Hello again, I see the weather is nice in Scotland nice Christmas weather.
This year Santa will be coming to Australia in a vest and shorts , it is nice and hot here.
We are having a bit of a break here until the Australian titles on the 3rd of Jan.
Just in the process of getting my new kevlars and covers complete. Very bright .
Any way I best be off.

Merry Christmas to all the fans and roll on 2009 

Josh

Heat Points

First Semi Final

Leverington and Ward progress direct to the Golden Helmet Final.

Golden helmet Final

From Golden helmet website

Josh finished as runner up in todays U21 Champinship behind Darcy Ward.

More details to follow

Josh Grajczonek and Nick Morris won the Queensland Solo Championships at senior and junior levels respectively at Brandon, North Queensland on Saturday night. Grajczonek also holds the Qld Under 21 crown - a title which he defends two kilometres up the Bruce Highway at Pioneer Park on 29 November.
Darcy Ward was the standout performer in the qualifying heats, racing away to maximum points. His duel with Grajczonek in their heat was superb, and the two crossed the line together. However, there was no second chance for Ward in the final, where the two were joined by defending champion Scott Smith and Mitchell Davey. The four finished in the positions they gated, maintainig the same distance apart from each other for the four laps - Ward a very creditable second, over Smith and Davey.
The meeting had its controversial moments, due mainly to some questionable decisions by the referee. Scott Smith was caught unawares at the tapes second time out and remained on the track, causing the other riders to shut off quickly as they came around to complete the first lap. Smith was reinstated for the rerun. This time, sixteen year-old English visitor, Kyle Newman, was obstructed by a starting official still on the track as the tapes rose. Newman's appeals for a rerun fell on deaf ears.
His bad luck didn't end there. He burnt out two clutches and broke two chains. But he did give glimpses of his capabilities in the two races where he finished second.
Steven Reid found himself in the hot seat quite literally when his bike caught fire on the starting line. By the time an extinguisher arrived, the bike was blazing fiercely. Damien Koppe was lucky not to have been excluded for cutting pits corner and sending up a cloud of dust. As the track was so damp, it was a bit difficult to avoid noticing. Koppe had early engine problems and missed his second outing.

Heats Points:

Darcy Ward 15, Josh Grajczonek 14, Scott Smith 13, Mitchell Davey 12, Ashley Cathcart 9, Ricky Barney 9, Steven Reid 7, Harley Horwood 7, Damien Koppe 6, Kurt Palmer 5, Mitchell Weismantel 5, Kyle Newman 4, Chris Ferguson(reserve) 4, Roy Stout 3, Ryan McManus 3, Matt Pilcher 3, Wes Jenkins 1.
Final: 1. Josh Grajczonek, 2. Darcy Ward, 3. Scott Smith, 4. Mitchell Davey
Gavin Elmes.
Thanks to Gavin  for posting this report from the meeting

Hey mates, I had another meeting on last weekend I was meant to email you earlier but forgot to do so.

I got 11 points from 4 rides, the track was good at the start of the meeting but then it faded and got slick and dusty, but life goes on one point is not much to moan  about.
I have a meeting coming up next weekend at the Gold Coast- Dave Booth Memorial.

I shall inform you how I go, it will be a bigger meeting  with many of the  quick 16 year olds  in it  a.k.a Darcy Ward (on his home track) Alex Davies (just turning senior), Sam Masters (bound for UK next year), etc, etc  Should be a good meeting.

Things are good here not a cloud in the sky and it is so hot. I heard it’s not the same there though, raining and freezing cold.

Alright I best be off

speak to you soon

Josh

Josh was a double award winner at tonights Glasgow Tigers Dinner Dance. He won best home and best away rider after his first season in the Tigers colours

Hi mates
well I got my cast off on Wednesday, and the doctors said all is good . I just have to do some small physio and go back in 2 weeks to make sure my movement is fully back.

I managed to have a ride on the weekend. 

I had five rides and managed to get 15 points.

The thumb is a little bit stiff but that’s only because it had been sitting for so long.

I am now trying to get a practice this week, and then hopefully have another ride this weekend coming .



