SuzieQ Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 `Neil's a Brit of all right - Rickardsson by Phil Chard In the Bournemouth Daily Echo - Tuesday 10th August 2004 SWEDISH star Tony Rickardsson has admitted that if they hadn't won the Speedway World Cup, he would have wanted Team Great Britain to have lifted the Ove Fundin Trophy. The former Poole rider has also stressed he believes Team GB team manager Neil Middleditch has almost single-handedly raised the profile of the competition. And the five-times World individual champion has labelled RIAS Pirates boss Middleditch "the best team manager I have ever ridden for." Rickardsson, whose Swedish side pipped Team GB by one point to win the World Cup Final at Poole on Saturday, said: "If I wanted anyone else other than Sweden to win, it was Great Britain and Neil Middleditch for when I was riding for Poole. "I saw a tear in his eye after the final. It means so much to him, only being beaten by one point on his home track. "It is heart breaking. I know it is only sport but he has really put back the prestige of the competition into the riders along with the likes of Jacob Olsen of Denmark. "That has really boosted everyone to really try harder to be in it. "The way he fires up the British boys is unbelievable. I have never seen them so concentrated. "We were out boating the day before the final on two separate boats when we met up at Saltern's. "Usually they would come over, say hello and have a joke with us, but this time it was different. "It was `how are you? Are you okay?' They were more serious. They wanted to show us they meant business. "Neil has really inspired them to do wonders. I'm sure that he is worth 10 points to them, sometimes. "I have to say he is the best team manager I have ever ridden for. He is very, very special. "There are very few people like that these days. "He does the job based on pure English grit. "If I was fighting a war, I wouldn't like to fight against him." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandman Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 nuff said! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave the Mic Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 Top class comments from a top class champion. VV take note! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 He's a regular little sweetie isn't he Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandman Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 He's a regular little sweetie isn't he great dancer too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 Regular little Abba (Dancing Queen ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuzieQ Posted August 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 Regular little Abba (Dancing Queen ) Don't let him hear you calling him a queen! Give Trick his due though, he is a fantastic mover, on the dance floor aswell as on the track! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 "If I was fighting a war, I wouldn't like to fight against him." Hans Andersen vs Middlo ? (thats a joke BTW!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 Yawwwwwwwwwwwwn Out of interest and totally off topic again (unusual for me) Did anyone else spot the Canterbury Crusaders banner on Saturday nights GP? Spoke to Dick as he came in through the New Stand Entrance and convinced Les was not far behind him, so was it them that had the banner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mymy02 Posted August 10, 2004 Report Share Posted August 10, 2004 Bless him I WANT TONY BACK, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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