fatface

What's this about national championships being taken into account then? If that was the case then Janusz Kolodziej would've been Poland's pick. He is their national champion after all... seems like you're suggesting there are different rules for different people... and i have to say, that certainly seems to be the case, with Hans Andersen the victim. FALCACE!!!!

I'd say the cases for Koldziej and the like have gained strength because of what they have done this year. But very few would have been championing their cause before this year's series. Whereas for Andersen, there can't be many who would have ranked him outside the top 16 in the world in 2005 and surely even less in 2006. You can't help but think he has enemies in high places. Somebody please tell me he has a wild card slot at the Danish GP - because this series is in dire need of spicing up.

Went to GP on Saturday - enjoyed it on the whole. But I can't help feeling that this year's series is seriously short on genuine contenders and the absense of Hans Andersen becomes ever more stark. Apart from Jason Crump and possibly Nicki Pedersen - who had a bit of a 'mare on Saturday - there are few other world-class riders, alongside Andersen, who anyone could convincingly argue is at their competitive peak right now. Rickardsson, Adams, Gollob and even Hancock have all seen better days. Whilst the likes of Jonsson, Lindback, Hampel, B Pedersen all have potential yet to fill. As for the rest, well they simply do not look good enough for a sustained challenge. I wonder if the organisers behind this year's GP can honestly say they got it right by ommitting Andersen at the start of this year. The title is virtually already won and the quality at the top end is looking somewhat thin. Even Bonnie Tyler seemed a bit ****ed off with it. "Holding out for a hero"? - I know what she means...

Testimonials, farewell meetings, probably the most meaningless matches on the calendar and not really my cup of tea. But I wouldn't begrudge any rider having one, if a club feels they warrant it. Surely, it's up to the fans themselves if they want to pay tribute to a rider or not - they either pay their way through the turnstiles or don't - simple. I've little doubt many will turn out for Tony, because whatever your personal opinion of him, he is a rider who has given many, many hours of entertainment to speedway fans in Britain.

anything will do in Lonigo though - just for one night. They'll be staying in Verona most of the time, but would like a drink at the GP - as you do! All suggestions appreciated.

Hi all, I wonder if anyone can help me out... I'm trying to book my folks a decent hotel in Lonigo for the night of the GP. Can anyone recommend somewhere suitable and near the track if possible? Thanks

100% agreed - you'll be hard pushed to find a bigger BLRC fan than me! But times change and this meeting has sent the seaon out with a wimper rather than a bang in recent years.

Just like to add my support to the early staging of this event this year. They get a lot wrong, but the BSPA have made a very sensible move here and deserve credit. The event has lost some of its lustre in recent years, but with a strong line-up and the GPs yet to kick-off, this year's meeting should have quite a bit of bite to it.

103 - Paul Smith? 116 - Louis Carr 118 - Alan Mason 119 - Mickey Rooney 120 - Steve Bastable 128 - Tony Forward 131 - Sean Wilson 132 - Merv Janke, Bobby Schwartz, Bernie Leigh 133 - Phil Colins leads Gordon Kennett ® and Colin Richardson 134 - John Louis, Eric Monaghan Any good?

Einar Kyllingstad - Norway/King's Lynn

67 and 90 are very difficult! I hope you know WATigerman, cos it'll drive me nuts if I don't find out! I've still got some more names to throw at them yet though... 67 - Billy Burton? Steve McDermot? 90 - Nigel Leaver? Steve Regeling? Gerald Short? 101 - the legendary Tony Forward 102 - phil White 103 - Darren Boocock? 104 - Peter Ravn 105 - Gianni Famari 106 - Shooey 107 - Mavis Davis 108 - Billy Sanders 109 - Phil Collins 110 - Kelly n Shawn 111 - Sean Wilson (what a belter!)

not been on the site for ages...but WATigerman has lured me in again. I've got important things to be doing you know! However, nothing can be more important that unmasking these guys, so here i go again... 67 - v tough - I'm going Eric Monaghan 88 - for me, that's Louis Carr at the rear 90 - Sam Nikolajsen? 97 - Kelly Moran 98 - Schwartz 99 - Toni Kasper 100 - John Eskildsen

No 10 looks like Phil White to me...

