Italian Grand Prix - Lonigo

[Mr. Clemens]

Speedway Grand Prix Lonigo

The Final Exam and The End of Term Party

Everything is at Sixes and Sevens in the Temples of Heaven

As Speedway riders joust for places

On the Speedway Round Table at the Court of the New Speedway King

 

Uncle Mr Clemens resplendent in

'Where's t'chuffing speedway gone'???

colourful Halifax woolly pully

'Whoops silly me', chuckled Uncle Mr Clemen's t'glowering nephew

laurel leaves still sparkling green

'I must have t'wrong channel on'???

sat down with tasty sweet and sour chicken

'You stupid, senile, myopic, wicked, old git, this is tennis not speedway',

quoth th'irate nephew on his return from t'Chinese take away???

to party along with th'new Six Times World Champion Tony Rickardsson

'Whoops sorry I thought Andre Agassi was one of th'Italian reserve riders getting his elbows in shape for t'meeting

certain to put on a glorious televised speedway spectacular

'Football, Tennis, Golf', groaned t'nephew!!!

befitting th'newly crowned King of Speedway

'Where's t'chuffing speedway gone', quoth frantic t'channel flicking nephew???

for t'watching speedway millions

 

'Eh what wait what's all this' chuckled Uncle Mr Clemens???

 

'Tennus'!!! 'You have two Minnutts??? You have two Minnuts!!!

 

'It's same chuffing bloke that says 'Tennus' who says 'you have two 'Minnuts' you have two Minnuts!!! eh mystical or what', chuckled Uncle Mr Clemens at t'deep joy of it all with tasty sweet and sour chicken not to mention 'Tennus' at his elbow???

 

Then it all became clear to Uncle Mr Clemens in an immaculate misconception. Speedway was Sky TV's Official Program Replacement - Third Reserve

when there was b*ggar all else to show on satellite tv.

Tactical subterfuge or what eh!!!!

 

'Brian Brian Not the monitor!!!

 

Not only that th'Italians had already got on with t'motley so t'breathless race was already on for t'speedway watching millions to catch up with late night speedway Italian style!!!

 

So we'd best get on wi' it eh straightaway!!!

 

But no despite t'fact meeting had already started t'speedway millions were invited to a recap of t'last magnificent win of th'majestic Tomasz Gollob!!!

 

And yet no again not before th'speedway millions were invited to recap on t'prospects of t'main speedway jousters in t'meeting already taking place???

 

'Tony can relax tonight in Italy' quoth Keith

'Yep, Yep we know!!!

Crump can consolidate second place

Yep we know that too!!!

Will Lee Adams pip Tricky Nicky Pedersen to third place or will it be Greg Hancock???

Will Scott Nicholls sit at the Speedway Round Table and secure 8th place by overtaking Andreas Jonsson????

Will Lee Richardson look sick enough to attract medical attention from the promoters???

Christmas is coming can Batman prevent it????

 

At last on with th'bleeding motley. Yay!!!!

 

The televised presentation gets off in a brisk, efficient, business like manner has the pre-recorded first four races flash by in the blink of an eye

 

Heat 1.

S. Andersen 3 N Pedersen 2 Jonsson 1 Gollob 0

 

Tricky Nicki out in front passed by Jonsson who slips and slides from first to third as Andersen glides to surprise win. Track conditions wet and greasy cause upsets from the off.

 

'Tomasz Gollob's having an absolute nightmare', quoth TV Pundit Pearson

 

Sliding off the pace, Gollob obviously ill at ease, representing a nation not used to home grown Speedway Monarchs

 

('Probably t'reason they've only had one World Champion', chuckled Uncle Mr Clemens

'Who'???

'Szczakiel'!!!

'Never heard of him', quoth t'nephew

'Who has', chuckled Uncle Mr Clemens)!!!

 

Heat 2.

Chrzanowski 3 H. Andersen 2 B. Pedersen 1 Richardson 0

 

The Pole leads from the first bend sweeping round the outside for second surprise win of the meeting. Pressured by Andersen all the way

 

'Lee Richardson head obviously not in gear again disappointingly at the back', quoth Pearson

 

Heat 3.

Hancock 3 Zagar 2 Adams 1 Povazhny 0

 

Hancock convincing win from the gate technically able to improve on 5th place overall

Adams struggles on greasy track to cope with Zagar who finishes in second place

'We will keep you up with the mathematics of it all', quoth th'informative Pearson

 

Heat 4.

