the proper ticket sellers... now THAT'S a saving

But he didn't do this on Saturday, and that is what this discussion thread is about, the GP on Saturday night, so I don't see your point If he has pushed a rider into the fence and then come in smiling, then yes, he is in the wrong. But he didn't do that on Saturday... He might have played the ref, but what speedway rider hasn't?! At the end of the day, Nicki wasn't holding a gun to the ref's head and making him make these decisions. If anyone's to blame, it's the referee. ** sorry for two posts in a row

If the pushing riders into fences bothers me, or the cheering when a rider crashes? The cheering bothers me greatly. In the ten years or so that I've been supporting speedway, I've never seen or heard such vicious abuse as that aimed at Nicki on Saturday night. It's absolutely sickening that one human being would cheer when another human being has a high-speed crash! I just can't believe some people. As for the riders pushing other riders into the fence. Yes, it does happen a lot (NOT all the time) and while it's part and parcel of the sport, it definitely shouldn't be.

Jeez, so the guy's not allowed to smile!? I don't find anyone pushing another rider into the fence acceptable, but when exactly do you claim Nicki did that on Saturday night? He was pushed into the fence by Holta, and got cheered for falling and then booed! How is that right??

Depending on when you booked this year's tickets (for 08) you might find you got the early offer of paying for 07's prices, so the 10% discount on £35 would apply to this year's prices, if you bought them after the cut-off date last year.

Lynch says: "We've pack the team for the Monday night full of Coventry track specialists." Just because someone rides for Coventry, doesn't make them a track specialist! I have to say I agree with the inclusion of Olly - the boy can gate, and he knows Coventry well (not saying he's a track specialist, but he's very familiar with the track). I think he could be a trump card. Steady, on the other hand, after some very up and down scores this year, after he was left out of the final the other year (there was obviously valid reasons for this!), and after his dismal performance last night - why, oh why? Let Tai have a go... at least he sounds pleased to be in the squad. Both Allen and Stead didn't look as chuffed as Chris Louis described them as being last night on Sky.

So, because of all that, it's ok to cheer when he takes a nasty looking tumble that could have resulted in serious injury?

Couldn't agree more with this. Regardless of whether or not Nicki has cheated, to cheer a rider as he is taking a fall? It's just sick. Especially that fall in the final, it was pretty nasty and anything could've happened - broken collarbone, neck; would those that laughed still be laughing if that had happened? And then, yes, the Bomber incident and the booing of Hans. Bomber nearly took Hans off seconds before his fall, yet Hans stayed on - if he'd have gone down Bomber would've been excluded. Then, after Bomber hits the deck, there are no cheers. Why? Why should Nicki be cheered for going down in a similarly nasty-looking accident in the final, yet Bomber was cheating by blatantly knocking into Hans but (deservedly, IMO) received a standing ovation when he got up... It just doesn't make sense.

We stayed in the Ibis on the Saturday night and managed to accidentally get a free breakfast - we thought it was B&B, and when we checked out they didn't mention anything about paying for the brekky we'd just eaten, so we left then realised we hadn't selected the B&B option. Oops! The rooms were nice and the service was good, though. Would recommend it for next year, and would be going back there but it seems to be booked up already!

Is the name calling really necessary??

You're absolutely right. Putting aside defending Nicki for a minute or two Well Done Crump, deserved winner on the night.

I did say I would only make one comment, as I don't want to start another "did he, didn't he?" debate... but just to say, I'm not disagreeing that Nicki took Greg wide, but it didn't look like there was any contact. And that's all I'm saying... no point dragging something up from four years ago.

I'm not old!

From the interview with Nicki: "It if was me I would have had all four back in those incidents, but it's the ref's decision. Y'see, it's not Nicki's decision to exclude riders, and he agrees that the ref made the wrong decision, so to say he is a cheat is just, IMO, completely ridiculous. "I'm very disappointed about the British fans and it makes me wonder whether I really want to ride in this country again. I'm not surprised so many foreign riders don't want to ride over here, not after the treatment they get. "It also makes me even more determined in my fight to win the World Championship this year." And I for one hope he goes and shows everyone he can do it Nicki also says in the interview that he sustained some rib damage and took a knock to his head - shame on those who cheered when he went down. Regardless of who he is, how sick do you have to be to cheer when a rider - or any human, for that matter - has been involved in an accident and come out of it injured??