davidba

Your right, wish now i had done so, i guess even for superstars like Anders was, when its a long time ago you must appreciate being remembered with such affection. I guess i was assuming he gets it all the time but even if he does it sounds as though he still appreciates the comments. Hope i get the chance again one day. If you do email him again please let him know how fondly he's still thought of.

St Petersberg if that happens!!

Thats made my day hearing that. I think i will have to get me a suitable framed photo of the great man and convince my wife it will go well on the bedroom wall!!

Michanek was my childhood hero, as although i saw Peter Collins each week Mich had that mystique and exotic allure as i only saw him once a year and he was magnificent in his time. Last year when Reading closed and he attended i couldn't bring myself to go as i'm wary of meeting my hero's in case i'm dissapointed in them. However i would very much like to hear from anyone who ever met the great man. What sort of character was/is he? He still looks physically impressive from the photo's in Backtrack. Due to Mich i had a big thing about Swedish riders and that played a big part in me finally going there for some meetings this year.

I agree that it all comes across as a bit shabby, doesn't take much to offer a proper explanation.

God i remember waiting for the result in the Daily Mirror the next day and being gutted at the result as i disliked Olsen even then!

Let me know if there's still any chance of a lift (Will chip in on petrol)?As its impossible for me to get back to the airport that day otherwise.The slightly cheaper flights(£20 instead of £37) wont make half as much difference as to whether i can afford, as it would not having to stay there and pay for a hotel. Let me know then i can book flights for that day too. I guess your thinking about 1 hour drive from airport so aiming to leave at 8pm whether meeting finished or not?

Thanks, i will mull on that and see where my bank balance is nearer the time.

Looks very tempting!But just costed the taxis to Stansted/ flights/trains/hotel/meeting costs and it will cost about £200 so unless fate throws some extra cash my way i may have to give it a miss!

I didnt say he beats them every time but that he has claimed most big scalps along the way, his performance in the biggets meetings, the play off final, showed he has improved already as a rider , while far from the finnished article, he is a better choice than the other Brits who have all had plenty of chances and failed. Harris may yet deserve another chance up to him if he shines next year as a reserve when he gets his chance. Lots of folk this time last year argued against Emil's inclusion, not saying Tai will be as good as that but with him you get the feeling he will mix it up with the big boys and not be another filler.

Congrats on a very well argued first post Pandorum, makes a lot of sense.

Yes your right i should know that having been to Vargarna twice already this year, but it doesn't change the point that Tai was amongst the top scorers everytime i went and saw them on tv, and certainly when it mattered in the play off final and will be first on their team sheet for 2010. Certainly all the Vargarna fans i spoke to felt he was the best thing since sliced(rye) bread! Personally i think Tai does act rather foolish at times but.... if these super talented young riders didn't do so then what would us old has beens have to feel superior about!! The point is he's improving each week he rides these tracks often for the first time and has beaten every top rider in the world along the way. A series with Adams under performing, Harris, Nicholls, Ullamek, walasek versus a series with Holder, Hampel, Zorro(?), Ward and Woffinden, i know which would have me giving up a Saturday night out!

The reserve berths are not taken by the lowest averages riders like in the UK but by under 21's. He has done so well for both Vargarna and Czestochowa(SP) that they almost always use him for the maxmium number of rides as he beats the worlds top riders each week. You obviously never watch the live feeds.

My opinion for what it's worth is that they should give Tai the only brit wildcard as he's shown he can mix it at the top level in all 3 major leagues and will only improve, and he's a bit narky so should increase the entertainment value! Richardson has had a good season but so have many other non brits, plenty of whom haven't had the numerous chances he has had in the series. Hope he can keep it up and qualify by right in the future. Harris will probably be first reserve anyhow if Lindgren is picked or finishes top 8, this will probably mean 3-4 grand prix's covering injuries for him to make his case for 2011. Hope Adams is going to retire to free up another place, he shouldn't carry on if no longer at the top or his heart not 100% in it. Holder and Hampel make the series stronger, god knows what will happen with Zorro, but at least he's shown he can win on the big occasions and did qualify by right, so good luck to him.

Please anyone but young Mr Darcy!

Lets just hope Pavlic doesn't win as would be an unjust winner after the dreadful season he's had just because its his own track. As well as the Brits will cheer on Laguta, Mitko and Gieruckis to have good meetings so that a British promoter may make an effort to sign them up(The 3 one's i've not seen in action).

Rained off. Will now happen on 14th.

Desperate to prolong my year of speedway adventures i saw this meeting advertised on the Piratarna site.Anyone know if its just for ice speedway riders or do any shale speedway stars take part?How big is the track?Is it in the centre of Linkoping? Is it held annually?if so where can i find the results? Thanks

All over now, Zorro ,Holder,Hampel!!Finally!

What happened with Vaculik? Was hoping to see him make an appearance in UK before the end of the season in an individual meeting somewhere.

Yeah five man teams does mean too much repetition, i'd rather see 7 man teams even if they use 2 more juniors each. At least i didn't see any riders ruled out, no accidents at all in fact. Will go back as a nice place and very easy trip, but probably for an individual event unless they change the format.

Just back from lovely blue skies in Billund to a grim washout here in London, still it could have been the otherway round so i dont mind! Well Grindsted face relegation now unless Holstebro cant keep their superliga place for financial reasons, which is a pity, but they lost the lead about half way through, once Jedrezak got going, Kylmakorpi didnt have one of his better meetings, shame Jonsson couldn't make it due to his engine problems. No one really stood out just that Madsen, Pytel+ Jedi slightly outpointed Bager, Sundstrom and Kylmo. Not a big fan of the five man team format, feel a bit short changed with the amount of riders on view(Anyone know why they use that format?) However some decent racing in lovely weather with a nice beer, cant be faulted. Big thanks to the announcer whose name i didn't catch for giving me a lift back to Grindsted after the meeting or i would have been stuck walking miles back to my airport hotel, and best of luck to Grindsted for next year.

Next up for me is the flight to Billund Denmark on Monday morning and the short journey then to see this fixture on Monday evening. Have just seen the prospective line up's on their website but listed to ride are Leon Madsen(Poole, riding that night), Ulrich Ostergaard(Belle Vue, riding that night and injured?) Linus Sundstrom(Rye House-Injured?) and Hening Bager(Is he still riding in Uk lost track with his changes in clubs?). So something not quite right especially with Madsen's listing?

Just back from my trip. Without Pawlicki, Janowski dominated from start to finish on his home track much to the crowds delight(Not many there though). The best part of the meeting for me was the performance of 15 year old Lukasz Sowka to finish third! Never heard of the lad before but he showed real craft and bravery and finiished ahead of the likes of Musielak, Sperz and Lampart, so Ipswich get your chequebook out, i will accept 10% commission!! Bit of a gap between the top 8 or so and some of the others who looked very raw and kept falling off(In heat 11 no one finnished the race after 4 attempts!). Some good passing and well worth the £3.50 for entrance and prog! Will go to some league meetings next season once the fixtures come out and already cant wait.