Joni

Here's the list with riders that have been invited to take part in the traditional international race in Assen (on the Friday night before the World Championship Final): René Stellingwerf (NL) Sven Holstein (NL) Simon Reitsma (NL) Gerrit Schukken (NL) Christoph Kirchner (GER) Max Niedermaier (GER) Henri Malinen (FIN) Jo Saetre (NOR) Martin Leitner (AUS) Martin Posch (AUS) Miroslaw Daniszewski (POL) Dmitri Koltakov (RUS) Eduard Krysov (RUS) Andrej Divis (CZ) Jan Klatovsky (CZ) Lukas Volejnik (CZ) Tommy Flyktman (SWE) Robert Henderson (SWE) Fredrik Johansson (SWE) Per-Anders Lindström (SWE) Simon Gartmann (SWI) Ronny Häring (SWI) Pawel Strugala (SWI)

Especially when they were asked to do that by the trainers of the reserve riders...

Official story: crash & technical problems. And maybe it's the truth...

It was a nice Russian circus again today (just like the Semifinals in Uchaly & Ufa, where Russian reserve riders, with 'a little help' could become European champion). But: the two Russian reserve riders (Baltachev & Novik) have, in consultation with their federation, decided to give their places in the EC Final back and stay reserve riders also on Sunday. This means that Leitner & Flyktman both placed themselves for the Final.

Bazeev was there and didn't miss the practice. Knapp only just arrived this morning. They will probably let him ride a few rounds before the race.

Here's the (preliminary) list of participants for the international race in Assen on the 12th of March (don't miss it!): René Stellingwerf - Netherlands Sven Holstein - Netherlands René Verhoef - Netherlands Florian Fürst - Germany Christoph Kirchner - Germany Max Niedermaier - Germany Stefan Pletschacher - Germany Mats Järf - Finland Henri Malinen - Finland Jussi Nyrönen - Finland Jo Saetre - Norway Johann Bruckner - Austria Martin Leitner - Austria Martin Posch - Austria Mario Schwaiger - Austria Mirosław Daniszewski - Poland Michał Widera - Poland Stanislav Arkhipov - Russia Sergej Karatsjintsev - Russia Andrej Shishegov - Russia Andrej Divisš - Czech Republic Tommy Flyktman - Sweden Robert Henderson - Sweden Paweł Strugała - Suisse res.1 Josef Kreuzberger - Austria res.2 Reinhard Greisel - Germany More info: www.ijsspeedway-assen.nl

Look for pictures (including one of Simon's crash) on www.ijsspeedway.nl

Yep, those are the ones i meant...

Then you haven't been in Assen last year...

Surprisingly..., the MFR now states that their secretary has made a silly mistake by sending entry forms for Arkhipov and Krasnikov. I don't know what the FIM will say about this, but it appears that the Khomitsevich brothers are now coming to Saalfelden.

The MFR has officially entered Arkhipov in the qualifying round in Saalfelden, so that cannot be changed. But of course, he can still break a leg or something like that… I can't see why Bulankin should be the final qualifier, as the Russians have only 7 starting places this year. But I haven't read the Russian forum yet (that's usually one big mountain of crap to dig through...).

Not all Russian nominations for the WC have already been made. As far as i know, only the first 3 from last year have been placed automatically.

Here's the starting list for the first (and by far the strongest) Qualifying Round in Saalfelden: 1. Franky Zorn - Austria 2. Günther Bauer - Germany 3. Antti Aakko - Finland 4. Nikolai Krasnikov - Russia 5. René Stellingwerf - The Netherlands 6. Jan Klatovsky - Czech Republic 7. Markus Skabraut - Austria 8. Florian Fürst - Germany 9. Stanislav Arkhipov - Russia 10. Andrej Diviš - Czech Republic 11. Peter Koij - Sweden 12. Sebastian Gegenbauer - Germany 13. Jussi Hytönen - Finland 14. Johan Lundkvist - Sweden 15. Johann Bruckner - Austria 16. Dmitri Tschatschin - Germany

The only Polish word for speedway that I know is "żużel". But in the Polish language this word can have many different endings, like "żużlu" or "żużlowe".

Nikolai Ermolenko writes on the Russian speedway forum that the EC for junior riders probably will be postponed till 2010, and that Saransk will organize the final for the EC.

Latest news is that Russia offered to stage the 2nd qualifying race for the WC in Toljatti.

2005, I think. But Thomas Schiffner (the organizer of the race in Erfurt) writes that "for contractual reasons, there will be no races at all in Erfurt in 2009"... I wonder what this contract is about! And maybe also why they didn't mention (or know, or remember? ) this earlier...

The president of the CCP has succesfully hidden himself under his desk for some days now. But in the meantime there is no way they can spare thelmselves the trouble of finding a new organiser for the 2nd qualifying race without showing their total lack of interest and indifference. The FIM has been presented at least 4 other options, and that is without Oulu (but as far as I know, Finnish riders and other ice racing people are still trying to find a way to organize it there). For example Sanok and Saalfelden are willing to organize another meeting. Of course it would be only fair if Sweden (who cancelled the meeting very late) and Germany and Russia (who organise only the financial more attractive finals) would support them in this case. But I think it's the task of the FIM to arrange that. And even Russia has offered to hold the qualifier in Kamensk-Uralski. So I think there is little need to worry here. On the other hand, the EC final in Erfurt has been cancelled today too. The reason I don't know yet, but I think it won't surprise anyone if they suddenly (?) discovered the track doesn't meet the requirements…

The sale of tickets only started last saturday, so i think you will receive the confirmation within the next couple of days. But if you want to know for sure, you can send an email to tickets@ijsspeedway-assen.nl (or call the number on the contact page of the site).

At least my site is not in hieroglyphs... And besides, you know I give free translations when asked nicely.

Bloody Russians! This version of the draw is made by a human translator machine.

They already knew this last season. Of course they now say they didn't, but nobody here expected Stockholm to organise another meeting this season, and we were very surprised to see it on the calendar again. The fact that the race was removed from the calendar one day after the FIM Congress makes one draw the conclusion that Sweden only wanted to have a voice at the Congress. In reality, they want a lot of Swedish starting places in the WC, but they only want to organise local races themselves...

Results Roelof Thijs Cup: 1. Ivan Ivanov 2. Sergej Baltatsjev 3. Markus Skabraut 4. Kai Lehtinen 5. Vladimir Tsjapalo 6. Stefan Pletschacher 7. René Stellingwerf 8. Simon Gartmann 9/10. Joni Kontoniemi 9/10. Christoph Kirchner 11/12. Sven Holstein 11/12. Joakim Söderström 13/14. Grzegorz Knapp 13/14. Florian Fürst 15/16. Torleif Burman 15/16. Max Niedermaier 17/18. Jo Saetre 17/18. Jouni Seppänen 19/20. René Verhoef 19/20. Sebastian Gegenbauer 21/22. Thomas Cavigelli 21/22. Josef Kreuzberger 23/24. Dennis van der Tang 23/24. Lukas Rösti

I'm sorry, no news yet, but as soon as we know, it will be on our site.

You're right about the Russians... Sergey Baltatshov & Vladimir Chapalo have been added to the list.