British Grand Prix, 25/06/11

[screm]

Remind me. Who does Email ride for in the UK? And Holder?

 

Oh yeah. Thought so.......

Hang on,Sayfutdinov did get a roller,and the ref shouldve stopped the race then and there.At least that wouldve giving us a four rider semi-final.

 

Listening to Pearson though,he did his best to get Ben Barker a semi-final.

[SCB]

Whilst being there may be exciting, I think that it colours how you actually see the racing because of the excitement generated. I don't see how anyone could sy the the track was good, it was just about OK. The fact that not a single heat was won from gate 1 shows that the track was not perfect & in fact for the first 14 heats, I think all of the heat wins came from gates 2 & 4. Later in the meeting this changed & gates 2 & 3 were the best. This is the problem with one off tracks, so much depends on gate position & to me this spoils the meeting. There was definitely some good racing but not a good track.

 

Things are never as good on tele as real life. Go buy the DVD of your favourite band latest gig, now go and watch them live, which is better?

 

Go to the pub or watch a soap where they're all sat in he pub?

 

Have sex or....

 

 

You can never beat being there for the real thing and ultimately, the SGP is a live sporting event that to appreciate fully, you have to be there.

 

My mum attends 1 speedway meeting a year, she has never missed a Cardiff. She loves it all, from the day out pre-meeting to the meeting itself. She asks constantly when Bomber is due out next and whos in the next race. Cardiff must be doing something right to get someone who has no interest in speedway (doesn't even watch it on Sky when it's on the tele in her own living room!)

 

 

Don't think there was anything approaching 45k fans there yesterday TBH - looked way down on attendance to us. That notwithstanding it was enjoyable - although nothing like as good as last year. From a social perspective though - brilliant, can't be beaten. Sensational, even.

Really? This year for the first time ever the 3rd and 4th bends were completely packed (not empty!). The expensive home straight was empty on the top tier but it always is but the rest of the stadium, while it had a few gaps, was pretty much full. I'm sure in the past the official figures started at 32,000 for first GP and has slowly eeked up to 45,000. As the speedway capacity is 62,000 (they lose 10,000 due to H&S not allowing the first x rows to be used) I'd guess they have got up to, or very close to 48,000 this year. Edited June 26, 2011 by SCB

[DukesGreg]

This year for the first time ever the 3rd and 4th bends were completely empty. The expensive home straight was empty on the top tier but it always is but the rest of the stadium, while it had a few gaps, was pretty much full. I'm sure in the past the official figures started at 32,000 for first GP and has slowly eeked up to 45,000. As the speedway capacity is 62,000 (they lose 10,000 due to H&S not allowing the first x rows to be used) I'd guess they have got up to, or very close to 48,000 this year.

 

 

Agreed. It was loud, and the upper tiers on the back straight, which generally cost less, were absolutely heaving. I sat there last year, and there were many gaps. This year I sat on turns 3 and 4, and, looking around the arena, appreciated how choca-block these areas were.

 

You hear it mentioned annually how the attendance is the highest yet. Something which I always joke about. However.. you really could see it this year. Camera shots / tickets pricing don't help, the sparsely occupied seats on the home straight create the illusion of emptiness. But it was definitely fuller. And seeing it on TV today confirmed that.

 

I think with pricing tweaking, it could get many more in. But there you go.

[Reviresco]

Just back from Cardiff. IMO there were 35,000 there at the most for what was IMO an awful speedway meeting as, after turn 2, there was no passing apart from Holder and Emil. I have been attending speedway for 44 years and World Finals/GPs since 1972 and that was one of the poorest I've ever seen. The track that was there last year wasn't this and was so slick it was ridiculous. I used to enjoy my visits to The Millennium but the whole experience was not good this year, from the lack of programme sellers, the lack of food, to the firework display. I will be saving my money and staying away next year as many I spoke to said after the meeting. Looks like BSI are favouring Greg over Tomasz this year, IMO. Oh, and if Gate 1 doesn't win a heat all night - how can it be a fair track?

