whowasthatberntpersson

Oh yes, Ham and Eggs, washed down with a pint of dark Czech beer..delicious. Should you be mentioning how bloody cold it gets over there Jeff?????? Actually the young Lad and Myself had a fantastic few days in Czecho with Jeff and the Gang last year, wish we were doing it again. When you get to the track be very cautious when dealing with the vietnamese market traders, I saw my life flash before my eyes after I innocently asked how much a sweat shirt was...the poor Guy thought it was a certain sale and it was like escaping from alacatraz trying to get away from him. Try to get a spot near the toilets at Pardubice, if you like a drink.

Is anyone going to the World Youth Cup (Under 16's on 80cc machines) in Poland? I am particularly interested in how the Aussies go over there. I believe Darcy Ward is also riding in a Polish meeting prior to the Championship, any news would be much appreciated. I think some of the Aussie boys will be right in the running this year.

Congratulations to Dan and Shane and all the other competetors. What a thrill it must of been, to be involved in that way.

After meeting most of you lot at Bydgoszcz last September I'm starting to get quite envious at not making this one. For those that can't remember my Son slept for quite a few hours sprawled all over the place in his Jason Crump jacket. As a little bonus my local has just started selling Zywiec.

Have to agree, I though the City was great, the atmosphere around the stadium was very good too.....plenty of bars and entertainment when I went (final Polish League match for Wroclaw v Czesterchowa) I saw some good racing too, but almost had my night ruined by a drunk who lost his balance on the bench seat behind me....good job it wasn't a kid he fell on, the bloke was big.....lol

I was there for the Tomasz Lubocek Memorial last year. The Tram ride from the centre of Prague isn't too bad but as someone else said its a fair way out..plenty to see along the way though. Once you get there, have a beer in the pub opposite the entrance...the dark ale is good....its all cheap, but the place gets packed. It was October when we went and it was the coldest I've ever been at speedway anywhere......they sold hot alcoholic drinks (Czech Rum and Hot water I think)...they did help a little. We were on the first bend...sitting near Jiri Stancl and a couple of other former Czech riders. Prague is a fantastic place but the Marketa looked a poor venue for a GP.

Congratulations to all the qualifiers, particularly the Queenslanders. Special mention for Grajczonek and Davey, its an awful long way to South Australia from North Queensland so its really fantastic to see that they have both qualified. Tomorrow should be an absolute cracker.

Not yet Tanya, I'm working on it......I guess West Australia is a long way from everywhere. I spoke to Mitch Shirra on the afternoon of the meeting and he was having major bike problems, borrowed bikes during the practice and had to rebuild the bike he was going to ride during the meeting.

Its getting even more confusing now. In Australia all (well some) of the kids too big or too advanced for the 125's are now advancing to 350's, the current rule says anyone 14 years of age can ride a 350 on the big tracks until they turn 16. This has basically killed off any 250cc racing, not that there was much anyway, infact I'm not aware of any 250 jawas racing in OZ (although I may be proved wrong), we do have three teens on 250cc Hondas at my local track. Very interesting to see 350cc's on the same program as the Australian Under 16 Pairs (125cc) Championship, with quite a few of the older Kids doubling up, and some of the bigger kids looking much more at home on the 350's. Its something that needs sorting quickly, but for the time being it looks like Australia is supporting the 350's rather than 250's as a progression from 125cc racing.

Some good interviews with tonights competetors courtesy of http://www.radiofremantle.com/ Includes indepth comments from Chris Holder and Mitch Shirra Go to archives, then the Saturday speedway show. One of the interesting things about this venue is its size, its so small that the 125cc Juniors run on the same track....like in the USA, but different to the rest of OZ where the Junior tracks are inside the main circuits.

Just saw the weather forecast for Perth, absolutely scorching hot, they've even warned the elderley to try to stay cool. Probably not ideal speedway weather but certainly better than what we are having in North Queensland right now, its been bucketing down for days and starting to flood, so obviously no pre season practice at Ayr tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing all about the action from Pinjar Park, everyone speaks highly of the track there.

