Humphrey Appleby Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 WHEN has local incompetence been blamed or the organisers passing the buck as ever... Maybe here... JUST got back to hotel so haven't had time to read through all the comments here ... But, for the record, crowd was just over 12,000 which still left around 4,500 seats vacant. All the propaganda about a full-house came from the local promoters and not BSI who actually warned them about making such statements before race-day. The meeting was awful but, again, the track was the responsibility of the promoters. To their credit they recognise that the shape certainly wasn't conducive to racing and that next year they will take out and widen the corners. Time for a beer and a burger ... back later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Phil, don't knock the RUTS, without them there would've been no overtaking at all. I know they are dangerous, but at least they provided some form of processional change of order.. At meetings like this, I feel for writers like yourself, whom are all expected to give a positive angle on it. but after watching this rubbish, fend or please, I would have to tell it like it was....... AND we certainly will do in SS this week ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattR Posted May 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Oh, well. That was a poor start for Finland. Such a shame. It was a belting day, weather wise. Most of the town was out and about around the stadium. Unfortunately I just missed meeting Mojo though. As for the meet.. You've all seen how poor the track was. 33cl tin of beer was €7. SEVEN euros with 2€back on the tin. Just mental - even by Finnish standards. No scoreboard. BLASTING heavy rock hits on a loop throughout when no racing was in progress. I dragged two Finnish mates along and we had a brilliant time out in Tampere after the meet, but we won't be bothering again. Was not a great advert for the sport. Best things were the rocket-fit track girls and the Beatles cover band free in the park after the racing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Maybe here... Ha ha and Phil has changed his posting, taking out the word 'local'! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowandblack Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Gave it a second chance and watched Eurosport's one hour highlights programme this morning...made it seem not too bad at all. Thank god for Troy Batchelor though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 You've all seen how poor the track was. 33cl tin of beer was 7. SEVEN euros with 2back on the tin. Just mental - even by Finnish standards. . Still cheaper than at the nz gp after they started running low on beer and so put the price up - over 6 euros with nothing back on the can. As most have said, the racing very poor and crowd well down on what we had been led to believr in the buikd up - phil did u really say with a straight face 75% full? I actually still enjoyed it though. Tai walking away from his first heat crash and going on to almost win the gp, zagar winning, good battle for the semi final spots, harris looking much more competitive - just me or did both he and tai look a lot quicker this gp? Let down after two excellent gps so far but shaping to be an intriguing series. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyretrax Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 (edited) http://youtu.be/DcxcbzAYD9Y Edited May 18, 2014 by tyretrax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Let down after two excellent gps so far but shaping to be an intriguing series. Must admit, I look at the standings last night and take out Bomber, and possibly Troy (but as he gets used to the GPs he looks like settling now) and right now, almost any of them could win it. Seriously, pick a winner. For me it's easier to pick out 3 or 4 I think won't do it than it is to pick 3 or 4 who will. I dont see Freddie, AJ or Smoli there some the end of the season and Hampel just doesn't have the head to do it IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWitcher Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Now Tai appears to have sorted his engines out (now has speed and is gating like last season) I honestly see no reason (barring injury) he can't now go on to defend his title. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waiheke1 Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Tai holder nicki greg have all been there and could again. Kk still top after missing a meeting. Ward the most tslented rider in the series. Hampel has finished on the podium three times and a year with no standout rider could be made for him. Those are the seven rider s I think have a genuine chance of winning it. If I was to narrow it down id say nicki and greg may not retain form ovrr the year. Darcy was my pick if he stayed injury free, but sadly he hasn't, and hard to see him foing it riding injured for the whole series. I reckon holder or tai, or kk to pull off the biggest upset since wsy back in 2013. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidncohen Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 It's not entirely comparable as motorcycle race on permanent tarmac that generally provides a consistent smooth surface. Speedway used a dirt composition which has many more variables such as choice of material, compaction, moisture and so on... F1 and MotoGP have of course had their fiascos too - F1 with the tyres at Indianapolis some years ago, and then MotoGP having to make pit stops at Philip Island because their tyres were discovered to not last the distance. Point taken, especially about the variable aspect of the track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanT Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Just getting ready to fly back from Finland. We took the GP in as part of a weeks holiday. Thought I'd add my views on the whole event. Firstly the city is an excellent location, although expensive, but then so is most of Scandanavia. The stadium is excellent, and in a great location. The crowd was decent enough 75% full, maybe less but a good enough turn out. Prices in the stadium were a joke, but I've always said you have a choice on whether to pay them, I chose not to. Everything ticked the right boxes apart the most important factor...The racing! I can fully understand why BSI want to take the GP around major European cities and the large stadia. This is to be applauded and encouraged. However I believe they also have a duty to provide an event that offers value for money, and as