Rob B

Will USA get 10 points or even 5?

Something going on within USA team with Wells and Hancock now stepping down? Really annoyed about that, was really looking forward to seeing Hancock.

Athletics training, they have done British trials there in past on TV for Olympics etc About 16 years ago when they were building the stadium for commonwealth games it was talked about as a possible location for new speedway stadium.

Teams are not confirmed until after practise tomorrow.

For those travelling tomorrow for the race off, especially from the south give yourselves lots of extra time as the M6 northbound is extremely busy on a Friday afternoon especially between junctions 16 & 19. The M56 also gets very busy heading into Manchester between the airport at J5 to the M60. Electronic signs on the motorway will direct to park and ride parking at Etihad stadium. They are using the Blue car park (marked blue below), I suggest coming off the M60 at J23 (Ashton under Lyne) and following A635/A662 towards Manchester, then turn right onto A6010 past the stadium and car park is on the left. Postcode for satnav is M11 3FF. Buses will be leaving every 10 minutes from 1.30pm and take 10 minutes (2 miles) and drop off right outside stadium. Those that bought parking permits (now sold out) will park at the school marked in green below on Pink Bank Lane. Kirkmanshulme Lane will be closed in front of the stadium, as most people will be coming down A57 Hyde Road turn left onto Mount Road and then right onto Stanley Grove and then right onto Pink Bank Lane, then left onto Kirkmanshulme Lane car park on the left. You can also access Pink Bank Lane from the A6 end of Kirkmanshulme Lane. Buses 201, 203, 204 go from Piccadilly in Manchester city centre and stop on Hyde Road near stadium, they are very frequent. There are trains from Piccadilly to Belle Vue station but these are very infrequent, possibly once an hour at weekend. Use the following link to plan public transport http://www.traveline-northwest.co.uk/journeyplanner/enterJourneyPlan.do Food and drink are not allowed to be brought into stadium, the stewards do bag searches when entering like they do at Cardiff. Waitiing for clarification on air horns. No Smoking or vaping allowed anywhere in the stadium. TIMINGS RACE OFF 17:00 Gates Open 18:35 Monster Energy T-shirt Giveaway 18:50 Rider Parade 19:00 Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Race Off FINAL 16:30 Monster Energy Rig Riot 17:00 Gates Open 17:10 Official Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Autograph session with Team GB riders and manager Alun Rossiter 18:35 Monster Energy T-shirt Giveaway 18:50 Rider Parade 19:00 Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup Final

Going to be very tight I think Australia will just do it, their riders have most experience of BV track and also having Mark Lemon who knows all the setups for different conditions. Looking forward to it. Practise is 12.00 both days, think Denmark have already said they keeping same lineup.

Showcase refused to do a deal with Belle Vue to allow parking there, for league meetings they have stopped you, possibly they will charge their own fee (would be stupid not to as they only ever use a quarter if that car park) but we won't get any confirmation of that. The greyhound stadium also charged to use their car park for the Peter Craven meeting but no guarantee they will again. Official car parking is park and ride at Etihad Blue car park open from 1.30pm.

Maybe the fact it's a new track that most of them haven't ridden many laps on, Woffinden especially has only done a couple of laps on it at the infamous Peter Craven meeting. if you ask the Belle Vue riders they will say they still not fully getting to grips with it as so many different lines. Not quite, standing is same price £20 but seating is cheaper.

View from East Stand

Not much if you not bought parking permit from Belle Vue. Park and ride set up at Etihad stadium, electronic signs will give info.

Woffinden and Lambert didn't turn up to GB practise session at NSS today, disappointing.

The main bar in Peter Craven suite won't be accessible as being used for restaurant hospitally. The food counters in the concourse sell lager, cider and bitter I think. Before opening time there is the Longsight Social club just down from stadium other side of the school.

Probably best to walk down Whitworth Street to Piccadilly train station and get 201,203,204 bus straight down Hyde Road, use this link http://www.traveline-northwest.co.uk/journeyplanner/enterJourneyPlan.do Depends which part of stadium you in, most of it will be burger vans with usual stuff, if in grandstand they do pies and crisps etc as well.

Apparently first bus is 1.30pm

8 minute drive from Etihad, sorry don't know what time it starts.

Yes easy, 201 bus goes from outside that hotel every 10 minutes, and takes just 11 minutes then 5 minutes walk down Kirkmanshulme lane. Use this link for all public transport planning in Manchester http://www.traveline-northwest.co.uk/journeyplanner/enterJourneyPlan.do

All tickets now sold on ticketing website for World Cup final! Not sure if the club has any of the premium seats left or not as they didn't show on website.

Just turn up

School is next door to stadium.

No standing sold out a while ago. Presume when it sells out there will be announcements on sgp website and Twitter etc saying don't turn up. There will be Friday tickets available, nothing been said yet if they going to be available on the day, presume they will.

Only 66 seats left now, could be sold out by end of today.

So it's ok for flag marshals to be putting red flag out when red lights not gone on?

No mention though of King's massive jump start that was so obvious the flag marshal on first bend put red flag out causing Cook to pull up. And Nicholls unfair exclusion when we had passed Woryna and then Woryna was leaning so far on him he was trying to get on Nicholls bike!

They were originally reserved only for people making restaurant bookings, some left over.

Great idea, can use this to get times and bus numbers etc http://www.traveline-northwest.co.uk/journeyplanner/enterJourneyPlan.do