Conkers

According to the FIM Track Racing Appendices - (Appendix 74: FIM Ice Speedway World Championship) there are no semi finals, just a final for the top 4 riders. So it will be 20 heats then a Final. Any comments?

Marian Kreklau! That’s the man. Thanks Christian. He was a really nice bloke to chat to as well.

And I bet we have photos of him too!

There were a couple of Mongolian Riders about 15-20 years ago, and there was a film made about them training in Russia and Riding in the Master Of Spikes. I know about that because I helped the film maker with some research. Wasn't there a couple of German Riders who were from the East, who rode after the re-unification? I'm sure there was one who was East German who rode at Assen but for the life of me I can't remember his name.

If, like me you got up for an 8.00am GMT start for the second day at Shadrinsk, then its on now:

That is very true

Found this on Speedway Press Russia http://www.speedway-press.ru/2021/01/janMFRmlstepanov.html Basically, if the riders get their Visas sorted as soon as possible, then the meeting will go ahead. Looks like a few strings have been pulled!

If you need live results or a racecard then Jesper's site has them both on this link https://live.baansportfansite.nl/event/441/russisch-kampioenschap-ijsspeedway-finale-4-kamensk-uralsky.html

Russian Final R3 Result Nikita Bogdanov (3, 3, 2, 2, 3) 13 Igor Kononov (3, 3, 3, 3, d) 12 Dmitri Khomitsevich (3, 3, d, 3, 3) 12 Dinar Valeev (1, 2, 3, 3, 3) 12 Daniil Ivanov (2, 2, 2, 3, 2) 11 Igor Saydullin (3, 0, 2, 1, 3) 9 Dmitri Solyannikov (0, 2, 3, 2, 2) 9 Ivan Chichkov (2, 1, 3, 1, 1) 8 Nikita Tarasov (1, 1, 2, 2, d) 6 Ivan Khuzhin (1, 3, 1, N, N) 5 Konstantin Kolenkin (2, 1, 1, 1, 0) 5 Eduard Krysov (0, 0, 1, 2, 1) 4 Dmitri Borodin (1, d, 1, 0, 2) 4 Evgeniy Saydullin (2, 1, 0, 0, 0) 3 Nikita Toloknov (0, 2, 0, 0, 0) 2 Vladimir Fadeev (0, 0, 0, 0, 20 2 German Khanmurzin (Res) ( 1, 1) 2 (Results from https://live.baansportfansite.nl/event/440/russisch-kampioenschap-ijsspeedway-finale-3-kamensk-uralsky.html) Couple of incidents - Khomitsevich leading in Heat 12 when he rears and parts company with the bike, only for his bike to be in Ivan Khuzhin's path, and with nowhere to go, he hit it and summersaulted up the track. Khuzhin took part in the re-run but then withdrew from the meeting.. Kononov in Heat 20, rears, collides with Nikita Tarasov who hits the snow wall, causing Kononov to leave the track riding onto the centre. Kononov still leads the overall standings by 3 pts over Khomitsevich, as their falls cancelled each other out, but it's now Kononov's title to lose. Looks like another early start again tomorrow.

Russian Final Kamensk Ural Day 1 on Now

Interesting piece of the state of the World Championship round in Togliatti. It was published before the Berlin decision, but it appears that Russia are not allowing riders to obtain visas.(You may need to use a translation site) https://www.motogonki.ru/speedway/29-12-2020_evropejcy_opasajutsja_mogut_li_otmenit_rossijskij_final_fim_ice_speedway_gladiators_.html

just had a message they have cancelled the Berlin meeting. A formal announcement is imminent.

I managed to watch up to the dispute in Heat 16 at home, then had to leave at 1.50pm, to get to Salford City as I was snapping the game. Got into the ground, signed in and got my cameras ready as they were just about to restart Heat 16, so I didn't miss it ( I only live about 10 mins from the ground). Did a few pics of the warm up, then watched the final four heats on my phone which finished just as both teams walked out for the Match. At least tomorrow I can sit at home in the warmth and watch the whole meeting!

