fatface

I'm living in Doha, Qatar temporarily, so am probably qualified to comment. This would be a country where they could well stage a GP. They have the stadiums and the authorities - by that I mean the Emir and family - who are keen to host big sporting events and are willing to put big money into it, even for a big loss. Their sole intention merely seems to be to get Qatar's name on the global stage. Recently, we had the Asian Games here (like the Olympics, but just for Asia), Qatar Open Tennis (Andy Murray was 2nd), Qatar Masters Golf (Goosen won) and the Superbikes and MotoGP both arrive in the coming weeks. The facilities are great and admission is always free to these events - lucky me! But, they are always pretty poorly attended because there really isn't that much interest from the local populace. Culturally, the natives are a rather sedate bunch and simply have little interest in sport, despite the best intentions of the Emir. It's mainly ex-pats who attend the events and also, most Qatari sporting success is due to competitors 'recruited' and renationalised from other countries. So, while I have no doubt they could race a GP here and most outlay would be covered by the local authorities, I suspect it's only purpose would be to fill a date in the calendar for TV. The crowd wouldn't be that big and I'm 99% certain there would be absolutely no locals at all inspired to start up grassroots speedway.

Erm..I'll be going. Not interested at all in Newport v Glasgow, nor the Welsh Open for that matter. Went to the Oak Tree for the first time last year and thought it was great. It's an absolutely superb racing track. Count me in.

For what it's worth, it too think Wolverhampton to be a smashing place to watch speedway. On my visits there I've never been disappointed. The home stand always has a lively atmosphere and the track offers plenty of overtaking opportunities. A fine choice of venue in my opinion.

Thanks Sandie for placing these...but can I discuss them as a whole rather than individually?! I haven't got all the time in the world.. I think the organisers are to be congratulated on the whole: * Super7 is a nice bit of branding...links the events together well * Well done too on putting together a decent website * Autographs are a great idea...it's things like this that make speedway great..the riders are very accessible * Entertainment all sounds good...Motox team sounds good. I'm sure some of the ladies might disagree, but Lucy Pinder is quite a coup (quite a cup too...chortle, chortle) I remember as a 14-year-old meeting page 3 girl Gail McKenna at the Aces of Aces Grasstrack. She signed my programme with "I want to have your babies...Gail McKenna" Mind you I did ask her to write that! Good fun though for a testosterone fuelled teenager. * The British Final has real meaning now * On the whole, track selection is good - pretty neutral * Start girls idea also good - gets people talking and engages with the public * No mention of TV - I hope these are not shown on SKY. Getting people THERE must be the priority

Well I've been mainly following Premier League speedway for the past 15 years or so...I've always headed to Cardiff to cheer on the Brits more than anyone else. Also been to a few GPs abroad in the last few years...I doubt very much whether I'd bother if I didn't have Nicholls, Richardson, Loram to shout for...

Neither's Cardiff - but a fair few of them make it there. Anyway, like I say, we'll see. I certainly have a lot more hope for this than I did for the Aussie GP at Olympic Stadium.

Well, none of us know, but we'll see. I was surprised to meet some German fans at the Latvia GP last year. Also, its pretty reachable for the Poles and Danes too. And it looks like cheap flights are to be had from the UK. I think it can be a success and I truly applaud the ambition behind the project.

Bad idea, but you're still going? Not big on principles eh? Personally, I think it's a cracking idea. I like the tagline "Motorsport's richest minute" a lot. The stadium looks great. It will guarantee a meaningful last GP. I was thinking along the lines of only taking in Cardiff/Bydgoszcz this year, but looks like I'll be raiding the piggy bank again.

Ha! Very sharp Gary! Not many will get that. I'm so pleased I do.

...then very fine taste you have my friend... another of my favourites: "Love is strange, you have to learn to take the crunchy with the smooth." He's brilliant live too

One bit of advice Gary - we stayed at the Monte Kristo in Riga. Ideally located and seemingly very pleasant. But all three of us suffered from bites there! Don't know if it was mozzies or bed bugs, but it was a rather pimpled triumvirate that set off for Daugvapils! And no, Riga is not dangerous at all - it's a lovely city. I recommend the building known as 'Lenin's Birthday Cake' for a rooftop tour. Fascinating. ps. Like the tag-line...Billy Bragg fan eh?

Phil Collins - great to watch, left behind his career when still a top rider for a new life in California Zenon Plech - a god to thousands of Poles and to a few thousand in East London too Dennis Sigalos - very classy rider, one of the best never to win the world title

I do. Did Egon do a cover? If so, please, please do not put that on You Tube.

So by your crazy logic that's Steve Johnston in one of the 15 spots then...let's hear the other 14..