the organisers of the whole show then I think the buck stops with them. I have never been involved in laying a speedway track and wouldn't know where to start. But when I arrived at the stadium my very first though was how narrow the bends were. If a simple spectator like myself thinks this then surely a more experienced track co-ordinator must have thought the same? Another point to note is that the track has been down since November. Could a small meeting not have been run on it to test it out? why wait for the main event to see what happens? It's all very well saying lessons have been learned and it won't happen next year, but speedway is not a sport that can afford to take such risks. This is an official GP not some bit part individual meeting. Watching riders being unable to pass slower riders in front is not conducive to good speedway. If stadiums and cities wish to host a GP then BSI must lay down some strict criteria for track preparation. On the plus side it was good to see Tai back to form, although I backed him each way at 12/1 so watch a few pounds vanish on the 3rd bend!! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagicOctopus Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 I thought the attendance was good. Speedway is not a popular sport in Finland and a turnout of over 10K is very good. However, the promoters have a mountain of work to do for next year, because the casual visitors will not come back unless they can be convinced that the event will be more exciting. The promoters should take responsibility, own their failure, and work hard to make it better. I'm not an expert and have no idea how to make the track work better (or how possible it is to widen it). I agree with IanT that if a casual fan like me can see the track and immediately be sceptical of passing opportunities, it is inexcusable for the professionals to not do something about it. If nothing can be done, the event is doomed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Just getting ready to fly back from Finland. We took the GP in as part of a weeks holiday. Thought I'd add my views on the whole event. Firstly the city is an excellent location, although expensive, but then so is most of Scandanavia. The stadium is excellent, and in a great location. The crowd was decent enough 75% full, maybe less but a good enough turn out. Prices in the stadium were a joke, but I've always said you have a choice on whether to pay them, I chose not to. Everything ticked the right boxes apart the most important factor...The racing! I can fully understand why BSI want to take the GP around major European cities and the large stadia. This is to be applauded and encouraged. However I believe they also have a duty to provide an event that offers value for money, and as the organisers of the whole show then I think the buck stops with them. I have never been involved in laying a speedway track and wouldn't know where to start. But when I arrived at the stadium my very first though was how narrow the bends were. If a simple spectator like myself thinks this then surely a more experienced track co-ordinator must have thought the same? Another point to note is that the track has been down since November. Could a small meeting not have been run on it to test it out? why wait for the main event to see what happens? It's all very well saying lessons have been learned and it won't happen next year, but speedway is not a sport that can afford to take such risks. This is an official GP not some bit part individual meeting. Watching riders being unable to pass slower riders in front is not conducive to good speedway. If stadiums and cities wish to host a GP then BSI must lay down some strict criteria for track preparation. On the plus side it was good to see Tai back to form, although I backed him each way at 12/1 so watch a few pounds vanish on the 3rd bend!! CANNOT argue with any of that ... constructive comments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Maybe the best bit(think it`s spelt like that) of the GP http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/zdjecia/galeria/5293/monster-girls-podczas-grand-prix-finlandii/20-226047#photo-start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavan Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Must admit, I look at the standings last night and take out Bomber, and possibly Troy (but as he gets used to the GPs he looks like settling now) and right now, almost any of them could win it. Seriously, pick a winner. For me it's easier to pick out 3 or 4 I think won't do it than it is to pick 3 or 4 who will. I dont see Freddie, AJ or Smoli there some the end of the season and Hampel just doesn't have the head to do it IMO. Have to agree with you looks a fascinating series. In my eyes Holder and Hampel look like they are lacking something this year. Ward will consistently score around 10 but will that be good enough? His inability to gate will stop him from being world champion in my view. Think he will struggle like crazy at Prague and Cardiff. Nicki will be inconsistent i feel. I can see the champ being KK or Tai. With Greg there or thereabouts. KK as misssed a gp and still leads. He is bound to go well at Prague and has a great record at Cardiff. Tai as well has tracks coming up to suit him and he did look the fastest rider on Saturday. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theknow 2 Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Very poor gp. No racing really to speak of and won from the gate. Crowd didnt look that good and those that went i would imagine would not return and those watching on tv would not be drawn to going. All in all pretty dire. Harris flying as normal and amassed is it 6 points from 3 gp ? Morris seems to of done the trick watching all those videos 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Ole Olsen clearly has no idea what he's doing ............... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Ole Olsen clearly has no idea what he's doing ............... THAT will be the same Ole Olsen who built the track at Western Springs (praised by all the riders) last month ... not saying he always get's it right but he doesn't always get it wrong either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 THAT will be the same Ole Olsen who built the track at Western Springs (praised by all the riders) last month ... not saying he always get's it right but he doesn't always get it wrong either. Agree-he always does a good job with Copenhagen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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