Just thought I’d fill you in

Josh

Hi folks,

Been a while since I updated you on my progress since I returned home., but I went for x rays on Monday hoping with a bit of luck that I could  get my cast removed  and that I could start riding, or even go to work.

But I found out that the thumb is still broken, and could take up to a few more weeks to heel, it’s only a minor fracture now but they still want me to have a cast on.

I have an appointment at the fracture clinic next Wednesday and will give you a further up date once I have finished there, with a bit of luck I will get it off then but for now I'm just going to have to wait and see.



Bye for now.

Josh

Josh and Mitchell Davey were parading in front of the fans during the Berwick match to become the second and third signing for the Tigers for 2009. They join Peter Juul in next years squad.

Josh has been named in the Australian Under 23 squad for the meeting on Monday at Wolverhampton. This is a great honour for the 18 year old. Pity that he's out injuried

Full story and squads on the Wolves website

Hi folks,

because  of my crash in heat 2 in the match against Berwick, I will now miss the remainder of the season, in recent weeks  I have  recorded  3 crashes  in  5 or 6 meetings  because of other riders  careless riding. It annoys me so much but it’s a part of racing really.

Now I am currently  pulling my bikes down  and  sorting out  what stuff I need to take back to Australia, I will departure  here with in the next 2-3 weeks, and will go home  for  some much needed rest, I admit  my back hasn’t been the  best  from  my crash at Scunthorpe, while  guesting  for Sheffield. And my scores have showed as well.

I would like to thank all of the supporters for the wonderful season I have had with Glasgow tigers. And now I really look forward to next season.  Thank you to the promotion for giving me the opportunity to prove my self this year. And I wish the team all the best over the next few remaining matches



Goodbye for now 

Josh

Crash agony means Josh misses Edinburgh clash

Sep 3 2008 by Andrew Newport, Paisley Daily Express

SPEEDWAY ace Josh Grajczonek is on the injured list again – for the THIRD time this season.The Braehead-based biker, right, has won over an army of new fans after travelling over from Townsville, in Australia, in March to race for the Glasgow Tigers.However, ‘Graj’ fell off in Heat 2 of Sunday’s match with Berwick and broke a thumb when he hit the safety fence.The meeting at Ashfield was abandoned after the crash, leaving the Aussie rookie with a trip to Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital.Back in May, 18-year-old Grajczonek crashed heavily and suffered a broken wrist.And he was in the wars again just two weeks ago when he suffered concussion and a back injury in a spill at Scunthorpe.He had only just returned before his latest all-action crash but is now out of Friday’s crunch Premier League derby clash with arch-rivals Edinburgh at Armadale.Graj moaned: “It has all been a bit stop-start recently. I was just starting to motor when I crashed at Scunthorpe and now this happens. It’s very frustrating.I’m annoyed at the prospect of missing the Edinburgh match but I’ll just have to do whatever the doc tells me.”Glasgow Tigers gaffer Alan Dick said: “This has been one of the most frustrating seasons in our history. I’ve never known so many injuries.“Josh has endured some terrible misfortune recently and is on the sidelines again.“The season only has another six weeks or so to run but we hope to see him back before then.”

Grajczonek and compatriot Mitchell Davey, who share a flat in Braehead, are due to jet home to Oz next month but have penned two-year deals with the Tigers and will be back again in time for the new season next March.

Message from Josh

hello all,

i have broken my thumb, and also torn a ligament  from my thumb  as well  the hospital said to me  6 weeks  minimum, its such a shame, because i have had 3 pretty big crashes in the last 3 weeks that really havent been my fault.

It hurts for me to say but  my season is  over. As much as I would like to return  before the end of the season  i just  do not think it will happening.

Thank you for your support through out the season and looking  forward to next season now 

Josh

After a dry morning it clouded over in the afternoon. The tigers had entertained two schools of children in the pits. however ten minutes before start time the heavens opened. After 1 race were Robert took a second, and a curtailed heat 2 when Josh hit the fence. the meeting was abandoned.

Tigers travelled to Workington to rerun the meeting abandoned earlier this month. The 59-36 scoreline contained only 2 away heat wins. roberttop scored with 12 from 5, Shane 10+1 from 6, Josh 8+1 from 6, Trent 4+1 from 4. Tigers were not helped by the withdrawl of lee with his hand injury.  Mitch made an earlier than expected comeback from injury scoring 2.