Edited June 26, 2011 by macca56

[BWitcher]

Just back from Cardiff. IMO there were 35,000 there at the most for what was IMO an awful speedway meeting as, after turn 2, there was no passing apart from Holder and Emil. I have been attending speedway for 44 years and World Finals/GPs since 1972 and that was one of the poorest I've ever seen. The track that was there last year wasn't this and was so slick it was ridiculous. I used to enjoy my visits to The Millennium but the whole experience was not good this year, from the lack of programme sellers, the lack of food, to the firework display. I will be saving my money and staying away next year as many I spoke to said after the meeting. Looks like BSI are favouring Greg over Tomasz this year, IMO. Oh, and if Gate 1 doesn't win a heat all night - how can it be a fair track?

 

Clearly you had too much to drink on the day and haven't recovered yet.

 

Glancing through the races, passed I can remember..

 

Heat 2, pretty sure Gollob passed Hancock. Certainly remember them being close for a couple of laps.

 

Heat 3, Kolodzej passed Hampel, who battled all the way to the line

 

Heat 4, more passing as Jonsson, Lindgren and Holder fought, Lindgren eventually getting the better of Holder.

 

Heat 7, good scrap between Lindgren and Gollob

 

Heat 10, cracking race with Harris and Lindgren

 

Heat 12 Emil passes Crump in a (to coin a Pearson phrase) sensational race

 

Heat 13 Another cracker with Holder, Nicholls and Gollob involved

 

Heat 17, Wheel to wheel battle with Lindgren and Sayfutidnov, culminating in Lindgrens exclusion

 

Heat 18 Brilliant ride from Jonsson to beat Gollob

 

Heat 20 Holder passes Woffinden.

 

These are just a few, there were other good races too that I can't remember of the top of my head. There's already very good races there. Not including the exciting final, or the semis. Pretty good ratio compared to most meetings!

Edited June 26, 2011 by BWitcher

[barrow boy]

I would just like to congratulate Greg Hancock on his victory, Nikki Pedersen and Chris Holder for making the podeum, especially the latter considering his first 2 rides. The referee again proved to be controversial on the first full bend in the final. He needn't have taken Emil out but he has a history of always blaming somebody for causing first bend incidents especially at Cardiff where it is so tight that some degree of commonsense would be nice.

 

Good to see Magnus Zetterstrom do so well. it would be more interesting if he could stay in for the next round with last placed rider Rune Holta standing down for the returning Artur Laguta. Rune would of course come back in to replace whowever is last next time and so on.

[Scott Cassell]

It was my second visit to Cardiff and I thought it was a fantastic day out. Thought the meeting was better than last year even without the Crump/Holder and Pedersen/Andersen tussles.

 

Obviously Gate 1 was a graveyard but you could probably have the same situation with other gates at other venues. Personally I wish they wouldn't grade the track after heat 20 for the semis and final.

 

Glad Greg won. Watched him all those years ago a Cradley a true good guy of the sport. Nice of him to wish all the best to Leigh Adams as well, during his victory interview. I thought Emil and Holder were quality after both having bad starts to the meeting. I love the way Emil manages to get so much speed up the inside when he doesn't make the gate, perhaps our non gating Brits should take notice.

 

Glad to see Tai get a go, smart move up the inside, shame he went too wide and let Holder through. As a Brummies fan nice to BB get on the track (albeit for a few yards) when he bought Bombers second bike out.

 

Atmosphere in the stadium was excellent even with the Poles being less vocal with their guys bombing.

 

Even had an enjoyable journey back in a traffic jam at midnight on Broad Street. My son came up with some hilarious comments for a 10 year involving some bad guys and a woman splayed across a car bonnet.

 

Definitely be booking for next year, wherever the venue.

Edited June 26, 2011 by Heathen2Brummie

[DukesGreg]

Pedersen comments after the event of the Final.

