Technik

After reading this statement from the IOC I don't think the FIM have any option but to exclude Sayfutinov & Laguta & all other Russians from any of their events. I would also assume they will issue a directive to all member federations to exclude any competitor or official from any events within their territory. I understand this is a tough call on the riders but it is my opinion that we are in a forced position that we must treat all Russian nationals in the same manner. Of course there are good & bad in all aspects of life & I bere no ill will to those mentioned but we must stand united against the actions of Mr Putin.

I do know a little bit about Simon Wigg & the reason he raced on a Dutch licence. Simon at the time was in dispute with the ACU. At the time he was the World Long Track Champion & wanted to race in all the major events in the European calender. THE ACU insisted that Simon must race in the British grasstrack championship for which he would have been happy to do, however as he had missed the previous seasons championship he would need to ride in a minimum of 6 club events then the qualifing round before the British final & if he didn't do this then the ACU would not enter him in the Long track Championship. Simon was not prepared to give up 8 weeks racing as the champion & found a loophole. That loophole was to race under a Dutch licence, Their only stipulation was that he would race for the Dutch speedway team also. Ironicly another rider was also having issues with his own federation at the same time. The Italian Armando Castanga & both riders represented the Dutch national team in a pairs event in Russia.

They are not racing under the Russian flag nor is the Russian anthem being played at any sporting event This is nothing to do with the current situation in Ukraine but issues with drugs over a long period. Emil Sayfutinov & Artum Laguta were representing the Russian federation (MFR) in international events last season & are due to represent them again. My opinion is that The FIM should remove all Russian's from their events whilst the current hostile situation exists. I understand that Emil holds a Polish passport & Like Gleb Chugenov (Russian) & Rune Holta (Norwegian) could possibly represent Poland.

Szkocjasid you seem to have made a very big jump from want to demand. Please check my post again. I think you will find the word "want" but not "demand" I was pointing out how patient fans were before social media & modern technology changed how people think. Back in the day we would meet once a week & discuss in our small groups which riders we would like to be our team for the coming season. Move forward to 2022 the small group have now expanded to the world of the internet & waiting at our hand on a small device all the imformation is there. The main difference is it might not be the correct imformation just an uninformed one from an impatient poster in another land. I repeat relax & be patient. There will be 7 riders on track for the first meeting all wearing a big red B on their chest.

I remember the good old days before mobile phones, computers & social media when the first we knew of the seasons lineup was when we turn up for P & P day & they were sent out one by one. Now everyone wants the next seasons lineup released on November 2nd. Just relax I'm sure it will all be in place for the first meeting.

At this stage I'm starting to be a little concerned about the make up of the Birmingham squad. Whilst there is more than a month till the tapes rise all other teams have declared their proposed starting lineup & Brum still have to name a top three. I can't see any riders left that would fill those voids unless as yet unknown to British speedway Euro stars are to come in. I guess there are some young Swedes & Danes that might come but at what cost. I hope it will be resolved soon.

I would contact Adam Ellis. It's where he lives.

It was OK all things considered I think attendance of both public & stall holders was down on previous years but with the issues of having to get tickets on-line prior to the event then the Covid & finally the weather warnings. It was looking reasonable at 9:30 but the weather went downhill quite quickly. We left just after 1:00PM happy that we had been but also happy to be on the way home before the next storm hit. No doubt we will be back there next year rain or shine

He is Steve Johnstons godson not that it counts for anything with UKBA. I will assume given all that we know he is entitled to hold a British passport & therefore able to lineup in the NDL

For Great VFM I'd recomend the Golden Helmet weekend in Pardubice, Czech Republic. in 2022 they will host the final round of the SEC on the Friday, On Saturday there will be the FIM Flat Track GP round & their U21 Golden Helmet event followed on Sunday with The Golden Helmet. That will be around 80 speedway stars from around the World on show + the Flat Track riders all taking part in over 100 races over three days. All on the same track. If that is still not enough On the Monday night you can get to Prague for the Lubos Tomicek Memorial meeting. This will normally feature many SGP stars + some that will have ridden in the previous events in Pardubice.

