Cardiff 2009

[sancho]

TBH I dont think either of them were looking at the pit gate I think they both just ran into it

 

Lets face it also Emil has been a puch up waiting to happen. Must admit I thought it would be Nikki & Emil

 

 

[daveccm]

Do we want exciting speedway or a tame follow my leader borefest? Nicholls did nothing wrong on the track compared to any GP rider. It's the norm. It's what drew me to speedway. Contact goes on just as it does in any so called "non contact" sport.

 

As for the scrap- why is it that some are saying Scot should be more mature and not respond? At least it was a geuine scrap not like the pre arranged stuff you see in some ice hockey. If it gets Scott fired up, great. I like Bomber but what does it take to get him annoyed?

 

What the riders do to each other is one thing. When someone off the track gets involved that's out of order and Holloway's action should be treated as any outsider and banned from the GP series. If that affects Emil, tough.

 

 

[Sir Jasper]

As Scott was walking down the pit tunnel after the incident, Emils pit crew came running up towards the track. As the one ran past he shoulder barged and pushed Scott to the floor. Scott got back up and was flustered for a while while he located his goggles and gloves... he was then ushered away into the pits. Emils pit crew were nowhere to be seen.

 

Nicholls was not pushed to the floor, he did pick his goggles up after but was not knocked to the floor.

 

 

The track was far superior to any thing we have had before as at last the top bosses listened to what we as track curators have been saying for years

If you are going to practice on a temp track on a Friday at least give us something decent to work with afterwards to get a track surface to stay in.

The first 8 years we had something local that wasn,t very good standard.

This year it was proper shale from Breedon Quarries near Derby which Colin and later on Myself used at Coventry I think most fans would agree this years track was the best for safety so far.

Cheers Mick

 

yep totally agree, it was a decent surface, well done.

 

[Midnight_Lady]

So they were having words and yet again Scott thought he was the big man. If someone had shoved me i would of shoved him back. He they rode emil into the pit gate. Emil did what i would of done and give if a swift jab to the chin which Scotty didnt like so went to cry in his pits. What a big bairn.

 

Totally out of order for you to blame Emil for blocking Scott getting into the pits.

 

Not at all.

 

Sayfutdinov was giving it large all the way back to the pits. Are you telling me that you wouldn't have pushed him away? Sayfutdinov was spoiling for a fight. Simple.

 

 

 

[stevehone]

my pictures from the GP HERE

[The Know]

positive. bit a good racing and a nice track surface.

 

negative. entertainment, sound system, ref.

[MattK]

I have to that overall we had an excellent day. The atmosphere was amazing, if you could bottle it up and bring it back to club meetings then speedway would be thriving in this country.

 

The racing - The best I've seen at Cardiff. The track looked smooth and consistent and the riders appear to appreciate that. Good to see riders moving off the white line as early as heat 1!

 

Nicholls/Sayfutdinov - Handbags at ten paces. Nothing more. One might say that Nicholls, as the older and more experienced rider, should have taken the moral high ground and not got involved.

 

Jason Crump - A worthy winner. Looked very good indeed and I'd be more than happy to see him go on and win the championship.

 

The crowd - The crowd was definitely down on last year. We were sat on the apex of the first and second bends, which were excellent seats and very busy, but other areas which were almost full last year looked as if they had plenty of space.

 

The referee - I think all three first bend exclusions were harsh and if it were a club match then I am confident it would have been all four back in every instance. However, if the refs have been advised that they must exclude someone, then I feel they must favour the rider who holds their line and exclude the rider who moves across - in that case the first two decisions were wrong and only the last one was right.

 

The presentation - Excellent as ever. We had no problems hearing the results and times. The music however was shocking. The only time a song from this decade was played was during the firework display at the end.

 

As always the event was impeccably organised. There was a massive queue for the park and ride bus on the way home, but there was a constant stream of buses turning up and it only took ten minutes or so to get everyone on their way home.

 

I do hope promoters look at Cardiff and try and take the best bits back to their home clubs. The GPs prove it's not hard to add some sparkle to speedway so that it appears more F1 and less spit 'n' sawdust.

 

 

[lupus]

Nicholls was not pushed to the floor, he did pick his goggles up after but was not knocked to the floor.

 

I agree he wasn't pushed to the floor but he was unbalanced (some might say no difference there!!!) and slipped on the concrete due to his steel shoe. Holloway was definitely out of order but all this calling for him to be banned is a bit OTT to be honest. He didn't thump Nicholls - just barged past him. Really not enough to get steamed up over!

