Bavarian

Both are (or were) Austrians (not German), Josef 'Joe' Weichlbauer and Günther 'Hec' Haslinger.

Why?

The results from Berghaupten leave me a little bit confused, here we go then: Qualifying heat scores (heats 1 to 15): Latvia 22, Czech Rep 21, Germany 18, GB 14, Denmark 9, Italy 8. C-Final (for positions 5 and 6): Denmark 5, Italy 1. B-Final (for positions 3 and 4): Germany 3, GB 3. A-Final (for positions 1 and 2): Latvia 3, Czech Rep 3. So we have Latvia, Czech Rep and Germany qualify for the final in Poland, but GB would have gone through ahead of the Germans if they had only gained a heat advantage in that B-final. A 4-2 over Germany in that B-final race would have been enough for GB. What do You think of this 'bright new' and according to an official UEM statement 'much more exciting' system with additional finals after the heats? This was only introduced by the UEM at short notice for this meeting, when it became apparent that there would only be six pairs. Would it have been too much asked if they had made a seventh pair of local track reserves? The other semi-final in Hungary had seven pairs riding the traditional 21 heats, and the results of that meeting were decided by points scored only! Oh boy, that's speedway!

Yes it is 12 heats by now, and Piotr Pawlicki has indeed not been allowed to continue. Ward is riding on but was beaten in his third race by Martin Vaculik and has now only 5 points from three starts. Looks like the Poles are dominant today.

It was four heats as I see it, and after that crash caused by Darcy Ward, the track doctor has controversially ruled out Piotr Pawlicki to resume racing, even though the Pole wants to continue. What's going on there???

What's wrong with the name? Well, Adria isn't a country,is it? Not even a region! It is a part of the Mediteranean sea and as such hardly appropriate to be used as a name of a national speedway team in an official FIM world team championship final. Remember, if the FIM do not even allow the well respected Team Scotland entry in its team world championship, because it argues that Scotland no independant country and only a part of Great Britian, then how on earth can they ever allow a combined team of two different nations to enter and compete under such an unacknowledgable name as "Team Adria". If neccessary, the name of "Slovenia & Croatia" would have been the only acceptable name to be used for that team, because that is what this combined team really is. By teh way, shouldn't a "Team Adria" include the Italians, too?

Sorry, but such should never be allowed in any official competition. This is the same nonsense as that "Team Europe" that we have seen in the past. If such makeshift team is neccessary to complete the line-up, it is bad enough, but for heaven's sake don't let teh results of any such ineligible team count for teh official results. They should only be allowed to ride as reserve team to make up the number. Adria is not a country, nor does it have a national sporting federation to warrant participation in an official European Championship. If a team called "Team Adria" takes part in the final, its results should never count. Any such "artificial" team should be regarded as ineligible and therefore only the other three teams should officially compete for the medals. Sorry, but to allow this "Team Adria" to compete is a shame. It robs this UEM competition of all its credibility. If Slovenia can not raise a team of their own, then they should withdraw or rather be expelled completely form the event and be replaced by the next best team from the qualifying meetings, and that is the Czech Republic. And who ever thought up that nae "Team Adria"? They should have called them either "Slovenia & Croatia" or perhaps "the Former Yugoslav Republics". What's next? England, or rather "Team GB" strenghtened with Australians and calling themselves "Team BC" (British Commonwealth)?

I have often thought about why can't the BSPA or ACU or whoever organise a Commonwealth Championship each year? Run it with qualifying rounds, starting at NL level, the best go forward to a PL round and then on to a championship round or final including the very best (EL level). The culmination of that competition would be an annual Commonwealth championship final, preferably to be held in Britain. Perhaps in years to come this final could sometimes even be held in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa? The qualifying rounds could all be held in Britian, or perhaps the other nations could first run their own qualifying final, and then send only their best riders over to do the UK rounds. It would be easier to organise this around the schedules of the domestic UK leagues than any of the FIM and UEM events, since it would be run by the ACU /BSPA and only involve Commonwealth nations. And please split the home nations into England, Scotland and Wales, just like at the Commonwealth Games. I can't stand the term "Team GB".

No problems with a visa for him in Sweden, anyway. He's a regular competitor in the Swedish League.

