fatface

Maybe you're right. Mavis was never a true top-liner, but he was dedicated and professional and although I found his image a little comical, at least he had an image! To me, not having an image is an image-problem.

Erm..didn't Declan to a bit of porridge? Or is that a completely inaccurate slur?! Dennis Sigalos had his best years ahead of him before smashing his ankle. Lukas Dryml is also a good shout.

Nice work Tony. We asked for Larry Ross and you've delivered! Well done. I'm sure the Mavis piece should also be a good read. I'm sure I'm far from alone in being amused by his bleached blonde, medallion man image during his riding days. Also thought he was probably one of the most overtakeable riders at international level ever..check him out on YouTube..chances are you'll see somebody flying past him! On the plus side, despite limited natural ability, he was always well turned out and always seemed very professional. Just gotta prise my Dad away from his copy now :-)

Can't disagree with you at all Hector. Generally speaking, I admire the ambition and innovation of the Poole promotion and I can't help feeling they (and the supporters) have been badly let down by the riders on this occasion. Amongst them they effectively killed off the whole point of the meeting. I hope the Poole promotion don't take this lying down and I hope the SGP takes note...the last thing we want to see is another four riders going through the motions for $50k each at the last GP of the season.

Ach, well fair enough. Didn't seem that way to me at the time. I'm happy to give Jimmy Mac the benefit of the doubt

Hmmm. ...I don't recall it that way at all. Can anyone clarify?

Only saw him a couple of times..but thought he was really spectacular at NL level. I saw him win the NL pairs at Hyde Road virtually on his own in 83. First he beat the previously undefeated Newcastle pair Owen and Hunter to knock them out in the semi and then in the final, took Jimmy MacMillan of Glasgow - who'd spent the last two seasons riding for the Aces - on the final bend to win it for Weymouth. Great stuff!

I think it's going to be a lot closer than the last few years..with Pedersen and Crump fighting it out ahead of Jonsson and Andersen. Like someone else suggested..Crumpy doesn't defend the title well. I think he lacks the hunger when he is champ and and soon as he loses itm, the hunger comes back - that's why we'll see a much stronger Crumpy this year. For Nicki the desire has always been there, he'll want it just as bad as he always has. I think we'll also see a stronger Hans Andersen. 2 years ago he was flying when in as a regular wild card, he was pressure free. Last year as a real contender, it was a different story. But I think having got through last year, he'll be stronger for it and will be up there. Andreas has the gear and the talent, he just has to cut out some silly mistakes. The rest? Gollob great when he fancies it, rubbish when he doesn't. Hancock on the slide. Adams? I always under-rate him, but I can just never ever see him winning it. Nicholls and Harris in midtable. Kasprzak to be best newcomer. I'd call it: 1 Nicki (by about 15 points) 2 Crump 3 Andersen The one thing I would also say, is that Nicki is always the most vulnerable to crashing, luckily he managed to avoid injury last year. But one year, it's gonna get him. If it's this year, then it's Crump's title.

Heartily recommended by me too. I went in 2005, flew Stansted to Ljubljana with EasyJet (Thu-Sun). A lot of the riders were also on the flight out, which was cool. Though Ljubljana was a lovely city, some great architecture and a lively nightlife too. Also, IMO home to the world's most beautiful women! Getting to and from Krsko wasn't the easiest. We got the train there (which was a very scenic trip) and because the trains finished before the meeting finished, got a taxi back. Which cost us about 100 euros (between 3) with a driver we had pre-arranged to meet us from Ljubljana. The stadium itself was no Wembley, but reasonable enough. Also a decent track. It's a place I would definitely go back to.

Could not agree more. There has been some utter tripe on this forum regarding Scott Nicholls. One or two numbskulls you would expect it from, but some of the others you would expect a more reasoned approach from. It has been a tricky year for Scott. He bashed himself up pretty bad in Lonigo, but has battled hard all season and in the end has got the automatic GP spot for next year and furthermore led his club to the EL title for the second time in three years. There is a few top riders out there who would happily swap their seasons for his. As for the personal attacks, do any of these people actually know the guy? I do not know him, but on the few occasions I have met him he has been nothing but courteous and approachable.

We can only assume you know Scott Nicholls well to make those sort of observations. I assume you do Phillip?

If you're thinking of a World Final as being in front of 90,000 screaming fans on a Saturday night at Wembley, then the answer is obvious. But if you're thinking about a World Final in front of 20,000 on a Sunday afternoon at Vojens or Pocking. Then the answer is also obvious. The GPs was the right way to go for the sport...those Wembley nights were long gone by the time the one-off final was scrapped.

I was there and agree that the lack of speed was all too clear. You can't fault Scott for effort, nor his all-round riding - he's controlled and pretty aggressive. But in terms of horsepower, he just doesn't seem to be at the races. He is consisently one of the last from the tapes and even when he is in front, he is fending riders off rather than pulling away. Although, have to say, he wasn't alone, Jason Crump seemed to in a similar boat to Scott.

