False dawn

Go and take a pee on the 4th bend. Might make it even with bend 2

Note to Poole: This is how to prepare a track. Oh, wait a minute. This is how you prepare a track. Oh wait a minute again. It's spitting. Standby for a good finish to this meeting How can that be? The tapes not working properly!! This is the World Championship. As a track, you should be under threat of losing your place on the GP circuit for that. Tractor racing!

Especially if they bring Erik, Jan O, George Major or Gordon Kennett. I'll get my coat.

I am reminded of the last time I can remember when a new engine won the World Championships. It was in 1983 when Egon Muller won the one off World Championship on a... GM

I was that man. The passenger that is. And it's worse than you describe. Roel, my driver, was indeed Dutch but rode on a German licence. I always rode on an ACU licence but it is the driver's "nationality" that counts. Funny, I found one of my German race jackets only today buried in the garage. My youngest son wanted me tried for treason at the time! So I guess Tai could get an Aussie licence or a Greek one if he wanted to. The fact he rides under the Union Flag is no small thing. I for one, hope he makes it up with the British authorities and once again takes his place at the vanguard of our national team

But only on average!

It was an omen. Just one big giant black cloud over Brandon now

We share a passion for technology. I don't know much about the internal workings of a speedway engine but things like titanium rods sound expensive.No disrespect but "What I've been told" is a long way from absolute truth. There is a lot at stake here. Getting riders to switch to a successful engine is money in the bank. What one sponsored rider is supplied with versus the out of the box version can be very different. Don't get me wrong. It has always been so. You can gas flow an engine and it's still standard. But it's quicker. A 4 grand engine and some clever mechanics beating the best engine tuners in the World? I remain sceptical. Anyway. Rock on Freddie. You're a great bloke who's served his time.

Pity Kenneth Bjerre isn't available.

oo err Missus.

Hi TDM. Not sure who you are or how you know anymore about Freddie's engines than I do. I was only asking.

Oh come on. You can make a killing based on those odds. If only I had some money left!

Hey I'm all for an inexpensive engine with lower running costs. Sounds perfect for reducing costs in a shrinking sport. But did Freddie or anyone else say his was a standard engine last night? Don't get the wrong message. I'm chuffed to see Freddie doing well but let's not misrepresent what we're seeing

Hmm. Interesting comment. I'll illustrate what I mean by way of an example. They don't call him "Fast Freddie" because he slows down.I don't know much about tyres, but they shouldn't dictate how a rider rides.

Scary. Ignore my comment about riders going under the air fence. The air fence saves a rider's life in a crash like that.

I'll get my coat Any chance of a wild card? Or a dog's body?

And another rider goes under the air fence! When, oh when will the FIM change the rule to allow the ref to award the race in the last lap. Holding off from putting the red light on to allow the leaders to finish the race when there is a rider crashed on the track is not acceptable. That's twice tonight. Brotherly love!

When you're not going fast enough, don't get in the way!

Is it 6.00 p.m. yet?

Ah. Now if you're saying the Poole riders can't cope with loads of shale, I can start to understand where you're coming from. Do I have sympathy for that point of view? Well that's something different. As a Coventry fan I am hardly in a position to criticise too much. We suffered many years of too little shale. But as a speedway fan, do I like slicks tracks? No.

I thought I was cutting it fine with my last minute change of heart. Don't rule yourself out of the competition by failing to make a bet at all.

Thanks. So if I get my son-in-law in Sydney to edit it for me he can do it tomorrow morning when we know the results!

A question of protocol (Bet365 and Ladbrokes are giving me pause for thought!).... If I want to change my bet before start time, do I edit my original posting or do I put up a new posting?

So this wasn't a daft question. From what you've said, Nicki really doesn't really have his own number? He is just keeping his previous year's finishing position every year.

Thanks for that. The only problem with practice is that I always pick out a rider who looks really quick and then in the meeting can't score point!