iris123

Had forgotten that incident!!!But just adds to the list.Seems so many people have had trouble with him,and of course he has failed to impress at international level.Own worst enemy I guess

I saw Leon ride for Denmark U21 against Sweden in what was Stekkers first meeting in charge.I don’t think it was long after that he seemed to be strutting around the pits as if he owned them and was almost alone there,with hardly anyone talking to him.This was even before the silencer problem mentioned.But that seemed to be the incident that caused a big problem and he was after that out of Cavour.The situation carried on even after Stekkers left the job,so possibly from higher up there remains a problem.But as someone else mentioned other riders it is rumored don’t get on with him. Guess the problems remain even now Nielsen is in charge,as I think Leon said he wouldn’t ride for Denmark or Nielsen said he wouldn’t pick him

Broken arm so I see!!!Off to hospital tomorrow to see if he needs an op or not

Well you give us the rubbish then and save the good stuff for elsewhere?

I was dismissing 45 of those years as being irrelevant to this discussion lol

Seems like the only person Phil has criticized in the sport is Charlie Webster and the NZ promoter.And it was funny that he only criticized him once he pulled out of promoting a GP!!!!Before that,he was a great bloke lol

Not when it is a team competition.That can’t be too hard to understand?

Yes,i agree.Sports journalists would be used to that because I think both Cycling team and Cross country athletics etc all have to have a certain amount of team members finish in front of the other countries 4 or 5 and the winner of the race doesn't matter...that part isn't unique .In fact they would probably find the idea of one of the team going off on his own to win the race and leaving his team mate(s) to fend for him/themselves, stranger

Is that true?Can you back that up,as most if not all the bad or fatal accidents over the past decade have occurred on big wide tracks in Poland,Argentina,Czech or even on German long tracks,as far as I know

This is what I suggested some years ago on here.The Business Plan of league speedway is good for some,but I fear not for all.Instead of forcing clubs to fit one plan it would be better to maybe,like you say,let one or two just do a few open meetings.Better than having clubs close,but I think the other clubs fear having too few clubs in their league and not enough meetings.Catch 22

Well the good news is the Danish league goes on holiday for the summer at the end of the month or beginning of July! Funny that the person with the most to say is someone who doesn’t go,no matter what night of the week !!’

There have been various categories of games for years now.ManU,Liverpool etc would be the top category with high priced tickets,due to high demand and downwards to the likes of Crystal Palace where prices will be cheaper

Is that throughout the speedway world or a different bike for UK tracks?

I think riders at the very top think they are Superman,Anything is possible and they will stay out of trouble.Doubt many top riders go to the tapes thinking this heat they might get injured. I am actually convinced that Nicki used that 'out of control' wheelie across the entrance to the bend,to frighten off his opponents.It was risky,but he never I bet thought he would get hurt and I doubt he wanted to hurt anyone else.But it was a tick up his sleeve he was willing to use to get the points

I just think I saw something asking for donations.Never saw any follow up as to how much was raised though.Wasn't King from a rich family like Penhall?

As I said elsewhere some of these teams could only just afford two riders,so not sure how they will cope if it compulsory 3 next year...I thought this would be the last time we see the US anyway Not sure,but thought there was some campaign to pay expenses in the US with donations and sponsors asked for....might be mistaken though

Lots of moves are very dangerous if they go wrong.The riders know that,but still put people in the fence etc.....they even admit they have done it on purpose on occasions,but it still doesn't stop them.In the heat of the moment and desperation to win riders will chance almost anything.....sometimes

It's a bit like Celine Dion representing Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest

Not disputing it.I know she is with Austrian ice speedway rider Charly Ebner snr.I was just pointing out he was representing Austria,just as Laguta was representing Latvia without being Latvian when he was the wild card and it caused a bit of trouble between the Latvians and the MFR.Just at the time of posting I didn't know the line up was copied from the FIM,as it doesn't mention it.Plus I didn't know the FIM put Federation and then Nationality.I always thought it was an explanation of which federation it was as even I can't remember all the abbreviations and R&R usually posts some polish line-up which is even harder to figure out sometimes

Does seem strange that he felt going for and holding on to a 5-1 was a strategy,but trying to get a 3-3 and hold it wasn’t on the cards

I’d say the same.First met them all when Robert came over as a 14 or 15 year old and they were driving to Germany for the weekend and staying in a camping van.That is dedication for you! For sure it is a learning curve for all of them.But it is the same for most young riders and families.For years they are the team,but as the rider grows up and starts traveling to the European leagues they get their own team around them and the parents have to learn to give them their freedom.Seeing the photos, Robert does look to have lost his puppy fat and looks very lean.Good luck to him.All that traveling and sleeping on the road has payed off

I think Ronnie came over just about a year after starting speedway.Such was his talent.And yes,it was a bit of a trick answer,because I think Olle started out when speedway was just starting in Sweden after WW2,so most if not all were beginners

Late May???? http://metalspeedwayleague.dk/loebskalender.aspx

I think Olle Nygren was Swedish Champion the year after he started.Bjorn Knutson was also in the world top 20 3 years after he started and Ronnie Moore also had a rapid rise You could also add Franz Heck,who became German champion a year after he won the national road bike title at the Nurburgring,just a few months after taking up the sport.But that was back in 1929 when no-one else in Germany had ridden either

I wonder if it is more the case that some nations couldn't afford the cost of an extra rider,rather than not having an extra rider.Change the rule next season by all means,but unless the finances are changed then it might make no difference at all.Costs were one of the reasons nations dropped out of the SWC quails and we ended up with just the one instead of two