manchesterpaul

Initially yes, although this post from 'flagrag' in the other thread indicates an effort at persuading the masters to have a re-think? Then again maybe flagrag is unaware that Premier Sports may now have a deal in place, if indeed they do. "Just a further quick thing to add unless any last minute changes have to be made the GP on Sat night shoule be the first GP to be broadcast in HD apart from Cardiff as previously the HD feed from the circuit has been downscaled due to lack of HD studio space in London but it is planned to be in a HD studio this week. If it was my own personal decision to make with the increased interest from Premier sports in Speedway I would look at getting the Polish Extraliga on Sky even more so in the summer when main live Sun afternoon action is Cricket so no football and Rugby union especially with the positive viewing figures this has already been offered to Sky but I understand was turned down on the basis that it would not bring a gain in new customers which I would argue may not be true with the increased Polish expats in UK who many would prefer to watch it on TV rather than a computer screen."

If you glance down slightly you will see there is a thread a few places below this titled 'Gothenburg GP - Red Button Final Hour', in that someone involved with Sky have confrmed the meeting is on in full. Additionally, it should be available in HD. At least they are planning to broadcast it in that mode. There''s also further input from the same source in a thread in the 'General' section regarding the viewing figures being good, the coverage of the Swedish GP and possible plans to gain the Polish speedway rights. Although Premier Sports may be beating them to the latter.

Thank you for the links. I actually came on here to request if anyone had radar links. Yellow on weather radar animations is never a good sight

Was merely a passing comment not accusing them of any great sin lol. Their website has improved this year too looks much better.

See how it goes next time only i was all done and dusted and had created two racecards as well as my own interactive one by that time. Thing is i was aware of the same anomaly with the first GP. I'm pretty sure when i checked 9am onwards it had in very big letters 13:00 BST. Even the famous sites are not averse to slip-ups. Be that BSPA with results not tallying with their league tables or the SGP not showing Artem Laguta in their current standings despite the fact he is still shown as a GP rider. Anyway important matter is that we get a good GP with racing and fans in attendance, not yet guaranteed on either count.

Lol just quickly went to your profile to see if you on mainland europe and the SGP site changed accordingly. Too be honest, although it's no great importance, i was so suprised it had happened again (did it? lol) i was on the verge of taking a screenshot but was to busy rushing out. I'm fairly certain still that it had in big block letters BST! Obviously i did look and re-look carefully as i hate to criticize anything and would always double check. I soooooo wish i had taken a screenshot now. Anyways no biggie. (i will check up on them next time for sure lol)

Once again on the official SGP site despite having plastered in big letters that the draw is to be made at 13:00BST, it has already been made. But that's all good as it means i can get off out on my travels earlier Whilst most people have now bookmarked the racecard page and will already be busy downloading, this is to let you know that the TWO cards are NOW AVAILABLE. Direct download at the top of this page below. MiniMax 2011 Swedish Grand Prix Racecard Basic Version MiniMax 2011 Swedish Grand Prix Racecard

Just done a quick preliminary search of the local media for the Grand Prix, also aided by Google translate. Unfortunately, it looks like the sport suffers the same ignorance from the media it does all over the world! This site http://gt.expressen.se appears to cover Gothenburg and this one sport http://www.expressen.se/sport/. Despite a long scrollable page picturing many different sports, including Table Tennis! no sign of speedway anywhere. Certainly no mention of the speedway Grand Prix that is being staged in Gothenburg! Do the BSI make no attempt to heavily access and advertise in the local population and city centre of GP's?

Do any of our Swedish friends have news regarding as to whether advance tickets are selling like the proverbial hotcakes, or is it likely to be a turn up on the day affair?. The latter of which would possibly be affected by the weather if it is bad.