Yeah its about time that the world long track champion from Finland gets a wild card. He might qualify for next year's SGP anyway from the GP Challenge in Sweden later this month. I want to see Joonas Kylmäkorpi in the SGP

Are there any news which team replaces Poland in the second semifinal on Sunday in Chervonograd? PZM have withdrawn theri team due to the clash of date with the Polish League matches on Sunday. That leaves only three teams, the Ukraine, Czech Republic and Russia for this semi-final. A bit of a mis-match compared with the other semi-final in Sweden, and unfair because along with the two winners, the highest scoring second placed team from the semis also qualifies for the final.

Will the Final be shown live on Polish TV?

Hi Przemo, here we go! Continental Qualifying Round 1 at Meissen (East Germany) 8 May 1966 1. Jan Mucha (PL) 15 2. Edmund Migos (PL) 12 3. Marian Rose (PL) 11 4. Boris Samorodov (SU) 11 5. Peter Liebing (DDR) 10 6. Vladimir Sokolov (SU) 8 7. Hans Jürgen Fritz (DDR) 8 8. Lubos Tomicek (CSSR) 8 9. Jochen Dinse (DDR) 8 10. Günter Schelenz (DDR) 7 11. Reino Vijdas (SU) 6 12. Bruno Bülau (DDR) 5 13. Miloslav Verner (CSSR) 4 14. Frantisek Richter (CSSR) 3 15. Jürgen Rudolph (DDR) 2 16. Ebrhard Kammler (DDR) 2 Continental Qualifying Round 4 at Abensberg (West Germany) 8 May 1966 there are no results becaucse this meeting was abandoned due to heavy rain after only six heats and was not re-staged. An FIM Jury meeting decided about the eight riders who should qualify from this meeting for the semifinal round. The choosen eight -in no particular order- were: Joachim Maj (PL), Andrzej Pogorzelski (PL), Andrzej Wyglenda (PL), Igor Plechanov (SU), Gabdrahman Kadyrov (SU), Pavel Mares (CSSR), Bohumil Bartonek (CSSR), Manfred Poschenrieder (D).

Yes, that's correct, it is the 250cc now in Sweden, the 125cc was in France.

This event in Poland (Gorzow) is the 80cc version of the FIM Youth Gold Trophy. On this same weekend in Sweden (Norrköping) the 125cc FIM Youth Gold Trophy is held.

I hear that Sergey Darkin shall not only ride for the Russian team, but may have to act as teammanager as well. Seems likely that the Russian coach Oleg Kurguzkin and the Russian manager Andrey Savin did not get their entry visa to the UK in time. Not sure if this is true or false, but if Mr. Savin is at King's Lynn on Monday, he's the man to answer some questions. By the way, Roman Povazhny may not need a visa, because he lives in Poland and has a Polish wife.

I believe that it will be those four representing Russia at King's Lynn. No Sympathie with Emil, who could ride, but does not want to if the Lagutas don't ride. Great mystery is, what have the Lagutas done, that they can not get a visa! It's scary!

but why is this a 17 riders field? How do they do it with 17 riders???

How amazing to see an American and two New zealanders making the journey to Sweden to take part in this championship. What an effort, mates!

Yes that was good, a title at staek in every round. It was also better to have the riders compete in regional qualifying zones. Nordic, Continental, British and Overseas. That should be brought back at least for the early qualification process instead of having five qualifying rounds and send the riders all across over Europe. The current Grand Prix Challenge should become the Intercontinental Final, with the winner becoming the Intercontinental Champion. A much more presigeous title than GP Challenge winner. It would be great to have some of these titles back.

It is a pretty desperate situation for Smoli, as captain of the German team, having qualified for the SWC for the first time in six years, he wanted to lead his team in Denmark, but now he can't ride because of his world long-track GP commitment. Not that the Germans -with or witout Smolinski- would have been a threat to either Sweden, Australia or Denmark in Vojens.

Instead of seeding the host nation to the final, I'd like to see them in the race-off. That would guarantee a decent crowd for that meeting. That way, even one of the smaller nations could stage the race-off and final of the SWC. I remember in the days of the World team Cup Finals, Germany and Austria hosted some of these finals without their own teams ever riding in it. And they still got a good crowd.

But if no other country wants it, what can the FIM do? Doesn't Sweden get the race off and final next season, and the new Belle Vue in manchester in the year 2013=

But this visa problem seemingly only exists for him (and his brother) in Britain, not in any other EU countries. Why?

No Madame,I can't accept it like that. Let me ask again, how long does it take to issue a Russian sportsperson with a British visa? And how come that his brother Grigory will now seemingly also not get a visa in time for the World Cup meeting in King's Lynn which is in July!!! The saying goes: Where there's a will, there's always a way. This one stinks!