Should Laguta and Emil be kicked out of the GP Series?

[Grachan]

14 minutes ago, severnsider said:

Jack Holder and Dan Bewley confirmed as replacing Artem & Emil

Laguta should be allowed to ride if he's at all able to. I feel that quite strongly.

This, to me, misses the point of the reason why Russian's have been expelled from the series.

[racers and royals]

1 minute ago, Grachan said:

Laguta should be allowed to ride if he's at all able to. I feel that quite strongly.

This, to me, misses the point of the reason why Russian's have been expelled from the series.

Others might think that Laguta and Emil`s main consideration in saying what they have is their wallets.

[Triple.H.]

1 hour ago, severnsider said:

Jack Holder and Dan Bewley confirmed as replacing Artem & Emil

Cue loads of posts saying they're not good enough, better riders available etc

[False dawn]

4 hours ago, severnsider said:

Jack Holder and Dan Bewley confirmed as replacing Artem & Emil

FIM quote:

"The FIM board’s decision on Russian riders’ licences can be changed at any time with immediate effect – depending on the evolution of the situation in Ukraine."

What does this mean? Are the FIM saying that Jack Holder and Dan Bewley could be pushed aside mid year to allow Artem Laguta and Emil Sayfutdinov back into the GP series? Surely not. Either they have a place for the whole year or not. Or are they treating the "temporary" absence of two Russians like they would were they injured? I think the inclusion of Jack and Dan is, in these circumstances, a real mixed bag. It's a great opportunity, of course. But knowing the investment required in terms of cost and backing from sponsors etc. it does seem like a bit of an open ended chance to make a real impact. I hope I'm wrong and the two riders concerned will just burst into the GP series and show us what they really can do on the world stage.

[Grand Central]

17 minutes ago, False dawn said:

FIM quote:

"The FIM board’s decision on Russian riders’ licences can be changed at any time with immediate effect – depending on the evolution of the situation in Ukraine."

What does this mean? Are the FIM saying that Jack Holder and Dan Bewley could be pushed aside mid year to allow Artem Laguta and Emil Sayfutdinov back into the GP series? Surely not. Either they have a place for the whole year or not. Or are they treating the "temporary" absence of two Russians like they would were they injured? I think the inclusion of Jack and Dan is, in these circumstances, a real mixed bag. It's a great opportunity, of course. But knowing the investment required in terms of cost and backing from sponsors etc. it does seem like a bit of an open ended chance to make a real impact. I hope I'm wrong and the two riders concerned will just burst into the GP series and show us what they really can do on the world stage.

You'd have to be the world's greatest optimist to even think for a single moment that there is anything 'temporary' about this. 

This is just the beginning; we are in this for the long haul.

[Daniel Smith]

18 minutes ago, False dawn said:

FIM quote:

"The FIM board’s decision on Russian riders’ licences can be changed at any time with immediate effect – depending on the evolution of the situation in Ukraine."

What does this mean? Are the FIM saying that Jack Holder and Dan Bewley could be pushed aside mid year to allow Artem Laguta and Emil Sayfutdinov back into the GP series? Surely not. Either they have a place for the whole year or not. Or are they treating the "temporary" absence of two Russians like they would were they injured? I think the inclusion of Jack and Dan is, in these circumstances, a real mixed bag. It's a great opportunity, of course. But knowing the investment required in terms of cost and backing from sponsors etc. it does seem like a bit of an open ended chance to make a real impact. I hope I'm wrong and the two riders concerned will just burst into the GP series and show us what they really can do on the world stage.

100% Artem & Emil are merely suspended so their current status is they remain part of the 2022 series. 

The situation is no different to an injured rider where the GP reserves just flit in & out. 

 

[Daniel Smith]

2 minutes ago, Grand Central said:

You'd have to be the world's greatest optimist to even think for a single moment that there is anything 'temporary' about this. 

This is just the beginning; we are in this for the long haul.

Agreed

[False dawn]

6 minutes ago, Grand Central said:

You'd have to be the world's greatest optimist to even think for a single moment that there is anything 'temporary' about this. 

This is just the beginning; we are in this for the long haul.

You could be right.

But then, "A week is a long time in politics", eh?

[Grand Central]

Just now, False dawn said:

You could be right.

But then, "A week is a long time in politics", eh?

I really don't think 'politics' describes this situation. It is War.

