Mr. Clemens

Average to good GP tonight - lacked the bite and atmosphere to make it a true classic - though certain races eg heat 7 were great Best man won = clean slick and professional = Nicki laying down his marker for 2007 = the real Dane to watch

Andy Smith Testimonial A Special Day for the Connoisseur Making our way over the hill to Manchester we inevitably ran into congested traffic through Mottram and beyond all the way to the stadium. ‘Look at all these people making their way to Andy’s testimonial meeting,’ said I. ‘They’re going to watch Man U v Arsenal,’ grinned the nephew. No doubt wishing he was heading to Old Trafford rather than to Kirkmanshulme Lane. We’d set off for the meeting at 2pm anticipating there would be hold ups on the way with the road works over Woodhead still in place. On arrival at the stadium it was good to see the gates already open. The weather was still looking good though it was overcast in Manchester whereas there had been hot sunshine over South Yorkshire all morning. Making our way into the stadium we soon realised that it was likely there wouldn’t be a large crowd in attendance. Comments were made, by various people who spoke to us as to the whys and wherefores of the lack of a big turnout for this testimonial but in the end I was there to celebrate Andy Smith’s contribution to speedway. Why other people were there or not there wasn’t the issue. It also transpired that some of the riders in the program weren’t there for one reason or another. But for those who were there this was a Special Day. Why was it a Special Day? Because those who were there were there for a man who embodied what speedway was all about. Old School - The Real Thing - The Unsung Hero - most of us really know nothing about. The man who is always there doing his thing - A True Speedway rider - Heart and Soul – Let that Spirit Sing. This is the man who has been forced to walk the long hard difficult road to become the rider he has become. Twenty years to walk to this testimonial. Forcing his presence onto the World Championships and Grand Prix’s stages along the way. A Team man for 20 years, an ever present who may have turned into something of a ‘dinosaur’ in some peoples eyes. A representative of a bygone age, someone perhaps who people feel has passed his sell by date. There were 16 riders who turned out to ride for Andy Smith from the new boy Tai Woffinden to the new double world champion Jason Crump. I hope each of them saw it has a privilege to be here on the day. It was a special day for all of them. There was nowhere else I would have been today than at Kirksmanhulme Lane Like the man the Official Souvenir Programme is First Class. The racing was decent too and the best man won on the day. It would have been great to see Andy race. I do hope this day was everything Andy wanted it to be. ‘There were giants’, it has been said, ‘in those days and we might never see their like again’. Andy Smith was and is one of those giants and he still stands astride the stage and long may he continue to do so. A Special Day

I do hope this is the case as this lad really has got what it takes. I have seen him ride a few times and i know there is magic in this guy. I really hope that those who are in a position to help him get ahead realise this too and take the appropriate actions to ensure he does display that magic in all its majesty. And I know I am not mistaken in this thought

Anybody any idea when the gates open as it was said there would be things going on before the actual racing.

Spot on that Rob - I thought that the referee only made the one wrong decision concerning Lee Richardson too

Not a good meeting tonight at all Quite flat and uneventful for the most part only came alive after the world championship was decided A rag tag meeting - those who run the GP's are really going to have to do something about the point scoring system and the general format to keep it tighter and more interesting None of this detracts from Jason Crump's fine efforts throughout the 8 GPs and a well deserved win My nephew said to me 'I wonder what Nicki Pedersen was saying to Hans Andersen after their race.' 'Sorry Hans,' said Nicki, 'I thought you were Scotty Nicholls.'

Congratulations to Jason for his second World Championship title - well won Puts him on a par with Peter Craven as a double Belle Vue Aces World Champion Jason's taking steps to put himself on a par with the all time greats and if he applies himself in the future as he has done this year who knows where it can take him. Jason has his eye on world championship history and is carving his niche there quite admirably Well Done

Thank you for the information Tomaz And yes I should perhaps have known that Wawrow would be near Gorzow Wielkopolski as that is where those Polish relatives come from.

On returning home today there was a suspicious package behind the big plant pot by the front door. On investigation the package was found to contain a very fine trophy of a speedway rider on a bike. Polish relatives brought this trophy for me which I presume is a replica, though I haven't spoken to them about it yet. The inscription on the trophy reads: Individual Speedway FIM Youth Gold Trophy 80cc Poland - Wawrow 13 to 16 July 2005 Can anyone provide information concerning this event - who won it etc? And where is Wawrow - It's not somewhere I have heard of I don't think.

All too predictable - some good races - Crump marches on

Well if he could get another rider to do the same and that rider get another one to do the same - scary or what!!! I am a Hans fan - and a Nicki one too - and a Crump fan - any rider prepared to mix it is good enough for me. We might in fact be coming to see Hans ride on Thursday Decisions decisions

This for me was speedway as it was in the old days Genuine committment from one and all The best team won on merit If these riders could transfer the spirit of speedway shown here tonight - to league racing on a weekly basis - the crowds would come flocking back. This is what I've wanted to see since I came back to following speedway

Good luck to all three injured riders I hope you are all well and back in action soon.

Good win by Andersen responding to his none inclusion in this years Grand Prix by upping his game and winning last night. Crump progresses = halfway there Crap track

For me Malcolm Simmons was one of the most immaculate, consumate, stylish speedway riders around in his day who gave me a great deal of pleasure to watch racing. As for skullduggery taking place here and there in speedway I am sure it did as we saw it in action at Halifax one balmy saturday night or was that barmy!!!

Absolutely diabolical and abysmal performance - but that was just the football Great final for the lads - well done to Mark Thompson - Tom Hedley and Mark Jones Kudos to Josh Auty - you can't deny the boy's special

Good luck to all participants in the Under 15's Championship - all of you have a safe and happy tournament

Great day out - crap track - best man won!!!

I take it your on about when a flobbed a huge greener out And what is it with that hand held fan of his????? It is really beginning to annoy me!!!!! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> It might be the only fan he's got

Not necessary - he's just another also ran

Jason Crump performing as a world champion should Great win tonight again as expected Cardiff will be interesting - not because of last year - because if he wins that one - he could be sailing off into the distance over the hill and far away T/R meanwhile looking very much over the hill and far away - if he's going to turn it on then he'd best press the switch in Cardiff and keep his finger on the button for the next 4 GP's at least Greg Hancock deserves to win a GP or two and will do if he keeps plugging away I wouldn't mind seeing Greg win the whole thing and it's quite within his abilities to do it If Tomasz Gollob keeps on laughing he might giggle his way to a GP win or two and who's to say he wouldn't have the last laugh in you know where on you know when.

Another lack lustre meeting with seemingly only Crump Hancock and Pedersen really interested Good to see Tomasz Gollob in the mix happy and smiling - and a little Irish clog dancing thrown in for good measure too. See you in Cardiff

It's a grand place and I think that's because - those who go there appreciate the place because we're seeing the real modern Poland in a process of natural development - a realisation that I have not experienced elswehere - yet - in the other places I visit there - I think that explains the 'magic' of Wroclaw And, perhaps, if the racing's not as good as Bydgoszcz that's down to the riders who should be intent on serving up a treat for all of us no matter which city and country they are riding in - in their quest to be world champion We the supporters are and were up for it - perhaps they should be too

Thank you for your comments - Perhaps I could have Rune Holta's medal??? Yes we really enjoyed the trip out there - already it's hard to believe a week as gone by since we arrived home. My wife has relatives in Bydgoszcz - I think - I remember going to see a family there back in the 70's or 80's - but I haven't been there since. But if I should be able to get to Bydgoszcz again in the future (or nearby) then I would definitely go to a meeting and I would certainly let you know. Regards to you and all the best Mr CLemens