Dmitri Koltakov replaced by Vladimir Fadeev for the Russian Final, rounds 1 & 2 in Togliatti.

According to the Russian Forum, Koltakov has a broken Collarbone and torn shoulder ligaments. May well dent his hopes of a place in the World Championship.

EUROPEAN FINALTomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland, Sunday, December 13, 2020 Dmitri Solyannikov (Rus) 18 Konstantin Kolenkin (Rus) 15 Nikita Toloknov (Rus) 14 Stefan Svensson (Swe) 10 Johann Weber (Ger) 11 Ove Ledström (Swe) 11 Franky Zorn (Aut) 9 Andrej Divis (CzR) 7 Jasper Iwema (NL) 6 Aki Ala-Riihimaki (SF) 5 Luca Bauer (Ger/ITA) 5 Jiri Wildt (CzR) 4 Michal Knapp (PL) 4 Benedict Monn (Ger) 3 Lukas Hutla (CzR) 2 Acts Suolammi (SF) 1 Last Chance Heat: Toloknov, Svensson, Ledstrom , Weber fx Final: Solyannikov, Kolenkin, Toloknov, Svensson

Solyannikov was there as 2019/20 U-21 Champion, whilst Toloknov and Kolenkin were there as they finished out of the Top 4 of the Russian Championship and as a result get to ride in the European Championship. As far as I am aware, all three could be seeded to the Russian Final in two weeks, as only 13 went through from the two Semis. But I may be wrong. That is the problem. Weber is a shoe in, as is Niklas Svensson - Stefan said he doesn't want to ride in the GPs anymore, but he's said that before. Ledstrom has technically retired, but he may have a go after today. Haarahiltunen will probably be there, as I reckon he'll be fit by then. As for the rest, you are probably right, although Harald Simon is a good rider and can match the Russians.

RUSSIAN INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINALS SATURDAY DECEMBER 12 & SUNDAY DECEMBER 13 DAY 2 Semi Final 1 - Ufa: 1. Nikita Bogdanov (Ufa) 29 (15+14) 2. Daniil Ivanov (Togliatti) 27 (13+14) 3. Igor Kononov (Togliatti) 26 (12+14) 4. Igor Saydullin (Kamensk-Ural) 20 (12+8) 5. Ivan Chichkov (Ufa) 20 (8+12) 6. Eduard Krysov (Yaroslavl) 18 (8+10) 7. Evgenei Saydullin (Togliatti) 18 (10+8) 8. German Khazmurzin (Kamensk-Ural) 17 (9+8) 9. Sergei Makharov (Lukhovitsy) 16 (10+6) 10. Dmitri Bulankin (Ufa) 14 (6+8) 11. Elisey Vydrin (Ufa) 12 (5+7) 12. Evgenei Sotnikov (Penza) 7 (4+3) 13. Nikolai Makharov (Lukhovitsy) 6 (2+4) 14. Sergei Volodin (Yaroslavl) 4 (4+0) Semi Final 2 - Shadrinsk: 1. Dmitri Khomitsevich (Kamensk-Ural) 28 +3 (13+15) 2. Dmitri Koltakov (Kamensk-Ural) 28+2 (15+13) 3. Dinar Valeev (Ufa) 27 (13 +14) 4. Ivan Khuzhin (Kamensk-Ural) 23 (11+12) 5. Nikita Tarasov (Ufa) 19 (13+6) 6. Dmitri Borodin (Shadrinsk) 18 (9+9) 7. Vladimir Fadeev (Togliatti) 17+3 (7+10) 8. Evgeni Sharov (Glazov) 17+2 (9+8) 9. Saveli Vedyanov (Togliatti) 15 (9 +6) 10. Artem Burmistrov (Shadrinsk) 12 (4+8) 11. Matvei Volkov (Shadrinsk) 9 (6+3) 12. Andrei Anisimov (Togliatti) 7 (3+4) 13. Pavel Glotkin (Shadrinsk) 6 (2+4) 14. Kirill Zevakov (Kamensk-Ural) 6 (4+2) 15. Vlas Nekrasov (Izhevsk) 3 (2+1) 16. Ivan Volkov (Glazov) 3 (0+3)

