the 2018 Baltic Speedway League

[PolskiZuzel]

Speedway promotors in the Eastern Europe seems to be following steps of the BSI by establishing pairs competition for young and coming up riders under 21.They have called it the 2018 Baltic Speedway League

The main goals and tasks of the Baltic Speedway League are the development of speedway traditions around the Baltic Sea, as well as providing opportunities to train riders so that they become high-class riders, both for national and professional clubs. However, the rules will be flexible and we just want to give young riders the opportunity to compete to improve their skills in competition with each other. As for the cast selection criteria, they will also be flexible - says one of the organizers in the Baltic Speedway League.

In exceptional circumstances, two over-21 non-professional riders may participate in the meetings, but they can not substitute for the young (third player) in the tournament. In a situation where the junior will not be able to continue the race or will be disqualified until the end of the meeting, over-21 will exceptionally be able to finish the competition. In a special case it is allowed to complete the team with the participation of a "guest". The purpose of this rule is to guarantee four competitors in each race in each event. Teams can therefore "borrow" someone who is not nominated to participate in a given race from another team - added the activist of one of the centres that will compete in the Baltic Speedway League 2018.

The Baltic League is to be made up of clubs from Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Russia and Ukraine.In fact Finland and Latvia are entering two teams each.

The draw has already been made for numbers of the riders representing each club. The riders from the first team coming from Varkaus I – Finland will carry numbers: 1, 2 & (15), Varkaus II – Finland: 9,10 (19), St. Petersburg, Russia : 11, 12 (20), Kohtla-Nomme – Estonia : 5, 6 (17), Riga, Latvia : 7, 8 (18), Daugavpils, Latvia : 13, 14 (21), Rovne, Ukraine : 3, 4 (16)

The fixture list looks like this.

1st round - Riga, 30 April;

2nd round - Daugavpils, 15 July;

3rd round - Kohtla-Nomme, August 19;

4th round - Riga, August 25;

5^th round - Varkaus, September 15;

6th round - Varkaus, 16 September;

Any initiative that promotes speedway in - for most people - exotic corners of Europe is something that should be applauded. Let us hope that the organizers will have enough enthusiasm and resources to develop this competition so that it will bring the desired effect in the long term.

Source: speedwaynews.pl

[erinil1]

As you said a really fun and good initiative. Personally, I think it´s extra fun with the Estoninan participation. Seems like track racing the last few years in Estonia have been taking good steps. If I remember correctly an Estonian "team" took part in the 2017 European Grasstrack Sidecar Championship and one/two youngersts took part in one of FIM Europes competition for minors. Given that traditions of speedway and so on I would guess that Daugavpils will have a good chance of coming out victorious in the end.

[f-s-p]

Ranna speedway was in the Finnish first division about 5 years ago. This me thinks is another club and track.

[iris123]

Is there a track or even a club in St.Petersburg?

[f-s-p]

24 minutes ago, iris123 said:

Is there a track or even a club in St.Petersburg?

Yes and no. The club is there and has been involved in Russian lower league last year and also this year. They also have land and Im today told that there was a mx track and speedway track there. But theres been some problems with the land owner recently and the future remains unclear with the complec.

[iris123]

How did it all end up then?

[Bavarian]

St.Petersburg only have a very basic dirt track oval (next to a mx course) where thy are practising, but there is no proper speeway track/stadium there to stage a meeting. They have ridden their Baltic League home meeting at Riga.

Daugavpils Juniors were the best team througout and won four of the five rounds for the inaugural Baltic League Championship. The Ukrainian club Rivne only rode in the opening round but didn't show up for any of the other meetings.