I've no major issue with Neil Middleditch, but we're well overdue for a change. None of us expected GB to win this World Cup, but there's no disguising that we have under-achieved. We had the fortune of being drawn with a weakened Sweden in the semis on a home track to reach the final. We could only beat what was put in front of us, fair enough. But the real barometer was the final. Now I can take us losing, but to score a measly 15 points is poor. Very poor. The manager has to take responsibility for that. My choice for the job would Gary Havelock. A good motivator, who has the respect of all the riders. At this level, he has been there and done it. Sorry to say, Middlo and Roscoe, haven't.

Although I've not read cover-to-cover yet, I have had a damn good pick through it and I think it is a very good read indeed. I wouldn't let John Berry put anyone off. For what it's worth I find Berry a rather smug, self-satisfied writer, albeit a very readable one...if that makes any sense?! ("Confessions", is just about the best speedway book out there IMO). The Kenny Carter book provides a nicely balanced view of the guy with some good little anecdotes and quite a few tasty morsels that I didn't know. As far as I can see the only things missing are: "Which Yanks were on drugs?" and "Was Kenny or Pam ever unfaithful?". Of course, the involvement of the families would have given the book even greater depth, but I think most will understand their decision not to be involved. Overall, I'd say it was a bloody good effort and well worth buying.

Cheers Mateusz. Really appreciate that. City hotel it is then! Maybe catch you there?

ATTENTION: MATEUSZ!!! Please can tyou recommend a decent hotel? The ones i'm looking as possibles are Centrum and Maraton. I want something central, near to some night life (old town?) and reasonably priced. I have a reseravtion at City, but it's quite pricey... Thanks

I admit, I didn't fancy him to do much at all at the start of the season. So, yes, please, I'll take a big slice of that thanks. Can I get some Cornish clotted cream on mine?

I thought the presentation overall was great. Frankly, I can't understand observations like the ones above about David Howe or the young boys not getting a better slot before the real racing. I go to see Nicki, Crumpy, Adams, Andersen, Hancock and now, yes, Harris...the superstars of our sport going at it hammer and tongs to win the biggest GP in a superb stadium with an unrivalled atmosphere. Before the last race, we were pretty much agreed it had been the best yet..but then the final nailed it. Loved the Crump/Nicholls scrap, an earlier chase by Harris on Hancock was a thriller, the Harris/Jonsson clash was dramatic as can be, the semis were full of incident and one not many have mentioned was also fabulous - Leigh Adams' perfectly executed move around Nicki Pedersen. How classy was that?!

Richard Green and Alan Mogridge absolute musts. Les Collins was also always great value, as was Martin Goodwin. Another fella I remember is the French rider Thierry Hilaire, I think he rode for Milton Keynes? He was a bit of a nutter, but always gave 100%.

his email will be chris.hollins@bbc.co.uk, as per standard beeb email addresses... I share much of the frustration of the coverage, but I would also say it is a lot better than it has been in previous years. The Daily Express have done a great job, good to see a pic in the Guardian too. From a media point of view, I think the most pleasing thing is that the reality matched the hype. Chris Harris was the face of the GP beforehand - I saw several interviews with him in the week leading up to it. And lo and behold, he delivered IN STYLE! Although, coverage may not be what we hoped, his name will now be wedged into Sports Editors heads now as their "Mr Speedway".

Wow! Not only the best ever Cardiff GP, but one of the best speedway meetings I have EVER been to. Magic atmosphere, superb presentation, brilliant racing and a home winner. I've been riddled with goosebumps all day just thinking about it! The music booming out and the big screen presentation worked brilliantly. The organisers did a great, great job. The crowd were also magic, full of couour and noise. Some great banners too...my favourite was "Taxi for Pedersen!" after the world champ-in-waiting exited the semis. And Bomber Harris!? Incredible. Pre-season, I did not think he'd be up to this level, but I could not have been more wrong. He is absolute dynamite at the moment, will never settle for second and deserves every bit of praise going his way. Thanks for giving us a night that none of us will forget.

And here's a detailed obituary from today's Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml...6/26/db2601.xml Fascinating stuff.

Got my tickets now. Can't really go on the back straight. Taking my Dad and he's a bit past the rough and tumble of the terraces. So because of the ridiculous pricing for the main stand, we've no choice but to take a seat on the first bend. Not really what I'd hoped for, but there you go... I know I've whinged on this thread, but it's not common for me. I'll say it again, this pricing is HUGELY UNFAIR. As a British speedway fan, I've been priced out. I can only imagine how much of a chunk from the monthly wage a mainstand seat would take from a Polish fan. Looking forward to it, but this has left a sour taste for me..

Aye, that is what I'll be doing. I can just about stomach paying £75 in "rip-off Britain" for the best seat at the biggest Grand Prix of the series. I really don't expect to be asked to fork out £89 for the same privilege in Poland. That's a fair few Zlotys in someone's pocket... Really looking forward to this GP, but sorry Mateusz, this pricing is very very naughty indeed. I don't know if it is BSI or the local organisers who are to blame, though I have never come across such ridiculous pricing in Slovenia, Latvia or the Czech Republic before...