Available in the afternoon following the draw tomorrow (Friday) are now TWO different versions of the MiniMax Racecard. There has been added a basic version of the racecard which still benefits from the MiniMax formatting style but without all of the bells and whistles. That makes it perfect for those who just want to fill in the heats and rider grid results whilst being able to check the upcoming heat line-up's, something that the tv coverage rarely does. You can direct download them from the top of the following page and as ever no advertising etc. cluttering up the card. MiniMax 2011 Swedish Grand Prix Racecard Basic Version MiniMax 2011 Swedish Grand Prix Racecard

Picture quality is superb

English commentary. OMG! that means the forum is going to go into meltdown with a second 'commentators' thread war.

Evidence! goodness me! these and forums all over the world would be empty of posts if one had to provide evidence of every opinion. Although i do think it would be a good idea for the libellous entries to require such lol. Evidence regarding my conclusion that many newcomers to the sport would have turned off before we got to the speedway 'racing' is simply common sense and knowledge of how people are. Someone who isn't a fan of the sport, and especially new to it, would not know things were likely to improve and humans being human (as in they have a brain that prefers to be stimulated) would fairly quickly be flicking through the channels to find entertainment. It's clear from several sources - apparently those other than the host organisers - that most people were surprised at the number of empty seats. Don't get me wrong in this day and age all major sports struggle to attract spectators like they used to. Even though speedway attendances are slumping in many places of the world, so are other mass media covered sports in those countries too. Even national football teams struggle and get lower crowds nowadays. I always say it's best to have a full stadium at lower prices that produces the same income as a smaller attendance at higher prices. It certainly not only makes people at home sit up and take interest at a well attended spectacle but, more importantly, sponsors and tv companies. It's human nature to drift towards a large excited crowd to see what all the fun and attraction is about than go over to have a look at what is going on in a sparsely filled arena. Genuinely thank you Philip for the information regarding reasons, that is all i asked for. I should point out though that several riders on tv did bemoan that there wasn't as much dirt as normal on the track. But as you say the majority were happy. Unlike yourself with access to the riders i was going on the tv interviews. So....majority ok with the track but dirt was taken off (not according to me, but to some riders). Incidentally, i'm usually one of the first to pounce upon people when after a few heats of a meeting on tv they start posting about they are switching off because it is boring etc. I remember not long ago at all, i asked how long a poster had been watching speedway (knowing it was quite a while) for them to not realise that the vast majority of meetings that have taken place over decades won't have passing in the first couple of races. My concern with Leszno was how long it took to get some racing. That is great news thanks for that snippet of info too.

Anybody know for sure as to why the first part of the meeting was so awful? Why for certain was so MUCH dirt taken off (even allowing for them having too much recently and being fined)? Was it pressure from Gollob and his gang? Very interested to hear theories or the explanation for so many empty seats, was it because of the pricing? Even if the tickets were costly we've seen bigger gates haven't we when there was not a Polish world champion making his first defence of his crown, and with far less exciting GP fields and potential for a great series ahead?. Whilst any tv newcomers to the sport would have fled before the action hotted up it does like we are going to have a hugely entertaining series. Thanks in advance to the riders, the SGP and Sky. Much praise and appreciation to all.

No i didn't but fined for the state of the track as in??? I wasn't criticizing the polish tracks by the way. Far from that i was wondering if it was a case of superb polish tracks that provide great racing week in week out being stripped of their dirt wheneve the GP comes into town. It wasn't the case last year and we had the best ever racing in the series (post Ole Olsen). But one can't help but speculate if the dirt was removed because of Gollob and his gang being trepidatious of the new silencers?