Here, here Grachan. Mike Lee was a big boy and he's made his own decisions in life that have sometimes taken him down the wrong route. Loving the new avatar by the way! Here's another one ... Buddy Robinson who rode for Exeter in 84. Maybe if he'd come back to the UK after the one year, he might have done something, but never did...

I suppose you are right, Lance King didn't really fulfill his potential. Probably because he had such a huge amount of it! Thought it was circumstances that seem to effect him more than anything else. He was very much at his peak at Cradley in 84, but they were forced to choose between him and Erik Gundersen in team-building for the next year and unfortunately he got the chop. As I recall he went back to the states for one season before returing for spells with Bradford and King's Lynn and was never quite the same rider. His career just seemed to lose momentum when he left Cradley. As for truly unsuccessful Americans, I recall Larry Kosta and Eddie Ingles being pretty dodgy Belle Vue signings in the 80s...

Ah yes, that's a good one too. It was at the Coventry-hosted British Final in 78. PC boiled it down to one of the guys who pushes the bikes out. Now a conspiracy theorist would say that it was all part of a plot to eliminate one of Bees skipper Ole Olsen's big rivals on his way to the world title that year. You might think that, but I couldn't possibly comment....

The BIG story of the affair was that Malcolm Simmons pulled out of the British Final citing injury thus letting Simon Wigg back into the World Championship having only made it as reserve. I think it was proved that there were a few backstreet shenanighans on this subject - Simmo was well past his best (and let's be honest, not shy of a dodgy deal or two) and Wiggy was a hungry young buck who went on to reach his first World Final that year. But the rest of the so-called sensational series was very tepid. Stancl letting Penhall win?! Do me a favour .... that's the equivalent of Tomasz Chrzanowski not standing in Tony's way last year...

That is amazing! I never knew such footage existed... what a treasure...

Thanks Norbold.... only in speedway could this happen... Love the Rick Miller one too... this seemed to be a bug bear for referees for a season or two in the 80s. Also remember Simon Wigg being excluded when popping a wheelie to celebrate winning his final ride at an England v Denmark (or was it USA?) test - thus depriving him of an 18 point max.

Can't remember the exact reasons or details, but wasn't there a meeting involving maybe Canterbury in the early 80s where Alan Mogridge was actually programmed in both teams?? I think it was something like he was withholding services for one team, so was listed as rider replacement and was guesting for the other team? Is that right.... somebody out there will know the exact story I'm sure....

Haven't Ryan Air just started to fly from Stansted to Bydgoszcz? I'm thinking of making that my "international" GP next season as well, so would also be interested in hearing any recomendations.... a Polish temp recently started at my work and he tells me Gdansk is a better place to stay and just over an hour away...Ryan Air are also flying there now too...

I do feel sorry for Hans. There is little doubt he is among the top 16 riders in the world and is a rider I would certainly pay to see. He's hard, controversial, but undoubtedly talented. Despite some of the tosh written above about BSI not getting their marketing right, I think they have done a cracking job for the sport in recent years. I would estimate over 150,000 people paid to see World Championship Speedway last year - and i didn't think I'd be saying that in the early 90s! But I think they have missed a trick here... Hans Andersen is one of the most marketable riders out there and I for one, will miss his presence in next year's series...

Yes, in retrospect it was. He definitely looked the best rider on the night. I read in some book or other (can't remember where) that gave an interesting insight into what was going on inside his head. Having won the title the previous year, Danish TV decided to cover the final for the first time ever. Ole was so keyed up and wanted to make such an impression that he just let his enthusiasm get the better of him. Hard to think of him as an exitable young buck though isn't it?!

Hi all, I've been crawling all over the forum trying to get stuff for this book - with some success - thanks all. As a big Aces fan in the 80s, I was surprised to see that my collection of PC pics is somewaht limited. Is anyone able to e-mail any good pics of PC in action in the 70s (pref 73-76) for mine and Norbold's book. Much obliged Falcace chrisb@scottishathletics.org.uk

Hmmmm.... What's Larry Ross up to? Dennis Sigalos too...very classy rider...