T/R 3 Crump 2 Lindback 1 Nicholls 0

 

The once and future King versus the new reigning Monarch versus the Young Pretenders

T/R round outside of Crump

Nicholls connects with Lindback suffers mechanical problems losing a chain according to th'eagle eyed astute Kelvin

 

Emphatic win for T/R putting his stamp on the meeting from the off

 

Anybody who thought T/R was here for a party they'd better think again', quoth th'astute thrilled Pearson

Yeah they were very much mistaken', quoth th'intellectual Kelvin

'T/R's domination has never been threatened this season', quoth Pearson

 

Back to real live action in heat five

 

Heat 5

Jonsson 3 B Pedersen 2 Richardson 1 Nicholls 0

 

Nicholls out in his 2nd race on the trot makes frantic adjustments to his bike

'It's a tricky track' quoth th'astute Kelv

 

GB Team manager Middlo seen in Nicholl's corner, obviously hatching a wicked Usurpation Plot, to deprive A/J of his tenuous hold on 8th place on th'Speedway Round Table

Eh what more subterfuge in a counterfeit GP???

 

'The track's dead flat and the water doesn't run off it's evening now and the dews come down making the track greasy causing riders to lose momentum', quoth th'ever astute and informative Kelvin

 

Nicholls on two 'Minnuts' cuts across the centre green

 

'Wayhay nice one', chuckles Kelvin

'Nice bit of skill on the grass' chuckles Pearson

'He's not a bad grass-track rider actually', quoth Kelv hinting at a possible career riding replacement for the luckless Nicholls

 

'Nichols needs to win this one' quoth Pearson has Nicholls drives into Jonsson hurling him into the fence under his own bike Nicholls apologetic to A/J.

A/J accepts the apology perhaps unaware of a Usurpation Plot hatched against him

 

Pearson hands t'speedway millions back to th'studio where th'almost forgotten trio of UK based TV Pundits sit waiting to voice their opinions.

 

A new air of tranquil, gentlemanly, respectability surrounds th'intrepid trio of pundits not one iota of condescension to be sensed anywhere???

 

('Keith's obviously learned to respect th'speedway's lesser lights since th'last Grand Prix', chuckled wicked old senile myopic Uncle Mr Clemens)???

 

'Andreas Jonsson's being a bit of a gentleman there', quoth th'ever so polite Keith displaying his new found sincerity for all t'speedway watching millions to see

'After being stuffed into the fence it's one of those situations where he could have shown a little less cool Andreas' showing his class there'

 

'Scotty's a racer Andreas' a racer they're both racers' quoth th'astute Uncle Sam putting two and two together in a mystical mathematical equation

'Scotty made a great move but there wasn't enough dirt to hold him up'

 

'Do you think a little bit of frustration got hold of him' quoth Keith ever so sweetly batting his eyelids disarmingly in Chris Louis' direction???

 

'Yep I think it was a little bit of frustration', responded the equally sweet Chris Louis chuffed at Keith's new found respect befitting th'Official Polish Immigration Officer

'He knew Andreas was the man he's got to beat as well but there wasn't enough dirt to hold him up'

 

Uncle Sam comments on an action replay of Nicholls' collision with Jonsson

 

'You can just see his dirt deflector climbing up errrrr'

Uncle Sam almost chokes on his wise words as ever so polite Keith cuts in!!!

 

'Don't blame t'four times World Speedway Monarch Barry Briggs for it', quoth th'world champion adoring Keith

'I'm not having any of that my dear old mate Barry Briggs you can't blame his dirt deflector for that!!!

You can blame bleedin Chris Louis if you want though', chuckled Keith wickedly to his silly sen, has he sweetly looks into t'camera to apologise t'speedway watching millions, for being a little late in getting th'meeting on their screens.

 

(No not thee Joe TV screens thee keep thi mind on getting thi sen fit for t'ruckus on Monday neet)!!!

 

'Jonsson's had his wheelbase shortened by a foot', quoth Keith,

keeping th'promise t'speedway millions to inform them of th'mathematical permutations concerning th'outcome of t'meeting!!!

'Andreas' not been given a hell of a lot of time to sort himself out considering he's just been through the fence'

 

'Mechanics are more stressed at GP's than the riders', quoth th'Immigration Officer Louis politely pushing his luck with sweet natured Keith!!!

