Ukraine

[Andrew666]

I was wondering if there were any speedway tracks in the Ukraine as I worked there briefly last year - in Kiev and Donetsk - but didn't have much time to follow up sport? Donetsk is a sports-mad city and with the Ukraine lying between Poland and Russia, I would be surprised if speedway had passed it by completely. Donetsk, in particular, is a mining region - the city itself was founded by a Welsh mining engineer called John Hughes. It wouldn't surprise me if they also played rugby league there - most of the men look like lock forwards.

[MARK246]

I was wondering if there were any speedway tracks in the Ukraine as I worked there briefly last year - in Kiev and Donetsk - but didn't have much time to follow up sport?

Lvov, Rovno and Chervonograd have all held EM championship meetings this season.

[DutchGrasstrack]

Well there are 3 active tracks in the Ukraine; Chervonohrad, Rivne, Lviv. All in the west of the Ukraine. Rivne is the closest track to Kiev, approx 300km west from Kiev.

[Andrew666]

Fascinating - and good to see the different spellings in Ukrainian and Russian - a big issue in Ucrania.

 

So, have there ever been any famous Ukrainian riders - are there any at the level of the Ekstraliga or Elite league for example? Any possibility of an SGP grand prix in Ukraine soon?

[DutchGrasstrack]

Probably the best Ukrainian rider is Andrej Karpov at the moment. Racing in the Polish 1st Division, the Swedish Alsvenskan League and the Danish Speedway League (correct me if I'm wrong).

[Igor]

...So, have there ever been any famous Ukrainian riders...

 

Igor Marko (Rovno)

– European champion among juniors in the individual competition (1986).

 

Viktor Trofimov (Rovno)

– 4-time silver medalist Team of World Championships (1966, 1971, 1972, 1975);

– three-time bronze medalist of the World Team Championship (1967, 1969, 1973);

– played twice in the finals of the Individual World Championships (1972 – 9-th, 1975 – 8-th).

 

Grigoriy Khlynovskiy (Rovno)

– Three-time silver medalist Team of World Championships (1971, 1972, 1975);

– bronze medalist of the World Team Championship (1974);

– in the final Individual World Championship in 1973 took 5-th place.

 

To be continued

Edited June 17, 2011 by Gorka

[eastern wolf]

Igor Marko (Rovno)

– European champion among juniors in the individual competition (1986).

 

Viktor Trofimov (Rovno)

– 5-time silver medalist Team of World Championships (1964, 1966, 1971, 1972, 1975);

– three-time bronze medalist of the World Team Championship (1967, 1969, 1973);

– played twice in the finals of the Individual World Championships (1972 – 9-th, 1975 – 8-th).

 

Grigoriy Khlynovskiy (Rovno)

– Three-time silver medalist Team of World Championships (1971, 1972, 1975);

– bronze medalist of the World Team Championship (1974);

– in the final Individual World Championship in 1973 took 5-th place.

 

To be continued…

 

 

If I remember correctly Khlynovskiy caused uproar in the World Final at Chorzow in 1973 when he clashed with the darling of the Polish crowd, Zenon Plech, effectively robbing Plech of the title. The disapproval of the crowd was, to say the least, pretty loud!

[Igor]

If I remember correctly Khlynovskiy caused uproar in the World Final at Chorzow in 1973 when he clashed with the darling of the Polish crowd, Zenon Plech, effectively robbing Plech of the title. The disapproval of the crowd was, to say the least, pretty loud!

 

Heat 19 of final in 1973 entered the history of the speedway world finals. The fall of the Polish rider Zenon Plech on the line after the first bend of the fourth circle, which occurred, according to a German judge's race and all the spectators in the stands, was the reason for changing the result of this launch.

 

Riders finished as follows:

1. Grigoriy Khlynovskiy (¹ 3, USSR) – 3 points.

2. Peter Collins (¹ 13, England) – 2 points.

3. Valeriy Gordeev (¹ 12, USSR) – 1 point.

4. Zenon Plech (¹ 6, Poland) – fell.

 

The judge's decision, which did not stop the race after a fall (well, after all the 4-th round was), was unique:

1. Peter Collins (¹ 13, England) – 3 points.

2. Zenon Plech (¹ 6, Poland) – 2 points.

3. Valery Gordeev (¹ 12, USSR) – 1 point.

4. Grigoriy Khlynovskiy (¹ 3, USSR) – excluded.

[eastern wolf]

Heat 19 of final in 1973 entered the history of the speedway world finals. The fall of the Polish rider Zenon Plech on the line after the first bend of the fourth circle, which occurred, according to a German judge's race and all the spectators in the stands, was the reason for changing the result of this launch.

 

Riders finished as follows:

1. Grigoriy Khlynovskiy (¹ 3, USSR) – 3 points.

2. Peter Collins (¹ 13, England) – 2 points.

3. Valeriy Gordeev (¹ 12, USSR) – 1 point.

4. Zenon Plech (¹ 6, Poland) – fell.

 

The judge's decision, which did not stop the race after a fall (well, after all the 4-th round was), was unique:

1. Peter Collins (¹ 13, England) – 3 points.

2. Zenon Plech (¹ 6, Poland) – 2 points.

3. Valery Gordeev (¹ 12, USSR) – 1 point.

4. Grigoriy Khlynovskiy (¹ 3, USSR) – excluded.

 

 

I can remember being in that massive crowd (there were thousands there from the UK) and waiting for the German referee to give a decision. I don't think anybody was happy with the decision he made. The Poles certainly weren't happy and nor was Khlynovskiy. The Poles did get a World Champion but not the one they hoped for or expected.

