diamonds_are_forever

Doing the same weekend trip too! Staying in Newport holiday Inn, the Cardiff North so we have all day Saturday in Cardiff - would be great to meet up with people in pub, though we've block booked with the forum so we'll see people anyway. Hope you've got some good binoculars Jenny If you're going to Hull on Sunday, cos the lads will be at Stoke!

1-Adams 2-Crump 3-Loram 4-B. Pedersen

I found the TRick decisions hard to call. Even after seeing the replays I still wasn't sure. From the first angle I thought he must be out, but every angle made it look different, so I don't think they were as easy decisions to make as everyone else thinks. I agree he was lucky to get the benefit of the doubt both times, however, I couldn't make my mind up either way who was at fault. At the end of the day, unless someone really spears someone or shoves them really hard into the fence on the first bend, I'd rather have the benefit of the doubt afterall, I'd rather see 4 man races, especially on a track with so much passing than 3 man races if it could be avoided. Well done to Leigh, & great sportsmanship shown by Crumpy tonight! Still never ceases to amaze me that when Nicki doesn't make a final its never his fault, its someone elses. I always think its bad mental attitude when you can't just say you missed the gate, or your set-up just didn't work. What was he on about with Gollob's bike? Gollob would have still beat him anyway as he made a really bad gate!?

Hopefully Crump, he had such a cruel season with bad luck in crucial moments last year! If he rides to his ability and his equipment doesn't let him down (and he keeps his cool) he could leave everyone for dead after a couple of rounds. If not Scotty would do nicely. How about Crump to win, but Scotty to win Cardiff - that would be a dream come true!

Me & my dad as well

I disagree, I think the change would be good. How many meetings have you watched young reserves get stuck in during heat 2, then trail 1/2 a lap behind in the rest of their heats cos they have no chance. Unfortunately due to the 'strength' of the elite league, unless youngsters have a fighting chance of earning some money by scoring some points, they just won't ever give it a try. Reserve berths should be filled by young up & coming riders eg. Jason Bunyan, not GP riders such as Ales Dryml. If it disadvantages top heavy teams, what does that say about team building...don't build top heavy! Therefore the best riders would have to spread out if the promoters felt their team would be otherwise disadvantaged. I know in working it wouldn't be as simple as that, but it would be incentive to make an even spread of strength through a team. I don't think reserves would be dropped cos of high averages - afterall, not every reserve in the league can come 1st twice every night. Some of them will have to come second, third and fourth! And the slight increase would occur across every team in the whole league, so not everyone is gunna be able to find 6 pointers from nowhere. The arguments on here against the idea are good & valid points, but personally I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages...anyone agree?

2 adults please Hope you don't mind me & my dad gatecrashing this party. Just I was highly annoyed as the block we sat in last year, well lets just say, i've seen more atmosphere at a funeral! I love sitting somewhere with louder supporters to make some atmosphere, so would much appreciate sitting with you guys, not to mention getting to meet some of you. Hope you don't mind!

If this system is meant to balance out teams its stupid! If for example the grades added up to roughly 45 points in the middle of the grade eg. grade A 8-9 points mid point would be 8.5, it would mean that some teams who end up with people all on something.02 or .03, would be 0.5x7 weaker than the 'average speedway team' =3.5 points weaker. In contrast, clubs who splash the cash & get all the good finds on .99 or .98 averages would be 0.5x7 stronger = 3.5 points stronger. Although its unlikely to be this extreme, it is a possibility for teams to start on averages ranging between 41.5-48.5. There could be a difference in points of 7, before a wheel was even turned. What a stupid bloody idea. :roll:

Think this thread had degenerated into the Scotty appreciation thread! Oh well whilst we're all off subject - go scotty! I agree, he is the top brit & you cudnt wish for any1 better representing this country! (Except Chris Harris in a few years time

Yeah but in fairness JJ, the Berwick track is the most processional track I've ever been to. The only passing last night was from Chris Harris. If the likes of Leigh Adams & Scotty can't make ground, I think it says something about the track...if you can't gate, theres no point in trying around Shielfield. (unless you're name is Chris Harris)

I've got my computer back!!!!!!!!! yeeeeeyyyyyy!!! I've been totally lost without it (& really behind with my hwk spending all study periods trying to slyly read the forum.) On the night Nicki was the better rider. Over the series it was very hard to call. Jason & Nicki have been very close all season. If you ran the last GP again with jason 1 point ahead, who's to say he wouldn't win it? It was a case of who kept their head on the night, and this time it was Nicki. Both of them would have made worthy champs, tho I'm gutted for crumpy...really really gutted. :-( (how unbiased for a diamonds fan?) C'mon Jason, we all know you're meant for better, & once you crack that 1st title you'll dominate. Good luck next year. You time will come, and it will come soon.