 

Heat 5. Rerun

Adams from the gate AJ tussles with Richardson

AJ shakes GB Minimum Man off chases brilliantly after Adams overtaking him on the line

 

'Fantastic race from a man who was put through the fence 3 minutes ago', quoth th'astute Pearson

 

Heat 6.

Rickardsson 3 B Pedersen 2 Hancock 1 Gollob 0

 

T/R sails majestically on B/P tussles with Hancock Gollob fails to finish the race

'The travelling fans said T/R won't be motivated' gasps TV pundit Nigel

'Surely he has to go for that seventh title'!!!

'He has to hasn't he', quoth th'astute Kelv

 

(Do you cheps really think he will', chuckled th'polite Mr. C entering into t'spirit of peace, love and understanding emanating from t'UK studio)???

 

'Looking forward to Monday Kelv', quoth Pearson???

'Yep can't wait I'm off to Coventry it will be a terrific match', quoth th'astute Kelv

 

('So am I', chuckled Uncle Mr Clemens to his wicked sen 'small world innit eh what)???

 

'Don't write off Eastbourne at Belle Vue Eastbourne will be fired up', quoth Nigel obviously having made t'connection to th'mystical vibration eh what HOW!!!

 

Heat 7.

Crump 3 H Andersen 2 S Andersen 1 Zagar 0

 

Tight start Zagar falls after tangling with Hans Andersen and is excluded. Th'intrepid TV pundits watch an action replay of the incident

 

'Nasty looking incident that', comments the always concerned Kelvin when a rider is involved in a serious crash 'That feeling is awful'

 

'You know Kelv', quoth Nigel, 'knowing bugg*r all about riding a speedway bike what is going through your mind???

 

'Not very much has it happens so quickly', quoth th'very experienced three time World Longtrack Champion Kelvin Tatum

 

'Oh dear me what's happened here', offers Nigel also imbued with the infectious air of politeness floating through t'SKY presentation team???

 

'Oh darn it', quoth Kelvin succumbing to th'lucky SKY Sweetness Bug

 

Keith talks to Uncle Sam about the atmosphere at Lonigo and track in general

 

'Sorry Chris you'll get a chance to talk in a minute it's nothing personal', quoth Keith sweetly as th'lucky Sky Sweetness Bug drifts slowly through th'Land of Milk and Honey Sky Studios eh what???

 

('Heaven I'm in Heaven', chuckled wicked old Uncle Mr Clemens to his sen

The Green Mile that's what death row eh Poole you mean)???

Rerun

Great start from H Andersen but allows Crump to pass him

 

Heat 8.

N. Pedersen 3 Chrzanowski 2 Povazhny 1 Lindback 0

 

N/P tussles with a fiery Lindback who loses power gifting N/P 3 points

'It was just bad luck', quoth th'astute Kelv

 

(During the break a debate concerning the future of the GP's takes place too detailed to go through here all the arguments are well debated elsewhere but one conclusion is that young riders will need the proper financial backing)

 

Heat 9.

B. Pedersen 3 Jonsson 2 Lindback 1 Zagar 0

 

Pedersen from gate great tussle between Jonsson/Lindback for 2nd place

 

Heat 10.

 

Crump 3 Richardson 2 Gollob 1 Povazhny 0

 

Povazhny gates but passed by Crump Gollob and Richardson

Richardson passing Gollob in the same move

'Crump looks hungry and determined', quoth th'astute Kelv

 

Heat 11.

T/3 3 Adams 2 Chrzanowski 1 S Andersen

 

Chrzanowski away first Adams follows T/R third

'T/R is relegated to third but he will calculate his move', quoth th'increasingly mathematically and mystically minded Pearson???

 

T/R passes Chrzanowski and Adams in one sweep from third to first

 

'I said he would calculate his move', yells a thrilled Pearson in tune with the mindset of a six times world champion

'He was absolutely spot on with his calculations just like me'!!!

Calculatingly mathematically mystically minded or what eh HOW!!!!

 

('Tha'd best watch out for thi sen Uncle Mr Clemens', chuckled th'wicked nephew, 'Pearson will be doing thi out of a job soon'

'None of these mystically minded mathematics adds up' muttered Mr. Clemens to his sen)

 

'Rickardsson's just showing once again why he's world champion', quoth a suitably impressed with, Pearson that is, Kelvin!!!

The King of Speedway chuckles in t'pits at his magical prowess

 

Heat 12.