 

I've looked at the incident again on youtube and it seems to me that both riders were equally to blame for the handbags job. Emil was giving Scott verbals but it WAS Scott who made the first 'physical' move in shoving Emil away. With regards to going into the pits gate....it's hard to know what was going through the riders heads but it seems from looking at it that Scott was trying to beat Emil into the pits rather than run him into the fence. I may be wrong on that but, as I say without knowing what the riders were thinking it is hard to say for sure. What is obvious is that EMIL thought it was deliberate, hence why he threw the first punch. From then on it was pretty much 50/50 - I don't think either rider 'won' the fight!!!

 

[srbramble]

And both decisions were completely correct. I couldn't give two hoots if Andersen had been excluded, but both times the ref got it right. The only time he got it wrong was when Jonsson was excluded when Crump overlocked.

 

No he didn't. When Harris got excluded, Andersen had got himself in a bit of trouble, and locked up on Bombers line. Bomber couldn't do anything about it, and hit Hans. Why is that Bombers fault?

 

[spook]

Trees the ditch that Mark was referring to was caused by a rider (don,t know who) doing a practice start away from the fence towards the middle of the corner

The back wheel had dug in quite deep and although the track had been graded there was only loose shale in the rut

Rune hit the rut with front wheel already commited to the turn into the bend which wrenched the bars out of his hands and back wheel kicked off the rut also

I dont know if the rut occured during the meeting itself or during the two junior races or if it was left after the practice.

The big blade was used to relay the track friday and with the large amount of shale it was pushing round its possible it was covered without the driver seeing it

When the grading took place yesterday towards the middle and end of the meeting a lot of shale was dragged off both straights to get a bit more in the corners.

I know this explanation to be spot on as I was the tractor driver pulling the heavy RSJ double girders round pulling the shale off the fence

The track was far superior to any thing we have had before as at last the top bosses listened to what we as track curators have been saying for years

If you are going to practice on a temp track on a Friday at least give us something decent to work with afterwards to get a track surface to stay in.

The first 8 years we had something local that wasn,t very good standard.

This year it was proper shale from Breedon Quarries near Derby which Colin and later on Myself used at Coventry I think most fans would agree this years track was the best for safety so far.

Cheers Mick

 

Mick for race director!

[crazysue]

I had an absolutely fantastic, amazing Cardiff 2009.....def will be a 2 day affair next year too.

 

Hotel was great and all the better for being so central, the alcohol flowed (drank more in 2 days than I have in the last 5 years and I was still standing and completely normal..if a little non secretive) and the meeting up with friends in relaxed circumstances instead of me being stressy cow with kids in tow really made a difference.

 

I enjoyed the GP too...this year we actually got to watch all of it (apart from the start of one heat which was stopped, I was being naughty and went for a ciggie and then to the medical room for my wrist..too much flag waving and forgetting to wear the splint to blame), being on the home straight (just!) also made a difference for the better, will again try for that sort of area next time in any of the tiers.

 

James found me restrictive instead of the other way round...he said I prevented him pulling (he had 3 offers) as he knew I wouldn't let him do anything....I believe I have the law on my side..he's not quite 16 yet! Goodness knows what he is going to be like next year at nearly 17.....

 

All in all, a great weekend and I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of it.

[keef]

First Grand Prix for 'er indoors she loved it. Apart from long hold-up on motorway(we arrived at 5.15, just in time after 3-hour trek from SWindon).

Sneaked into middle-tier although we paid £29 for upper-tier Good racing brilliant atmosphere had a bit of fun with the Poles dancing around in the seats(shame about Leigh Adams) will def be going again next year.

Great entertainment..wish league meetins were as entertaining

[srbramble]

Best Cardiff for us by some way. Two days this year, definitely the way to go. Accomodation was superb. The rooms had recently been refurbished, and were immaculate, so big thanks to The Park Inn, Cardiff north. Also met some great people, including Rune Holta, who was also staying there. He has at least half a dozen new fans, after he spent time with us before and after the meeting. Fascinating insight into the sport, and a nicer guy you couldn't wish to meet. Track was excellent, racing too, atmosphere amazing, and who could fault the weather? All in all, a lot of money, but well spent.

Edited June 29, 2009 by srbramble

[Backless]

Good to see people think the Heat 5 incident "fired up Nicholls passion": fired him up so much he scored 1 point less than Holta who only finished 3 rides!

