whowasthatberntpersson

Thanks to Ron Malm who was sending updates to the Australian Speedway list; Qualifiers 1. Troy Batchelor 2. Todd Wiltshire 3. Mark Jones 4. Jason Doyle 5. Robert Kysak 6. Cameron Woodward Reserves Trevor Harding Cory Gathercole

Just received my copy for Christmas. Its the best speedway book I've ever read. Not overloaded with stats like many speedway books, it gets to the personal side of a truly great motorcyclist. Its emotional for sure, in particular the articles written by his Wife, Brother, etc. What a legend.

Thanks Rico, looks like we'll get at least three meetings on 21st, 23, and 24th, in addition to GP practice and a possible extra meeting on Monday 25th September. Have to work it all out closer to the time once the Polish league positions are sorted.

Top notch seafood buffet, went there after the Townsville Cup....very nice.

Just booked me and my Son on this flight.... Are the Polish fixtures out yet? Will be staying on for a week taking in a league match and having a look around.

I'll be there too, flying into London from Australia a couple of days before then straight out to Poland...can't wait....would love to meet up with everyone....although my Kids only 12 which may restrict me.....only reason the Mrs is letting me go.

Todd Wiltshire made a very impressive return to speedway over the weekend. The much publicised return was picked up by the local media with television and the local press present at Pitstop Motorcycles in Townsville on Thursday afternoon where Todd was interviewed, posed for photographs, signed autographs and chatted to many admirers. His comeback commenced at Pioneer Park on Friday where he partnered rising New South Wales star Michael Slade in the pairs event, right frrom the off Todd's lightning quick reflexes were present and although he was headed during the night the class was still evident and the partnership went on to win the meeting. On the second night of racing Todd stepped up a gear and rode to a faultless maximum in the North Queensland Solo Masters, comfortably beating the likes of Dave Watt and Troy Batchelor, riders fresh from a season in the UK. The final event of the night was a gater's derby with four riders doing four one lap dashes, changing gate positions each time, the additional event didn't make it to round four because of mechanical problems but Todd had already wrapped it up by then. It couldn't of gone any better for Todd, who was asked the "Will you be making a complete comeback?" question many times over the weekend. The question remains unanswered although I don't think there will be any super quick committment to a complete track return, he's got a good job and is riding for fun at the moment, having said that I'd put pretty decent money on it happening eventually though, he looked far too good to be ignored.

Further to Norm's post I can confirm that Todd had an unblemished weekend in Tropical North Queensland. On Friday night he and his partner Michael Slade from New South Wales won the best pairs event, although Todd was headed there was plenty to indicate the old magic was still there. The following night Todd was in a class of his own, lightning quick from the start and absolutely flying, scoring a maximim in the individual event, winning the final then winning the tailer made gater's derby. A very positive return indeed. As well as Todd British fans may be interested to know that former Kings Lynn rider John Oliver once again rode impressively, John seems to be improving steadily and looks ready for another good shot at British racing. The Kings Lynn connection was there in force, Troy Batchelor was lightning quick all weekend and rode very impressively whilst team mate Oliver also made the A final in the Individual event (broke the tapes). Race of the weekend goes to local Mick OÇonnor and Dave Watt in the piars event on Friday, OÇonnor loves the dirt and rides the high line, he did exactly that for three full laps with Watt attempting to get underneath, the new Oxford signing did get past diving inside on the very last bend but the local made one hell of a race out of it. Other locals to impress were teenagers Ricky Barney and Steven Reid, these two are destined for a pretty decent track career and were once again in the thick of the action. During the presentations Todd Wiltshire commented on the hospitality shown to him by Pioneer park promoters Shelly and Rhino Ryan stating "Ive rode all around the world for so many years and have never experienced the hospitality shown to me by the PP brigade" and his comments were echoed by Olli Allen.

Thanks Tomaz, I'll be there, fits in nicely with Polish GP on 23 Sep, that will be at the start and Czrcho to finish with UK in between. Hope to catch you there MM.

Does anyone have dates for next year's Czech Golden Helmet weekend meetings yet??? I'll be over from Australia and want to be in Czecho for the weekend. Many thanks.

Todd Wiltshire will be appearing at Pitstop Motorcycles in Townsville on Thursday afternoon between 1400-1500. A media release has been arranged to promote Todd's return to speedway in conjunction with Pioneer Park Speedway's big two day event. This Friday night will be a pairs event with the top local riders partnering visiting stars. Then the following night its a free for all Individual event titled the North Queensland Solo Masters. These meetings follow close on the heels of Saturday nights Queensland Championship which means Jason Doyle is out (suspected broken colar bone), Korey Williams had withdrawn previously whilst Troy Batchelor is frantically trying to sort out his machinery. Meanwhile Trent Leverington who was not originally included in the lineup is keen to ride, although he will need to borrow machinery as his stuff was left in the UK. Known starters are; Dave Watt - QLD Scott Smith - QLD Todd Wiltshire - NSW Troy Batchelor - QLD Oliver Allen - England Sam Taylor - NZ John Oliver - QLD Michael Slade - NSW Trent Leverington - QLD ?? Ricky Barney - NQ Scott Mckenna - NQ Steven Reid - NQ Mick O'Connor - NQ Darren Stout - NQ Roy Stout - NQ Jeremy Linton - NQ

MM, John rode reasonably well, he scored 9 points from his first four rides (three seconds and a win) although some points were gifted with missing riders, etc. Must mention the new look Kevlars and Bike ...very impressive. Olli gave you a mention too.

