iris123

An interesting answer Leliwa.Obviously the whole thing is complicated on what is popular and not.To an extent lots of popular sports are regional.Look at Rugby in England and then Rugby Laegue.Look at Rugby in France(think that is very regional,but popular).Look at Handball here in Germany.Think that is mainly a northern + eastern sport.Speedway generally does thrive in areas not dominated by football.It is in most countries madness to compete with football.I once went to a meeting in Güstrow and when i arrived at the station was met by hundreds of people getting on the train to watch Hansa Rostock.Very sad to see all these people leaving their town to go and watch another sport.Crazy to have a speedway meeting on when a football match is on down the road.But they have to arrange the fixtures now,while the football fixtures for september and october will be arranged in the summer. Also media coverage cannot always be used as a gauge of popularity.I mean i see poker and lumberjack sport coverage on the tv all the time.Doesn't make them popular.And it is a strange one with winter sports.Ok they are on every weekend,but how popular are they?This cross country skiing is often on as is the speed skating.How popular is that?Not very i would say.A lot has to do with prejudice in the media.Why they pick one sport against another.

Any figures to show this?What are the attendances for these sports?

There are probably others here in a better position to inform you about Martin.Because of the north/south split in Germany i only get to see the riders from the south once or twice a year.Always been impressed with Martin when i have seen him,but those fans from Coventry will have seen him far more than me now.Must say though that i do think his approach of taking the leagues one at a time.Getting established in one before trying to do another shows a wise head.That is what worried me last year with Hefenbrock.Trying to get started in all 3 top leagues at the same time But i don't think the Bajen fans will be dissapointed with this signing 100% fighter

Indeed and he will doing a Blog about his trip here.So well worth keeping an eye on that for info

Isn't that the same the world over though?I mean look at Germany.The concentration of teams in the north and south with very little in between.Or Denmark.Look at the concentration in Jutland and very little elsewhere.Brovst in the north.Slangerup and Glumso by Copenhagen.But so many tracks.....Holsted,Vojens,Skaerbaek,Esbjerg,Grindsted,Vejlby,Fjelsted,Outrup within a short distance of each other.This happens to an extent because they feed off each other.I can think of only Exeter that was out on a limb so to speak and still survived for long.I think the tracks in Sweden are also quite concentrated together.There was a track on one of the islands.Not sure if that survived

Well it is in the "Years gone by" section.Thought i'd better not do this year or i'd get into trouble

Daniel Nermark-Edinburgh

That is the reason i put "were not"answering a specific question

GP riders were not allowed in the lower leagues

Yes,i would have thought Gdansk and Zielona Gora is down to relegation.Wroclaw down to success.

He had a go at Olsen.Something along the lines of he never does anything for Denmark

Mmmm.Much more consistent then.Thanks for the info Anders God Jul to all the Swedish posters for keeping us informed throughout the year.And Merry Xmas to everyone else,particularly those in foreign countries that keep us all up to date

