racers and royals Posted December 22, 2011 Report Share Posted December 22, 2011 With the problems over the last few years of riders having to pull out of championship events in Russia due to visa and entry permit problems i wonder if the FIM have learnt anything !!. In 2012 Balakovo host 2 meetings of note-firstly on June 2nd they host one of the 2 semi-finals of the u21 championship-only 14 days after 4 of the 5 qualifiers. Secondly on june 30th Balakovo stages one of the 3 semi-finals of the GP challenge,once again only 14 days after 4 of the 5 qualifiers. So how are the riders going to get everything sorted in 14 days ? or are these meetings going to be for "eastern european riders only" ? Maybe Phil Rising could ask the FIM a few questions ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triple.H. Posted December 23, 2011 Report Share Posted December 23, 2011 (edited) The simple way round it is the FIM tell the authorities that they need to be able to get Visas sorted so you pick them up on entry to the country and the same for mechanics etc Having read in the Speedway Star this summer re the USA teams problems in Ukraine with bikes permits and visas why don't the FIM say to the country concerned that an official of the countries version of the ACU with a bit of clout meets you at immigration to sort any problems such as the bike is unsuitable for road use or has no number plate etc I apologise in advance for poor punctuation but I am in the pub and cannot findd a full stop or comma on my phone But I have just rediscovered the cracker with the mistletoe abd she has bought me a pint Desperate Women you have to love them Edited December 23, 2011 by Triple.H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted December 23, 2011 Report Share Posted December 23, 2011 DON'T think it is that easy to tell the Russian authorities anything. One thing that the FIM seem to forget is that riders cannot simply hand over their passports for several days in order to acquire a visa. It does, however, work both ways. I recently had a conversation about the Laguta brothers and their problems getting into the UK this year and was told that the British Embassy in Moscow needed to have their passports for at least two weeks in order to process their applications for visas. Their problem was also compounded by them leaving it late, seemingly unaware of the process. But due to their commitments in Poland and Sweden they couldn't relinquish their passports. Am quite happy to raise the question with someone from the FIM asap. Hoping to have a pint with Tony Steele shortly and will see what light he can shed on it. But getting visas for Russia remains a major hurdle and one that the authorities in Togliati, who fancy a Grand Prix round, must overcome. Unless they can agree to flying the whole shebang (riders, mechanics, officials, equipment) in and out, with all visas pre-arranged, they will never get past first base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted December 24, 2011 Report Share Posted December 24, 2011 (edited) DON'T think it is that easy to tell the Russian authorities anything. It's not for the FIM to persuade the Russian authorities of anything. They simply say either the visa situation is sorted, or rounds will not be staged in Russia. One thing that the FIM seem to forget is that riders cannot simply hand over their passports for several days in order to acquire a visa. I do have experience with organising things in Russia, and it's perfectly possible to arrange visas at short notice if the Russians want you there. A sporting federation should certainly know a person in the Russian government to facilitate this sort of thing, so the fact there have been so many problems simply suggests deliberate bureaucratic obstacles are being placed in the way. In fact, I think you can even get a tourist visa in under 48 hours for Russia, and whilst riders probably need some other sort of visa, the problems should not be insurmountable. In addition, most EU citizens can travel to other EU countries on their national identity cards, so relinquishing passports should not necessarily be a problem. The difficulty of Russians getting visas for the UK is not especially relevant as the UK is visa free for virtually all European countries these days. It's Russian (and Belarus) that are the odd ones out in this respect. Edited December 24, 2011 by Humphrey Appleby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 THE major issue with Togliati is not so much visas for those travelling but the actual logistics of getting there and back. It is simply not practical, or indeed safe, to make the long journey by road. Flying in and out (perhaps from Warsaw) would seem the most suitable solution. It would also enable the riders to be back in Poland on the Sunday morning and able to fulfil their Polish league commitments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DutchGrasstrack Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 No issues for the iceracing riders, so what's the problem with the speedway riders? Money? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted December 27, 2011 Report Share Posted December 27, 2011 TIME mainly. Ice racers don't compete in Sweden on a Tuesday or UK on a Wednesday or Thursday or Poland on a Sunday. Impossible to fit that in with a road trip to Togliati to be there on a Friday and out Saturday evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 TIME mainly. Ice racers don't compete in Sweden on a Tuesday or UK on a Wednesday or Thursday or Poland on a Sunday. Impossible to fit that in with a road trip to Togliati to be there on a Friday and out Saturday evening. Doesn't seem to be a problem to arrange flights out to New Zealand during the season, nor worry about whether riders will be back for domestic fixtures. Equally, riders seemed to manage Russian League fixtures in even further flung places when silly money was being paid. If it's really logistically impractical to stage WC meetings in Togliatti though, they shouldn't be held there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 DOMESTIC seasons won't have started in Poland, Sweden and Denmark when riders travel to NZ and they will be back for Easter weekend. A single rider travelling to a domestic meeting hardly equates to a full blown GP. There are many plusses with regard to Togliati. Super stadium apparently, on a par with Torun, and a chance to spread the GP gospel. Said it was impractical to travel by road. The transportation of riders and all their equipment in and out of NZ in the space of a few days will hopefully show what can be done and could potentially open several other doors including Russia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 (edited) DOMESTIC seasons won't have started in Poland, Sweden and Denmark when riders travel to NZ and they will be back for Easter weekend. I think the Polish season normally starts in late-March, so it's going to have to be delayed in 2012 and possibly in future years as well. I suspect things are eventually going to come to a head between the FIM/BSI and the Poles. Edited December 29, 2011 by Humphrey Appleby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f-s-p Posted December 29, 2011 Report Share Posted December 29, 2011 I think the Polish season normally starts in late-March, so it's going to have to be delayed in 2012 and possibly in future years as well. I suspect things are eventually going to come to a head between the FIM/BSI and the Poles. First Ekstraliga meeting on April 9th, announced today apparently. The whole list on sportowefakty.pl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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