Mr Snackette

An earlier post suggested that the 2006 fixtures were due for release Friday 9 December. Anyone have any news?

It has been the fashion to be very critical of BSI, and their handling of the GP series. On occassions this crticism has been entirely justified, but I think its only fair to heap praise when praise is due. The decision to bring forward by seven days the cardiff GP has proved to be a masterstroke. Following the draw this evening, England's opening World Cup fixture is on June 10th, the date on which most people thought the Cardiff GP would be run. To have run the GP against an England World Cup fixture would have been disasterous. So well done BSI, and lets hope that someone at the BSPA takes note in respect of domestic fixtures.

Have just this moment spoken to Jimbo is in Latvia doing a rekky for next season. The track is some 3 hours from Riga by car, and if that's based on Mr Easter's driving then it's probably 4 hours for anyone else!!! Jimbo tells me that deals have been done and accomodation booked. So if you're looking for a hassle free trip to Latvia, give Jimbo a ring at Travel Plus on 01473 730000.

Do any of our Polish friends know when we can expect the Polish League fixtures to be officially released?

On the question of dates was having a natter with my old chum Mr Easter who tells me that he's been keeping his ear close to the ground (not an easy achievement, as anyone who knows him will testify!!), and apparently all the dates have now been finalised and these are all expected to be released from BSI / FIM by next weekend. At the moment the Old Boy is working flat out on the 2006 TP brochure which will be going out with the Speedway Star second week of Jan. Looks like there's going to be some exciting new additions to the brochure, including an early season Swedish tour to take in some league meetings as well the GP. I am going with James next week to visit a new location in Slovenia where he is thinking on basing the Krsko tour. Looks like a cracking 2006.

Bob, this is no time for smugness!!!!

Whilst I would concede that the Pre GP World Championship, at least provided the opportunity for any rider to be crowned world champ, it was rarity, if ever, that the Final itself had the best 16 riders on show. Certainly the talk of reintroducing the GP Challenge should be encouraged.

See that the GP dates have now been posted: 22nd April SLOVENIA KRSKO CONFIRMED 6th May POLAND WROCLAW CONFIRMED 20th May SWEDEN ESKILSTUNA CONFIRMED 3rd June GREAT BRITAIN CARDIFF CONFIRMED 24th June DENMARK COPENHAGEN CONFIRMED 29th July TBC TBC PROVISIONAL 12th August SWEDEN TBC PROVISIONAL 26th August CZECH REPUBLIC PRAGUE CONFIRMED 9th September TBC TBC PROVISIONAL 23rd September TBC TBC PROVISIONAL So it looks like we await confirmation on Bydgoszcz, Mallila, Lonigo, and a possible new venue.

Travel Plus tours will be there, and at every other GP for that matter. Jimbo tells me that after a couple of years basing the tour in Zagreb, for 2006 he plans a return to Ljubljana. Brochure should be out early new year, but you can always give him a ring on his new office number 01473 730000.

I don't think for one second that anyone would suggest that Richardson deserves his place on merit, but it's just a commercial fact of life. Accepting that this is business, and one needs to take this into account the decision to axe Andersen was logical. There is a need to freshen up the series. To bring in Iversen or Bjerre is a positive move and it's what the Danes wanted. In real terms Zagar replaces Flying Ryan, Pepe replaces Tomasz Chrzanowski, and a young Dane replaces a slightly older one. Andersen has only one person to blame for his non inclusion and that's himself. Had he finished in the Top 8 he would have qualified as of right, but he didn't of course, and he finished 12th. So for him to say that he meets the criteria, is clearly wrong. The fact that he may on paper be regarded as a better rider than those nominated is irrelevant. As he finished outside the Top 8 he failed to qualify, and therefore his destiny was now in the hands of others. If they choose to freshen it up then good on 'em. As an aside it's interesting to note that Scott Nicholls and Lee Richardson the no hope Brits who turned out for their clubs the Thursday before the Bydgoszcz GP, have been included. Perhaps loyalty in the end does earn it's reward!!! I'm glad that the debate is continuing on this Forum as over on the Witches Forum we have told to move on, as we ( and me in particular) appear "stuck into the groove". I certainly don't want to fall foul of the new "Trolley Bus" regs!!!

I'm rarely seen with any thing else days! Problem is people think I'm a Dane and a Hans Andersen fan too boot. Reports that I lost my cool at Gydinia have been greatly exaggerated!!!