Day 2 Kamensk 2. V.Khomitsevitch - 3 3 2 3 3 = 14 + 2 3 3 3 3=28 1. Krasnikov - 0 3 3 3 3 = 12 + 3 3 3 3 3 =27 15. D.Khomitsevitch - 3 3 3 3 2 = 14 +3 2 3 2 1=25 3. I.Ivanov - 2 0 3 3 3 = 11 + 3 3 2 3 0 =22 12. S.Makarov - 2 3 1 2 2 = 10 +2 2 2 2 2=20 5. D.Ivanov - 3 2 0 0 3 = 8 + 3 1 3 3 2 =20 7. I.Drozdov - 2 2 3 1 2 = 10 +2 2 2 1 0 =17 11. P.Tchajka - 1 1 1 2 2 = 7 +0 3 1 2 3=16+3 ------------------------------------------------------ 10. M.Baraboshkin - 3 2 1 2 1 = 9 +2 1 0 2 2 =16+2 ------------------------------------------------------- 9. E.Krysov - 0 1 2 2 1 = 6 +1 2 1 1 3 = 14 4. Kaminskij - 1 2 2 1 1 = 7 +0 1 2 1 1=12 6. M.Zelepukin - 1 1 2 0 0 = 4 +1 0 1 0 1=7 16. K.Drogalin - 1 1 0 1 сх = 3 +1 1 0 --=5 17. S.Kortakov - 0 _ _ _ 1 = 1 +0 0 1 0 1 =3 8. M.Dushamov - 0 0 1 1 0 = 2 +0 0 0 - -=2 13. J.Polikarpov - 2 0 0 0 0 = 2 +0 - - - -=2 18. A.Sozykin - _ _ _ _ _ = 0 +0 2 =2 14. I.Filimonov - 0 0 0 0 0 = 0 +1 0 0 0 0 =1 Ufa 1. M.Bogdanov - 3 3 3 1 2 =12 + ( 15 ) = 27 6. D.Bulankin - 2 3 3 3 3 = 14+ ( 11 ) = 25 5. J.Bazeev - 3 1 2 3 3 = 12+ ( 12 ) = 24 3. S.Arkhipov - 3 1 2 3 1 = 10+ ( 12 ) = 22 8. M.Zakharov - 1 2 3 3 3 = 12+ ( 9 ) = 21 7. S.Baltachev - 1 2 2 1 3 = 9 + ( 11 ) = 20 9. V.Lumpov - 2 3 2 2 2 = 11+ ( 9 ) = 20 12. A.Shishegov - 3 p 3 2 2 = 10+ ( 9 ) = 19 ---------------------------------------------------- 4. M.Lushnikov - 1 2 1 2 1 = 7 + ( 6 ) = 13 ----------------------------------------------- 2. A.Samorodov - 2 1 1 1 2 = 7 + ( 6 ) = 13 13. D.Karpuhin _ = 0 1 2 0 1+(6)= 11 16. I.Kononov - 2 0 1 2 0 = 5 + ( 6 ) = 11 10. Y.Kryskin - 0 3 0 0 0 = 3 + ( 2 ) = 5 11. N.Galiakberov - 0 1 0 0 1 = 2 + ( 3 ) = 5 15. A.Zenin - 0 0 1 0 0 = 1 + ( 2 ) = 3 14. V.Tschapalo - 0 0 0 1 0 = 1 + ( 1 ) = 2 17. N.Ryabokon - _ _ _ _ _ = 0 + ( 0 ) = 0 18. R.Mustafin - _ _ _ _ _ = 0 + ( 0 ) = 0 Seems to be a bit of confusion(maybe on my part )that Sterlitamak have a wildcard for the final.As