ballinger

With Trick looking set to make it title no.6, interest in the GP series will no doubt focus on the battle for the Top 8 over the remaining 4 rounds. What do other forum members think about re-introducing the GP Challenge to the calendar, as surely it would re-invigorate interest in the Speedway World Championship. The closed shop approach as will apply for 2006 onwards cannot in my opinion be right, as it relies too much on opinion and political positioning within the corridors of BSI and the CCP. Could BSI not recognise the financial benefits of using a GP Challenge meeting, a meeting that worked well in the past. A straight 16 rider 20 heat meeting made up of riders placed 9-12 from the GP series, plus the World U21 champ, plus the National Champions from GB, Swe, Den, Poland, along with a selction from other nations (determined however is best) would, in my opinion, be a welcome addition back on the calendar. Thoughts people?

To confirm, I wasn't suggesting for a moment that Jonsson had suffered whiplash, more drawing comparison from my own personal experience when I suffered physical injury, and that the true extent of the injuries only became apparent in the days after the crash

Question to all forum members : Have you ever been involved in a car accident from which you escaped relatively unhurt ? Allow me to tell you a story In May 03 we were involved in a smash just a mile from the speedway track at Terenzano in Italy, when a Porsche 924 decided to ram us on a busy intersection. An ambulance ride and a hospital visit later fortunately identified nothing but bruising, and we were infact able to go to the meeting at Terenzano that evening. Unfortunately it was a different story the next morning when the shock came out in our systems, and the full extent of the bruising began to show, that it neccessitated an immediate curtailment to our holiday and a flight back to Blighty as soon as we could. Subsequent check ups recognised whiplash injuries that required extensive physiotherapy and a sustantial time off work. Regarding Andreas Jonsson's crash on Tuesday night, there is no doubt that he was involved in a crash, and photographic evidence suggests it was quite a spectacular one, indeed it was bad enough for Jarek Hampel to break a thumb and to be forced out of the GP tomorrow. Fair enough, Jonsson went out next race and won that, but in these situations your body gets pumped with so much adrenaline that you are able to cope with the here and now. Its only subsequently that the true extent of any injury comes to the surface, and you realise what's happened to you. People are quick to criticise, and its sad inditement of folk who always look at the negative, or suggest that Speedway riders are "swinging the lead", when infact these guys are falling off motorcycles at 70mph with little protection, and are sometimes lucky to get away with relatively minor injuries given the extent of impact they put their bodies through. So, good luck tomorrow to all competitors at Eskilstuna, including Andreas Jonsson, let's hope a memorable Speedway occassion takes place befitting of the World Championship. PS ; Congratulations also to Mr & Mrs Hancock, as a recent father myself I can tell you its now that the fun really begins !

Hi Tomaz The family and I will be there. We look forward to catching up with you again Cheers Pete

I see BJORN AGAIN have been named as the musical act at the Cardiff GP. Gaurenteed to be on stage for an hour apparently

Here's the line up for the Wroclaw GP, in riding order, with apologies that the Nationalities are in Slovenian, but found this on the slospeedway forum this afternoon. The wild card is Robert Miskowiak, with track reserves of Krzysztof Kasprzak & Adrian Miedzinski. 1. (13.) Ryan SULLIVAN Avstralija 2. (4.) Leigh ADAMS Avstralija 3. (6.) Tomasz GOLLOB Poljska 4. (8.) Jaroslaw HAMPEL Poljska 5. (12.) Scott NICHOLLS Velika Britanija 6. (10.) Bjarne PEDERSEN Danska 7. (16.) Robert MISKOWIAK Poljska 8. (5.) Nicki PEDERSEN Danska 9. (1.) Jason CRUMP Avstralija 10. (15.) Tomasz CHRZANOWSKI Poljska 11. (3.) Greg HANCOCK ZDA 12. (7.) Andreas JONSSON Švedska 13. (14.) Antonio LINDBACK Švedska 14. (11.) Lee RICHARDSON Velika Britanija 15. (2.) Tony RICKARDSSON Švedska 16. (9.) Hans ANDERSEN Danska Stezne rezerve : 17. Krzysztof KASPRZAK Poljska 18. Adrian MIEDZINSKI Poljska Heat Line Ups 1. Sullivan, Adams, Gollob, Hampel 2. Nicholls, Miskowiak, B. Pedersen, N. Pedersen 3. Chrzanowski, Hancock, Crump, Jonsson 4. Rickardsson, Richardson, Andersen, Lindback 5. Lindback, Sullivan, Nicholls, Crump 6. Richardson, Chrzanowski, Adams, B. Pedersen 7. Hancock, Rickardsson, Miskowiak, Gollob 8. Hampel, N. Pedersen, Jonsson, Andersen 9. B. Pedersen, Andersen, Sullivan, Hancock 10. Jonsson, Nicholls, Rickardsson, Adams 11. N. Pedersen, Crump, Gollob, Richardson 12. Lindback, Hampel, Chrzanowski, Miskowiak 13. Miskowiak, Jonsson, Richardson, Sullivan 14. Adams, Lindback, N. Pedersen, Hancock 15. Andersen, Gollob, Chrzanowski, Nicholls 16. Crump, B. Pedersen, Hampel, Rickardsson 17. Sullivan, N. Pedersen, Rickardsson, Chrzanowski 18. Crump, Adams, Miskowiak, Andersen 19. Gollob, Jonsson, Lindback, B. Pedersen 20. Nicholls, Richardson, Hancock, Hampel Referee : Anthony Steele.

