World Cup Round 2

[847084]

I thought the ref got the rerun of heat 24 spot on. Hampel attempted to get across TR and put his arm over Rickardsson's. He wasn't having it and reacted immediately. Unfortunate for those in gates 3 and 4 but a rerun with all four was the only fair decision.

[salty]

The problem I have with the ref is the inconsistency. I don't really have problem with having an all 4 back for the Ricko incident, but he should have done the same for the Holta incident.

A lot of ref's however would have put on the red light for an unsatisfactory start in the last heat so I guess we should be thankful he didn't because it was a race to savour.

[judgejules]

Two things struck me about this meeting.

 

On Sunday every one associated with team GB, including the commentators, bigged up Steady and Bomber at every opportunity. Contrast that with the Aussies attitude to Watt and Shields who were talked down, topped off with Adams whinging that they now only had THREE GP riders in the side.

 

On a less serious note, how long is it before Kelv applies for Aussies nationality, he's not my favourite commentator at the best of times, but last night his constant pro-Aussie comments really did my head in.

[shazzybird]

Maybe like me they see Australia an extention of Great Britain. Bit like in the GP's if there is no Brit in the race I will cheer on the Aussies.

[judgejules]

Maybe like me they see Australia an extention of Great Britain.  Bit like in the GP's if there is no Brit in the race I will cheer on the Aussies.

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Not me, if there is no Brit in the race I cheer on the Swedes, Danes, Poles, Yanks - anyone but a XXXX Aussie

[shazzybird]

[German Speedway Fan]

I say the germans did what they were able to do. All our riders are younger than 21 years, and so it isn't such a bad result. Are there any pictures from this meeting available ???

[Leliwa]

I was pleasantly surprised how Polish team rode last night. Really good effort and considering Holta’s exclusion and PePe’s chain (was it chain that went?) the chance to win it was there. Now I’m very positive about Thursday, although it is going to be extremely tough to get to finals and I expect the match to be as close as yesterday.

 

One other thing to note, our team was looking great in national colours, finally they looked like national team. How did you like it?

 

Grodzki's performance I will leave with no comment but it strikes me that we would be much better off with neutral ref last night.

[Mateusz]

One other thing to note, our team was looking great in national colours, finally they looked like national team. How did you like it?

I really loved it, they looked great

[richard]

Heat 24 shockingly dreadful decision, Rickardson deffinatly should have been excluded  

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agree, seen TR in a different light tonight, is he drinking with nicki pederson these days?

[frigbo]

No sign of a "TRick, man or animal" thread yet though

[Star Lady]

Maybe like me they see Australia an extention of Great Britain.  Bit like in the GP's if there is no Brit in the race I will cheer on the Aussies.

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Blooming heck Shazzy this is getting to be a habit

[DartfordHammer]

Good to see Ryan Sullivan pick up towards the end and show us what he is capable of. He was a real disappointment at the start. Did he change bikes for the last 2 heats? If so, he should have done it a lot sooner, as the Aussies could have won the meeting with him in good form.

 

But that's the way it goes.

 

Should be good to see Adams, Sully and Crump in Poland, as I have reason to believe they go very well on Polish tracks (particularly Sullivan). Poland obviously go well round their own tracks, though I can see Kasprzak being replaced by Walasek. And the Danes seem to go well on the bigger tracks too. If I remember rightly, Bjarne Pedersen won a GP in Wroclaw last year. And obviously, I'm loathe to write off the Czechs. I'd love to see them in the thick of it, even if it isn't likely.

 

Should all make for a great meeting.

[Guest cheetahhawk]

Blooming heck Shazzy this is getting to be a habit

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Perhaps we all better start drinking the bundy with Bryn, as I too shout for the Aussies.

[Mr. Clemens]

After donning a certain colourful Halifax jumper, in a nearby public phone box, Mr Clemens transforms into his altered ego.

(It’s a lot like Clark Kent turning into Superman as both these super heroes wear red and blue coloured costumes).

Then sits down with his nephew for Speedway World Cup part 2.

 

The sun is hot (as it always is) and the sky is blue.

‘Luckily’ Mr. Clemens has a refreshing cuppa tea at hand and a pen and paper to write down the scores.

On with the motley!!!

 

‘Who’s riding tonight then’

Th’australians, Th’swedes, Th’poles and th’germans.

