Dexter

Rzeszow is riding without Richardson (banned for one meeting) and most likely Fisher (upset with Rzeszow promoter). Looks like it is going to be easy win for Gollob's team.

How does the situation with Polish riders look? Which of them will abandon Sweden and which are going to ride? I heard Protasiewicz and Zengota have ok from PZM but not sure about the rest.

You remember correctly Vicar. Rzeszow riders without Richardson against Gorzow. They will be busted.

I guess it depends how you look at it... Crump is the only rider who managed to stay in the top 3 for 10 consecutive seasons since GP was introduced. He also won the most tournaments. Remember though that Jason had 2 more years than Rickardsson to complete this. Tony retired after 2006. Crump has been GP permanent since 1997.

Hey Tomaz, Just out of curiosity - which silencers are used in these meetings? Old ones or new ones?

I think UK needs to find a way to attract more crowds to meetings. More crowds means more youths and more potential riders. This is how they did it in Poland in 90-ties and it resulted in large number of talented riders in mid 90-ties such as Protasiewicz, Dobrucki, Hampel, Skornicki, Balinski etc. It looks different now when crowds are smaller, ticket prices higher and the product is not as attractive as it used to be.

Only one of the two may come out of this... Either FIM will allow Poles to run their league on the old silencers and others will run on the new ones or Poland will be banned from any FIM meetings in 2011.

It looks like it will be interesting meeting. To see Gollob battling Sajfutdinov on the track that they both know very well should be a great start to the season.

Grzegorz Zengota injured. He crashed during one of the trainings and broke his leg. Media say his recovery might take even a few months depending on how serious his injury is. From the sound of it, it is serious.

So far, these are whispers only. No media has officially confirmed that Kolodziej suffers from anorexia. Also, the boy has always been tiny and light. I haven't noticed any major weight drop recently. Anyone else has? Also note that Sandra Rakiej (author) is rather a feuilleton writer than a news reporter for Sportowe Fakty.

Vicar, are you sure about engine failures? I remember seeing a lot of "EF" in British speedway reports.

For once they did something properly... Let's hope the clubs themselves will not decide to cancel as Speedway Ekstraliga authorities left them open door for such option.

This is not the first time I read about this rider... Is he riding in Europe in 2011?

And there were no semi finals in Rzeszow in 1994 in Individual Junior Championship. There was a final in Rzeszow on the 13-th August 1995 http://www.rlach.republika.pl/mimp/mimp_1995.htm Alternatively you may also be after Silver Helmet semi-final in Rzeszow from 17-th August 1993 http://www.rlach.republika.pl/kaski/sk_1993.htm

Besides, 1-st May is a public holiday in Poland anyway. There would be no difference to what's there usually.

Rzeszow results will be here: http://www.rlach.republika.pl/mdmp/mdmp_1994_gr2.htm (See round 4)

You are right although it is only a matter of time...

As per Sportowe Fakty - Head Commission of Speedway in Poland has just postponed all 1-st league and 2-nd league meetings from 1-st May. The round will be run on the 23-rd June. Extraleague has not been postponed yet but after that it is now almost certain to happen.

Thanks BFD. I will keep eye on the forum and the websites as I did before Parramatta (sadly cancelled).

Polish clubs will never admit financial problems until someone (an unpaid rider?) reveals that to press. A lot of these clubs are financially unprepared to carry what they have. This is why authorities are trying to limit the problem and they think that cutting down on GP riders is the way. I seriously doubt they are right. We had that a few years ago and the problem existed anyway.

North Brisbane is hardly NSW. Anyway, great to see that winter in NSW will not be dead. I am even happier to see that Nepean has a few meetings. Perhaps, I will see one of these...

I'm with you on this one. First they put CMA limit down and then they limit number of GP riders. Isn't that punishing riders for being in GP? Besides, it is really CMA that determines how good you are in particular league and not whether you are in GP or not.

I've just quickly looked at the final results. No surprises there. The top Aussie riders took all the top places. Gathercole, Woodward, Sedgmen still can be called "second line" in the Aussie arsenal. From the looks of things I would say we can clearly see who will most likely represent Australian in the World Cup. Congratulations Chris and Redloh team.

There have been a few more surprises in speedway than just Szczakiel and Mueller that in opinions of many would not deserve their titles. Bronze medal from Hungarians in 1989 world pairs, bronze medal from Craig Boyce in Vojens World Final 1994, Gary Havelock's gold medal in Wroclaw 1992... One could keep listing these endlessly. The thing is that we are dealing with a sport here and nothing is certain. As for GP 2011... I am also hoping to see Crump in gold once again as well as one of the Danes returning to the top 3. Gollob and Hampel will not give it up easily. As for Holder... I think his form in GP is still a bit to erratic but he might strike top 5. As for Kolodziej... it is quite unpredictable. He is not a tough rider like Crump, Gollob, Pedersen but still can make it to top 8. IN his previous years he often struggled with his bikes and since GP is a new experience for him, he should be especially prepared for this.

From the previous experience (i.e. national mourning) I would say it would be all three leagues that would be cancelled if decision about cancellation is made.