WembleyLion

After Freddie and Hans the other two choices were always going to be the subject of much debate.

I know what you mean Rob but in fairness today's FIM official announcement refers to them as Wildcards. Regards Eddie

Sadly it's one of the venues that I was unable to get to as I was a too young to travel across London on my own back in 1972. It looks as if it was a great venue though! If I'm not mistaken the reporter was John Stapleton.

It will certainly be a little later than it was last year (announced 7 November 2008). I think they are still undecided about the fourth rider to join Freddie, Hans and Tai. I well remember that Matej was unofficially 'announced' last year and then come the official announcement he was no longer featured so until such time as we get the official announcement we'll not know for sure.

I wonder what is taking them so long to decide - I guess they can't agree over the 4th rider to join Freddie, Hans and Tai.

... and the night before the World Final at Wembley in which Peter Collins also rode of course. I remember seeing Timmy that night at Hackney finishing a long way behind the others - he was not given a second chance.

Ah that would have been Nicholls following the 'coming together' with Bomber in Gelenskirchen in 2007. Edited as I was beaten to it - must be quicker to hit the reply button in future.

Yes 20,000 that day as well - see the recent Ole Olsen youtube thread also in the years gone by section.

Now officially confirmed!

Got mine at Rye last night - Uncle Len seemed to be signing a fair few copies of them.

With the top eight now known and Freddie surely being a nailed on certainty and Hans probably being an almost nailed on certainity who will get the two remaining slots?

Congratulations Crumpy - well deserved!!

David - did you see the Collins v Michanek KOC Final run off in 73 - I understand it was a great race. I too enjoyed watching Anders and he was one of my favourite big names of the 70's.

Leigh has been a credit to the GP series and I can fully understand why he has taken this decision. Not many become World Champion and Leigh certainly ranks very high amongst those who didn't quite make it.

No Swindon tonight so here are the Middlesbrough v Rye House details:- Middlesbrough 32 1 Steve Wilcock 2* 2 2 = 6 + 1 2 Brian Havelock 3 F 2 = 5 3 Mike Spink 1* 1 = 2 + 1 4 Geoff Pusey 0 2* 1 = 3 + 1 5 Mark Courtney 3 3 3 = 9 6 Martin Dixon 3 2 0 1*= 6 + 1 7 Bernie Collier 1 0 = 1 Rye House 28 1 Karl Fiala 1e/f EX = 1 2 Peter Tarrant EX 1 1 = 2 3 Bob Garrad 3 3 2 = 8 4 Kelvin Mullarkey 2 2* F = 4 + 1 5 Kevin Smith 1*3 3 = 7 + 1 6 Andy Fines F 1 = 1 7 Ashley Pullen 2 0 3 0 = 5 Heat 1 Havelock, Wilcock, Fiala(f awd), Tarrant (f ex) 70.0 5 - 1 Heat 2 Dixon, Pullen ,Collier, Fines (f) 67.2 4 - 2 / 9 - 3 Heat 3 Courtney, Mullarkey, Smith, Pusey 66.4 3 - 3 / 12 - 6 Heat 4 Garrad, Dixon, Spink, Pullen 67.0 3 - 3 / 15 - 9 Heat 5 Courtney, Pusey, Tarrant, Fiala(e/f) 67.6 5 - 1 / 20 -10 Heat 6 Garrad, Wilcock, Fines, Havelock(f) 67.6 2 -4 / 22 - 14 Heat 7 Smith, Mullarkey, Spink, Dixon 66.4 1 - 5 / 23 - 19 Heat 8 Pullen, Havelock, Tarrant, Collier 68.4 2 -4 / 25 - 23 Heat 9 Courtney, Garrad, Pusey, Pullen 65.8 4 - 2 / 29 - 25 Heat 10 Smith, Wilcock, Dixon, Mullarkey(f) 66.8 3 -3 / 32 - 28 Heat 11 Fiala(f/ex) heat not rerun due to waterlogged track! I went to this one on the Rye House coach as part of a northern trip with Workington the next night to follow.

I can do this one for you when I'm next home of an evening so if you do not mind waiting a few days (due to me being at Lakeside tonight and Swindon tomorrow) I'll do just that. As I recall the score was 32v28.

Yes indeed, Leicester were the 'support act' in the Midland Cup or something similar. The Bees won 53 - 25 I think.

I really cannot believe it's 30 years since that memorable night at Brandon when 20,000 or so witnessed Ole Olsen's Bees up against Ivan Mauger's Vikings. The winners would be the champions - simple as that. In 40 seasons of Speedway I cannot recall a larger attendance for a league fixture that I have attended. For those who were not around at the time or have forgotten, the Bees triumphed 42-36 on the night to become league champions.

I agree WHB66 - I also went to Grindsted the night before (which as you say was very enjoyable) and completed the weekend with the 80cc meeting at Korskro. Based on what I saw I feel Vojens deserves to continue as a GP venue.

So far then it's:- Gothenburg 8 May Prague 22 May Copenhagen 5 June Torun 19 June Cardiff 10 July

That's exactly what I would have thought. I guess we'll know for sure soon enough.

No Vojens then??

Congratulations to Darcy. Hard luck Tai - your time will hopefully come one day.

Good luck Tai and Lewis.

Ah I see you've been to that fictional world where you may have seen the likes of Nielsen taking out Rickardsson at Vojens in 1994 rather than let him past and Olsen taking out Penhall in key race at Wembley in 1981 .