Hi Lunchy, I'm not sure if it should be a cut and thrust decision and I'm not sure what guidelines referees have to follow. Sure if the rider behind has time to avoid the rider in front who has locked up, however I'm certain their are cases when the rider in front is at fault. In this case young Robert Branford had absolutely nowhere to go and didn't deserve to be excluded.

Apparantly Mitch Shirra has been practicing on a junior track for this meeting. Was talking to the WA connection at the Under 16 meeting and the size of the track was confirmed (very small) with the juniors (under 16's) racing on the same track as the 500's. That in itself is very unusual in Australia. Should be a great meeting, Johnno will be hard to beat after his spell at Arena and stop off to ride in the States on his way home.

Poole/Masters v Sedgman/North Four evenly matched riders going for the same piece of track was quite a spectacle. I'm not 100% sure how many attempts were made to complete this race but I reckon it was four or five, they failed to make it past turn two at least three times. The referee finally excluded someone after Poole and North clashed when the race got past the first bend, but even that was a borderline decision with Poole falling after a nudge on the inside by North. Poole/Masters v Branford/Sissis Another much talked about race, from where I was standing Masters appeared to lock up in front of Branford, Branford ran into him, and the referee excluded Branford, the majority of those watching disagreed with the decision. In the re run Masters/Poole got the jump but the very talented 11 year old Sissis took chase and spectacularly passed both much to the delight of most of the crowd who saw it as justice as well as a brilliant piece of riding. Plenty of other great races including the Morris/Dennis v Davies/Campton heat, when Dennis got the jump forcing Davies wide which allowed Morris to dive underneath and lead, Morris won the race with Davies clinching second right on the line. The run off for third also saw a very close race with Dennis leading from gate 1, Davies never gave up and finally found a gap on the inside on the very last bend of the last lap.

I'd just like to add that the two days of racing at the Gold Coast produced some fabulous action. Close, hard racing was the norm and really there was very little to choose between the top six riders in the individual, gate positions being vital. Darcy Ward was all over Dakota North in the final but Dakota held the inside line superbly and its just too difficult to pass around the outside on the small tracks. Some hard luck stories too with bad decisions, mechanical problems and first night nerves for plenty of the kids. The pairs meeting on the second night saw many of the top riders continue their form, with some improved performances particularly from Nick Morris who had blown two engines, one in practice and one straight after his first heat in the individual, his bad luck continued when he blewanother in his second pairs heat after winning his first race by a fair margin, however he continued on borrowed bikes and won his final heat. Jason Crump commented on the quality of racing, it was particularly good and the future of Australian speedway looks bright with several of the top performers stepping up to the big time in the not too distant future.

From what I understand the Aussies selected this year will most likely have two stroke experience, basically that means the top riders with speedway and dirt/flat track experience and form. Based on that information I would say the most likely candidates will be Darcy Ward and Sam Masters who both did well last year, Taylor Poole who missed out due to injury and one or two others, possibly Todd Kurtz although he didn't make the Australian Under 16 lineup. Poole and Kurtz now have there own machines and have been practicing. Some of the riders mentioned are expecting to go to Poland, and in my opinion will give it a real shake this year.

Taken from the Motorcycle Australia Website; 2007 U16 Speedway Solo Championship. The competitors chosen are: Brenton Barnfield Robert Branford Mason Campton Alex Davies Clinton Dennis. Beau Evans. Cameron Heeps Samuel Masters. Robert Medson. Jake Moore Nicholas Morris Dakota North Taylor Poole Justin Sedgmen Arthur Sissus Darcy Ward. Reserves. Jonathon Lewis Michael Penfold Tyson Nelson Dylan Blain [in order of choice] 2007 U16 Speedway Solo Teams Championship. Vic. VIC Sedgmen & North. QLD Ward & Moore. QLD Morris & Dennis NSW Masters & Poole. NSW Campton & Davies. SA Branford & Sissis SA/WA Heeps & Medson.

In what promises to be the start of a fantastic weekend for speedway people a dinner in recognition of Crumpy's tremendous World Championship Victory will be held at the Parklands Harness racing Complex on the Gold Coast this Friday night - 15th December 2006 Almost 200 tickets have been sold, with special guests including Jason (of course), Ivan Mauger, and many other personalities and not just from the speedway world. Pre dinner drinks at 6pm kick start the night. There will be racing just down the road at Mike Hatcher Park the next day, with Crump on the programme.

