British Grand Prix, 25/06/11

[crumpiefan]

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?

 

 

the slicker tracks the gps tend to produce always favour gaters to racers but as there are 3 gps out of 11

in gollobs' country (and even when bydgoszcz is not on the roster its replaced by gorzow his polish team)

i wouldn't say greg is favoured over gollob.

this title race is far from over anyway imo.

[Shadders]

I'll throw in my twopenneth in and say that although the racing was on the whole pretty dull, the weekend as a whole was fantastic... For anyone who arrives on Saturday afternoon and just goes to the GP then toodles off home I can understand why they were less than impressed... Those of us lucky people's weekend started on Thursday with Jonno's meeting at Swindon, then spent Friday evening at the Walkabout, Saturday afternoon in the Prince of Wales with some quality shopping thrown in with great company can't wait until next years event!!

Edited June 26, 2011 by Shadders

[DukesGreg]

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.

 

 

The program or the cost means nothing to me mate. I'll take it or leave it. If I buy one, I buy one, if I don't.. I don't. My wife's mate went to go see Take That at Manchester, a program was £20. The price of everything goes up every year. And before you say, that doesn't make it right, I accept that. It's how it is.

 

I agreed with SCB in principle. That it's a great spectacle anyway. However, I did go on to state that I found the racing to be good (which deviated from that sentiment).

 

I find it impossible to compare one meeting to another. It's like seeing the best meeting you've ever been to, then saying the week after 'that wasn't as good as last weeks.'

 

Last years meeting was possibly better, I'm not even looking back at that. All I am saying is, that, on face value, yesterdays GP was good, had some great racing, saw nobody dominant (highest qualifying score of 12 points) and was the same for all.

 

I've watched it back over, seen some great races, some good races, some duff races. All in all, a good meeting.

 

I used the comparison with Wembley 81 because people hark back to that and say it was a classic. Races last night made that meeting look rubbish.

 

 

 

We all sometimes expect classics. And sometimes, a meeting can become lower than an individuals expectations, but still be a good meeting in general.

 

As for gate one mate. Same for everyone.

 

 

And I found last night a good meeting, with some great races, drama (even in the Final), and a decent and worthy ending. The highest scorer won.

[Tsunami]

The program or the cost means nothing to me mate. I'll take it or leave it. If I buy one, I buy one, if I don't.. I don't. My wife's mate went to go see Take That at Manchester, a program was £20. The price of everything goes up every year. And before you say, that doesn't make it right, I accept that. It's how it is.

 

I agreed with SCB in principle. That it's a great spectacle anyway. However, I did go on to state that I found the racing to be good (which deviated from that sentiment).

 

I find it impossible to compare one meeting to another. It's like seeing the best meeting you've ever been to, then saying the week after 'that wasn't as good as last weeks.'

 

Last years meeting was possibly better, I'm not even looking back at that. All I am saying is, that, on face value, yesterdays GP was good, had some great racing, saw nobody dominant (highest qualifying score of 12 points) and was the same for all.

 

I've watched it back over, seen some great races, some good races, some duff races. All in all, a good meeting.

 

I used the comparison with Wembley 81 because people hark back to that and say it was a classic. Races last night made that meeting look rubbish.

 

 

 

We all sometimes expect classics. And sometimes, a meeting can become lower than an individuals expectations, but still be a good meeting in general.

 

As for gate one mate. Same for everyone.

 

 

And I found last night a good meeting, with some great races, drama (even in the Final), and a decent and worthy ending. The highest scorer won.

 

I would endorse everything you have said, but the supreme interest in it was when Nicki was involved, it's just a pity you can't bring yourself to say it.

[Bryn]

Not many around where I was in the stadium sang along, as I did, with the Welsh National Anthem!

[June01]

Not many around where I was in the stadium sang along, as I did, with the Welsh National Anthem!

And it must be so much easier to pronounce the words after a few beers.

[crumpiefan]

Not many around where I was in the stadium sang along, as I did, with the Welsh National Anthem!

 

 

not many poles know the welsh national anthem!

[obrien48]

For those that have been a few times and finding it a bit samey - my tip is thus...

 

Don't sit in the same seats twice - there that's it - that simple.

 

Yesterday was our 3rd year and while I could say the racing was a bit better last year - the atmosphere yesterday was unreal - even better than the first time we went (when I didn't know what to expect!) honestly when the riders came out on parade and the horns went off the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, the adrenaline was pumping - man I though I might actually cry!

 

IMO moving around the stadium keeps it fresh and gives you a new experience - seeing speedway from a new perspective each time in a cracking atmosphere

[obrien48]

Not many around where I was in the stadium sang along, as I did, with the Welsh National Anthem!

 

You're so touchy Bryn I was giving it some welly mate - god save the queen that is

[DukesGreg]

I would endorse everything you have said, but the supreme interest in it was when Nicki was involved, it's just a pity you can't bring yourself to say it.

 

 

Well.. I disagree with that. The GP wasn't about him, it was about 16 riders, all entertaining.

 

However, as much as Pedersen winds me up, he is theatre and box-office. And whatever he is, I refuse to accept some people's sentiments that he is simply a cheat and not a great rider. I don't see him a the ultimate sportsman, what I'll say about Nicki is that you don't fluke 3 World Titles, his record in speedway is very good, and he is a talented rider.

 

He also took his cap off for the American national anthem, and put it back on at the end. He does have his graces, you may have misjudged me on my stance towards him. I do get Nicki Pedersen. You can read him like a book.

 

Though he did try and ride EVERYONE into the fence, and then make light of it at the end. We see it every week, we know the drill.