Should be a good meeting if we’re lucky’.

 

‘I see Lee Richardson’s riding for Sweden tonight.

Has he been given licence to do that???

I just can’t keep up with this international merry go round.

All these riders swapping countries at the drop of a clutch’!!!

 

‘Put yer glasses on Uncle Mr. Clemens that’s Tony not Lee’.

‘I didn’t know Lee had a brother which league team does he ride for’?

 

‘No yer daft old myopic Uncle, it’s Tony Rickardsson th’world champion in waiting’.

‘Have you found out what he’s waiting for yet’>>???

‘Just sup yer tea Uncle and shurrup meeting’s abart to start’.

 

Heat 1.

Adam’s wins from the gate, slick start from Leigh.

(Nowt lucky about that eh?)

 

Australia 3 Sweden 1 Poland 2 Germany 0

 

Heat 2.

Protasiewicz wins in second processional race

(No luck for AJ he can’t catch him though he tries hard to do so.

Ryan’s off the pace again, it seems as though th’australia will be right out of luck tonight).

 

Australia 4 Sweden 3 Poland 5 Germany 0

 

Heat 3.

Holta first, T/R can’t catch him, Crump looking slow

(Lucky that t’poles chose him to ride for them eh >>> what??)

 

Australia 5 Sweden 5 Poland 8 Germany 0

 

Heat 4.

Hampel around them all comfortable win.

(Th’poles again, luckily they are well prepared for this meeting).

 

Australia 6 Sweden 7 Poland 11 Germany 0

 

Heat 5.

Gollob on fire back to his old self.

(We could see Tomas at his best tonight >>> if we’re lucky)

 

Australia 7 Sweden 9 Poland 14 Germany 0

 

Phase one was all very processional. Looks like our luck’s out for tonight’s meeting.

Where’s the excitement of Sunday night that’s what I want to know !!!

Lucky for this lot GB’s not in town tonight we’d give t’poles a run for their zlotys.

 

Shurrup daft old Uncle the best is always yet to come.

 

Heat 6.

T/R cool as a cucumber Shields makes neat pass over Kasprzak.

(Lucky for th’australia that Shields manages to keep them in touch. Lucky for th’swedes th’world champion in waiting wasn’t waiting for anyone in that race).

 

Australia 9 Sweden 12 Poland 15 Germany 0

 

Heat 7.

Karlsson an untroubled first.

(Watt lucky not to fall off his bike has Protasiewicz almost fences him on the back straight. Luckily th’new th’australian manager didn’t think of using th’joker >>> eh >>>> Watt???)

 

Australia 10 Sweden 15 Poland 17 Germany 0

 

Heat 8.

Adams smooth as silk.

(Lucky Lingren creeps at gate Adam’s round him in a trice. Unlucky Holta 3rd).

 

Australia 13 Sweden 17 Poland 18 Germany 0

 

Heat 9.

Hampel wins.

(Lucky for th’poles they’ve someone coming up to take over Tomas’s mantel.

Lucky for th’germans that Sullivan back pedals to last.

Kelvin said th’germans might be lucky to score a point tonight.

Luckily for th’germans Sullivan was unlucky).

 

Australia 13 Sweden 19 Poland 21 Germany 1

 

What’s a mantel wicked old ancient Uncle?

It’s a ‘piece’ upon which you put your clock.

 

Heat 10.

AJ flies from gate to win.

(Luckily for th’australians AJ shuts off unlucky Gollob’s way through on t’back straight. Jason lucky to pick up an extra point he would be lucky to have otherwise).

 

Australia 15 Sweden 22 Poland 22 Germany 1

 

Heat 11.

Crump scores 6 points.

(New th’australian manager with a lucky second opportunity to use joker comes up trumps.

Unlike unlucky new Danish manager who chanced his luck t’other night by missing his chance to use his joker. Lucky for GB that happened >>> eh >> what???

 

Luckily Boycie has th’world champion to call upon. Jason having nothing to wait for heads off into the sunset).

 

Australia 21 Sweden 23 Poland 24 Germany 1

 

Heat 12.

Shield great win

(Lucky for us a great race)

 

Australia 24 Sweden 25 Poland 25 Germany 1

 

Heat 13.