The working enviroment for most of us has changed so much, Where I was working when I used to go all over to watch Speedway there were 12 to 15 blokes on the floor so if I wanted to shoot off early to a speedway track there was cover as long as I stepped in when they wanted to get away early, Now there are only 4 blokes & 2 of them are drivers so the cover is not there. Then there is the cost of fuel now at record prices. But the biggest issue is plain & simple the timing & the VFM I used to go & expect to see the first race at 7:30 with the parade 15 minutes earlier then there would be a whole meeting 13/15 races, To the bar for a pint & a chat & watch 6/8 second half races & I could leave happy at 9:30 latest. For speedway to save it's self & encourage people like Steve Roberts back as regulars it needs to be run in a manner that gives the paying public any chance to believe they are getting VFM

Pavel Karnas passed away 14.02.2022 after a long illness. He was a member of the Czech team for many years & has always supported his club at Pardubice. He will be greatly missed. best wishes to his family & friends.

Yes you are correct. I checked their history & they have been called by many names in the past but not Chargers. However I was playing in 79 - 84 of which part is before the history page starts. back then there were many teams that started & due to the numbers involved many clubs joined each other to make a bigger club. I started in Newbury & we never had a match before joining forces with Reading & a few from a Maidenhead based club. I can remember going to play in a friendly at Oxford just off the A34 where its 50MPH. The Reading team is now part of the university sports clubs.

I'm not sure that they are still a going concern but I believe that the American football team in Oxford were also called the Chargers. Sorry it's taken a while to come to light but today is Superb Owl day.

Just to throw another name into the ring. Ellis Perks. I know he missed last season but he was training. If that has finished could he be able to make a return?

I think speedway lost it's way completly when the TV got involved. We used to get a parade at 7:15 & the first race at 7:30 now your lucky to see a race before 7:50 at some tracks. Following this will be a 10 minute grading sessions & an interval after Ht 10 for another 20 minutes then a 10 minute wait to decide who will race in Ht 15. We need to get back to running the slick show that made Speedway popular & throw the TV handbook in the bin. Four blokes going sideways around an oval how can that be complicated. If it's done properly speedway is the most exciting motor cycle sport ever & it's ideal for TV. But unfortunetly they slowed it down & what we used to see in 90 minutes now takes two & a half hours at some tracks

I'm shocked by this choice. I fully expected Peterborough to name Tony Atkin as their your up & coming number 8

No point trying to fix what's not broke

I don't believe the consistent closure of circuits will be the death of speedway as the tracks that remain will pull the riders in as required. I believe the bigger problem is the fuel, unless we start to explore the use of electric motors in speedway I think in the ten years as already mentioned the whole speedway world could be in trouble. I am aware they are testing in Denmark but this is the only progress I have heard of

I fully agree. It was a single page index that was easy to navigate. but I guess this is progress & I can now read it from a mile away.

What they are doing on the island is fantastic. Yes I agree I to would like to see IoW back in NDL but if the current owners cannot agree with the politics then this is their best option. I may not enjoy grass bikes or Flat track machines on a speedway track but I see the business plan in that this allows access to more competitors it is a system that has worked across the world of motorcycle racing. In Australia NZ USA & SA all different types & standards will come together to produce the whole event & nobody can argue that anything upto 50 races is better value than 15 no matter what standard or discipline.

It would be nice to get as many former riders to attend over the course of the season. I'm sure everyone would love to see Hans, Dag & Gordon Kennett but I'm sure some of the former lesser known have a story to tell as well. Spencer Timmo & Jon Surman are still living fairly local, I know Marvyn Cox comes back to these shores each year. Armando Castanga is here for the SGP just a few ex Oxford riders to start working on.

Maybe the "Dons" for the Uni Professors Or The "Blues" as the Uni boatrace team are called

As I remember the Olsen boots were made by Daytona. Usually red with a white shin big zip up the back with a buckle on the heel.

I'm not sure about Kemp. When he started he looked like the next British superstar & at 15/16 he was head & shoulders above those of the same age range. As he has got older his progress has slowed & in my opinion last season went backwards. I wonder if he has reached his potential & now is in a position where he is beaten before the tapes rise. This season at Wolves he will be with one of his biggest rivals in Leon Flint so maybe they can draw the best out of each other.