April 26: European Fim Speedway Grand Prix (bydgoszcz, Poland)

[hampshire3321]

Very pleased for KK - Top lad and well deserved win last night - He looked fantastic.

 

Was surprised at Tai spitting the dummy out on his interview last night - He didnt seem to think the issue was him and just about stopped before he finished saying it was the engines - PJR had the top 2 in the GP so they cant be all bad. I hope for him he finds his form, but i cant help but think the issue stems in his own head.

[5 FURROW]

Not that you're bitter, or anything.

 

Me I'm not bitter but she is every year still small things keep small minds amused

[GREDON]

Grand Prix Speedway is expensive to attend, especially compared with Polish League meetings. Perhaps the fans would rather watch the League, where the top stars ride, rather than travel to GPs containing an increasing number of lacklustre riders. I have been to Bydgoszcz GPs in the past that without a prior bought ticket you had no chance of getting into the stadium

[Cornishfisherman]

I think it is about time that the Polish public realised that Tomasz Gollob is not the rider that he was 10 or even 5 years ago and it would appear that they have taken sides in the silly spat that is going on. If the European Championships have one meeting half as good as the one we witnessed last evening I will be very surprised!

 

As for Mr Rising's comment about the basketball I think he got that one completely wrong ! Had he been watching the Canonlsation in Rome on the TV this morning he would have seen where all the Bydgoszcz fans were !! They had their banners to prove it, although I must say I didn't see the name Gollob on any of them!

[LagutaRacingFan]

Phillip Rising is talking nonsense, First he came out with the view that ticket sales were their usual self then the stadium was mainly empty and then he comes out with the Gollob factor.

 

If I want a BSI press release, I'll go on the official site so don't come here and patronize us with corporate jargon.

We are not fools.

[pandorum]

Phillip Rising is talking nonsense, First he came out with the view that ticket sales were their usual self then the stadium was mainly empty and then he comes out with the Gollob factor.

 

If I want a BSI press release, I'll go on the official site so don't come here and patronize us with corporate jargon.

We are not fools.

Perhaps there was a Rolling Stones gig in the area

[SteveLyric2]

Last years crowd was excellent, last nights poor...the difference?.....Gollob....just a thought.

..plus Bydgoszcz are now 2nd tier in Polish speedway terms!!

[New Science]

Well Poland's a big country and the speedway venues are spread out over a big area. I wouldn't have travelled more than 50 miles if the weather was threatening the meeting, which it obviously was if they were taking dirt off the track prior to the start, no doubt a lot of Poles would feel the same.

 

I'm not too bothered about the size of the crowd, more concerned with seeing decent racing, so for me it was a decent evenings entertainment.

 

As for the presenters, not often you hear commentators of any sport knocking attendances, doesn't help in terms of promoting the sport.

 

Cheers for the racecard again Paul, really enhances my enjoyment of the meeting being able to fill in a 'programme', interesting to be able to keep a points tally for each gate, something I've never done while at a meeting.

 

Gate 1 43pts

Gate 2 40pts

Gate 3 27pts

Gate 4 28pts.

 

More wins off Gate 2 though.

 

Does that constitute anorakistical behaviour on my part?

You may not care about the crowd but unfortunately a lack of crowd may have repercussions for the GP as we know it.If the bottom has fallen out of BSI's most lucrative market Poland there will be some major anxiety at BSI towers.With 3 rounds in Poland and the staging fees and sponsorship it brings in it shows the urgency required to get the issues between all parties sorted and quickly, not simply ignore it, or pretend its not there as Mr Rising chooses to do.As for blaming the lack of the Gollob factor,well that ship has sailed,he's in his 40's and not coming back to the GP,move on ! Edited April 27, 2014 by New Science

[PHILIPRISING]

I really hope you're being paid to write this stuff...

 

Why is Gollob not in the SGP in the first place? It has everything to do with the spat between BSI and OneSport no matter how much basketball is blamed.

 

Incidentally, I looked up the basketball fixtures and as far as I can see Bydgoszcz were not playing on Saturday - unless you're talking about the women's' team!

They already tried to do that, and obviously realised they'd get sued.

 

Boo hoo. Perhaps they'll now understand what it was like to be a British fan...

ADDRESSING a few recent posts...