 

 

 

He said: “It was a good night and nearly a great one. In the final it was a tough first corner and I’m glad we all managed to stay on but in the end it was a great race and a good way to finish."

 

He meant: "It was a great night, almost a disappointing one.. in spite of my efforts of deciding not to turn left at the bend, but ride out as far as the fence, and therefore taking all and sundry with me (it worked in binning Sayfutdinov, but sadly lightning never strikes twice in the same place) a fair and honest winner crossed the line first, and therefore didn't ruin everyone's night."

 

“I was gating good, I had the speed but I threw it away myself, not having first choice of gate but I was the only rider to be with them in the first corner from gate one. In the semi final I got third pick because I’d touched the tapes and that was my own fault.”

 

"I had a game plan. A few of the boys all night had equal speed off gate one, but took the turn fairly and honestly, therefore struggling to hold the lead down the back straight as other riders from the wider gates had the dirtwall for drive on the banking to use to get drive and overtake fairly. So to be with them on the first corner, I just rode up... up... up... and left nobody any room at all. Sayfutdinov crashed, but hey, it mean I got a rostrum place. The referee was a mug and let me off. So guess what. I did it again.. what all the other riders didn't do all night.. and drove it wide and nearly rode Chris and Greg into the fence. I got second, but everyone will say it is racing and the GP, and a place for men, so I can hide behind this and get away with it. As only I ever do.

 

Oh.. and I can be really sporting at the end, shake everyones hand like mad, and look like a great sportsman and say "what a race boys... what a race!" But mark my words. There's a fence with their name written on it in the next meeting. For sure!"

 

 

 

Or I could be wrong.. and a wee bit cynical.

[Rob B]

I went to my first Grand Prix at Cardiff. I and three others were behind a group of Polish speedway fans having a good time, there were a group of English fans sitting behind a few row back on the 3rd and 4th bend right at the top. A few bits of rubish were thrown by the30/40 yr old English fans at the Poles which were the ignored and they carried on having a good time. Then an empty glass was thrown at the Poles and the Poles threw it back then the English fan threw a full glass of beer all over the Poles who then retaliated and a fight started.The Police came and escorted the English fans out into the street gutters where they came from. Where is this post leading to Yes they were Dudley Heathen fans i was ashamed to be a British fan the Poles were no trouble but the Dudley fans were drunk, so drunk two were left sitting next to us fell asleep for the last 6 heats. Also i was at Buxton when the trouble started there I was in the pits and saw and heard everything. Im sorry to say i was a contract rider for Cradley Heath in the early 70s. These new breed of fans belong at Football matches NOT speedway

 

 

We only saw 2 Poles being escorted out by the law. They were the couple that were pushed over the seats by the Brits. One English fan(at least 40) pushed by me to join in the melee, having rushed from another area. Then 1 pole came back in and was promptly chucked out again, for making threats to an English fan, followed by another dozen or so who seemed drunk, but were just enjoying themselves. They were moved to another part of the arena. They shouldn't allow people to drink alcohol in the stadium. We weren't allowed to take soft-drinks in, but it's ok to buy as much booze as you want inside. Ridiculous

We enjoyed the live music in the Fanzone, and the usual pre-meeting atmosphere, and chatting to the fans from all over Europe.

The police and stewards were probably hoping for an easier day, after having to police Cardiff City fans.

Not good for the women(including one distressed pregnant one), kids, and families that had to move from that area.

With more and more Poles turning-up every year it certainly adds to the atmosphere.

 

Most of the races seemed to be over by the 2nd. bend. A few good passes.

 

Well done Greg

 

We were sat just below to the side of this we saw the stewards go up a few times eventually throwing out 2 guys one of them wearing a green t-shirt, when we went out afterwards Police had both of them outside, guy in green t-shirt and a guy in white s-shirt covered in quite a lot of blood. Not surprised to hear it was Dudley fans involved.