Holta licenced to win

(Lindback almost touches tapes.

Luckily for th’swedes Polish referee puts all four riders back in).

 

‘Lindback was lucky not to be excluded’, quoth Kelv.

 

(Lucky Lindback out of gate first, in the rerun, passing and repassing with Holta. A great race. Unluckily for Lindback Holta pulls away and crosses the line first.)

 

Australia 24 Sweden 27 Poland 28 Germany 2

 

Heat 14.

Adams on top form.

(Hampel and AJ fight it out in a real tussle for the minor places.

Lucky for us these two are well prepared to mix it with each other).

 

Australia 27 Sweden 28 Poland 30 Germany 2

 

Heat 15.

Gollob wins thriller against TR.

 

(Pundits can’t decide who won. ‘Photo finish’, growls Millard.

Though it’s obvious to any myopic, senile, ancient, wicked old Uncle that Gollob crossed the line first).

 

‘Do you think Gollob’s luck will be in, there being a Polish referee’, quoth Millard?

(Th’germans unlucky that Sullivan didn’t back pedal to last this time).

 

Australia 28 Sweden 30 Poland 33 Germany 2

 

Heat 16.

AJ super smooth win.

(Lucky 2 points for Watt as Kasprzak looks down on power).

 

Australia 30 Sweden 33 Poland 34 Germany 2

 

Heat 17.

T/R as his brilliant best.

(Nowt lucky about that).

 

Australia 31 Sweden 36 Poland 36 Germany 2

 

Heat 18

Interesting conundrum Holta boxed in and falls after clipping PK’s back wheel.

(A dilemma for th’polish referee? Will he won’t he, will he won’t he, exclude a Norwegian Pole????

Gor blimey and lord luv a duck, unlucky Holta is thrown out of the rerun. How unlucky is that and just when th’poles and th’swedes thought their luck was in with Ryan in this race).

 

‘He could have taken the easy option and put all four back in the rerun’, quoth Kelv.

‘Perhaps the referee excluded him cos he was a non Polish Pole’, mused th’wicked minded pundits?

 

Sullivan wins rerun!!!!!

(Luckily for th’australians Ryan had a fast bike tucked away.

Th’germans pick up a lucky 3rd point as luckily there wasn’t any Poles in the race).

 

Australia 34 Sweden 38 Poland 36 Germany 3

 

Heat 19.

Hampel first

(Hampel gates, luckily Crump passes Lingren but can’t catch Hampel)

 

Australia 36 Sweden 39 Poland 39 Germany 3

 

Heat 20.

Gollob at his brilliant best

(Lindback gates Gollob passes him with his classic style of overtaking. How lucky we are that Tomas can still turn it on when he feels in the mood to do so).

 

Australia 37 Sweden 41 Poland 42 Germany 3

 

Heat 21

Flyin’ Ryan on fire wins again

(Luckily for th’australians, th’poles decide to put Kasprzak out on th’fastest bike they have Holta’s)!!!

 

‘Is that a wise move’, quoth Kelv?

‘Is it wise to go out in such an important race on a bike that is foreign to anything you have ridden previously in the meeting.

 

(Luckily we have Kelvin to guide us mere mortals through’t th’intricate parts of a meeting with astute comments such as this. Unluckily for Kasprzak, Kelv was right again as he struggles to pass th’german. Luckily he does so by the end of the race).

 

Australia 40 Sweden 43 Poland 43 Germany 3

 

Heat 22.

Crump glides brilliantly round the rest of the field to cruise to fine win.

(Unlucky Pepe’s bike packs up).

 

‘Are the Poles running out of luck’ quoth Kelv???

 

‘Are they ‘throwing the meeting to ensure stadium’s got 40,000 fans there instead of 40 at the race off on Thursday’, speculate wicked minded pundit’s???

 

Australia 43 Sweden 45 Poland 43 Germany 4

 

Heat 23.

AJ wins in comfort.

(Great tussle between Shields and Holta passing and repassing each other providing the best race of the night. We were more than lucky to see that one. Great race).

 

Australia 45 Sweden 48 Poland 44 Germany 4

 

Heat 24.

Controversy has Hampel causes German rider to fall but who is at fault>???

 

‘Tony was lucky not to be excluded’ quoth Kelv, ‘very fortunate indeed’.