none of their riders qualified it seems that one of the qualifiers from Ufa is supposed to sit it out.That could mean that Samorodov goes through and then Shishegov becomes a reserve.Maybe!!!! Seems also that the MFR recieved a letter from Kamensk asking that because of the differing strengths of both semi's that they give Kamensk 9+1 through to the final and only 7+1 from Ufa!!! Edit: Ufa 1. M.Bogdanov - 3 3 3 1 2 =12 + ( 15 ) = 27 6. D.Bulankin - 2 3 3 3 3 = 14+ ( 11 ) = 25 5. J.Bazeev - 3 1 2 3 3 = 12+ ( 12 ) = 24 3. S.Arkhipov - 3 1 2 3 1 = 10+ ( 12 ) = 22 8. M.Zakharov - 1 2 3 3 3 = 12+ ( 9 ) = 21 7. S.Baltachev - 1 2 2 1 3 = 9 + ( 11 ) = 20 9. V.Lumpov - 2 3 2 2 2 = 11+ ( 9 ) = 20 ---------------------------------------------------- 12. A.Shishegov - 3 p 3 2 2 = 10+ ( 9 ) = 19 ---------------------------------------------------- 4. M.Lushnikov - 1 2 1 2 1 = 7 + ( 6 ) = 13 2. A.Samorodov - 2 1 1 1 2 = 7 + ( 6 ) = 13 13. D.Karpuhin _ = 0 1 2 0 1+(6)= 11 16. I.Kononov - 2 0 1 2 0 = 5 + ( 6 ) = 11 10. Y.Kryskin - 0 3 0 0 0 = 3 + ( 2 ) = 5 11. N.Galiakberov - 0 1 0 0 1 = 2 + ( 3 ) = 5 15. A.Zenin - 0 0 1 0 0 = 1 + ( 2 ) = 3 14. V.Tschapalo - 0 0 0 1 0 = 1 + ( 1 ) = 2 17. N.Ryabokon - _ _ _ _ _ = 0 + ( 0 ) = 0 18. R.Mustafin - _ _ _ _ _ = 0 + ( 0 ) = 0 Looks fairly certain only 7 go through.Who Sterlitamak nominate is uncertain.But that would explain why there was no run-off Line -up for the Final 1 Dmitriy Bulankin- Ufa 2 Maxim Zakharov -Saransk 3 Danil Ivanov -Kamensk 4 Pavel Tschajka- Blagoveshchenk 5 Artem Samorodov- Sterlitamak 6 Junir Bazeev -Saransk 7 Vitalius Khomitsevich -Kamensk 8 Nikolai Krasnikov -Ufa 9 Ivan Ivanov -Kamensk 10 Mikhail Bogdanov -Uchaly 11 Dmitriy Khomitsevich -Kamemsk 12 Vladimir Lumpov -Saransk 13 Ilya Drozdov- Ufa 14 Sergey Baltachev- Ufa 15 Sergey Makarov -Lukhovitsy 16 Stanislav Arkhipov -Ufa 17 Andrey Shishegov- Ufa 18 Maxim Baraboshkin- Blagoveshchenk