[False dawn]

1 minute ago, Grand Central said:

I really don't think 'politics' describes this situation. It is War.

I think we're talking about two different things.

What's happening in Ukraine is undoubtedly a war. What's happening in the sporting community is politics.

[OveFundinFan]

1 hour ago, False dawn said:

I think we're talking about two different things.

What's happening in Ukraine is undoubtedly a war. What's happening in the sporting community is politics.

It is showing a nasty aggressor who has declared war on a country that virtually the whole world is against their dispicable action. Whether this action is by restricting banking, stopping exports to that country, closing businesses, ……or banning their sportsmen on the world scene. It’s all sending a message to Putin…..his actions are depraved and deemed not acceptable.

This war is not going to end this year, maybe Russia will win this current battle, but the people of Ukraine are not going to roll over and come under Russias control quietly, they going to continue gorilla warfare for a long time.

[enotian]

12 hours ago, Grachan said:

It makes no sense to me. Why ban a rider who the Russians have banned for speaking out against Vladimir Putin? How does that send any form of message to the Russian authorities?

It is effectively supporting the moves made by Russia.

I don't get it. How does this encourage Russian people to speak out against the war?

If anything it will make them less likely to.

So extrapolate this out to see why it makes sense.

All Russian sports people are banned by international sports authorities. The Russian authorities than ban them all. So all Russian sports people are therefore now allowed to compete in international events. Representing some banner but in reality representing Russia. Massive boost for Putin. "I told you they wouldn't ban our sports people".

It's like telling a fat bloke he's banned from eating pies and then giving him a pie as soon as he says he doesn't want one. As long as he pretends he's not a fat bloke, even though everyone knows he is.

[Col]

Is Lindgren only Swede in GP's?  Can't think of another - shocking from the historical Speedway power house nation.
Except for Zmarzlik being top Pole, I'm not sure who'll be top rider from each nation ... well Dane, Brit or Aussie now.

[arnieg]

9 hours ago, Col said:

Is Lindgren only Swede in GP's?  Can't think of another - shocking from the historical Speedway power house nation.
Except for Zmarzlik being top Pole, I'm not sure who'll be top rider from each nation ... well Dane, Brit or Aussie now.

Swedes are looking very short of top names with Lindback out and Ljung on the decline. Pontus Aspgren is clearly no 2 in current Swedish rankings, after that you've got riders like Nilsson, Thorssell, Berntzon who've been around for many years.

A lot is resting on Philip Hellstrom-Bangs for Sweden's GP future.

[speed29]

Hopefully might get America Speedway Riders in GP in the future!!!

[OveFundinFan]

1 hour ago, speed29 said:

Hopefully might get America Speedway Riders in GP in the future!!!

When they qualify via the qualifying rounds….. then Yes we will.   I am sure Greg tried his hardest to push them as far as they can go, so we are where we are.

[eric i]

So Laguta has lost his Russian Licence for being critical of Putin's war and yet the west still won't let him ride under another flag. Surely if Laguta is in the spotlight being openly critical of the war it will do more damage to Putin's regime than having him sat at home in Bydgoszcz.

[customhouseregular]

On 3/11/2022 at 6:37 PM, OveFundinFan said:

It is showing a nasty aggressor who has declared war on a country that virtually the whole world is against their dispicable action. Whether this action is by restricting banking, stopping exports to that country, closing businesses, ……or banning their sportsmen on the world scene. It’s all sending a message to Putin…..his actions are depraved and deemed not acceptable.

This war is not going to end this year, maybe Russia will win this current battle, but the people of Ukraine are not going to roll over and come under Russias control quietly, they going to continue gorilla warfare for a long time.

Those gorillas are a tough bunch.

[Dornier]

2 hours ago, eric i said:

So Laguta has lost his Russian Licence for being critical of Putin's war and yet the west still won't let him ride under another flag. Surely if Laguta is in the spotlight being openly critical of the war it will do more damage to Putin's regime than having him sat at home in Bydgoszcz.

Did Laguta really mean it though what he said or was he  just saying it to save his riding career

[Humphrey Appleby]

12 hours ago, Dornier said:

Did Laguta really mean it though what he said or was he  just saying it to save his riding career

Well he didn't succeed with that, and now will be a target of the Russian regime. 

I think it's quite dangerous for high(ish) profile people to speak out against the Putin regime, and I think would not have been done lightly.