OK here's mine... 1983 - What a stitch up! It seemed Muller was on a 600cc engine compared the rest. I think he was only one on a GM, it was when they first came out. As Kenny Carter said to the TV interviewer: "Ole Olsen's got summat fastest bikes in t'world and he's just gone past him like e's dropped a chain. Ee's makin' us all look stoopid! Get yer cameras on that bike!" Muller never looked like winning the world title before this and never after. I remember the track being soaked at the interval with Muller and Gunther Sorber keeping an eye on proceedings. Too much was weighed in Muller's favour for me to ever give him credit for this one. 1985 - Gundersen's dive around King/Moran in heat 20 was breathtaking. Sam Ermlolenko was also great fun that day - he was a rank outsider going in. Otherwise, racing not brilliant. 1987 - Atmosphere free. Nielsen dominant on day 2. My cousin trying to buy Roman Jankowski's body colour with "Ze English pounds" 1990 - Best final I went to. Gustafson, Jonsson, Moran all produced some superb stuff. It was good to be at a night time final too. 1992 - Couldn't believe Havelock won it. But he put together the starts and fair play to him. Racing wasnt great, but they did well to keep the meeting on. There was a huge deluge after about heat 4? I've never seen hailstones like it - some were the size of gobstoppers! The fire engines rode in and pumped the water off the track - very impressive it was too!

Jeez...just stumbled across this thread..that points system is absolute insanity. No matter what system you go for, the winner on the night has to be the man taking away the most points surely? I severely hope there is a re-think on this one. No matter how mickey-mouse some of the sport's rule become, I always felt the GPs retained a sense of credibility above league speedway. Not any more I fear. And if Scott Nicholls isn't is in the world's best 15 riders, then please tell me the top 15...

Hi sjw, What we did was get a train from Lljublijan to Krsko - lovely scenery by the way. but the last train back was going off just about the same time the A final was due to start, so we had aranged for a taxi driver from Llubljana to collect us and take us back. Think the taxi cost about 100 euros, not bad between 3 though. This way we got to enjoy a leisurely trip there and didn't have to worry about having a beer or three at the stadium too. Like I say, thoroughly recommended, I thought Slovenia was a lovely little place. Hope this helps, just give me a shout back if you need any more help. best wishes Falcace

Yup, I'd agree that Prague is probably the best shout. although I had a cracking time in Slovenia too. Ljublijana (is that right?!) is a great place to stay. As for Daugavpils, the less said the better...

Ta R&B. It's a bit shoddy that their site doesn't make this clear then..

Advice appreciated.. I'm hoping to visit the Bydgoszcz GP this year..but cannot seem to find available flights. As far as I can see, only Ryan Air fly there from the UK and they do not appear to have any flights available. The only reasons I can think of are: * They haven't scheduled flights for September yet * They are genuinely booked up * Travel Plus have block booked the lot - I sincerely hope this is not true Like I say...any info appreciated..

Hmmm good one.. TRACK: Hyde Road, Belle Vue CAPTAIN: Chris Morton OTHER RIDERS WHO HAD TO BE IN THE TEAM: PC, Shawn Moran, Richard Green, Kenny Carter, Bruce Penhall (love to see those 2 team-riding), Vaclav Verner PROMOTER: Charles Ochiltree (just for the programme notes. who was the forumite who was writing in his inimitable style for a while back - it was comedy gold!) TEAM MANAGER: Ian Thomas ANNOUNCER: Dick Barrie RACE NIGHT: Saturday, 7.45pm MARCH OUT MUSIC: Fanfare of the common man Mind you, nights out at the Shay, Owlerton and Brandon come close

Could've been better than Mauger, Fundin, Rickardson the lot you know...

Went to the GP on Saturday...enjoyed it...but doubt I'll ever go back. The actual track/stadium wasn't bad...racing could have been better...but could certainly have been worse too. The big problem was the town. It was miles away from Riga, difficult to get to and not a particularly lively place to be on arrival. Then again, I also got nabbed for speeding by those ever-so-smiley local police. 70k per hour limit!!! Maybe that's the real reason for Lee Richardson's poor showing. We all agreed on Poland for our trip next year.

Me too! Would've loved him to have won it. Didn't he test positive for some drug in the Overseas Final and it took the authorities months after the actual World Final to punish him?! On seconds thoughts, its probably best he didn't win it. It wouldve taken the sport to previously unchartered areas of farce had he been stripped of the gold medal. Still, I enjoyed that final. Jonsson/Moran, Jonsson/Nilsen and Gustafsson/Tesar were all cracking heats.

Maybe it is going over old ground. But whereas in the winter it was a controversial talking point - now it is a genuine concern for the ongoing interest of this year's GP series. There are not many riders who are capable of taking points off Crumpy on a consistent basis in this year's championship, maybe only Hancock, Rickardsson and Nicki Pedersen. I would've thought you could've put Hans Andersen in that bracket, had he been included. The excitement is ebbing away in this year's GP - I wonder how many people who might have considered going to Latvia/Bydgoszcz are now thinking differently.