Phil. Happy to rip a VHS from my DVD copy. Drop me an email with your address. Cheers Pete

When I first went to Prague in 1994, I made the error of going without any maps or any information whatsoever. I actually prepared the information about getting about a few years ago for friends, and I just check that its still up to date every time I now go there. Besides, any help I can give my "Darling Harbour" buddies goes without saying.

Hotel Marit appears to be close to tram line 11, which runs from Cernokostelecka, through the city centre, and ends at Sporilov. Check out http://www.dp-praha.cz/en/index.htm for detailed maps of the Underground & Tram system. Forgot to say previously, that the No.22 to the Speedway should have the destination "Bila Hora" on the front of it. Vypich is I think just 2 stops from the end of the line.

For the benefit of Discoll (and any other new travellers to Prague) Arrival in Prague Airport Upon clearing passport control, you will pass through some automatic frosted glass doors, leading you into the Entrance to the Airport. To your left will be an automatic money exchange machine, to your right some stairs leading upwards. Infront, and to the right are car rental desks, public information desks, etc. It is from the public information desks that you can purchase 3 day (or even 5 day) public transport passes. These give you access to buses, trams, and underground, and in 2002 they cost about 200 Kc for 3 days. Exit the building via the front exit, and go straight ahead over 2 or 3 zebra crossings, following the signs for the 119 Bus. After 100 yards or so, the roads conclude with a standard road, from where you can pick up the 119 Bus. The 119 Bus runs from the airport to the underground stop at “Dejvicka”, and only to “Dejvicka”, i.e. it is the Airport Shuttle. Once aboard the bus, stamp your 3 day passes in the on board ticket machines. This validates your tickets, and the 3 day period starts from the moment you stamp your tickets. Dejvicka is where you can pick up the Underground (Green Line – Line A), and is about 3-4 miles journey on the bus from the airport. It takes about 15-20 minutes. Just get off when everyone gets off. The bus goes no further than Dejvicka, apart from back to the Airport. Being foreign, the bus will be on the correct side of the road for the Underground station. Go into Dejvicka Station, watch out for the fast escalators as they are easy to fall down after a tiring journey especially when you are loaded up with cases. (There speaks the voice of experience :!: ) Once in Dejvicka station, continue down to the platforms, the train will only be going in one direction from Dejvicka, and indeed arriving from one direction, as Dejvicka is the first stop on the line. You will not need to stamp your tickets again at any time whilst in Prague, just look after them, and if a ordinary looking bloke (ie. No uniform) approaches you and shows you a “Sherrifs” Badge, he will be a ticket inspector, just show him your ticket and you’ll be OK. Travel on the Underground from Dejvicka all the way through to the most appropriate station to your hotel / accomodation. NB : I’d suggest either Mustek or Muzuem as both are reasonably close to Wencelas Square. Stops on Line A are as follows. Dejvicka Hradcanska Malostranska Staromestska Mustek Muzeum Hlavni Madazi Nam Miru Jiriho z Podebrad (the TV Tower stop) Flora Zelivskeho Strasnicka Stalka Getting to Stadion Marketa My suggestion is that you take the Underground to Malostranska station (Green line). Exit Malostranska station to street level, where you can pick up the No.22 tram which will take you up to the area of Prague called “Brevnov”. This is where the Speedway is. The tram lines run in the middle of the road, accordingly the tram stops are in the middle also You will need the No.22 that is going uphill, rather than the one going downhill back into town. Once on the No.22, watch for the stops on the onboard displays, and the maps that are in the carriages. There are around 20 stops beofre you'll need to get off, but its a nice route up past the Castle. You need to get off at the stop "Vypich", rather than "Brevnov". You will see the stadium up on the hill from Brevnov, but Vypich is closer to the Stadion Marketa. To all of you going to Prague, have a good time.

The Channel 4 showing of the Swedish GP airs at 7am this Saturday morning (14th).

If anybody would like to go to the Slovenian GP at Krsko then please let me know, as we still have places available. Guide price is around £250 per person (+ Stadium Tickets). If interested please drop me a line at pete_ballinger@hotmail.com