 

DO you seriously think that Gollob would not have continued in the SGP if Monster Energy had renewed his highly lucrative sponsorship deal?

 

Do you not think that if Gollob had been racing on Saturday the attendance would have been bigger than it was?

 

It was categorically not BSI who tried to prevent riders from competing in both the SGP and the SEC. It is also a fact that BSI consistently argued to the FIM that it would be illegal to try and impose such a ban, especially after riders were allowed to do both in 2013. BSI's beef with the FIM was about inscription fees etc. They would be quite happy to pay the riders far greater prize money if the fees they currently pay to the FIM was reduced to that paid by OneSport.

 

I accept I may have got it wrong about the basketball. Info came from a text from someone there ... for personal reasons I have not been to a SGP this year.

 

I firmly believe that Polish fans will flock to Bydgoszcz for the SWC Final because they will want to see their country win the title again, especially if Gollob is re-instated in the side. He may have another strop and decided not to ride after being left out last year but I rather doubt it.

 

I also believe that he will still make another appearance in the SGP. .. Warsaw in 2015. That would be the grand finale he deserves. After all, his last appearance wasn't exactly the way he would like to be (and shouldn't be) remembered. He may not have the same number of World title wins as the likes of Rickardsson, Crump and Pedersen but speaking as someone who has been at the vast majority of SGP rounds, his contribution is second to none.

 

Why should BSI be criticised for their decision to stage a SGP at Bydgoszcz? It was a great meeting ... and no one will suffer more from the poor attendance than them. I'm not sure how they can be blamed for that. The local authorities were desperate to have a SGP again but Bydgoszcz simply isn't the speedway stronghold that it once was when their hometown hero was in his pomp.

 

As to westhamboy66's remark about Speedway Star's cosy relationship with the BSPA ... how did you come to that conclusion?

I AM not pretending that problems between BSI and OneSport don't exist, as New Science suggests. But there is no doubt that OneSport have been happy to whip up propaganda against BSI and the SGP for their own ends and there are several influential people in Polish speedway happy to see this happen.

Edited April 27, 2014 by PHILIPRISING

[OGT]

Just watched the meeting, blimey, that final was some race!!

[nw42]

Just watched the meeting, blimey, that final was some race!!

 

 

And there lies the answer to all the knockers, moaning about crowd figures, no Gollob, no Emil etc etc. It was a very entertaining meeting regardless of the complaints, that's what matters imho...

[YerRopes]

Another thoroughly entertaining GP from Bydgoszcz..

 

Despite the desperately poor attendance I'd prefer every GP to be held there rather than at the likes of Prague, Ullevi and Vojens..

 

Well done KK on winning his first GP - was surprised Darcy was taken from behind so easily and even more surprised that Miedzinski was allowed to take his last ride..

 

And well done to Troy for getting off the mark too..(more to come from him I hope)..

[Humphrey Appleby]

DO you seriously think that Gollob would not have continued in the SGP if Monster Energy had renewed his highly lucrative sponsorship deal?

Do you not think that if Gollob had been racing on Saturday the attendance would have been bigger than it was?

Gollob rode in the SGP before he was sponsored by Monster, and he's currently riding in the SEC. I think it more likely his withdrawal was influenced by OneSport and his stated unhappiness with BSI.

 

Of course attendance at Bydgoszcz would have been higher if he was in the line-up, but was a failing of the organisers. He's not retired and he could still have come in as a wildcard, but BSI apparently choose not to pursue that.

 

It was categorically not BSI who tried to prevent riders from competing in both the SGP and the SEC.

Well we've also heard a different angle on that. I have no real interest in who did or said what, but the whole SGP vs SEC thing is utterly farcical and frankly something that the Star should be critically analysing.

 

I AM not pretending that problems between BSI and OneSport don't exist, as New Science suggests. But there is no doubt that OneSport have been happy to whip up propaganda against BSI and the SGP for their own ends and there are several influential people in Polish speedway happy to see this happen.

It comes back to the fact there's dissatisfaction with BSI, whatever spin is put on it. There's clearly unhappiness about the fees being charged and none of the revenue coming back to the sport (or the Poles at least), there would seem to be unhappiness about the promotion of the series, and increasing grumbles from riders about the money. If BSI were doing a fantastic job it would be easier to sideline the criticism, which is why Bernie Ecclestone managed to fend off critics and breakaway movements in F1 over the years.