 Full details can be found on the speedway update website

From Townsville Bulletin

JOSH Grajczonek's dream to be a professional speedway rider has come true after he signed a two-year contract with the Glasgow Tigers.

Grajczonek is part of  a seven-member team, including Townsville's Mitchell Davey, which will compete in the British Premier League this year against 16 other teams.

The Premier League is the second tier of speedway in Britain behind the top-level Elite League.

"Ever since I started speedway which was when I was about 12 years old, I always wanted to go to England and love to do it as a job," Grajzonek said yesterday.

"I didn't want to wake up in the morning and say `argh, here we go, I've got to go to this boring old job', I'll be going to a job I love doing – riding bikes."

The 17-year-old said the move to the UK came sooner than he expected.

"I wasn't too sure if I was going to go this year," he said.

"I was going to stay and get another year of experience.

"When they (Glasglow Tigers) came up, it was a pretty good offer and they are going to help me out with a van and a place to stay and I'll also be paid."

But the next 12 months will be a steep learning curve for the teenager.

"(It's a) great opportunity for me and I know it's going to make me a better rider," he said.

"It's a job, so I can't muck around like I can here, I have to get in and get it done.

"The first year is about building me up and gaining some (competition) points where I can."

Grajczonek recently returned from the Australian titles where he finished 12th behind some of Australia and Europe's top riders including Chris Holder, rated second in the world, Queenslander and Premier League rider Troy Batchelor and Englishman Joe Screen.

"I had five rounds to do in about two weeks," Grajzonek said.

"It was good experience because the boys over there, they come from England and they have been riding there for ages.

"You have to lift your game so much more than anywhere else.

"I lifted my game a bit but I'm still not like the best of them, but it takes time.

"I wasn't getting left behind for miles. I was right on their hammer so I was right.

"Every race I did there has built my confidence and my bike skills got higher and higher every single race."

Grajczonek will leave Townsville today to race at the Australian under-21 titles in Mildura.

The Premier League season starts in March.

Townsville Bulletin

From the Townsville Bulletin

A MASTERLY ride in the final should cement a contract to ride in England and Poland next season for the new Queensland under-21 speedway solos champion Josh Grajczonek.

Grajczonek has had offers to ride in both countries and with the Queensland under-21 title and a good showing in the national final on his CV, his place overseas should be assured.

He now looks forward to the national under-21 titles where he has an automatic entry courtesy of the win at Pioneer Park, Brandon, on Saturday night.

Grajczonek won three of the four heats after being excluded from one after he was deemed to have caused an accident.

He finished the heats on nine points, behind Mitchell Davey on 10 with Kozza Smith, from New South Wales, on eight with Ricky Barney.

One of the surprise packets of the meet was youngster Aaron Stewart.

Having his first meeting back from a broken collar bone, Stewart qualified for the semi-finals with six points which included a heat win when Smith broke his chain.

The semi-finals saw  Davey, Barney, Scott McKenna and Steven Reid drawn together in the first semi with Grajczonek, Smith, Stewart and Ashley Cathcart drawn in the second semi.

Davey and McKenna won the start in their semi and were never troubled by Barney and Reid, whose bike was never the same following his fall in heat four.

In the other semi, Smith got a flying start ahead of Grajczonek.

While Smith won handsomely it seemed to keen watchers that Grajczonek did just enough to qualify for the final ahead of Cathcart and Stewart.

The final saw Davey start from the one position, Smith from the two, McKenna from the three and Grajczonek from the outside.

Smith was put out of action with bike problems – firstly his own on the start line and then with another that he borrowed.

Davey won the start and at the end of the first lap he looked in control.

But Grajczonek had a great turn one and two on the second lap and got close to Davey, passing him on the outside in the back straight.

Once in front Grajczonek was never in any trouble and won from Davey and McKenna.

In the support events, Roy Stout won the support solos class, Chris Hughes and Mick Ing won the sidecars, Matthew Eade won the stock bike event and Paul Totorica, on his new 700cc fuel-injected, Yamaha won the quad final ahead of Brodie Cohen.