I think it was a bit of both Lunchy. There was certainly some very hard riding happening early on. Many riders have had problems exiting turn four at Labrador and thats the way it was on Saturday, they create so much speed coming down the back straight and go wide coming out of the turn, thats what happened in Batchelor's race, when Troy went hard underneath Korey Williams, in what was a re-run, Korey had already been splatterered in the first staging but his bike took a bIt of a battering second time round putting both he and Troy out for the night. The main thing is all the riders seemed to come out of the meeting relatively unscathed. As for Holder and Batchelor, hard to compare at this stage, they didn't ride against each other. Chris looked very quick once again and did very well to make the final, where he looked well on the pace against Olli. Thanks Bryn I was very pleased with Nick's performance had to work hard for the win (didn't have his normal gating mood on).

Final placings; 1st Olli Allen 2nd Chris Holder 3rd Dave Booth 4th Dave Watt So the first two were non Queenslanders. Bit of a strange meeting with an awful amount of crashes, resulting in Troy Batchelor, Corey Williams and Jason Doyle pulling out early on. Another non Queenslander Michael Slade was unlucky not to make the final, riding impressively just about all night, missing out by just one point after one poor ride I'll leave all the details to Bryn and co. Great to meet up with Bryn again, also present were a host of former riders and speedway folk including BSPA Chairman Terry Russell, former Oxford star Troy Butler, Ivan Mauger, Vaclav Verner, etc, etc. Most of these riders will now head North for the big two day event at Pioneer Park next weekend.

I see some debate regarding riders who are in the qualifier who possibly should be seeded directly to the main event. It is interesting to see a relatively unknown Pole in the main event ahead of someone like Troy Batchelor....can't say I understand that particular idea... Oh and wouldn't it be fantastic to see all the top Aussies in that lineup...maybe one day eh?

The Ayr Motorcycle Club held their annual Dinner and presentation night on Saturday. The speedway awards based on overall points scored went to; Senior Solos 1st Scott Mckenna 2nd Jeremy Linton 3rd Steven Reid Junior 125cc Solos 1st Clinton Dennis 2nd Nicholas Morris 3rd Josh Grajczonek Some riders particularly in the senior ranks missed meetings which cost them an higher placing. Congratulations to all the above and also to top local star Ricky Barney who despite missing out on the speedway pointscore awards came on top elsewhere.

Well done Robert. Just looking at those times, Darcy Ward was flying.

A top quality field will contest the Queensland Open Championship this weekend, apart from the top Queenslanders (Watt, Batchelor, Smith, etc) the lineup also includes some stiff competition from New South Wales, it really should be a cracker. The Junior program will commence around 1600 - 1630 (4-4.30pm) I've just booked my flight, and the young fella has got a ride...so I'm a happy chappy. Hope to catch up with a few BSF people on the day/night.

Looks like Darcy has sussed the track, did Josh Grajczonek ride?

Cheers, No speedway here this weekend so a good read would be an adequate replacement....

TMC, Still haven't received my copy, have the overseas subscribers been sent their's yet?

Unfortunately for speedway but fortunately for other reasons it certainly does rain in Australia. There seems to be almost as many rainoffs here as anywhere else in the world...maybe its a speedway thing? I'll never complain about a rainoff again after hearing about the big sidecar meeting in Germany being cancelled....riders actually travelled from Australia just to ride in that meeting.......

The King of the Canefields was held at the Ayr Motorcycle Club's Brandon Complex in North Queensland on Saturday, a mammoth program commenced in scorching heat with action on the dirt track (thats not speedway for those that don't know). The speedway action was held later under lights. Although speedway only played a support role on the night, the main dirt track event, a twenty lapper with two riders each doing ten laps was won by two promising speedway stars, Ricky Barney and newcomer Shane Oates, both were taking a break from the solo action but showed their undoubted talents as all round motorcyclists winning the main event with ease. The senior speedway part of the night was held over four rounds with Ayr youngster Scott Mckenna having an impressive night. Mckenna remained unbeaten but there was some competitive racing with another newcomer Murray Richards starting to show some promising form, Townsville youngster Steven Reid also had a good night with the Stout Brothers Darren and Roy in the thick of the action, whilst Jeremy Linton's night came to a sudden halt due to machine problems in his first ride. Rookies Kurt Palmer and Matthew Pilcher were having a hitout for the first time in a couple of months and steadily removed the cobwebs whilst riding their way back into form. The Junior speedway program was cut short due to the large number of events, after three rounds Nick Morris was on top, Morris was beaten by Clinton Dennis in his first ride then convincingly won his next two. Dennis was unbeaten going into his third ride but could only muster a third after spluttering to a halt whilst leading. This was the final meeting of the 2005 season for the Ayr Club, racing will resume early in the new year. Meanwhile the club will hold their annual dinner and presentation night at the Ayr showground next Saturday evening.

Sounds like an excellent night of racing. Congrats to Robert and Darrell. Hope to get down there sometime in the not too distant future.

Dave Watt now confirmed, so the lineup so far is; Todd Wiltshire - NSW Dave Watt - QLD Troy Batchelor - QLD Oliver Allen - England Korey Williams - NSW Sam Taylor - NZ John Oliver - QLD Michael Slade - NSW Dave Booth - QLD With plenty still to come.