 

I don't think OneSport are so fantastic either, and it may well be that speedway is just not very marketable. However, maybe it is time that someone else stepped up to see what they can do...

Edited April 27, 2014 by Humphrey Appleby

[racers and royals]

Just got back from Bydgoszcz and one point I would like to make is there appeared to be a complete lack of advertising in Bydgoszcz for the GP-there was a big custom car/motor bike event in the town square yesterday and there was plenty of interest in that-however I didn`t see one advert for the GP around the town.

[Fromafar]

brilliant meeting on a fantastic track.

[PHILIPRISING]

Gollob rode in the SGP before he was sponsored by Monster, and he's currently riding in the SEC. I think it more likely his withdrawal was influenced by OneSport and his stated unhappiness with BSI.

 

Of course he did but he also had a lot more sponsorship then. Why was his manager begging for a wild card slot when it became apparent that he wouldn't finish in the top eight after his accident in Stockholm? Why would he be so upset with BSI when they were so influential in him getting the Monster deal in the first place?

 

Of course attendance at Bydgoszcz would have been higher if he was in the line-up, but was a failing of the organisers. He's not retired and he could still have come in as a wildcard, but BSI apparently choose not to pursue that.

 

He was offered the wild card slot but declined unless they paid him an appearance fee. Do you think they should have done that?

 

Well we've also heard a different angle on that. I have no real interest in who did or said what, but the whole SGP vs SEC thing is utterly farcical and frankly something that the Star should be critically analysing.

 

WE have done that already. The dispute was between OneSport and the FIM. BSI have not made any public comment about the FIM's proposed ban.

 

 

It comes back to the fact there's dissatisfaction with BSI, whatever spin is put on it. There's clearly unhappiness about the fees being charged and none of the revenue coming back to the sport (or the Poles at least), there would seem to be unhappiness about the promotion of the series, and increasing grumbles from riders about the money. If BSI were doing a fantastic job it would be easier to sideline the criticism, which is why Bernie Ecclestone managed to fend off critics and breakaway movements in F1 over the years.

 

Can hardly compare FI with speedway, especially as far as money is concerned, as you have said in the past. As I say, if the FIM were to reduce their SGP fees in line to what OneSport pay the riders would be better off.

 

I don't think OneSport are so fantastic either, and it may well be that speedway is just not very marketable. However, maybe it is time that someone else stepped up to see what they can do...

 

That's fine as long as they compete on a level playing field. Think you grossly under-estimate the financial commitment made by BSI/IMG to the series. Not sure there are any others willing to do that.

Edited April 27, 2014 by PHILIPRISING

[Humphrey Appleby]

Why would he be so upset with BSI when they were so influential in him getting the Monster deal in the first place?[/i]

No idea, but his unhappiness is a matter of public record.

 

He was offered the wild card slot but declined unless they paid him an appearance fee. Do you think they should have done that?

It's something that only BSI can weigh-up, but if it would have put a few more thousand on the gate...

 

Think you grossly under-estimate the financial commitment made by BSI/IMG to the series. Not sure there are any others willing to do that.

Not at all - much of it is a matter of public record. It's not a question of what you or I think though, but what OneSport and possibly other promoters believe right or wrongly. Edited April 27, 2014 by Humphrey Appleby

[keepturningleft]

The last two GP finals have both produced unbelievable races.

 

I have attended world finals going back to the 60's and can't remember such a standard of breathtaking action as we are seeing in many GP's nowadays.

 

 

[pawel115]

I was not able to watch this meeting live on a stream just watched it on youtube now ,pretty good meeting as for low attendance it really is a combination of factors no Gollob,weather,spat between BSI and SportOne etc. I also tend to think that attendance at the other GP is Poland will be much better

[racers and royals]

I was not able to watch this meeting live on a stream just watched it on youtube now ,pretty good meeting as for low attendance it really is a combination of factors no Gollob,weather,spat between BSI and SportOne etc. I also tend to think that attendance at the other GP is Poland will be much better

I`m utterly convinced the weather had absolutely no effect on the attendance-couple of sharp showers during the day wouldn`t have put anyone off attending. As for Gorzow and Torun I really hope you are right-but ticket sales for Gorzow at moment are really poor-and this year they are not cheaper the later you leave it.