[Igor]

Viktor Kuznetsov (Rovno, a graduate of the Novosibirsk speedway) – two-time finalist of the Individual World championships (1985 – 15-th, 1986 – 6-th).

 

Vladimir Trofimov (Rovno, son of Viktor Trofimov) – reserve driver in the final Individual World Championship 1987 (not started).

 

Vladimir Rozhanchuk (Rovno) – reserve driver in the final Individual World Championship 1977. Because of the absurd decision Motorcycle Federation of USSR was not allowed to travel to the final in Gothenburg on September 2. As a result, the USSR lost the seat back-riders in the final.

[Bavarian]

@Gorka

I hear there is a problem at Lviv with the avaialbility of the speedway stadium. They did not ride their final home league meeting against Turbina, and have cancelled the final round meeting of the MACEC Cup? What is the problem at Lviv?

[Igor]

@Gorka

...What is the problem at Lviv?

 

The problem with the speedway in Lviv for many reasons.

Among them:

A small number of spectators coming to watch speedway, more than half of whom come from Rovno and Chervonohrad;

Poor state speedway stadium;

SKA Stadium, where races are held, belongs to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, which seems not very interested in the development of the speedway;

Lack of proper drivers, students of Lviv speedway, etc.

[S.B]

Lwow never been speedway city

Everything rests on Sergey Lyatosinsky and his son Aleksandr enthusiasms

Not even helped "golden time", than in SKA Lwow team under the guise of service in Soviet Army had collected practically all best Soviet youth riders

 

p.s. SKA - Sports Club of Army

[Igor]

Today, 11 November, marks 63 years, one of the strongest riders of the Soviet Union 70's, celebrity coach Rovno „Signal” 80 years (three consecutive club champion of the USSR in 1985-1987), Honored coach of Ukraine Grigoriy Khlynovskiy!

 

 

In the photo (left to right): Mikhail Starostin, Yuriy Kuzmin, Grigoriy Khlynovskiy, Igor Marko (just became a champion of Europe). Final individual European Junior Championship. Rovno, July 13, 1986.

 

Best wishes for a Happy Birthday!

[Igor]

Interview with Vladimir Trofimov and Viktor Trofimov, Jr.:

 

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NW3PANW3

 

Prospects for speedway in Ukraine;

The longevity of riders in speedway;

The first training of Viktor Trofimov, Jr. on a motorcycle with engine displacement of 500 cc.

Edited February 10, 2011 by Gorka

[ladyluck]

I can remember being in that massive crowd (there were thousands there from the UK) and waiting for the German referee to give a decision. I don't think anybody was happy with the decision he made. The Poles certainly weren't happy and nor was Khlynovskiy. The Poles did get a World Champion but not the one they hoped for or expected.

 

Footage is, or at least was, available on youtube. Personally, having viewed the footage extensively, I think Plech was at fault - he went too wide exiting turn 2 while the Ukrainian simply held a natural line. It is worth remembering that Khlynovsky missed out on a world title that day, as his victory in Ht 19 placed him in the race-off with Szczakiel and Mauger until the referee made his extraordinary final decision on the matter.

The race-off between Szczakiel and Mauger is on youtube as well and the start is fantastic. Brilliant. Talk about a "rolling start". Szczakiel rolls out of the pits and doesn't stop, with the tapes rising as he rolls to about a foot behind the tapes. It's magic.

Edited February 12, 2011 by ladyluck

[ladyluck]

Igor Marko (Rovno)

– European champion among juniors in the individual competition (1986).

 

A tragic figure, no longer with us. It should be remembered that the European Junior Championship (held, from memory in Rovno in 1986) has since morphed into the World Junior Championship and was essentially a world championship in 1986.

[HenryW]

A tragic figure, no longer with us. It should be remembered that the European Junior Championship (held, from memory in Rovno in 1986) has since morphed into the World Junior Championship and was essentially a world championship in 1986.

Indeed. It was a strangely titled competition back then as (apart from the first 2 years) the competitors weren't restricted to being European. Two Americans and one Aussie became "European Champions" during the 11 years that it was held under that title.

 

The winners from those years should really be credited with a World Title.

Edited February 12, 2011 by HenryW

[Igor]

Igor Zverev returns to the speedway

 

Continuing implementation of the mission to revive the former glory of the Rovno speedway, to work in the club „Kascade” (Rovno) invited Igor ZVEREV.

In the past, one of the most experienced masters of Rovno „Signal”, the favorite idol and a huge army of fans ready to share its experience and knowledge gained during his career, a new generation of riders.

Igor ZVEREV will train beginners and very young athletes, as well as drivers who have not yet reached a certain professional level.

In addition, a veteran of the Rovno speedway will prepare the tracks in front of training and competition, passing on mototrack.

 

By the way, March 14, Igor ZVEREV turned 47 years old!

[Igor]

Today, March 22, the legend of the world, the Soviet and Rovno speedway, Viktor TROFIMOV, celebrates his 73rd birthday!