Are you sure Jerzy Szczakiel was the best rider in the world in 1973????

Shame for KB to have 2 Efs, but the silver lining was my fav brit coming up trumps!! Well done bomber! I've always thought Chris the best out of our current up and coming riders, and he proved me right!!!

TTP, I did at the start of the season think Nicki was well in with a chance of winning it, but at those back2back league meetings turning right at the 1st bend (so I was told by many people on here whose opinions I believe are free from bias) on Crumpy & PK, I think he has lost his way a bit. He could well win in the future, but not this year, he's lost the WC mentally now.(IMHO) I really hope Leigh Adams wins, didn't used to be a fan of the guy but he's growing on me. Good Luck Leigh!!!

Just to show my complete & utter non bias views, as Charlie is my fav rider, I don't think we'll miss out on too much. Charlie is arguably one of the best league riders of this season, but for some reason he just can't carry his form into international meetings! I've stopped getting excited about GPs & GP qualifyers etc, cos he never holds it together. (Ok, nows the time to go prove me wrong Charlie...please? :? ) Before I go... 15 paid max last night!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wooooohoooooooo!!! Well done Charlie!!!

How about Nicki's win in Chorzow last year? He defo came through the 1st round of races to win...dunno if it was heat 1 tho...

Discoll, we were in Prague in August, & I'd say it's just as easy to get a taxi to yur hotel. When you come out of the airport there are big taxi's (u know the 9 seater type ones) called cedaz, and they are 360crowns per party. This is a set price and only worked out 3quid each for us, for a 1/2 hour journey, dropped us rite at the hotel, and gave us a running commentary about all the places we passed, and pointed out the nearest tram stops/major landmarks etc. Take suncream wiv u!!!! It was unbearably hot when we were there. 38degrees at 5.30pm!!! Getting around town use the trams. A word of advice...buy several tickets when you find them, as you validate them when you board the tram, and finding somewhere that sells them can be a nightmare, so get them while you can!!! Have fun everyone who is going!!! Think of me when I'm stuck here at Berwick on Saturday! And watch your bags with your life. We lost all our money & 2 cred cards in wenceles square. The pick pockets are really high in number. Be extra careful on the trams too, were words of advice from the taxi driver. Wear your bags on your front!!!

A GP that isn't run on a man made track!

Last season (when Brough actually had some sense of organization) our riders all had a song each to be played when they won. Compton and Kev's were defo the best, (One Vision - Queen & Living On A Prayer - Bon Jovi), they'll always remind me of speedway, and really get me in the mood for watching the racing. Bjerre's song however was a crime against society, and to make it worse he won 4/5 races a night! So last season I got to listen to 'Scream if you wanna go faster' by Geri Halliwell 4 or 5 times every Monday night, every week! If Newcastle ever go back to this, someone please shoot me! Also, rather strangely, 'The Riverboat Song' by Ocean Colour Scene reminds me of Speedway. It was playing in our car on the way home from Cardiff this year, and I was a wee bit too excited as it was my first time at Cardiff. Anyhow, I ended up singing along stupid words to the whole song, (pretty good actually, they rhymed and everything!). This was complete with me singing over the top of the guitar rift 'ding Nicki won ding ding, ding Nicki won ding ding.':oops: I hang my head in embarressment...I wasn't even drunk either

Exactly He only blows meetings when he gives everyone a 1/4 lap head start from the gate. He just likes to give the crowd some good passing to watch, as opposed to everyone trailing in 1/2 a lap behind him when he makes the gate! ;-)

I'd put money on Adams or Crump with odds like that! I can't see Nicki winning it this year. I think he'll even struggle to hold a podium place if he carries his league form into the GPs. He's really lost his way at the moment, and is riding wrecklessly, which I think is gunna cost him valuable GP points. I'd fancy Adams more than Crumpie, as you don't have that chance of Adams losing his cool and messing up his racing, as is always an issue with Crumpie.

Too right he is going...going to collect the title that is! He doesn't need to win it - he'll do that just by turning up! He just needs to go to get his pretty little trophy! Good luck Kenneth!