Leszno Gp 30th April 2011

[westhamboy66]

WHAT evidence do you have to support your theory that thousands of TV newcomers fled from the sport? The Leszno stadium is a big one with a much larger capacity than either Torun or Gorzow and most of the empty seats were in areas that are not the most popular. The host organisers, who set the prices, seemed very happy with the attendance.There were problems with the track, sun and wind, all weekend and Tony Olsson made his feelings very well known after practice. But it is not unusual for tracks to start on the slick side and then improve as dirt is generated by actual racing. Must say that all the riders I spoke to (the majority) were happy with it and felt that it was about right given that it was the first time the new silencers had really been put through their paces. No dirt was taken off and from what I was told both Hampel and Kolodziej have been unhappy with the surface this season.

 

The rumoured threat to withdraw by Polish riders proved to be just that. Don't forget that ANY rider who competes in more than one country requires an FIM international licence to do so and could have that withdrawn at any time, resulting in a blanket ban and preventing him from racing anywhere.

 

All the major tuners were in attendance and stated quite clearly that they have now solved the problems that were evident last season. Rune Holta, for example, said he bolted on a new silencer and actually went faster. Don't be surprised in the old silencers are scrapped in the Polish leagues before the month is out. Any argument that they are dangerous went up in smoke on Saturday.

 

As normal the organisers seem happy with a half empty stadium rather than trying to entice a bigger crowd with lower prices. The trend continues at Cardiff and i suppose we will have another "record crowd" this year despite the the empty seats being more evident year on year. Will they never learn?

[PHILIPRISING]

As normal the organisers seem happy with a half empty stadium rather than trying to entice a bigger crowd with lower prices. The trend continues at Cardiff and i suppose we will have another "record crowd" this year despite the the empty seats being more evident year on year. Will they never learn?

 

I AM sorry but the stadium wasn't half empty. I have been to every GP at Leszno, Saturday's crowd was as good as any. I wouldn't argue that in Poland the admission prices are probably too high, as they are in Prague, but to suggest it was poor is way off mark.

 

Also, let's not forget the economic climate and live TV coverage. And, incidentally, crowd figures at Cardiff each year are supplied by the stadium and fully authenticated. Your eyes would appear to be misleading you in you think there are more empty seats each year.

[topaz325]

Great GP from Leszno, some awesome moves from the riders...

 

Greg Hancock unlucky not to be in the final, hey but thats racing.

 

Kolodez was very lucky to walk away from that high speed crash!!

[ladyluck]

... still don't like the new silencers but even some who were most vehemently opposed had to admit in Leszno that they are not dangerous and do not necessarily result in poor racing. That hasn't been the case in the UK so far this year and nor was it on Saturday ...

 

Yet Krzysztof Kasprzak has claimed that all his falls in the UK this season were down to the new silencer.

Is it not the case that Tomasz Gollob was assured that improvements to the new silencers would be available before the start of this season by Roy Otto of the FIM? Is it not also the case that in the letter distributed to riders when they signed up to the 2011 GP season mentions specifically improvements to the new silencer?

 

And, incidentally, crowd figures at Cardiff each year are supplied by the stadium and fully authenticated.

 

What, do they stop selling tickets when they've reached a nice round number of thousands?

Edited May 1, 2011 by ladyluck

[BigFatDave]

I AM sorry but the stadium wasn't half empty. I have been to every GP at Leszno, Saturday's crowd was as good as any. I wouldn't argue that in Poland the admission prices are probably too high, as they are in Prague, but to suggest it was poor is way off mark.

 

From my viewpoint 12000 miles away it seemed that the crowd was down on when I was there for SWC in 2009 but still very healthy looking; the only noticeable gaps in the crowd were in the smaller stand over the Pits, which is usually the last place to fill up. To claim that the Stadium was half-empty is ridiculous, but par for the course among the knockers brigade.

[Col]

I don't care about silencers.. Sorry not geeky enough to understand.. Havent read much of this, but here is my take on the meeting.

 

Firstly Lindgren screwed up. Seemed the fastest guy on the track, but didn't make te gate in the semi and showed a lack of patience, silly boy. He would have picked off at least two of those in front of him to make the final.

 

Gollob was correctly excluded with his main meet clash with Pedersen had however he gone down in the final, Pedersen should have gone, Gollob backed off to avoid being fenced.

 

Crump, WTF? Looked outstanding in his first two rides then did nothing.

 

Bjerre levelled Hampel, whereas Hampel had no clue Kolodzeij was there.

