mikec

At least no mention of Mildura or sorting "the sheep from the goats" - phew!!

So much for the masterplan of tracking Cov track experts a week on Monday - they're all either injured or out of form. Screen, Smith & Havvy on standby maybe?

Had no idea the taxi firms were quoting that much back to Newport - I guess we were pretty lucky in the end. If was on my own I might chance it again, though I was with my better half this time & she wasn't too sure, a few people were pretty nervous at the uncertainty at the station, no-one seemed too sure what was happening.

I was in the queue Firesam saw. There was a big sign saying "Cheltenham/Gloucester" that nearly everyone was queueing behind - even though most of the people in that queue were trying to get to Newport! There were stewards letting people through in groups of 40-50, you walked halfway through the station to another checkpoint. And then you were let through to a final queue at the other side of the station where there were coaches heading towards Gloucester (i think) & to Newport. You didn't have to pay or show any ticket, they just put people on to the coaches until they were full then they left. Mine left just after midnight dropping off at Newport train station around 12.45am. Won't be planning to get back to Newport this way next time, but it worked out ok for me.

Ah right, I was sat there for nearly an hour - it looked more like a bar to me! Not complaining though. Told the girlfriend the "duty free" only sold beer, beer, cigs, vodka & crisps - so she wouldn't get a nice present. Instead of perfume or jewellery she got a can of Lech & a bag of crisps. For some reason she didn't speak to me when I got home. Ah well, roll on next year!!

Got to agree with previous posts, it was a brilliant weekend over in Poznan/Leszno. From arriving in Leszno town square 4pm Saturday afternoon, wondered where everyone was! Soon found out, arrived at the stadium forecourt & it was a great atmosphere out there, electric inside. To the Wroclaw fan who came up to us talkin about Crumpy at the interval, it was good to have a beer with you, shame my Polish isn't as good as your English! The after meeting music, beers, atmos was great too, was a shame to leave just after 1 to get the train to Poznan. Shame too that I didn't get to Gniezno, sounds a good match but we found a cellar bar in Poznan to watch my team win the Premier League at Wigan, then enjoy a few beers sat outside the bars round the main square. Credit to the Poles, you were great hosts, thank you. If you thought about going to Leszno this year but weren't sure so you stayed at home - get yourself over there next year, you won't be disappointed! By the way, where have they hid the duty free shop at Poznan airport??

Gollob to win, a few zlotys on Kasprzak each way too. Fly to Poznan 9.25am tomorrow morning, weather forecast good - can't wait!!

Couldn't agree more Macca. He brings something different to the GP party, he's unorthodox & i for one will miss him when he retires. Looking forward to trips to Leszno & Bydgoszcz to see him race live this season - yeah I'll be supporting the English lads too but Gollob on his own patch, would recommend it to anyone!

Not worried about Crumpy too much tonight, seemed more of a lack of pace than anything else. All the effort was there, just wasn't on the pace with tonights big hitters. Didn't seem to be throwing stuff round his pit lane either, a sign it was nothing major - no panic yet.

Bold, you're probably right. Adams has been there 12/13 years is it? Probably one of his worst meets there was the World Cup Final, wouldn't rule him out though. The Poles will have a few days practice round there no doubt, but it's a fair track that most of the top boys know well. If Shov's pick Nicki P excels there then fair play, can't see that happening though.

Andersen's a live threat for sure, though he's more likely on for bronze or 4th spot I'd guess. Wouldn't be writing Crumpy off just yet either, he ground out a result tonight when off the pace by his high standards. Congrats to Gollob, I think he'll win in Leszno too - then fall back into the pack as Cardiff & Copenhagen arrive. Nicki's a class act but I see a closer series taking shape this time. After some pretty tough injuries it was good to see Lukas Dryml back to some kinda form on the big stage as well.

Me & my girlfriend, both Aces fans, are flying into Poznan at 12.30pm on the Saturday from Liverpool. I went to the Leszno v Czestochowa play-off a couple of years ago, atmosphere & track were brilliant - the Grand Prix should be even better! Can't remember seeing too many bars near the track but the main square's quite nice though, plenty of decent watering holes there, should help pass the time before the 1.35am train back to Poznan.

Despite the best efforts of Watt, Harris, McGowan & Nicholls, tonight's meeting & the circumstances surrounding it were an utter embarrassment. Maybe expecting the best racers in the league to compete against each other (Grand Prix apart) at the moment is too much to expect.

Gonna be great to see Mort & Lee racing again, Memories of Chris Morton flying round Hyde Road in the early 80's against the likes of Lee, Carter, Penhall, Gundersen, Crump snr, Sigalos, Nielsen, Shooey - win lose or draw it was fantastic to watch. Michael Lee the guy who should've won the world title two or three times, what a talent he was. Bring it on!