Thankfully for current speedway supporters the racing improved. However, what a shocking disgraceful waste of an opportunity to gain new fans to the sport. Doubtlessly thousands upon thousands of viewers across Europe would have been viewing the sport for the first time on tv. Sadly about 98% of them would have turned away vowing never to watch a speedway race again way before the racing improved. I was getting ready to start a new thread titled 'Who IS to blame for the DAMAGING bore of Leszno'. With a subtitle of 'Let's be precise who EXACTLY was to BLAME'. I feared the worst from the get go when at the start of the tv broadcast we once again had reports of dirt from a superb polish track having been removed for a Grand Prix. Was Ole Olsen trying to keep one ahead of Freddie Krueger and Jason Vorhees in the dreaded resurrection stakes? However, my initial thoughts concurred with 'Swindon Speedy Pete' in laying suspicion on Gollob and his gang. Did he threaten not to ride if dirt was on the track because he still fears the new silencers? Is what Sky said remotely true in that he actually turned up with an old silencer for the meeting or practice??? If so OMG! whilst he is a worthy, greatly skilled and brave world speedway champion he is not God. Was he seriously still expecting at the 11th hour 59th minute for everyone to switch to the old silencers in line with his campaign for their use? I am one of the biggest supporters of the SGP and it is hard for me to find things to criticize, however, on to unhappiness number 2. What was with the fairly considerable empty seats? We were due to have the opening meeting of what is likely (still is) to be a fantastic series this year. It was being staged at a track that can provide superb speedway racing. Are the SGP organizers still grossly overpricing the event from the local populus (or hosting nation!)? Ok on to good things. We did get some excellent racing in the end which is good and amazingly i won a small fortune on betting Nicki Pedersen to win the meeting, well chuffed lol. Also, Sky seem to have upped their game in the awareness stakes and eliminating massive blunders regarding the state of the standings and qualifying scenarios. I swear i don't say this in a bragging way but they were pretty much up to the speed of my own interactive spreadsheet that i have used for the last few years. They did make a couple of mistakes and omissions. I'm not going to be picky by pointing them out, as they clearly seem to be much more aware and quicker than in the past of appreciating what is at stake for each rider in the last couple of rounds of heats. Such a pity we lost so many potential followers to the sport because of the start of the meeting. I wonder if we will get to know the reasons? For me personally i can't wait for the next GP and all the others too. It's an amazing spectacle and superb sporting event.

Lol thank you Rob B for spotting that. Although it might have been a good idea if a new thread had been started by the OP. But no sweat intentions were good. Also whilst i have Sky itself i got to admit it is great news indeed that the Virgin subscribers now no longer have to dread mention of the red button.

Whichever tv channel it ends up on, as there is a thread over the confusion as to that, i've published a large two page (or one page if print both sides of the sheet lol) racecard available at Free MiniMax 2011 European Grand Prix Racecard Anybody know if Emil Sayfutdinov has had a very recent upswing in form? I'm sure when reading the foreign scores section in Speedway Star the other week his scores were not exactly as good as they usually are. I do like to see him do well in the GP's as he's one of the most exciting riders.

Wow! just come on here to ask how often does a Basketball Play-off final do a 'speedway' and overrun it's time slot. I was feeling miffed that we might miss the start of the SGP and see the first few races recorded and with no preview of the meeting. I was surprised to see a multi page thread saying it is on the red button and lots of confusion over that. All i can say right now at near 5:30pm is that on Sky the now and next shows it on SS3 at 6pm, the inbuilt deailed Sky EPG tv guide also shows it on SS3 at 6pm-9pm, then finally most surprising of all in the circumstances lol my printed tv listing magazine purchased on Tuesday shows the exact same SS3 at 6pm through to 9pm. So does that mean it will be on SS3 at 6pm through to 9pm or clearly make it anytime and any place other than SS3 at 6pm!

I wondered where DW had got to as variety is the spice of life i'm told. Was starting to think he had said something naughty and got banned! although i'm sure he never would do such a thing lol. You're welcome.

A poll on a good german website for speedway news gives interesting results to compare. At the time of posting this well over 300 had voted in it and they think.... 64% Nicki Pedersen 12% Emil Sayfutdinov 11% Jason Crump 7% Tomasz Gollob 3% Jarek Hampel 3% Other rider Unfortunately, one can't vote for Chris Harris as he is included in the also-ran category of 'other rider'. The particular page is http://www.motorsport-aktuell.com/motorrad/speedway-wer-wird-speedway-weltmeister-2011-3672285.html