RUSSIAN INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINALS SATURDAY DECEMBER 12 & SUNDAY DECEMBER 13 Semi Final 1 (Day 1) - Ufa: 1. Nikita Bogdanov (Ufa) 15 (3,3,3,3,3) 2. Daniil Ivanov (Togliatti) 13 (2,2,3,3,3) 3. Igor Kononov (Togliatti) 12 (3,3,1,2,3) 4. Igor Saydullin (Kamensk-Ural) 12 (3,3,2,1,3) 5. Sergei Makharov (Lukhovitsy) 10 (2,2,3,2,1) 6. Evgenei Saydullin (Togliatti) 10 (2,2,2,2,2) 7. German Khazmurzin (Kamensk-Ural) 9 (1,1,2,3,2) 8. Ivan Chichkov (Ufa) 8 (ef,3,2,3,D) 9. Eduard Krysov (Yaroslavl) 8 (3,2,3,0,D) 10. Dmitri Bulankin (Ufa) 6 (2,1,0,1,2) 11. Elisey Vydrin (Ufa) 5 (1,0,1,1,2) 12. Evgenei Sotnikov (Penza) 4 (0,1,1,2,0) 13. Sergei Volodin (Yaroslavl) 4 (1,0,1,1,1) 14. Nikolai Makharov (Lukhovitsy) 2 (0,1,D,0,1) Semi Final 2 (Day 1) - Shadrinsk: 1. Dmitri Koltakov (Kamensk-Ural) 15 (3,3,3,3,3) 2 Dmitri Khomitsevich (Kamensk-Ural) 13 (3,3,3,2,2) 3. Nikita Tarasov (Ufa) 13 (2,2,3,3,3) 4. Dinar Valeev (Ufa) 13 (3,3,2,3,2) 5. Ivan Khuzhin (Kamensk-Ural) 11 (2,2,3,3,1) 6. Saveli Vedyanov (Togliatti) 9 (2,3,2,2,ef) 7. Evgeni Sharov (Glazov) 9 (1,1,2,2,3) 8. Dmitri Borodin (Shadrinsk) 9 (3,2,2,1,1) 9. Vladimir Fadeev (Togliatti) 7 (1,2,1,1,2) 10. Matvei Volkov (Shadrinsk) 6 (2,0,1,0,3) 11. Kirill Zevakov (Kamensk-Ural) 4 (0,R,1,1,2) 12. Artem Burmistrov (Shadrinsk) 4 (1,1,1,0,1) 13. Andrei Anisimov (Togliatti) 3 (f,1,0,2,0) 14. Vlas Nekrasov (Izhevsk) 2 (f,0,0,1,1) 15. Pavel Glotkin (Shadrinsk) 2 (1,1,0,0,0) 16. Ivan Volkov (Glazov) 0 (0,0,0,0,0)

The FIM Press release:

Eurosport covered the second day at Assen live a few years back (possibly 2010 but I cant be sure) and the UK had Jack Burnicle as the commentator. He also came out with the line "Why do they still use straw bales on the outside of the track, why don't they use an airfence?" I don't think he was being Ironic.

Usually by this time of the year I have my diary for my Ice Racing Trips all sorted, with flights, hotels and transport all booked. At the moment I have a provisional booking at one hotel and nothing else. I'm hopeful that some sort of season may take place, but after covering both speedway and football in empty stadia with no end in sight to these restrictions, I'm beginning to think 2021 will be my first year since 1985 that I haven't done an Ice Meeting. I just hope I'll be wrong.

Got that feeling Inzell have bitten the bullet early. I don’t think they will be the last either.

I spoke with one of the organisers who told me they have dates but wouldn’t say when they were. I’m told they will be released ‘shortly’. Sorry I can’t be more helpful at the moment.

Berlin have provisional dates but are not releasing them just yet, whilst Heerenveen have not decided yet. I know April 2-4 was mentioned on last years thread for Heerenveen, but that is Easter weekend, and I cant see them running then. Only Inzell appear to have confirmed dates. As for Russia - well they release them at the last minute anyway.