[capone]

It's the way no-one will say it - the commentators, interviewers and riders, all pretending it's a good track. Gate and go a-go-go!

i agree the track that is raceable is al most a circle the straights are to short...tapes are to close to 1st bend, thats why no one won from inside gate..........go no shoot me down in flames!

but overall i did enjoy it,..could av been better tho

[Tracy Bird]

A lot of British fans had moved away from the area, and the police only ejected 1 Pole who came them came back in and started threatening a British fan. Was quickly ejected again. 6 of one, half-dozen of the other probably. The 5 Brits in the back row involved in the fight didn't have drinks in their hands. It was handbags anyway.

Added to the excitement. This type of behaviour should be reserved for the football yobs, not at a speedway meeting. It was sparked-off by a poor Gollob ride in one heat, and the fanatical Poles probably got upset at the Brits taunts.

we had a group of poles behind us,they were a pain ,running up and down the aisle behind us after gollobs win and then grabbed the chap next to me on the shoulders,who was in his late seventies and shook him.i told the pole to go forth and i was told the stewards warned them and as the night went on they got quieter,wonder why that was?

[Paulco]

Maybe i'm just getting old and hard to please , but i thought it was a pretty tame and dull affair . The PL Pairs at Somerset 24 hours earlier was a much more entertaining meeting .

[arnieg]

Just back from Cardiff. IMO there were 35,000 there at the most for what was IMO an awful speedway meeting as, after turn 2, there was no passing apart from Holder and Emil.

An absurdly inaccurate statement. The majority of races contained passes - now I go to a lot of meetings, and it's not often I can say that about the meeting.

 

Gate 1 was a big problem, and I thought Emil's exclusion in the final a little harsh, but as always a great day out and a great atmosphere

[Mark]

Just back from Cardiff. IMO there were 35,000 there at the most for what was IMO an awful speedway meeting as, after turn 2, there was no passing apart from Holder and Emil. I have been attending speedway for 44 years and World Finals/GPs since 1972 and that was one of the poorest I've ever seen. The track that was there last year wasn't this and was so slick it was ridiculous. I used to enjoy my visits to The Millennium but the whole experience was not good this year, from the lack of programme sellers, the lack of food, to the firework display. I will be saving my money and staying away next year as many I spoke to said after the meeting. Looks like BSI are favouring Greg over Tomasz this year, IMO. Oh, and if Gate 1 doesn't win a heat all night - how can it be a fair track?

 

 

you were probably watching another meeting as there was loads of passing in plenty of races

[lucifer sam]

I never have massive expectations of Cardiff being a great meeting, so I'm not let down when it isn't. Yesterday was a ho-hum meeting, it wasn't great, but it wasn't awful either. Cardiff 2010 was something a bit special, I'm fully aware we are unlikely to get that every year. At least the track this year didn't rut up in the way it did in the early days, some of the early Cardiff meetings were very poor.

 

As usual, the best racing of the GP weekend came at Somerset 24 hours earlier - with the Joe Screen masterclass.

 

All the best

Rob

[lucifer sam]

I don't care how it come across on TV, being there Cardiff is just brilliant. As you run up the steps into the seating areas hearing the noise getting louder and louder until you walk in and that noise! WOW! 45,000 fans all cheering and booing. It's just brilliant.

 

I love it at Cardiff, I think it could all be from the gate but it would still be magical.

 

Throw in the chance to meet old and new friends. A great day out.

 

SCB, yes it is the experience and the day out which is special about Cardiff - it's a speedway meeting when the racing is secondary.

 

Mind you, I will need councilling after seeing Snyper in a kilt.

