mikec

Seems that Torun have laid out some serious money for the Gniezno reserve Oskar Fajfer, see link below: http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/410443/kosztowny-transfer-unibaksu-wicemistrz-polski-zaplacil-za-oskara-fajfera-400-tys Don't know too much about him myself, was wondering how he compares with other promising young Poles like Pieszczek, Przedpelski & Czaja. Hoping R&R or one of our other Polish contributors can enlighten us. Thanks.

That the project (& associated funding proposals) had been given the green light. Hopefully further back slapping to come shortly.

Really enjoyed the interview, Tai came across well. Credit to Colin Murray too, was obvious that he'd done his homework & he seemed really enthusiastic about both Tai's story & the sport as a whole. Great exposure for the sport, with more to follow if/when he takes up Tai's Cardiff 'backstage pass' invite.

I tweeted Kumla, Pardubice & Czestochowa as suggestions for decent race tracks they could take SEC to. Are SEC allowed to run a meet in GB?

Fine heat 7, Czaja & Loktaev enjoying themselves. Will certainly be following Czaja's progress in 2014. Your comments on Dudek are spot on Alan, a real star on the world stage in the making.

Really good summing up of Kolodziej Alan, why we love watching guys like him race. Deserved Polish Champ. Assuming there's no room in the SGP, he's a must for the SEC in 2014 surely, hope so.

Really enjoyable meeting, some top drawer racing. Excellent predictions Alan, though I hope Kolodziej wins & steals your glory!!

Wow, vintage Pepe!!

You're right about this ref Alan - held the tapes for half a lifetime there, again!

Bit of a hairy moment for Kolodziej there, got the job done though. Pieszczek looks well on the pace, look forward to watching him in 2014 in ExtraLiga.

Aw, thought Karol Baran was gonna hold off KK there. Nearly but not quite.

Darcy Ward (13), Adrian Miedzinski (5), Andreas Jonsson (6) , Martin Vaculik (7) .

A few observations from Rzeszow. Went to the publicity event at Millenium Hall, they had the riders there, the start girls there, real opportunity to "sell" the event. So was surprised the organisers had no music, no microphones, no screen showing SEC races, no Q&A with the riders etc etc. All a bit underwhelming, the riders looked a bit bored, though they did sign autographs & pose for pics with fans. I just felt OneSport really missed a trick there. As for the meeting, not a classic, though always good to watch Grigory Laguta race live. Huge, fast track though not conducive to much passing. Have to agree with other posters about it dragging on, 3 n a half hours is too long - & believe me by 10pm over there it was bitterly cold too! Enjoyable night though, was quite amusing watching the locals give Pedersen plenty of stick, while cheering Laguta & Vaculik (despite the fact he races for their local rivals Tarnow) - proper panto villain Nicki is there! Feel the SEC has potential, need to strengthen their field. Maybe having the top 6 Euro SGP riders, 6 non GP riders (e.g both Laguta's, Holta, Karpov etc), then the top 3 from the U21's + local wildcard would be good. Don't know the practicalities of that, but it'd strengthen the field & be better for fans at the track/watching on TV.

As i'm in Rzeszow for the meeting, thought i'd post current weather here. Overcast, chilly too but no sign or threat of rain so no worries there. I booked trip pre injuries to Emil, Tai n Tomasz - oh well! Hopefully still gonna be some decent racing. For the benefit of Alan, been to the autograph signing session at Millenium Hall with Pedersen, Walasek n Vaculik there. The start-line girls were there too. They look even better in the flesh than on tv, very nice!!

Be interesting to see if SEC are doing that, especially as they named a replacement for Tomasz Gollob a couple of days ago, so why not do the same for Tai? Time will tell. Interesting story on Sportowe Fakty reporting that the PGE Arena, home of Lechia Gdansk, may be hosting a round of SEC in 2014. I went to a match there in April this year, it's a brilliant modern stadium, an enclosed bowl that holds all noise, atmosphere was good with just 15,000 footy fans in it! Holds just over 40,000 for football. Just a 15 min tram ride from central Gdansk.

Seems ironic Szombierski racing in a "fair play" cup after getting booted out of the semi-final at home v Torun! He is a guy I've enjoyed watching though, especially round Czestochowa. Have to agree rmc, with a fully fit Emil it'd have made for a great final with Zielona Gora.

Fully agree with the above Ghostwalker. In England earlier this year we had the situation with Shamek Pawlicki, where he was fit for Leszno on Sunday, unfit for Belle Vue on Monday, then fit for Piraterna on Tues- all the time carrying the same injury (bent metal rod in his leg). I even tweeted Middlo suggesting he may be "picking & choosing" to suit, Middlo suggested to me I hadn't seen the state of his leg! Fair comment. And as SCB rightly said, you can't argue with a doctors note. The reality is it will happen again & again in future, its less than ideal but its something as fans we have to accept.

Perish the thought!!!

Assuming Torun are relegated, would the PZM allow Rzeszow to stay up or would Grudziadz be promoted? Unsure if there is any precedent in Poland for this.

Surely it would have been better for Torun to race (& probably lose) on track. Then argue the unfairness of being unable to replace a star like Gollob. Seems to me doing it this way they still lose, it'll cost them a fortune, & the fans suffer.

You called that well Alan - well done Tarnow on the bronze medal.

Ouch! Heavy landing for MJJ there, looked like he hit a rut or a hole that launched him. Jan Staechmann on Twitter just said "have Torun really walked out?" Don't like the sound of that...

Thanks, hopefully we'll hear good news about Poznan. Looking a tough assignment for the Swallows now.

Has there been any recent news about speedway returning to Poznan?

A relief to see Strzelec & Borowicz get up, especially as Strzelec looked like he landed on his head/neck. Nothing against Tarnow you're right there Alan, have bit of soft spot for them because little Kolodziej races for them - one of my favourite riders of recent years. Young Czaja looks quick again, said it on here before, impresses me every time I watch him.