I'll be there with the Travel Plus group. Currently 200+ clients, and we will all be staying up in "The Lakes".

Whilst I accept that Chris is not the best at Blunsdon, your comment that he's "crap everywhere bar Ipswich" does not stand up to scrutiny. Current away averages: Simon Stead 6.92 Joe Screen 6.77 Chris Louis 6.76 Chris Harris 6.07 So statistically the contenders for a spot in the World Cup team are very much of a muchness. Pity Lango that you don't engage brain before making totally facile comments. But the that's always assuming......!!!!

Yes indeed. Look forward to meeting you next week.

Just to let those that are on the Travel Plus Tour know, we're heading off to Leszno on the Sunday. Looks like it could be a cracker!

Looking at the 1st Round of the Play offs on 7th August I see its 6 v 3, and 5 v 4. Assuming results go to plan, we could have Wroclaw v Torun, and Leszno v Czestochowa. Bearing in mind that the SWC Final is due to be raced in Wroclaw on the Saturday before, is it likely that the 1st leg of round one will be switched to Torun? Assuming of course that they end up 3rd.

Has the SWC Run off date been put back 24 hours? Whilst the programme showed the original date of Thursday 4th, the ad that appeared on the scoreboard at Cardiff showed it as the 5th. Has it been changed, or was the ad a BSI cock up?

Travel Plus Tours are very much alive. Over 50 ice fans will be winging their way to Russia for one the ice meetings, and places are going fast for the trip to Assen. Now that BSI have confirmed the dates, Jimbo is feverishly putting together the 2005 brochure. I know that last week he was in Sweden sussing out hotels, and plans trips to Polski and Czecho for the same reason. Plans are now at an advanced stage in putting together a tour that will match, if not surpass, the Two Capitals Tour. You can contact Jimbo on 01473 217838.

30th APRIL POLAND .....suggest Wroclaw 14th MAY SWEDEN ...... suggest Avesta 28th MAY SLOVENIA .......Krsko 11th JUNE GREAT BRITAIN CARDIFF CONFIRMED 25th JUNE DENMARK COPENHAGEN CONFIRMED (9th JULY) suggest Barcelona or Pocking 13th AUGUST Sweden .......suggest Malilla 27th AUGUST Czech Republic......... Prague 10th SEPTEMBER Polski....... Bydgodscz (or possibly Tarnow) (24th SEPTEMBER) as per 9/7. Pure guesswork, and a couple of hunches!

I think the BSI site is probably a tad more reliable! For more info go to: http://www.speedwayworld.tv/en/sgp/a3751

The dates as listed previusly now appear on the BSI website. However it is worth noting that the GPs scheduled for 9th July and 24th September are "reserve dates". The site goes on to say "The two ‘reserve’ dates are interchangeable, therefore a Grand Prix will be held on one of these dates, this will be confirmed by the end of November." Consquently judging by that, the GP series could be done and dusted by 10th September. This would of course free up the weekend of the Czech Golden Helmet.

With the news that the U21 Final has been brought forward to the Saturday night, an opportunity now exists to take in a meeting on the Sunday. However from looking at various sites it appears that Sunday 12th September is a blank day. Does anyone know of any planned fixtures?

Companies use many sources to get accurate audience information. In fact you may remember a few years ago El Presindente organised a survey at tracks to determine the type of people that watched speedway. That was in the days before the Sky deal, and he hoped to use this info to strengthen his case. Sadly it didn't provide the results he was looking for. A major source of consumer information are the BARB figures. They use various methods to collect data, amongst which includes having a representative sample of viewers and monitor their viewing. I have had experience of this as the family of the former Mrs. Snackette ware part of the sample. If you’re interested a good source of info can be found at: http://www.viewingfigures.com

Not only are viewing figures important, but the type of viewer. As mentioned in a previous thread, advertisers are seeking a significant proportion of viewers from socio economic groups ABC1. These are the groups that have individuals / families with the highest level of disposable income, and consequently are demanded by advertisers, who will pay a premium to reach this audience. According to the last figures I saw, a large proportion of the speedway audience is in the less attractive C2DE grouping. This is much less attractive to potential advertisers. It probably also explains that despite live television coverage, a major sponsorship deal with a major PLC has not been forthcoming. As result rugby union, horse racing, and cricket will always been seen as more important in the Sky portfolio.