rabbit

Don't you mean Muslims..or maybe speedway really is that bad at Newcastle this year

Pedersen qualified by right for this year. Think Lukas Dryml might be one of the other permanent wildcards in 2004. Hope that some of the younger up and coming riders like Bjerre, Hampel etc are given the nod. The likes of Max have been there and done it now and haven't set the world alight. Unfortunately as with most things, politics in the form of getting viewers might have more of an influence rather than sheer merit.

Yawwnnnnnnnn!!!!!

Great post Lazilla and couldn't agree more although personally I rate Bjarne a bit higher than you! Hans was great entertainment when he rode for us and is just getting better and better. Screw the controversy surrounding him - he's proving he'd got the ability to win at the highest level. If only the hassle behind the scenes that prevents him lining up for us would go away, it would be nice to see him back for Poole and i'd have no problem with him in our line-up.

Just my personal opinion AndyM. I did say the racing got better as the meeting went on and there were some good races, but there were also a lot of very strung out heats, particularly in the early stages. I just prefer smaller tracks, each to their own.

Crumpy was out of order with that move - justice prevailed when he spun off. Wonder if Nicki knew exactly what happened - didn't seem to be any discussion between the two after the race. Shame they didn't get an interview with Crumpy to ask him what he was doing...

Maybe they're pricing it too highly and now the novelty is wearing off people in all the countries are staying at ome to watch on TV. Plenty of people have said that they've done Cardiff now and don't go because of the ticket prices - look at the 2005 tickets - £50 for a middle tier back straight seat. It's not cheap. I agree with what JT is saying about the venues, and it's great to see the GP is such prestigious stadiums but having them half empty is just as bad as holding the event in smaller less well known places.

Aww Garf - didn't think you were the harsh type. Can't be too ctritical on Antonio - from an interview I read today he'd never even been to a GP before today let alone ridden in one so don't think you can read too much into his early exit. Wait 'til it's for real next year... As for the GP...not one of the better ones although the racing did get better towards the end. Still can't see how people prefer big fast tracks like that - leave me cold. Give me a smaller track with plenty of racing lines any day.

That's Havvy screwed then. Whatever Hans did or didn't do recently, he rode well and you can't take that away - he deserved the win. Think Crumpy has it in the bag now. Can't see him losing that lead - there's not one consistent rider there each time to capitalise if he drops a few points. Shame Antonio didn't show his worth, but think he's done enough recently to prove he will be OK in the GPs. Didn't exactly have easy races to start his GP career with. Certainly did no worse than our so-called number 1. Anyone got a hotline to Tricky to call him back for a few meetings!

Think so...sure I remember reading that the Slovenians did ask Matej Ferjan to ride in something for them recently but he declined. Doesn't look like they've all kissed and made up either yet if he's not a Wild Card.

Think that says more about the rest of the Swedish team than it does about Antonio! Can't see what's wrong with wanting to be clean and looking good after spending hours in sweaty kevlars on a hot afternoon/evening. Think I'd do exactly the same thing as him! He's young, has rough edges and just wants to win. I remember a certain Scotty Nicholls a few years ago...not quite the finished article we're now proud to have as our national captain!! Give the lad time - he'll calm down. Just a bit worried about Lanzilla's comments about 'whichever team he rides for next year'...damn well better be Poole or else!!!

Doesn't sound like you WvH. Lanzilla's right - Hans will be back in for sure. He was unlucky tonight but he's a good rider and the events of the last couple of weeks won't have done him any harm when BSI come to pick the riders.

Hans had a bit of a paddy on the centre green when his bike packed up according to the updates on the Poole site. Regardless of what he has or hasn't done...his points he scored should have seen him through. Very unlucky to lose out to an engine failure. Well done Antonio...would have been a travesty if he'd not got through after scoring so well all night. Commiserations to Floppy, how cool would it have been if he could have got through. As for Chrzanowski...that is a shock!!

Nice one Champion! I was thinking that Ole had been mucking around with the fuses again!

Sorry to disappoint you SCB but according to the Poole updates Wato has withdrawn from the meeting due to illness. Seems that the power out there has decided to do an Eastbourne as well hence the long interval....

Guess though that in the GPs you get another crack in the next round. In this it's all or nothing. I'm following the updates on the Poole site so didn't know the format...somehow I think that format plays right into PK's hands. Quick edit: ...although having seen the Ht12 result he might not even make the semis if he keeps riding like that!!!

Are you sure about the semis and final SCB? Seems so unfair that in a meeting this important you could win the heats and lose out on qualifying becuase of a dodgy gate in a semi or the final!

Jim that is the first post that sums this up for me. I've not commented before because I really honestly do not know what to think on this. The only person who knows what happened is Hans himself... I was there on Saturday and the first I knew of the controversy was when I came home and read this forum. There will always be heroes and villains, but I do feel sorry for what Hans has had to endure - are some people just looking for a scapegoat because we lost? I would have loved for Team GB to win, but for the whole SWC to have been forgotten and to be overtaken by what one rider might or might not have done seems sad to me.

Spot on BrightonBob - the whole country is proud of Team GB's performance last week. So nice to see Middlo's words about Nick. He's sadly missed and I know that those words will mean a lot to his close friends. He was a lovely guy and character who's passing has left of a lot of us still stunned and I can just imagine his comments about the meetings - can picture him as I type this coming out with some dry comment. He would have loved and raved on about Havvy's race with Rempala for sure, but I'm sure he's up there snapping away with his camera like he always did. God bless ya Nick. But to Team GB - the last week has been a blast. We didn't win and that is so gutting, but what a week's entertainment. Highlight of the season and even if Poole win the League again, it would have to be some final to top the SWC.

If it's anything like yesterday it'll be after practice has finished which is 1pm-ish I think. The Poole webbo had the line-ups on the Poole site pretty quick yesterday so might be worth checking there early afternoon.

Must have just missed you Tina! Just been to pick mine up and yep, no more standing, although you might get lucky like the woman in front of me who managed to pick up a couple as someone had just swapped theirs for seating! Judging by the amount of tickets that they were printing out for collection, it's going to be a huge crowd tomorrow and there's a steady stream of people going to the box office to buy tickets!

Good thinking Lanzilla...sure me and Mr R can be persuaded...

Haha...now I might be wrong - and I'm sure that one of the other Poole fans might be able to either back me up or put me straight, but that guy is Viktor and he's no more a manager than I am unless he's got a promotion! Last I knew he's a translator, often used by Poole for their Polish riders. And yep, he's quite a character!!!

OK - so what do I know?!! Where's that pie?

...and Millard as well Glad we weren't the only ones to notice it. Definite slurring - bit too much of the hospitality during the day maybe - but so amusing to watch