This Saturday see's the running of the Dave Booth Memorial at Mike Hatcher Park Speedway on Australia's beautiful Gold Coast. Dave was a very talented and likeable speedway rider who recently lost his life to cancer, he was top line performer at the Gold Coast track, a rider who could of made it Overseas in my opinion. Current World Champion Jason Crump tops the bill on Saturday along with a huge lineup of local and interstate riders all wishing to pay their tributes. Racing starts at 2pm with twenty Junior (Under 16) riders on the small infield track as well as 350cc's, evolution solos and sidecars. The main event will be run under lights with the junior semis and finals. Proceeds from this meeting will go towards Junior development, it was Dave's wish to put any money made towards a 125cc and possibly a 350cc speedway bike, which will be ued by the club to help develop the sport and give potential new riders the opportunity to give it a go. A record crowd is expected and anyone attending is advised to get to the track very early.

Yes tremendous performances by the two sixteen year olds Josh Grajczonek and Mitchell Davey both fresh out of Junior racing and both from Townsville. Four riders were tied on 12 points behind Troy Batchelor's 14, not 100% sure how it all worked out however it was local rider Ricky Barney who missed out leaving the four finalists, Troy Batchelor, Scott Smith, and the two sixteen year olds Davey and Grajczonek. Scott Smith led the final and looked a dead set certainty to take out the State championship prior to blowing his motor, leaving Batchelor to win in a very close final, ahead of Davey and Grajczonek. Quite a competetive meeting despite a few Queenslanders sitting it out, including Dave Watt, Trent Leverington, Christian Henry, etc, whilst Mitch Shirra was prevented from riding by politics and red tape, remember this is the meeting won by Oliver Allen at the Gold Coast last year. The Juniors also ran during the main programme, a huge programme of events which left the track quite slick with a blue groove on the inside, there were five rounds of heats with an A and B Final. Nick Morris was unbeaten all night, and led the A final from start to finish, results; A Final 1st Nick Morris 2nd Jonathon Lewis 3rd Clinton Dennis 4th Dylan Blain B Final 1st Jake Moore 2nd Tyler Moon 3rd Matt Day 4th Jack McLean This was the final meeting of the year at Pioneer Park as promoters Richard "Rhino"and Shelly Ryan close the dates for the Tropical Cyclone season in North Queensland, if the rain that fell at the completion of events is any indication of things to come the promoters have made a very sensible decision, it absolutely bucketed down right at the death. Many of the riders on show will ride at this weekends Dave Booth Memorial meeting at the Gold Coast, along with world champion Jason Crump.

Speedway v Swimming in Queensland Australia at a time when the number one news story is of a swimmer retiring...I kid you not (Ian Thorpe has retired...wow), what chance has he got?????

Not sure if John rode in this meeting but he will be riding at Pioneer Park on Saturday 25th November, looking forward to seeing him ride on the pacey PP track.

Hi Nobby, Had a very good night last night, just dropped one point after being forced off the track in one race. PP next week, along with our very special guest......another old bugga from your part of the world..

Following on from the Queensland Championships at the Gold Coast and Pairs at North Brisbane the NQ mob follow up with consecutive meeting this weekend and next. Tonight the Ayr Motorcycle Club have their final meeting of the year at the Brandon Complex, and the Under 16's will feature on the nightime program. Next weekend its the Solo Masters at Pioneer Park with the Under 16's also on the program. Then on the 9th December, Junior Solos will be on the support card for the Queensland Senior Solo Championship

Congratulations to all the boys, general opinion was that the Junior final was the race of the night, although in my opinion it should of been re run as the boys had only travelled two and a half laps when Dennis went down. Darcy certainly looks class and handled the tricky conditions well, the track suited the bigger kids and was much better for the final after it had been graded. One moment of note from the final when Nick Morris layed his bike down to avoid Dennis, first on the scene was none other than Ivan Mauger...now there's one for the family fact file.