[crumpiefan]

Well.. I disagree with that. The GP wasn't about him, it was about 16 riders, all entertaining.

 

However, as much as Pedersen winds me up, he is theatre and box-office. And whatever he is, I refuse to accept some people's sentiments that he is simply a cheat and not a great rider. I don't see him a the ultimate sportsman, what I'll say about Nicki is that you don't fluke 3 World Titles, his record in speedway is very good, and he is a talented rider.

 

He also took his cap off for the American national anthem, and put it back on at the end. He does have his graces, you may have misjudged me on my stance towards him. I do get Nicki Pedersen. You can read him like a book.

 

Though he did try and ride EVERYONE into the fence, and then make light of it at the end. We see it every week, we know the drill.

 

 

as you say,even before the first running of the final when emil came off,we knew what nicki would do given half the chance,it was his

only hope. he is like an open book isn't he,very very easy to predict what he will do.

[crumpiefan]

as you say,even before the first running of the final when emil came off,we knew what nicki would do given half the chance,it was his

only hope. he is like an open book isn't he,very very easy to predict what he will do.

 

 

i will qualify that last comment by saying he only had chance to run people wide because he managed a decent getaway from

gate one,something which hardly anybody else did all night. i give him credit for that,wish crump had made a similiar jump

when he had gate one in his semi.

[Hel'n'Back]

Its not surprising Steve, I allude to it in my post above. He has a very exciting riding style, has you on the edge of your seat the whole time. He also does (most of the time) come across very well when interviewed. The heat must be getting to me as I am seriously starting to warm to him, in GP's at least!

Top rider is Chris Holder in my opinion - to me there's only two riders in the GP series that still come across gracefully in interviews when things are not going so well and that's Chris Holder and Greg Hancock.

[ImpartialOne]

i will qualify that last comment by saying he only had chance to run people wide because he managed a decent getaway from

gate one,something which hardly anybody else did all night. i give him credit for that,wish crump had made a similiar jump

when he had gate one in his semi.

spot, and indeed, on.

[snapper-racing.co.uk]

Well the follow up coverage is as usual - poor... not in the news at all, only a tiny bit on skysports news

 

so WHY is the biggest event in the speedway calendar just ignored by the media circles?

I have had a theory for a while - where the sport is being held back - the only reason for this is for certain pocketeers losing control... but look what Bernie Ecclestone does with F1, just holds it to ransom.

 

Where were the junior races this year? the whole pre match entertainment was...erm... pointless, everyone turns up just for the racing, so why cant we have some pre racing races or something to entertain

The whole thing doesnt seem so slick like it used to be...

 

Something else i noticed - sponsors, where exactly are they, its a couple of polish citys!!!

 

Typical how the cheaper areas were packed - why pay more than the cheap seats - ive been to every angle of the stadium over the years, this year easily best, turn 4.

 

Well done Greg and Zorro for the showmanship - shame a lot of other riders ignore the crowd

 

I cant fault cardiff as a weekend - the location is superb, right in the city - moving it would be...dumb - now im familiar, as many are why would we want to change it - i wish youd all erase the thoughts of Wembley, its in the middle of nowhere....and the O2 is an equally difficult place to get to - the whole thing about the weekend is being able to walk around and chat with other fans and see riders about, the whole speedway community spirit.

 

Just wish the cost would go down - £29 for the cheapest ticket? actually working out to £35 when you add card charge and post - £10 for a programme - then hotel and travel = expensive... and yes where were all the vendors this year? i noticed the SGP merch has decreased drastically, now its a load of fake sellers.

Wouldnt it be better to have a totally sell out full stadium, the home straight was empty!!!! obviouslly BSI and the British promoters dont seem to realise the cheaper it is the fuller it will be.

 

And why do poland insist on running meets the day after the british gp - thats insane - the FIM or someone should ban the other countries apart from the host from holding meets the day after a huge event like that - imagine if you were a rider, just won a grand prix but had to get the next plane...the travel schedules are madness. ok rant over

 

Welsh open was ok too - but that seemed highly inflatted in price to previous years

[BigFatDave]

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.

Got it in one.

Well worth the travel and expense to see, it just gets better and better. So glad to see Greg winning: if it's not an Aussie I'll settle for him every time, he is a class act.

[Pinny]

I thought the racing was pretty good but then again most things do when plenty of beers been consumed

 

Thankfully, wasn't sat by any Poles this year.

 

Had a great day out before it, meeting Squall and Jacques for the first time as well as catching up with Shadders, Paulco, potts, Tsunami, Najjer and the legendary H Man once again.

 

I must admit that I am quite keen on these 5pm starts, OK you have less drinking time pre meeting but we spent a good few hours in Cardiff drinking after the GP.

 

My only negative point is that for the price of it, the beer is terrible. No idea what the Cider or Bitter was like but the lager was warm and tasted like it had been there all week. Something that needs to be looked at in the future as it wasnt just a one off, all the beers I had were exactly the same.

Edited June 27, 2011 by Wanna

[Phil]

as you say,even before the first running of the final when emil came off,we knew what nicki would do given half the chance,it was his

only hope. he is like an open book isn't he,very very easy to predict what he will do.

 

 

 

 

If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver because we are competing, competing to win. [Ayrton Senna]

 

 

 

 

[Trees]

Well done Greg and Zorro for the showmanship - shame a lot of other riders ignore the crowd

Isn't that the fact!!!

[Arson fire]

Great weekend, though average meeting IMO....some of the poles were ott and Christ them bloody stairs in the stadium take some doing every 4 heats for a pint....great atmosphere but for the life of me, I can't see why grown men want to make a noise blowing into a tube lol...The venue becomes more and of a rip off each year also....alas we still pay it lol.