 

I've read comments that Nicholls was within his rights to be "riled" at the dig Sayfutdinov made earlier in the race, but evidently that doesn't cut both ways.

 

"Nicholls was trying to get back to the pits first"? Then he needs to be informed that he needs to aim for the gap in the safety fence - not the bouncy castle attached to the pit gate

 

The quicker Nicholls is flushed down the pan & GB nominations are available for the likes of Woffinden & Kennett there might be a chnce of GB making progress. At least Harris got stuck into his riding & made the semis.

 

Still at least Nicholls was there for his first ride - progress of sorts.

 

 

 

The presentation on the night was as usual from the same crew. Appalling.

 

Taped football chants before the heats with the British representatives (I know they're all English, but the weren't representing ENG-GER-LAND) - what the hell was that about? Trying to disguise the apathy of the crowd immediately prior to another poor performnce?

 

Some Bloke Singing To A Backing Tape - that's karaoke in a pub - not interval entertainment for THE Grand Prix of the year.

I'm not suggesting Springsteen or The Stones like the Superbowl, but God Almighty.......

 

And a "Tribute Act" beforehand too - was this a "major sporting event" or outtakes from Pheonix Nights?

Edited June 29, 2009 by Backless

[Backless]

No he didn't. When Harris got excluded, Andersen had got himself in a bit of trouble, and locked up on Bombers line. Bomber couldn't do anything about it, and hit Hans. Why is that Bombers fault?

 

Harris doesn't ride for Poole - that's why

[Snyper1010]

Not at all.

 

Sayfutdinov was giving it large all the way back to the pits. Are you telling me that you wouldn't have pushed him away? Sayfutdinov was spoiling for a fight. Simple.

 

As mentioned Sayfutdinovs English is patchy at best. Add to this the muffling effect of a helmet over his mouth and Scotts ears. Scott should of had the decency to listen to what was said and if he didnt like it ride away. Not push the rider out of the way. What was Emil meant to do? accept that Scott had shoved him and go back to his pits? The lad wanted to talk about what had happened and any respectful rider would listen.

 

Scott is a disgrace

 

Also as mentioned the "come on Engerland" Well feck me i never thought i could of hated "british" riders anymore but that really made me laugh. Trying to pass them off as "british" and then playing that.

[obrien48]

my pictures from the GP HERE

 

You got some fantastic pics there mate - I can feel an artwork coming on

[obrien48]

First Grand Prix for 'er indoors she loved it. Apart from long hold-up on motorway(we arrived at 5.15, just in time after 3-hour trek from SWindon).

Sneaked into middle-tier although we paid £29 for upper-tier Good racing brilliant atmosphere had a bit of fun with the Poles dancing around in the seats(shame about Leigh Adams) will def be going again next year.

Great entertainment..wish league meetins were as entertaining

 

Here here - our first Cardiff and totally amazing atmos - Nevs said it would be good but WOW! (wonder what it must have been like when Bomber won!) she's already talking about next year and I didn't even have to hint

[Star Lady]

Just a picture on the Swindon Robins Website showing that the gate was on the left and it looks like Scott actually pushed Emil into the gate Scott V Emil

 

Having now seen this pic I realise that the entry to the pit was not where I originally thought therefore I revise my view that Nicholls was impeded by Sajfutdinov , it was the other way round. Doesn't excuse the violence but it makes more sense now.

 

[celticboy]

Having now seen this pic I realise that the entry to the pit was not where I originally thought therefore I revise my view that Nicholls was impeded by Sajfutdinov , it was the other way round. Doesn't excuse the violence but it makes more sense now.

 

I actually think it was a case of both of them wanting to get into the pits in front of the other. Emil's elbow was in front, but neither wanted to give way to the other. If either had shut off, the other would have gone in cleanly, but they were so focused on their argument, they rode into the fence. Six of one, half a dozen of the other, and all boils down to Emil's tantrum on track at getting ridden hard for maybe the first time in his GP career. So far, his ability and audacity has gotten him through where nobody has expected. He's often swooped around the outside, with inches to spare and gotten the drop on the others, but this time, Nicholls knew he was there, was expecting him to come around the outside fast, late in the heat, and did what he could to block him. Emil tried a cut back a moment too early, clipping Nicholl's mudflap which locked him up slightly. Nobodies fault, but Emil had a strop on about it and his immaturity showed through (as it did last GP when he had a scream at Pedersen).