Nicholls 3 H Andersen 2 Hancock 1 N Pedersen

 

N/P, Andersen, Nicholls play dodgem cars with each other while Hancock jets away

Nicholls getting a grip on the track at last comes from the back to gain his first points of the night

 

Time out

Has the studio pundits discuss, who might or might not make it to sit and dine at the Speedway Round Table, by the end of the night, the wicked truth as to why the GP came on late is suddenly revealed

Cutting off in mid sentence a slightly but politely miffed Chris Louis, TV Pundit Keith reveals all

 

'You have a great situation here as well Sam', quoth Keith, 'cos you reckon as Agassi won his match tonight and went through to the final Greg Hancock will win tonight'!!!

 

'Yeah he'll win', grins a chuckling Uncle Sam 'it's short sweet and simple'

 

('Too bleedin right it is', quoth senile myopic Uncle Mr Clemens seeing th'mystical truth in one blinding visionary moment!!!

'What is it that troubles you oh mystical Uncle', quoth th'startled nephew???

'Th'bleeding reason Grand Prix was late starting was cos Uncle chuffing Sam was watching t'bleedin tennis', game set and match or bleedin what eh)!!!!

 

Modest T/R plays down his chances of sweeping the entire field in this GP

'T/R's finding it hard to get motivated', quoth Uncle Sam trying to mystically,

mathematically calculate why T/R has scored just nine points???

A thankfully happy, stress free and peaceful looking Jason Crump even less motivated on eight points???

 

'It must be difficult to motivate yourself', quoth Keith when you've lost the overall championship???

 

'You talking to me', quoth t'kid from th'mean streets Robert de Ermelenko

'You sure you're talking to me???

'Yep' quoth sweet Keith

'Well ask Chris chuffin Louis cos I'm watching t'bleedin tennis!!!

 

Heat 13.

T/R 3 Jonsson 2 H Andersen 1 Povazhny 0

Masterful T/R runs wide to pass Andersen AJ under Andersen

 

Heat 14.

Nicholls 3 Zagar 2 Gollob 1 Chrzanowski 0

 

'The unpredictable Gollob is well unpredictable', quoth th'increasingly mystically minded TV Pundit Nigel!!!

 

Gollob first away Nicholls misses start clouts Chrzanowski Gollob all at sea trying to find his way back to the magic of Bydgoszcz

 

Heat 15.

Lindback 3 Hancock 2 Richardson 1 S Andersen 0

 

Richardson tussles with Lindback leads race but passed by Lindback then Hancock Richardson struggling to make semis

 

Heat 16.

Adams 3 B Pedersen 2 Crump 1 N Pedersen 0

 

Bumpy first bend leaves Crump struggling to stay on his bike has he his pushed violently out of shape by the combined efforts of both Pedersens

Adams takes advantage of the melee to gain three very necessary points

'Crump could have perhaps laid his bike down to get a rerun', quoth Kelv has Crump battles into third place

 

The irate Crump berates the Polish referee enquiring not at all politely

if he has to be put through the fence before a rerun is awarded

All the TV pundits agree that the referee should have stopped the race.

 

Convinced of John Poslethwaite's th'absolute power over th'mind, body and t'soul of speedway TV Pundit Keith hands t'speedway watching millions over to an interview of th'boss of BSI???

 

An inebriated looking John Postlethwaite is asked who is likely to be included in next years Speedway Grand Prix series

'I ought to tell you to mind your own bleedin' business', quoth bleary eyed Possy 'but seeing has it's party time I will sing you a little song instead

Music maestro please ah one ah two ah three ah

 

'It's my Speedway

and I will do what I want to

pick who I want to

choose who I want to

you would do too

if it happened to you

 

All right everyone altogether now sing'!!!

 

Th'combined choirs of th'Speedway supporting millions

in complete harmony with th'FIM selection committee and BSI sing

 

'It's John's speedway

and he'll do what he wants to

pick who he wants to

chose who he wants to

as we would do too

if we were in Johnny's shoes

do be doo do be day oh yeah'!!!!

'Now bugg*r off', quoth Possy to th'interviewing minion

 

Heat 17.

Crump 3 Jonsson 2 Hancock 1 Chrzanowski 0

 

Crump gates Jonsson Hancock battles to remain in contention but will remain fifth in the world overall

 

Heat 18.