 

All the best

Rob

[ballroom]

Just back from Cardiff. IMO there were 35,000 there at the most for what was IMO an awful speedway meeting as, after turn 2, there was no passing apart from Holder and Emil. I have been attending speedway for 44 years and World Finals/GPs since 1972 and that was one of the poorest I've ever seen. The track that was there last year wasn't this and was so slick it was ridiculous. I used to enjoy my visits to The Millennium but the whole experience was not good this year, from the lack of programme sellers, the lack of food, to the firework display. I will be saving my money and staying away next year as many I spoke to said after the meeting. Looks like BSI are favouring Greg over Tomasz this year, IMO. Oh, and if Gate 1 doesn't win a heat all night - how can it be a fair track?

 

Biggest attendance so far from the many angles on the excellent Sky coverage. Missed it this year live. I for one will be forking out whatever the cost (its only around 50% of a top live Stadium gig)for another live experience next year. Well done to IMG for another fantastic British Speedway GP.

[bluejam]

I don't care how it come across on TV, being there Cardiff is just brilliant. As you run up the steps into the seating areas hearing the noise getting louder and louder until you walk in and that noise! WOW! 45,000 fans all cheering and booing. It's just brilliant.

 

I love it at Cardiff, I think it could all be from the gate but it would still be magical.

 

Throw in the chance to meet old and new friends. A great day out.

 

Have you ever been to a rugby match there,when there's 73,000 and the roof is closed?Now that is an atmosphere!

[oscar]

Fair comments, totally agreed.

 

However, I don't know what some of the people on here expect from a speedway meeting.

 

Once the track had bedded down, there were some great races.

 

 

Somebody has complained about passing on the inside... but isn't that good???? Riders were passing after going on the outside, and riders were nipping in to pass on the inside. So.. if there was passing on BOTH inside AND outside... isn't that, in general.. a good track??

 

People expect GP's and World Finals to have 20 superb races. They don't. I remember Wembley 81 being dubbed as one of the best meetings ever. If you watch the races on youtube, or the dvd... yes... they're good. However, there were 6 or so TOP CLASS TOP DRAWER races last night.. along with some other DECENT ones after the first few heats... and people are still moaning.

 

 

With nostalgia (olden days) comes some degree of sugar coating.

 

 

Last night was a great night out. I drove 240 miles home with my family, a 480 mile drive in a day, knowing full well that I'll never miss one again.. cash and circumstances permitting.

 

 

 

The racing was good (to deny it is rubbish), the stadium is amazing, the colours are amazing, the crowd numbers creep up every year, the noise is (happily) deafening, the roof is on, the Poles are loud (and really help make the atmosphere great), we had drama and a first bend spill in the final, and, in my opinion, a nice winner.

 

I'm struggling to find something to grumble about. Rare in itself.

My point was that I thought the racing was o.k and not as good as last year,you may disagree ? thats ok.Many members on this forum have low expectations and seem to be endorsing S.C.B,s post quote"I love it at Cardiff I think it could all be from the gate but it would still be magical.Yes there is great stadium with noise and colour but so was the first GP at Gelsenkirshen and that got panned.If your struggling for something to grumble about i,ll just mention gate 1 and leave it there.I find it a bit easier to moan than others so i,ll mention the program,I didn,t buy one for the first time this year,ive got the other ten.The price goes up every year,the one they produce at Leszno 10 zlotys(£2.50) is a bit more to my liking,yet again most people may disagree.

[ImpartialOne]

Just back from Cardiff. IMO there were 35,000 there at the most for what was IMO an awful speedway meeting as, after turn 2, there was no passing apart from Holder and Emil. I have been attending speedway for 44 years and World Finals/GPs since 1972 and that was one of the poorest I've ever seen. The track that was there last year wasn't this and was so slick it was ridiculous. I used to enjoy my visits to The Millennium but the whole experience was not good this year, from the lack of programme sellers, the lack of food, to the firework display. I will be saving my money and staying away next year as many I spoke to said after the meeting. Looks like BSI are favouring Greg over Tomasz this year, IMO. Oh, and if Gate 1 doesn't win a heat all night - how can it be a fair track?

I wish I'd gone with you instead now, you sound like a great laugh.