Clearly the thousands who download the scorecards disagree with you and also supporters at tracks every week who buy a programme and fill it in. Just because you are sitting in the comfort of your armchair hundreds of miles away from the meeting does not disallow you from filling in a scorecard and being clued into events. Especially, as you can focus on your own favourite riders or interests in the meeting. As it happens, unless there is a big change this year, Sky do not show you the overall scores etc. every heat. You are at their whim and tastes. Plus, some people like to glance back at the cards after the meeting has ended. Furthermore, Sky have a poor record at pointing out the significance of the final two rounds of races per meeting for each of the riders involved. They have even got the semi-final line-ups wrong. If one is filling in a racecard it doesn't take much brain power to spot what is at stake for every rider in every race. Sometimes i despair at speedway fans watching four helmet colours race around a track without knowing what is at stake in the race. Sky won't always inform (or be aware!) of the various scenarios. Anyways, it's ideally a free world so i won't criticize those who don't want to fill in programmes at the track or in their own home and hopefully those who do like to exercise their own brain should also be free from criticism.

Oh well, despite still having emblazoned across the top of the page "draw to be made at 13:00 BST", i see the draw has been completed already lol. Just grabbing a cuppa as i've just got home and will set up the racecard. Let you know once it's done and proof checked. Ok all done and checked. Got busy adding last years details and this seasons qualifiers route into the 'notes' section, just for this initial GP. Free MiniMax 2011 European Racecard

Ok looks like i'm the early bird out of the racecard providers for the first GP of the season, so i'll do the honours this week of opening the thread. The draw is scheduled for later today (Friday) at 13:00 BST. No doubt the cards will come flooding in not long after. As regulars will already know each of the racecards appeal to people in different ways and variety can indeed only be a good thing. Everyone prefers their own favourite one for varying reasons so hopefully all the makers of the scorecards are back this year. Mine will be available at the top of the page here Free MiniMax 2011 European Grand Prix Racecard I've some news on fulfilled promised changes to my own card and will bore most of you with a one-off blurb in case any newcomers this season are present. MiniMax SGP Racecards Due to their popularity - not just my own cards i hasten to point out lol - and fans downloading thousands per meeting (as well as past meetings), i'm placing all of the racecards i publish exclusively to a single page this season. Just click the link for the chosen GP and get a direct download, no advertising, self-promotion or expressing of opinions etc. either on the page itself or on the racecards. For the 2011 SGP season i have made available a larger print version. One can print it on two sides of a single sheet of paper or on two separate pages. As a result of the number of requests received, and the fact that i am very pleased with it, i have made it as the default racecard for the series. Also, i've turned down advertising offers because i want to leave it as a quick free download without any external surroundings. My racecards reflect differences that i think are beneficial when compared to others that have been around for some time. Hopefully you will also share my preferences in the layout (if you don't there are several others available). Have a look and see. One-off boring blurb to start the season for newcomers to the GP cards or sport itself. The finalized version for the SGP series have the following format and features Extended colour coded heat-by-heat line up's. Surnames only capitalization (makes a big difference when quickly scanning a card). For every single heat a rider's accumulative meeting and series points. To enable speedy filling in of the above info their next race is colour referenced. Heat 'rounds' clearly delineated to assist in rider count back in head-to-head tiebreaker situations. Traditional SINGLE GRID meeting score chart. The above strongly delineated into heats, main meeting total, semi-final & final and subsequent total points. Series standings before and after grid. Accumulative gate points and gate wins grid. Various meeting and series info and a 'Notes' box. Fill in as few or as many of the available features as you personally wish. Further minor notes: The colour coding is extended as i have on my home made spreadsheets. Instead of just a small 'helmet colour' box (or even a letter 'R', 'B' etc.) the riders name is coloured too. This again greatly facilitates only a speedier glance being needed. A small touch, but again, i personally think it makes a difference, i've printed the rider's surname in block letters. If you think about it, whether in your own mind or listening to a race commentary you refer to a rider by the last name. Also, if quickly scanning down the racecard for a rider having the surname printed in that manner makes it stand out easier. Varying extra information and features go with each card specific to the nature of the event.

There is more info and news in the 'general' section of the forum. Hope the threads can be merged lol.