Adams 3 Gollob 2 H Andersen 1 Lindback 0

 

Lindback excluded for touching the tapes by unpredictable Polish referee

'Lindbach's a nervous starter', quoth Pearson

'He's the one who touched the tapes', quoth th'astute Kelv

'There was a time in the days of Ivan Mauger et al when you could touch the tapes', reminisces Nigel

'Ivan would roll back and forward touching the tapes', fraudulent or what eh???

 

Italian reserve comes in in place of Lindback but fails to score

Gollob tries to sweep round fast gating Adams but ends up struggling to keep

Andersen in third place

Adams in first place putting himself on a par with Nicki Pedersen in the overall championship

Gollob comes alive just in time to secure his place in next years GP

 

Heat 19.

Povazhny 3 B Pedersen 2 S Andersen 1 Nicholls 0

 

Nicholls/Povazhny collide shuttle Pedersen into fence in the first turn race stopped TV Pundits no ones fault all four back in

Pedersen suffers heavy thump on the head by his own bike ricocheting off the fence race stopped all four back. Nicholls the meat in the sandwich

 

Rerun

Andersen in front

Nicholls' bike loses power depriving him of the one point he needs to get into the semis

Povazhny crosses line first waving his arms in triumph

'You'd think he'd won the world championship', chuckles Pearson

'He's going to write that one down in his diary', chuckles Kelvin

'I've won this'!!!

 

Nicholls hobbles off towards the changing rooms in apparent self-disgust

but a mystical mist of confusion descends on the permutations and calculations of riders and TV Pundits alike, has this exciting meeting comes to a climax

Fate holds a strange twist of fate in reservefor the deserving ????

 

Heat 20

T/R 3 Richardson 2 Zagar 1 N Pedersen 0

N/P dices with Zagar for third place

N/P steams under Zagar pushing him violently into the fence

Lady luck puts Nicholls back in contention

Lee Richardson has a second chance too,

looking to pull of a lucky GB Maximum Man style late run to the GP final

has he did at Bydgoszcz

 

'This has been a complete final tonight', Pearson's accurate assessment of this climactic meeting

 

Rickardsson back to his best after struggling in Bydgoszcz to complete his world championship campaign

Leigh Adams on the verge of joining T/R on the rostrum

 

Rerun

Richardson battles up the inside but T/R swiftly pulls away

'There no favours from Rickardsson for Richardson', says Kelvin

Nicholls confirmed in the semi final >>> with the one of the lowest scores in a GP

 

Uncle Sam calculates that Nicholls has gone through, everyone concurs!!!

Though there is an assumption that certain riders will be chosen as 'wild cards' to represent their country

Nicholls/Richardson show their calibre chosing to gain their place on merit despite the more than possible 'gifted' places that will be open to one or both of them as Great Britain's representatives

Ole Olson tells Italian bingo caller to hurry up and get on with the draw for semi final places

 

Semi final One

First Rickardsson Second Hancock Third H Andersen Fourth B Pedersen

Rickardsson majestic from the gate

Quick thinking move up inside line from Hancock guarantees his place in the final

'Who's to say he can't do it again next year' says Pearson of six times world champion Rickardsson

 

Semi final two

First Crump Second Adams Third Nicholls Fourth Jonsson

Nicholls dragged from out of the the changing rooms tangles with Jonsson

AJ excluded. Jonsson takes up the issue with the Polish referee

'Look at my start', pleads Jonsonn

'Look at the wideo'!!!

Eh what???

'Sorry I don't have the time mate ' responds the Polish referee

'I am watching 'Tennus'!!!

 

Nicholls up against it off of gate 4 with two Australians barring his way to the final and a guaranteed place among the Knights at the Speedway Round Table

 

'Dare I say it Kelvin, dare I say it. I'm not suggesting this.

I am just asking and perhaps suggesting,

that Jason Crump would rather like to see Leigh Adams third in the world has a fellow Australian', quoth speculative Pearson???

 

'Hmm there is that to it of course', chuckles Kelv ruefully contemplating Nicholls' missed opportunities during the season

 

Rerun

Nicholls misses the start

Crump in lead looking over his shoulder to ensure Adams remains in second place to clinch his rostrum position

 

Final

First Rickardsson Second Crump Third Hancock Fourth Adams

'Whose your money on Sam', quoth th'polite Keith sensing the last drama is imminent

'It's got to be T/R' quoth Uncle Sam

'Well that's boring' quoth Keith

'I'm equally as boring', chuckles Chris Louis

'Whose your money on then Keith', quoth t'playful Chris Louis.

'Don't be boring'???

Eh what, Keith boring, nivver!!!

