fatface

In agreement with everyone above. Had a great weekend, loved the atmosphere, loved mingling with speedway fans from everywhere, but the racing was poor. In a way I think the track was probably too good from a rider's point of view. Apart from the 4th bend which cut up later on in the meeting, each rider could blast round quite comfortably at full throttle all the way, making it virtually impossible to overtake. A good speedway track has to be banked and deep in dirt around the outside. Meaning at every bend the rider has the option of going on the speedier route (outside) or shorter route (inside). At Cardiff on Saturday the kerb was the only place to be.

1. Crump 2. Rickardson 3. Pedersen 4. Nicholls

I suppose Szczakiel wasn't as bad as he's made out. But the was still nver a deserving Champ. Even now, looking at a World Final scorechart which put him ahead of the likes of Mauger, Olsen, Michanek, Collins and even Plech makes strange reading. I've got the final on video somewhere and something definitely transpired in the stars that day for Jerzy. His win was a combination of: * rolling starts * slick track * luck * corruption Consider the following: * He was rolling from the every start and was nearly always first to the first turn by questionable means - didn't overtake anyone as I recall. * The track was super-slick, even Mauger had to bust a gut to get past someone. Once you had made the jump, it was easier than normal to hang on. * After Szczakiel emerged from a couple of races with wins - the fix was on. Ed Jancarz was one of those who blatantly let him through in a later ride * The ref cocked it up. In heat 20, he failed to stop the race when Plech had been stuffed into the fence, tried to reverse his decision, but couldn't (quite rightly). Otherwise Plech would have joined Ivan and Jerzy in the run-off * For once in his life, Mauger lost his cool. He ran into the back of Szczakiel in the run-off and fell-off. He was he was clearly faster and should have bided his time. Nonetheless though, it was a fascinating final and will always be one of the most famous in speedway history.

See you at the PoW. But how will I recognise you all?

Carl Blackbird (Belle Vue) going to Oxford in 1986 and beating Hans Nielsen three times, all from the back.

I think we have nothing to lose in putting Howe and Stead in. In my and most others opinions these are our top prospects in the next few years. And with Brits currently in their worst ever positions in the GP standings, giving Stead and Howe a chance is all the more urgent. Also unsure about Barker's and Stoney's thoughts, neither are ever going to make top GP riders, neither for that case is Stuart Robson.

QUIET GEM? QUIET? WE'LL BE ABOUT AS QUIET AS THIS MESSAGE :!:

Lioness - Myself and Father Falcace (no, he's not a priest!) will be at a place called Acorn Lodge, Cathedral Road.

Ouch It makes terrible reading from a British perspective. Come back Loramski and quick!

Porter, What a load of tosh. Personally I would prefer to see a couple of riders who could make a difference to a race result, and I don't think Steady will or David for that matter. It doesn't matter if the Wildcards are American, Danish, Swedish, Outer Mongolian - after all they will be providing entertainment I would love to see 10 British riders in the GP, however you have to qualify the same as any nation, and if we only have 3, it just means that we don't have the calibre of riders that are required in the GP. I see where you are coming from Chivs. But being British, I totally support putting Stead and Howe in. The current GP standings must be the worst ever from a British perspective. Therefore its more urgent than ever before to try and fastrack our best youngsters to this level. They probably won't pull up any trees, but they have absolutely nothing to lose. Who knows maybe the support of the British crowd could inspire them to a surprise or two. I'll certainly be cheering them on.

Its OK now. Miracle of miracles - I found a spare twin room at a City Centre Guest House on Friday

HELP!!!! If anybody does have any cancellations, please let me know. I'm desparate for a twin room on Fri 13th and Sat 14th. Thanks

Agree Steve. I think Loramski is great and I doubt this would have been part of his plan. But, (not for the first time in speedway) the rules have been bent here. Even if it did all happen a bit last-minute, I'm sure another wild card could have been put in at the bottom end, with another GP rider being pushed upwards to the main event.

A wee toot on my own trumpet first - not a bad prediction eh? Gotta say though I fear Tony is going to run away with it this year. The pressure is really on Crump and Sullivan already.

I call: 1. Tony R 2. N Pedersen 3. T Gollob 4. J Crump Having said that I had a punt on Nicki at 16/1. I see he started out at 25/1, so I can't be the only one.

There's actually one for sale on ebay, alongside a load of other speedway relics. So I think that speaks volumes about what has happened to Wessies HG.

Its really important for BSI to get loads of journalists to the Millenium Stadium, because they really can't fail to be impressed. And will continue to write such articles. Even if I try and step into a neutral's shoes then I think that only really big England football matches and perhaps Wimbledon might compare as a British sporting spectacle.

Watching this thread with interest and have to agree with a lot of what's already been said. Mike Lee was absolutely blessed with talent. Odd really, because he's probably above the ideal height for a rider. Also reckon Joe Screen is incredibly gifted. He was a star as soon as he started the sport. I think he's one of those riders who would have achieved so much more in a different era. He's a racer through and through and the tracks of the 70s would have brought out the best in him.

Great stuff. As much as BSI taking a bit of a "doing" on this forum, I think they have done a great job with the sport. And with posh papers like the Guardian trumpeting Speedway GPs as being better than formula one, well you've gotta be happy with that :!:

I was/am the world's biggest Chris Morton fan. I must admit - from a purely selfish point of view - I loved it when he came back with Sheffield in 93 - just to get another chance to see him ride again. Clearly, he wasn't the rider he had been, but very occasionally he could still produce that little bit of magic. He even managed to win the Northern Riders Champs to put the whipper snappers in their place.

If only sponsorship was that easy :roll: Be an obvious solution but it is a very big IF. The riders would have to use the ferries anyway. What's really in it for the ferry company? I think a discount for bulk bookings would probably be about the best any promotion could hope for. But it would still be an expensive business because none of the riders would be local. There would be a huge outlay for home riders as well as away riders.

Agree totally Salty. I actually reckon that a Belfast or Dublin team would have the potential to attract bigger crowds than all of Britain's speedways. But - as you say - whether that would enough to cover travel costs in another matter.

Funnily enough, I was on holiday in Ireland last week and I took in a night at the dogs in Dublin. There are two venues - Sherbourne Park and Harold Cross. I went for the latter and as I arrived I immediately thought (as most fans would) what a tidy little speedway it would make. There was plenty of room for a track on the inside, a nice little grandstand with behind-glass bars and restaurants and room for the building of some pits. I think speedway in Ireland could do well. The Belfast ice hockey team attracts thousands since they were recently formed and there's no reason why speedway couldn't be as successful. But, if someone did go for it I suppose they would have to go for it big style in the Elite or Premier League and not in the Conference. It would take a big outlay to get a place up and running and to pay travelling costs for riders, so they'd need to recoup it by putting on high standard stuff to attract big crowds. Would be nice though

Thanks for the link Grachan. The photo of Hyde Road stadium before its final demolition is a very sad sight indeed. :-( Does anybody else know of anywhere else where I could get videos of speedway at Hyde Road :?: