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However this year i thought, was the worst ive seen racing wise. Track was terrible. There should not be a blue line after heart 2!!  :blink:

The blue groove was there after 1 lap. It was there from practice.

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Reckon the crowd must have topped 40,000.  Top tier quite full on back straight, but sparse on home straight.  Presumably set up that way for the sky cameras?

 

Atmosphere in the build up wasn't good.  The P.A. seemed distorted, and there was not real attempt to build the atmosphere up.  They did get it going about 6.50 but thn killed it to near silence with the embarrassing 'Speedway ©Rap' on the big screen.

Under 16's on WAY too early.  About 5.15pm this year to a nearly empty stadium.  Disgraceful.

 

Bonnie Tyler OK, but suffered from the distorted sound system.  And was eclipsed by Tony Christie.

 

The track was pretty rubbish.  But I don't know why people are surprised by this.  You can't lay a decent track from nothing in 3 days.  It's always going to be flat and without a decent depth of shale.  It's impossible to compound a decent depth of shale and build up any banking in such a limited time.

What do you want....its the atmosphere of a 40,000 crowd in a mega-stadium with a dodgy track that sorts the men from the boys, or its 8,000 to Coventry with an OK long established track and poor atmosphere....I vote Cardiff.

 

Referee a little dodgy. 

Richardson a touch lucky in getting away with skittling everyone in his first ride...but maybe the ref giving the benefit of the doubt due to the newly laid track.

 

Pedersen mugs the ref by laying it down on the first corner after being outgated by Crump.

Heat 10 an awful ragged start that should have been brought back.  Had the ref dozed off?

 

Hampel-Hancock final the only difficult decision and ref was probably right.  Going to be one unhappy rider whoever is excluded.  tough on Hancock but it had to be him.

Crump - the best on display.  Deserved winner despite the Hancock/Hampel incident.

 

Hancock - a bit of a rash move in the final cost him.  Perhaps should have backed of Hampel and had another go on next corner.  Should have been content to keep Crump behind even if it meant letting Hampel win.

 

Pedersen -  Where was he?  At least we got to see his hairdryer on big screen.

 

Rickardsson - its over.  So far behind Crump he now needs snookers.

 

Nicholls & Richardson - Had their moments, but middle order.  Didn't utilise the massive home support to make a mark.

 

Stead - Took an awful battering in one race, but got it together at the end.  Certainly more worthy of a GP place than Protasiewicz, Iversen and co.

Have to agree with all of that. :)
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I enjoyed Cardiff...not the best ever, but still an enjoyable day and night - and that's what it's all about.

The biggest crowd yet - 42,000+...most of whom seemed content to cheer anything and everything :D

Truly terrible sound system within the stadium, not for the first time either, but the other time it was like that, Sam Ermolenko was on the microphone so it was a blessing that the speakers sounded like they were underwater.

Rickardsson was the only rider booed - which was fun.

The white line painter was clearly drunk.

The racing was alright, some of it very good. More interesting than a couple of other GP's so far.

I still think no rider attempts to milk the crowd AT ALL. Opportunity lost again.

The fireworks were ace.

The wandering Polish flag waver's were cool.

The company was top class, bubbles included ;)

And I can't wait for next year when I can drink my usual amount, instead of staying sober - not advisable imo

 

B)

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Great day I thought.

 

Track was awful. Nicholls rode well I thought but Richardson was poor.

 

Zagar was good, but I thought Iversen would do better. Produced a great last ride though to go round Zagar. Think he will go up the standings by the end of the year.

 

Hancock was awesome in the heats and Bjarne and Crump were good. Stead was well off the pace in most of his rides, how people can suggest replacing the likes of Richardson with him I do not know - he would be even worse.

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Great Day as always. But the worst roads ever.

Still in air-horn inspired hangover.

 

Biggest crowd I have seen there.

 

TRACK - Awful, truly awful. I had thought they had got Cardiff all correct and proper but this track resembled Copenhague.

 

NICHOLLS - Brought the house down in two of his heats. He could have gained 2nd in his semi but got caught in no-mans land.

 

PEDERSEN, N - Big Disappointment as my respect for him has kept going lately.

 

HANCOCK - My pick of the sweepstake, you have to feel sorry for him in the final.

 

CRUMP - Truly class, even if he didnt make a gate. You knew he was gonna give it a go. His battle with AJ and Bjarne Pedersen was great.

 

RICHARDSON - Looked very uncomfortable

 

STEAD - Looked dodgy in his first heat but improved for there on.

 

ZAGAR - I thought he maybe out of his depth in these GPs but proved he's more than worth the gamble.

 

HAMPEL - Unluckiest man of the night. The roof of the Stadium would have gone off had he won. The Poles went ballistic when Hancock laid-down his bike.

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Great day out in Cardiff as usual, soaking up the sun & atmosphere, get to the stadium settle down for the entertainment! watch the racing all great stuff mostly.

So from 1800hrs until gone 2200hrs you have wall to wall air horns, ear defenders working overtime.

Every now & then there was a lull in the air horn serenade, but then you get some half wit on the pa stirring them (the air horn lovers) up again. Think this was not needed.

Still a good time was had but would have enjoyed a few more air horn free moments!!

Colin :)

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Was lovely to meet you Rabbit! Couldnt really talk because of that man in the middle..

 

Lovely to meet you too! Was a bit strange though, him sat there all on his own. We managed to spot where we were on TV though thanks to your flags. :D

 

Quality points of weekend:

 

Fine start to the weekend with a spicy Newport/Glasgow clash. It wouldn't be the same without it. Great stuff from both teams as a neutral.

 

Starbucks doing a banana caramel frappucino. Totally orgasmic. :P

 

Meeting up with old friends and new in the PoW for a chinwag.

 

The SimonStead fan club who made total ** of themselves in the PoW. Steady clones - is he a gay icon or something? They certainly loved him. What was it 'see ya laterz' - shame the bloke didn't take his own phrase literally. ;)

 

Some decent racing in the GP. Don't care whether the track was man-made or not, or whether it wasn't billiard-table smooth - it was entertaining and there was passing in plenty of heats and that's what I pay to see.

 

Downsides: the crap driving of people on the roads from Bristol to Cardiff. Best leave it at that or I'll get wound up again. Muppets.

 

Oh...and caravans. Bloody things. :mad:

 

Fine family fun overall. Roll on next year. B)

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Lovely to meet you too!  Was a bit strange though, him sat there all on his own. We managed to spot where we were on TV though thanks to your flags.  :D

 

 

 

Yeah although he did save you and your beer when you went to sit down! :P Was kinda strange him coming on his own. We've managed to figure it out also, well my parents have i keep falling asleep everywhere!! :P

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Well I enjoyed it - And so did the missus, who before Cardiff was a Speedway virgin B)

 

Was great to catch up with everyone I spoke too aswell, some that I havent seen since last year! :approve:

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I feel i have to echo the sentiments of most people on here.The racing at Cardiff was truly abysmal,as was the track.Bonnie Tyler was terrible as well.So was Tony Christie.Having said that Bonnie Tyler was bad she and her band did perform live,which does her credit.I will have to think twice about spending £400-£500 for one weekend next year.The weekend was not a total loss however with JC winning both the GP and the pairs,along with Simon.

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Well I enjoyed it - And so did the missus, who before Cardiff was a Speedway virgin B)

 

 

And from two more Cardiff virgins, both myself and junior had a great

time , fantastic atmostphere, great company and empty wallet,

Still who cares :)

 

PS anyone between bends 1-2 spot the guy ranting about Greg Hancocks exclusion in the final. ---- what was he on????

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