'I'm going on the Sam Ermalenko theory that has Agassi won his final

Greg will win, but I'd like to see Crumpie win too I'm just an old softy really'

 

An exhausted reflective Nicky Pedersen unwilling to place fault on anything vows to return to the rostrum in the future

 

The unbeaten King of all he surveys leads the procession of the Grand Knights of Speedway, in the newly established order of ranking, in four circuits of the Speedway Round Table, to the acclaim of the speedway supporting millions

 

Tony Rickardsson wins his sixth world title, his sixth grand prix, in seven immaculate races

Congratulations

To Jason Crump

To Leigh Adams

To Greg Hancock

To Nicki Pedersen

Bjarne Pedersen

Tomasz Gollob

Andreas Jonsson

And to all those other riders who gave to the speedway world this grand occasion

And to

Kelvin Tatum

Nigel Pearson

Keith Huet

Sam Ermalenko

Chris Louis

Who played their not inconsiderable part in the dramas of the Speedway Grand Prix 2005

 

Everything is at Sixes and Sevens in the Temples of Heaven

 

When watching the live edition of this event, I felt somewhat deprived of the anticipated experience of the drama of the final grand prix

It was only with writing these words, that it became evident, that the true heart and soul of those who practice the art of riding speedway, was on display in the final Grand Prix of the season

A Grand Experience all round

Edited September 15, 2005 by Mr. Clemens

[Pete]

You are our very own Stuart Hall Mr Clemens.

 

Superb!

[Subedei]

You are our very own Stuart Hall Mr Clemens.

 

Superb!

 

Reading Mr Clemens' report was a hell of a lot more entertaining than the tripe that was served up at Lonigo. Mr Clemens it didn't deserve such a sterling report. It was awful.

[Papa Bazarou]

Reading Mr Clemens' report was a hell of a lot more entertaining than the tripe that was served up at Lonigo. Mr Clemens it didn't deserve such a sterling report. It was awful.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

All - I've just met Mr Clemens at Brandon tonight - what a character ! complete with woolly Halifax Dukes jumper circa late 70's.

 

To translate his posts (hats off to him for typing them) simpley recite them with a yorkshire accent - it works !

[Matt Davis]

Italy 2005 - Ding Dong

[Mr. Clemens]

You are our very own Stuart Hall Mr Clemens.

 

Superb!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Cheers Pete glad you liked it

[Mr. Clemens]

Reading Mr Clemens' report was a hell of a lot more entertaining than the tripe that was served up at Lonigo. Mr Clemens it didn't deserve such a sterling report. It was awful.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I understand what you are saying Sub.

It’s the sense the passing came about in the way it did, more by chance of an accident, on an unpredictable greasy track, than it did because of prepared pre-meeting intent by riders to make certain passing moves, during each of their races against a particular opposing rider.

In your opinion I believe, therefore, a debacle despite the arguments that it was the ‘same for all the riders’.

Greasy wet tracks!!! I think that most tracks could do with a couple of hundred tons of shale on them, but that’s just me with my slick jive talk

 

What I look for in a meeting is the deeper essence of what motivates the riders to perform in the way they do. To reach out and touch the heart and soul of the matters in hand, be they displayed either in a positive or negative manner.

 

(‘Seeing as there is bugg*r all else to watch’ chuckled wicked old senile Uncle Mr. Clemens)!!!

 

If you have ever felt the heartbeat of a piece of stone you will know what I mean. There is life in everything and everything has its heartbeat. Speedway has its heartbeat and I felt it beating on Saturday night when speedway riders bared their souls to the Speedway supporting world in the GP at Lonigo.

 

T/R displayed his deep joy at fulfilling himself as a speedway rider and achieving the penultimate goal open to all speedway riders. The coat of ‘World Championships of Many Different Colours’ fits him perfectly. T/R long ago understood that you become the world champion and not that the world championship becomes you.

 

Jason Crump displayed a sense of deep contentment having realised he has achieved the rank of world champion and come to terms with what it means to him personally.

He tried to be what a world champion should be and thus allowed the world championship to rule his life and make him the depressed unhappy champion he was.

 

Crump has now understood all this during his first term as world champion. It has been a hard road for him to walk. But Crump is now better fitted to take on the role of a world champion, and remake the world championship in his image, has T/R has done before him, Ivan Mauger before him and Ove Fundin before him.

 

Crump’s unhappiness was made self evident, to me, in the moment at Coventry when my nephew was waiting to get Crump’s autograph.

