RobMcCaffery

Looks like Pedersen thinks he's riding against Poole. Things to do, will watch the main matches on You Tube in the week, assuming r&r will be able to offer his usual excellent service of links. I shall leave you in peace and the Gniezno manager some time to work out what to say to his shower. Thanks for the company.

I've got the TVP stream - superb picture quality - pity about what's on the pictures.

If 'Carbon's an energy drink I could see them wanting a refund. They're coal merchants. It's a bad match when you end up researching the sponsors.

Looks like they've already given up on Rybnik for some odd reason.

The centre green at Powderhall, Edinburgh was always a joy to see - perfectly trimmed, flower borders and proper check mowing pattern. I noticed on leaving one meeting that the Monster Trucks were due there the next week....... You had to watch where you walked at Rye House - I don't think the greyhound trainers had heard of pooper scoopers. There was also a rather boggy section that might have muffled the presentation as I sank into it.

I can see Lewis Bridger spending many more nights on departure lounge floors now he's finally hit on the right preparation.

Think someone needs to tell Gniezno it's stopped raining. Interesting that it's now level on aggregate for the bonus point!

I was a lot happier to pay to watch rain-ruined processions when it only cost an arm to get into speedway. If they want the leg as well as they do now I expect better. I think white just surrendered.

I know a retired presenter that might be willing to make a comeback for that.

It'll be the wingdings font next. I've heard that things are about to pick up - the 'Start' (sic) Gniezno manager's found a map of the track.

You've been in America too long Alan. Bring it on! The "Start" in Gniezno is looking more and more ironic.

Of course. I've seen both sides of it. I remember a mud bath at Rye House before I got involved inj the sport professionally when riders were racing bare faced to try desperately to see, the crowd getting soaked and no chance of racing whatever. Whenever I hear of Rye House meetings getting called-off early I remember that waste of money and wonder if a painful lesson was learned. Anyway, it looks like the track's coming round and we might see some speedway.

There's been a lot of debate over meetings over here being called-off too easily. Isn't this a reminder of why pressing on regardless isn't always the best option? Hopefully the track will allow racing later on. Maybe it's just Gniezno......

Get the feeling Gniezno aren't that happy about this going ahead?

Careful or you'll find a horde of Poole fans defending you.

Very happy to be proved wrong.

Rybnik's start delayed by 30 minutes to 14.30 local time due to rain. Edit: Looks grim - can't see that going ahead.

Not just that, back in my early days names like ROW Rybnik were just that, names. Now thanks to the wonders of modern technology I can finally see what the tracks are like, as well as the major teams. When I saw a shy, confused Zenon Plech sitting in the bar at Crayford in late '75, having finally been allowed to come over I never once dreamed that one day that mysterious world of Polish Speedway could become so familiar.

I take it Lodz's protest team was deemed not worth giving TV coverage to.

Works in Poland.....

You do get the feeling detailed management accounts for the Polish clubs would make very interesting reading. It's another way you can't compare the BEL with the Polish or Swedish leagues - financially it's it's just not a level playing field - or track.... Something that was very apparent in my commentary days was how impressive so many sports facilities I was commentating from around Europe were very impressive - and funded by the local council. If only we had such support here where it's private money that sets up and runs the stadia.

It's interesting that they seem to see outside city funding as a right, not a benefit. Are the Ekstraliga clubs also getting these subsidies?

I was in Scotland in May for a non-speedway event and would have loved to see Ashfield again but the 3 pm start time clashed with the event I was attending. Thankfully I was able to get to Armadale on the Friday. There's always too many things going on on Sundays for me, and I suspect for quite a few others. I haven't seen Ashfield since the portakabin fire but thought it a good, basic stadium, certainly by comparison with the Blantyres. Shawfield was an impressive venue and clearly on the right side of the city if there is a Lanarkshire bias in the Tigers' support. It's a heck of a gamble though given they're struggling to even make Ashfield pay and this isn't really a good time to take risks in the sport, no matter how great the potential win might be. Is there the money to take that risk, especially if significant cost were needed to get back in there? I wish the answer was yes because speedway and Shawfield seemed an ideal fit when I visited it.

Superb post - if only more thought that way! Not every one can win, but everyone can enjoy the racing. Sadly too many can't enjoy a meeting unless their team's won. When the wins run out, so do they.

Excellent news. Many thanks.