[ladyluck]

Couldn't really argue with any of the referee's decisions, although I did think that a slight lock-up by Kenneth Bjerre played a part in Balinski's tumble. I saw a lot of people on the updates site questioning the Ht 6 stoppage, given that the riders were on the last lap at the time. The suggestion being that the race could've been concluded, since Gollob was obviously at fault. However, it appears that at the riders' briefing the referee stated that he would make all his decisions after first reviewing the television footage. That being the case, he was as good as his word and that's all you can really ask for.

[ImpartialOne]

With regard to the silencers, the general opinion from my experience seems to be that rather than being dangerous they are unpredictable. It may well be that once they regain confidence in what they are riding things will return to normal but nobody likes going into a corner with their mind pre-occupied as to whether or not they will come out of it.

[PHILIPRISING]

Yet Krzysztof Kasprzak has claimed that all his falls in the UK this season were down to the new silencer.

Is it not the case that Tomasz Gollob was assured that improvements to the new silencers would be available before the start of this season by Roy Otto of the FIM? Is it not also the case that in the letter distributed to riders when they signed up to the 2011 GP season mentions specifically improvements to the new silencer?

 

 

 

What, do they stop selling tickets when they've reached a nice round number of thousands?

 

KASPZRAK did say that but ask ANY rider and they will tell you that was bull****

 

There have been huge improvements to the new silencers and, more important, the various tuners now understand what is required to make them work. It was and still is a challenge for these guys to come up with various solutions and they have. I am the least technically minded person in the world but having spent a considerable amount of time over the weekend listening to the chatter amongst the tuners it is quite obvious that the bikes will not go any slower or be more difficult to ride under normal circumstances.

[PHILIPRISING]

With regard to the silencers, the general opinion from my experience seems to be that rather than being dangerous they are unpredictable. It may well be that once they regain confidence in what they are riding things will return to normal but nobody likes going into a corner with their mind pre-occupied as to whether or not they will come out of it.

 

The unpredictable aspect was certainly the fear but the King and DEP silencers have been improved and the tuners have made modifications to try and eliminate that problem and, other than possibly on very deep tracks, they appear to have succeeded. Hey, I was strongly opposed to the introduction of the new silencer regulations and especially the way the FIM went about it but we are where we are and they are here to stay. Everyone has to live with that and move on, just as the riders and tuners are doing.

 

I honestly believe that much of the concerns of some of those riders not competing in the UK was down to the fact that they hadn't ridden them in real competition. Look at Holder and Ward at King's Lynn for the Pairs. Or LIndgren on Saturday. British tuner Peter Johns has been up to speed for months.

 

Incidentally, Gollob had no complaints about Pedersen, either in the heats or the final. It was a tough first corner in the decider but that is exactly what they expect.

[PHILIPRISING]

ONE more thing re Cardiff ... the attendance figure provided by the stadium and given out at the press conference is not rounded up but an exact one. If, for example, it is 42,391 that is what they are told. I can say that with some authority have done that job every year since the GP went to the Millennium. Inevitably some people, including the media, will subsequently choose to use an exact number in just thousands. They used to talk about 100,000 fans at Wembley but in reality it was never that exact.

[Gearhead]

25,000 at the GP wasn't a bad crowd was it? Even with prices up too,those Polish ones there seemed pretty happy with their moaning riders results too

 

As for the Silencers,the quickest riders on the day were mainly those reported for their dislike of them in the first week or two of the season, (Hancock,Lindgren,Pedersen?)and some were even moaning before their seasons were underway ( Gollob,Hampel Kolodziej? ) but the racing so far this year has undoubtedly proved that the negatively towards them is pretty much a load of crap

 

Any journalist as Gollob how things went running with the new Silencers? If he thought he was fast enough and how his bikes went off the grippy starts (Holders view)

 

I also suspect any Polish fans that may have stayed away in "Support" ??? of Gollob and co may feel as stupid as Gollob's Silencer argument now and after cutting their noses off to spite their faces,they'll probably return and may not make the same mistake of listening to their "god" again

 

One more thing,how utterly arrogant to actually turn up to the GP with the old silencers on thinking the FIM would back down,talk about thinking he is bigger than the sport...

[BongoBrian]

25,000 at the GP wasn't a bad crowd was it? Even with prices up too,those Polish ones there seemed pretty happy with their moaning riders results too

 

As for the Silencers,the quickest riders on the day were mainly those reported for their dislike of them in the first week or two of the season, (Hancock,Lindgren,Pedersen?)and some were even moaning before their seasons were underway ( Gollob,Hampel Kolodziej? ) but the racing so far this year has undoubtedly proved that the negatively towards them is pretty much a load of crap.