Thanks Anders.That obviously explains why when i have looked he has had some great and some poor meetings.I hadn't noticed the big difference between home & away form though.Just out of interest how does that compare with Jonasson?

Anyone heard anything of the changes at Daugavpils?From what was said in the German press,the local council(who were the sponsors)were very unhappy with 3rd place last year.They want to form a new club working with the national railways called "Lokomotiv".Not sure if this is alongside "Speedway Centre" or instead of

Just seen that the weather having done with the Santa Cup is now affecting the Golden Spike series.The meeting in St.Johann has been put back from 6th January to 17th Feb!!

Are any of the top riders adverts for what is bad in speedway?Think they all deserve praise.Ok,you might not like one or two,but they are great adverts for speedway.I must say personally i was highly impressed with Hans last season.Not just what he done in the GP's and in the leagues.But his attitude when i saw him in the 2 Danish Finals.Anytime there was an accident he was first on the track to see how the rider(s) were.And that in an individual competition

Day1 Kamensk-Uralski 1. Krasnikov (Уфа) - ф 3 3 3 3 = 12 2. V.Khomitsevitch(К.-Ур.) - 3 3 2 3 3 = 14 3. I.Ivanov(К.-Уральский) - 2 0 3 3 3 = 11 4. Kaminskij(В-восток) - 1 2 2 1 1 = 7 5. D.Ivanov (К.-Уральский) - 3 2 0 пи 3 = 8 6. M.Zelepukin (Шадринск) - 1 1 2 сн пи = 4 7. I.Drozdov(Уфа) - 2 2 3 1 2 = 10 8. M.Dushamov (Луховицы) - 0 0 1 1 0 = 2 9. E.Kryskov(Шадринск) - с 1 2 2 1 = 6 10. M.Baraboshkin (Благ.) - 3 2 1 2 1 = 9 11. P.Tchajka(Благовещенск) - 1 1 1 2 2 = 7 12. S.Makarov (Луховицы) - 2 3 1 2 2 = 10 13. J.Polikarpov (У.-Сибирск.) - 2 пи сх 0 нс = 2 14. I.Filimonov (Ижевск) - 0 0 0 0 0 = 0 15. D.Khomitsevitch(К.-Ур.) - 3 3 3 3 2 = 14 16. K.Drogalin (Ижевск) - 1 1 0 1 сх = 3 17. S.Kortakov (Шадринск) - 0 _ _ _ 1 = 1 18. A.Sozykin (Самара) - _ _ _ _ _ = 0 Day 1 Ufa 1. M.Bogdanov (Учалы) - 3 3 3 3 3_ = 15 2. A.Samorodov(Стерлитамак) - 1 2 1 2 0_ = 6 3. S.Arkhipov (УФА) - 2 2 3 2 3_ = 12 4. M.Lushnikov(Саранск) - 0 1 1 1 3_ = 6 5. J.Bazeev(Саранск) - 2 2 3 3 3_ = 13 6. D.Bulankin (УФА) - 3 3 2 3 0_ = 11 7. S.Baltachev(УФА) - 1 3 3 2 2_ = 11 8. M.Zaharov(Саранск) - сн 2 2 3 2_ = 9 9. V.Lumpov(Саранск) - 2 1 1 2 3_ = 9 10. Y.Kryskin (Саранск) - 1 1 0 0 0_ = 2 11. N.Galiakberov(Стерлит.) - 0 1 0 1 1_ = 3 12. A.Shishegov(УФА) - 3 3 2 сх 1_ = 9 13. D.Karpuhin(Саранск) - 2 0 2 0 2_ = 6 14. V.Tschapalo(Стерлитамак) - 0 0 0 1 0_ = 1 15. A.Zenin (Луховицы) - 1 0 0 0 1_ = 2 16. I.Kononov(Стрерлитамак) - 3 0 1 1 1 _ = 6 17. N.Ryabokin (УФА) - _ _ _ _ _ = 0 18. R.Mustafin(Учалу) - _ _ _ _ _ = 0 Taken from Russian forum

In Backtrack there was an article on Dag.He is doing well and racing Yachts.Would like to know about Roger and Mike though

Attack the post not the poster!!!! Get paxoed ya Ol Bird

Mmmmmmm.Do you really think that Ove,Briggo,Mirac and Peter Craven were not worthy champs?There wasn't much to choose between them.Even with a GP series one would have a better year than the others.And it wouldn't follow that the following year it would be the same rider. GP series or not i reckon they would have all still won a World title.

Just like with Ove Fundin or Ivan Mauger, at one time they only had 1 World title and others had more.But it didn't end up that way

Maybe i am the only one.But i think Crump will find it hard to start all over again in the same form.For me i think the race will be between Nicki,Hans and of course Crump.Ultimately though i don't think Crump will reach the heights of last season and will finish second,maybe even third.I will go for Nicki as i think even Hans will struggle to be quite so good as last year.Or Hans will romp it.They are the only 3 i can see on the rostrum at the end of the season. 1.Nicki 2.Jason 3.Hans or 1.Hans 2.Crump 3.Nicki

Danil is also a very talented Ice speedway rider.Just ask Conkers. Tobi.....well.......has talent......but has been through a difficult year.Was in a round about manner criticised on his club site.Said that he needs to do better next season."Why he didn't do well he needs to work out himself",was what was also said.One thing that obviously upset his progress was the death of his father in a motorbike accident.His father was also a speedway rider and main member of Stralsund.He died about 18 months ago in a MotoX meeting,i think. Edit: Hazzman,are you confusing Tobi with Erik Pudel with the "wonderkid" tag i wonder

Anyone tell me how Mattias Nilsson's career is going?Whenever i have seen him he looks good.But once he left the juniors he has been a bit quiet.Seems to get some impressive scores but some very poor ones as well.Is he finding it hard to make the progression from promising junior to good senior?