 

‘Perhaps fortunate’, quoth Millard, ‘but on the other hand perhaps he was simply elbowing Hampel out of the way as the Pole seemed to be laying down on T/R’.

 

‘I think Tony is lucky he is who is’, quoth Kelv, ‘otherwise I think he would have been excluded. Luckily for him he wasn’t’.

 

Heat 24. Rerun

T/R cruises home.

Watt 2nd >>> eh? Hampel a lame 3rd.

 

‘Hampel seemed subdued’ quoth Millard ‘perhaps he’s learned the error of his ways’.

 

Australia 47 Sweden 51 Poland 45 Germany 4

 

Heat 25.

Now known to one and all as the luckiest race of the night

Luckily, because T/R was lucky not to be excluded in the last race, the unlucky 3rd placed Hampel was in fact lucky to come in third because the lucky Poles were now luckily 6 points behind the unlucky Swedes and were now lucky to be able to use their joker. Lucky or what >>> eh ??? You can’t get luckier than that can you??

 

‘If Gollob wins this’ quoth Kelvin, ‘and PK is unlucky enough to come in last, we shall have a race off between Sweden and Poland.

But PK knows what he’s doing and if he rides the race we know he can then Poland will finally run out of luck’.

 

What >>> wait >>> who >>>> how >>>> why >>>> eh >>> who’s this? What’s Smolinski doing out front????

 

‘Lucky or what’ quoth Kelv, ‘Smolinski moved at the gate, the ref should have stopped it and restarted as it put off PK’s concentration. Unlucky’!!!

 

Luckily for Gollob the Polish referee didn’t stop the race. The unlucky PK was now stranded at the back of the field. Gollob was going like lightening but unluckily for him Leigh Adams was in front!!! No matter how hard he rode Gollob was right out of luck trying every which way to pass Adams. Great race.

 

‘You know’, gasped the excited Kelvin to Tony Millard, ‘Sweden have been lucky to win here tonight’.

 

‘Lucky Sweden’, quoth Kelvin, at th’end of a great night of speedway racing.

(Tony Rickardsson and the rest of the Swedish team were last seen riding off into th’sunset singing ‘lucky, lucky, I should be so lucky’).

 

‘We’ve been lucky to see such a good meeting tonight Uncle Mr Clemens’, said satisfied nephew, ‘I can’t wait till Thursday night for t’race off’.

 

(Knowing most of all of this had nowt to do with luck at all, Mr Clemens gave his nephew a stern look as he took off his colourful Halifax jumper).

 

‘Yep’ said Mr Clemens, ‘I imagine it will be a great meeting too, what with ‘th’unlucky Danes, th’unlucky Poles, th’unlucky Australians and the Czechs, who really haven’t had any luck at all, it should be a good meeting.

Put kettle on and make another cuppa tea’.

[ZKZ Kitten]

I really loved it, they looked great 

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indeed I was happy to see them in red & white at last

[Grachan]

T/R cruises home.

Watt 2nd >>> eh?  Hampel a lame 3rd.

 

‘Hampel seemed subdued’ quoth Millard ‘perhaps he’s learned the error of his ways’.

 

Australia 47 Sweden 51 Poland 45 Germany 4

 

Heat 25.

Now known to one and all as the luckiest race of the night

Luckily, because T/R was lucky not to be excluded in the last race, the unlucky 3rd placed Hampel was in fact lucky to come in third because the lucky Poles were now luckily 6 points behind the unlucky Swedes and were now lucky to be able to use their joker. Lucky or what >>> eh ??? You can’t get luckier than that can you??

 

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Can I take it you think that Poland being 6 down had nothing to do with luck at all then?

[shazzybird]

Perhaps we all better start drinking the bundy with Bryn, as I too shout for the Aussies. 

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CH come on you just know he wont share, SL and I will hold him you grab the bottle Better still we'll make him a lovely jumper with no armholes to hold the bottle and then we'll offer to help out where we can

[BertHoven]

Reading Sky Speedway News this morning I was interested [and amused] to see the contrating headlines:

 

BRITAIN CHARGE INTO FINAL

 

SWEDEN EDGE INTO WORLD CUP FINAL

 

An admirable summation of the situation, I feel!

[shazzybird]

it sounds like a third world war 

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A win for TEAM GB in the offing then