Self evident when Crump was being pressed by someone in a manner suggesting he was expected to perform certain roles in a certain manner without question.

Self evident in the look of ‘pain’ on his face has he turned away from the person who was talking to him.

Self evident in the ‘pain’ appearing on his face has he turns sharply away from television interviewers at the end of the interview.

Self evident in the two-fingered salute he gave to the cameras as he walked to the podium after his second GP win in Sweden.

Self evident in the ‘pain’ on his face expressed in the midst of his joyful celebrations, in this same GP, when Mike Patrick ‘accosted’ him presumably to pose for pictures.

People often ask me how I know these things about them. I always tell them,

‘It’s written all over your face’.

And the face is the window of the soul.

 

Leigh Adams displayed a quiet self-understanding with achieving third place on the World Championship rostrum. Realising finally that he has the character and mental capacity to achieve the ultimate goal of being world champion.

Taking that step onto the podium has revealed to him that there are two more steps to be taken to that goal. If he makes those two steps is down to him and remains to be seen. But he has grasped the nettle of what it takes to achieve that end. Implicit in grasping that nettle is the inference that he will take those two steps.

 

Scott Nicholls displayed ‘self disgust’ at his failure to take the step from also ran to true contender. Implicit in this ‘self disgust’ is the inference that he has realised what he has to do to make the ‘great leap forward’ and will return to do so and perhaps surprise himself and everyone else with what he can achieve.

 

Lee Richardson displayed his sense of realisation that he wants to take that ‘great leap forward’ too. That he wants to be up there with the ‘big boys’ and not be remembered has just someone else who once rode speedway. He knows he has the ability to achieve success on the world stage and he has to find that professional set up that translates his ‘dreams’ into reality.

 

Tomasz Gollob displayed his desire to remain on the world stage when he discovered that he was only a couple of points away from eliminating himself from the next GP series. Realising that he would no longer be in the position to display to the world his racing abilities, and his ‘Godlike’ magical speedway riding powers, he proved to himself he still had the desire to be one of the ‘big boys’, by gaining the points he needed.

 

Reflective Nicki Pedersen displayed the realisation that he was going backwards not forwards in his quest to win another world championship. The exhausted look on his face and his refusal to blame anyone or anything but himself for his predicament suggested that finally he has come to the conclusion that ‘I am doing something wrong here, I don’t know what it is yet but I am going to find out and put it right’.

Implying that we are, perhaps, going to see a new improved Nick Pedersen not as tricky as we have known him up to now.

 

This is what I saw in the Lonigo GP written on the faces of these Speedway riders. And it was a grand thing to see. The reason it was a grand thing to see is because it revealed the true heart and soul of what speedway is, is still intact, that the heartbeat of Speedway is strong and healthy.

 

All these things were displayed for everyone who was watching to see on Saturday night. But what was on display most of all was the realisation that all these speedway riders had achieved their liberation of the self and understood the can translate it into the freedom to be what they want to be.

 

All this occurred in spite of not because of those who believe they are in control of the destiny of speedway. The people who assume they know how the heart of speedway beats because they provide the stage upon which Speedway riders perform. All this occurred because these riders wanted it to happen and made it happen.

 

This was the beauty of the Grand Prix. This is why it was a Grand Experience.

 

And thus we write the ‘word’. In the process of writing the ‘word’ we discover how to ‘rhyme the tick of time’ and thus learn to sing the ‘Song of Solomon’.

And thus we sing the ‘Song of Solomon’ and understand the key to life.

 

‘All is vanity and you may as well try and catch the wind’.

 

(‘Or t’six times world champion Tony Rickardsson’ whoever’s bleedin fastest’ chuckled wicked old senile myopic Uncle Mr. Clemens to his silly sen)!!!!

[Subedei]

Tomasz Gollob displayed his desire to remain on the world stage when he discovered that he was only a couple of points away from eliminating himself from the next GP series. Realising that he would no longer be in the position to display to the world his racing abilities, and his ‘Godlike’ magical speedway riding powers, he proved to himself he still had the desire to be one of the ‘big boys’, by gaining the points he needed.

 

Much as I admire TG, I think you're giving him far too much credit here. TG will have known he was safe all along. Even outside of the top 8 he'd have been safe and sound.

