Andy

Nice analogy. I like that one

Monday night looks best for pretty much everyone. Please confirm if that's okay.

If there was a prize, you'd win it. That's exactly what he meant

That in itself opens a whole can of worms. The FIM have no technical representatives. They have guys who go out and homologate venues, but very often those guys are not qualified to decide and venues should not have been homologated for various reasons. Other than that they are not very good (to say the least) at making decisions, and even less good at sticking by any decisions they do tentatively make. That only serves to make them look weak. You then have the various ways different countries do things. Each is different. Some do their very best, but are still learning - Poland/Czech, some are flexible in change - Spain/Andorra, some get emotional, but eventually adapt - Italy, some are downright rude and just do things their own way regardless - France/Japan. I'm not sure where that leaves the UK. Ask me after June

LS Motors Honda

Great result - especially after going clean yesterday and not getting the win, but the burning question is - did Pat smile?!! I've made it my mission this year to see the lad smile and if that means taking him to Strip Club Pamela after the final round in the Czech Republic then so be it I'm sure Copey and some of the other guys would chip in towards the "expenses"

After many years of providing the top-notch Montesa service at the SSDT, Caz finally has a year off where she can take in the Trial and relax, but is she going to? Nope. She's going to climb Ben Nevis in aid of The Christie Cancer Charity in Manchester in memory of her late father, Jim. If you've enjoyed Sandiford's hospitality and service at the SSDT over the many years, go on - donate a couple of quid. At the time of writing this Caz is at 89% of her target. Every little helps so, let's see her get there HOWEVER!!! Taking on the mighty Ben Nevis is NOT what makes Caroline Sandiford a remarkable woman. What makes her remarkable is that she's actually manage to do what NOBODY else has ever achieved and got money out of John Moffat! - and it wasn't just 10p either! We can only assume Caz has something on John and is blackmailing him Whatever means she used to get him to show the moths some daylight, that achievement alone has to be worth a donation! You can donate safely and easily online via JustGiving by clicking here. What's better, if you're a UK tax payer they'll add on Gift Aid at no cost to you, further boosting your donation. Alternately I'm sure Caz will happily take donations in Fort William

Confirmed and front page now. Looks like young Toni is by no means unstoppable. Not even on the podium.

Under protest. Not confirmed.

He has. Front page now.

Click me <sits back and waits for the a-hootin' and a-hollerin' to begin>

And normally he makes his (wrong) predictions then buggers off home on the Monday. This time he's up all week for us to tear him a new one

Difficult to say till I suss responses. Any night fits for us as we don't have an "early day" to fit in. Don't know why having an early day the next day is a problem though. Nobody said it was compulsory to drink loads and a decent curry inside you gives you that extra bit of rocket propulsion across the moors in the morning

Every year a few of us get together one night up in Fort Bill and visit the rather good curry house on the High Street for some nosh. Apart from the usual suspects (Slapper, Bigfoot, Fugly who I just take for granted will be there!), if anybody else is up for it, drop me a PM and we'll see what we can get organised

Happy Days? Yup, get them, but having own server makes it easy to bounce them

One for Slapshot Warning: Contains a sweary If you appreciate a highly amusing satirical take on current affairs I can highly recommend adding the Daily Mash to your favourites

Topical and funny. Top marks

Hahaha. I can just picture Big John doon the Bathgate Palais in his tank top and flares, nursing a glass of water and trying to get the birds to buy him a drink

Most recent update says Dougie has 1660km to go!

With Harold's hands he could swim there in about half an hour My phone has been non-stop almost all day. Even had business customers - totally non-Trials - who knew I was going away checking to see if I'd make it. From the conversations I've had with various Trials folk today, ALL the stops have been pulled out to get the lads there one way or another. It doesn't matter us mere Press can't get there. It does matter they do

By all accounts: Dougie & Jack Sheppard managed to get on a Eurostar crossing about 8pm and will drive down to Spain from France. Wiggy is currently rushing to catch a Eurostar crossing at around 11pm (with the Dabster in tow) If they make it they'll drive down to Spain. Dibs has been at the GG factory and is already in Spain Brownie is travelling by truck and already across the Channel The Challoners tend to take the truck most places so assuming they're already across the Channel. No idea about Jono Richardson. Thinking they'll be in the van and already across. Anybody any ideas on Pat Smage? Hopefully he's in Spain by now. Be a real bugger to get part way then get stuck.

Well that's that sorted then! Glad at least I now know and won't be going to the airport and hanging around on the offchance I might fly. I now have two days booked off work and nothing to do Well actually I have plenty to do and a lot of it TC related. Be a shame to miss the opening round to see how much controversy there is with the new rules, but it's the riders stranded trying to get out there I feel sorry for. For me it's just a hobby. For them it's their bread and butter

This is a good point. With the "big boys" going first, what spectators are going to be around for the supporting classes, particularly on the first lap? By the time the Youths come through the first section there will be virtually nobody except family and friends there. Everybody will be off to section 6 or 7 to catch up with the top lads. Previously, because they all dicked about so much on the first lap you could see section one, know they'd dick about again at section two so jump to section three etc etc. Depending on the course, because the riders spent so long at each section, it was possible to take in 4, 5 or even 6 sections a lap. With no walking the sections and a minute to ride a section they'll be round the average lap in no time. How is that good for a spectator sport? The TV guys are going to really struggle to keep up with things too. They, like us, are usually in cars. It's been a struggle to keep up in the past. It's going to be impossible now.

Our very own Bigfoot with his "Oh s***, did he get a photo of that?" look on his face

Apparently the Frenchie who should have been banned from Trials a long time ago will not be in attendance this year...