 

Dunno who told you there was a 25,000 sell out crowd... was that on Sky Sports? Anyway, sitting in Poznan today, I can inform you that you were lucky if there was 14 to 15,000 at the GP... lots of empty seats.

 

As for the silencers, being at the Gniezno v Bydgoczsz meeting yesterday, wow I'm telling you the noise was deafening compared to the GP and the PL matches I have been to so far... it really added to the atmosphere. It is so easy to forget the difference. From this experience this weekend, I hope they go back to the old silencers... who cares what the neighbours of UK speedway tracks think!

[spook]

who cares what the neighbours of UK speedway tracks think!

 

sadly local councils do

[ladyluck]

KASPZRAK did say that but ask ANY rider and they will tell you that was bull****

 

Any rider other than Kasprzak?

[PHILIPRISING]

Any rider other than Kasprzak?

 

CERTAINLY none of those I spoke to in Leszno (couldn't quite get through to Laguta!) thought they were dangerous or likely to cause riders to fall. KK has quite a reputation for blaming anyone other than himself when he falls. Usually it is an opponent so I suppose at least the silencers make a change. People I personally credit with most credence are the likes of Greg Hancock ... vastly experienced, huge talent, great motorcyclist, no axe to grind. You have to adapt a little he says but if that gives the more skilful riders an edge I doubt whether you will hear him complain.

 

I wouldn't pretend this is gospel but strong rumour that Poles will switch to new silencers on May 15 ...

[ladyluck]

I wouldn't pretend this is gospel but strong rumour that Poles will switch to new silencers on May 15 ...

 

Ah, but is it as strong as the rumour that the Gelsenkirchen Grand Prix would be cancelled in 2008? Will the Speedway Star be saying something along the lines of: The PZM are bemused by rumours that the new silencer will be adopted for the Polish leagues: they won't.

By the way, I notice that you have studiously ignored the questions about improvements to the silencer being mentioned by the FIM in a letter to riders and of an assurance given to Tomasz Gollob about improvements given by Roy Otto.

Edited May 2, 2011 by ladyluck

[BWitcher]

Maybe so, but the problem in Poland, as iris123 has alluded to, is that a large number of fans are just adamantly opposed to the new silencer and - as we kept being told all winter - the sport can ill afford to lose fans.

 

Dear me, and how deluded are they?

 

How many races have they seen to be so adamently opposed?

 

A large number of fans support Gollob. Gollob says he doesn't like them. A large number of fans don't either. Simple.

[BWitcher]

Yet Krzysztof Kasprzak has claimed that all his falls in the UK this season were down to the new silencer.

Is it not the case that Tomasz Gollob was assured that improvements to the new silencers would be available before the start of this season by Roy Otto of the FIM? Is it not also the case that in the letter distributed to riders when they signed up to the 2011 GP season mentions specifically improvements to the new silencer?

 

 

 

What, do they stop selling tickets when they've reached a nice round number of thousands?

 

Then Kasprzak is talking baloney!

 

His fall against Poole in Heat 1 of the Sky meeting had nothing to do with silencers.

[PHILIPRISING]

Ah, but is it as strong as the rumour that the Gelsenkirchen Grand Prix would be cancelled in 2008? Will the Speedway Star be saying something along the lines of: The PZM are bemused by rumours that the new silencer will be adopted for the Polish leagues: they won't.

By the way, I notice that you have studiously ignored the questions about improvements to the silencer being mentioned by the FIM in a letter to riders and of an assurance given to Tomasz Gollob about improvements given by Roy Otto.

 

 

WHAT has Gelsenkirchen got to do with it? You do neither yourself nor your usually balanced and informed arguments any good by these petty comments.

 

I am not saying the Poles will or will not ban the old silencers later this month. But plenty of people are. The FIM and its revamped CCP will not stand by and do nothing. There were a number of high ranking officials in Leszno and plans to bring the various leagues in Poland, Denmark, Sweden ad the UK closer together in many respects are well advanced. And believe me or believe me not, the riders themselves want uniformity. They do not want to use one style of silencer in one country and another in all the other leagues and the GPs.

 

I have not ignored the questions about improvements to the silencers. I answered that earlier today but will reiterate: the King and DEP silencers (the only two makes used in Leszno) have been significantly improved but just as important is the fact that the leading tuners (and that includes Jan Andersson, who does Gollob's motors) have used the winter months to make their own adjustments. Some riders even had a King on one engine set-up abd a DEP on another.