[Cornishman]

Me too !!.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

that went a bit wrong

 

 

 

From where i stand it's been pretty action-packed to be honest. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

but you we're sitting down

[ouch]

Reading Mr Clemens' report was a hell of a lot more entertaining than the tripe that was served up at Lonigo. Mr Clemens it didn't deserve such a sterling report. It was awful.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well I really enjoyed the last individual world championship we’ll be seeing for a while.

We move on next year to the GP open (?) series run on an invite only basis from 2006 onwards. It’ll be strange not having a World Champion to salute come next September.

 

Subedei you must surely be posting in jest. Exciting racing is exciting racing, however it is produced. If I had a pound for every time a rider returned to the pits and said “the guy in front didn’t make a mistake but I managed to pass him”, I’d have not much at all. If however a pound was give every time I heard, “I tried to force him into a mistake to allow me to pass”, or “he went off the line and I was able to get through” or “he didn’t make a mistake and I couldn’t get by”, then I’d make a good few bob out of it.

Try and put yourself in the position on someone new to speedway. Would they prefer riders dropping the clutch and riding flat out with space in between all four riders? Or would they prefer riders close together, jostling for position and being passed due to the mistakes they made?

It can only ever be the case that a rider doesn’t win a race because of the fact that he has made a mistake, on any track. If you don’t win you have made a mistake either with your gating, your first bend, the line you choose, etc, etc.

There were similar comments made on the “favourite tracks” thread, where tracks that caused rides into errors were somehow marked down, including my track Belle Vue. Well, give me close racing, riders passing and re passing and riders showing great skill to get the best out of the track and conditions they are presented with. Actually Subedei, typing this makes me understand you are not posting in jest, merely standing up for the kind of speedway you enjoy, which is just the opposite to mine as described above.

[Subedei]

I never subscribed to the "passing is everything" theory. Passing is very often nothing as far as I'm concerned. A good well-executed pass is all fine and dandy, but a rider losing control and being passed is just rubbish. Give me close racing. In fact, the best kind of racing is where a rider haunts the rider in front for 4 laps, rather than the rider in front going off-line and being passed on lap 1.

Now, look at the Bydgoszcz GP and Tomasz Gollob's overtake of Nicki P in Ht 6. That was better than all the racing at Lonigo combined. And the heat where he haunted Lee Richardson for 4 laps was excellent also. There wasn't a pass in that heat, but it was super stuff all the same.

And the SWC at Eskilstuna and Wroclaw was excellent also.

Lonigo was just dreadful.

And, yes, give me 4 riders going full-throttle on a 350 metre track with sweeping bends any day of the week.

Edited September 13, 2005 by Subedei

[crazysue]

I have to disagree Subedei....that has to be the best GP I have ever been to and that includes Cardiff. The atmosphere was electric, the racing was pretty damn good and the track was fast.

 

I would love to go back again next year.

[Subedei]

It was awful.

[Cornishman]

It was awful.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

i know you are a m*****n 'supporter' but surely you are taking your hate of all things italian a bit too far?

[Subedei]

i know you are a m*****n 'supporter' but surely you are taking your hate of all things italian a bit too far?

 

Couldn't private message me the missing letters, could you? I haven't the first clue what I'm supposed to be a supporter of.

[Cornishman]

that formula one team that cant work out how to make 2 cars cross the finish line

[Subedei]

And don't I feel stupid now.

They'd both have finished last Sunday but for a Sunday driver in a Williams.

[Cornishman]

And don't I feel stupid now.

They'd both have finished last Sunday but for a Sunday driver in a Williams.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

yes they would..... and it would have been behind a ferrari but for a muppet in a B.A.R

[Mr. Clemens]

Much as I admire TG, I think you're giving him far too much credit here. TG will have known he was safe all along. Even outside of the top 8 he'd have been safe and sound.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

My very point being that he wanted to do it on merit and not be a 'chosen one'.

Tomasz Gollob is and always has been the 'chosen one'. He doesn't want or need a FIM or BSI selection committee, or anyone to else, for that matter, to choose him.

 

This being the stance of one who would regard himself as a true Pole. One who I don't doubt will have his finger on the heartbeat of the Polish nation and its people. One who I don't doubt knows how he is expected to conduct himself by his nation and its people.

[Subedei]

Outside of the GPs, SWC and leaving aside Bydgoszcz and Tarnow, Gollob is a hugely controversial figure in Poland.

 

Edit:

 

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/ind...opic=19396&st=0

 

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/ind...pic=19593&st=20

Edited September 13, 2005 by Subedei