tomhaines

Where have you seen this? I questioned the Riga SGP Instagram on this point (as the tickets say 12,00) and they responded saying fan zones open 12.00 but both meetings start at 19.00

Very strange decision for Team GB… sure I read in speedway star recently Olly Allen talking about the next generation riders needing continental experience, whilst it’s only one meeting (or 2) it’s surely a shop window opportunity and experience to be gained.

Anyone know of any bars in Wrocław that would usually show the GP? There this weekend and it would be a shame to have to watch it in the hotel! thanks in advance

Weather forecast on the iPhone - suggests 1mm of rain each hour from 6pm… I’d call that light drizzle. I really hope for BVs sake that their forecast is right or it’s an expensive mistake. Agree if you shell out money it’s a risk you take, but what I object to is a meeting being called off on the basis of a weather forecast. Forecasts are often wrong and having kept an eye on it since Saturday it hadn’t actually changed much!! I guess there are worse cities to be in and we’ll make the most of Manchester! (With or without the rain)

Bone dry with a nice breeze here in the city centre… defying the previous forecast. 7mm of rain due in the next 24hours according to my iPhone…. Surely not enough to postpone. I hope for Belle Vue’s sake they’ve got a better weather forecaster than me, otherwise it’s a speedway shambles before we even start. Whilst I’m not advocating running in the worst of weather, I thought this track was supposed to be great with drainage and seem to remember the Covid year British Final was run behind closed doors in atrocious conditions. Started another season with optimism, hopped on a train (£50 x 2), booked a hotel (£50) and pre booked tickets (2x£26)…. Don’t think I’ll be bothering again this season in the UK if I’m honest.

When you read the book you’ll understand why… Personal view, both sides need to grow a pair but PC comes out sounding very bitter at the end of the book (which is a shame as the rest is great). Whilst I don’t agree with BVs current position it’s their business to run how they feel.

Any news/rumours on any likely date when we’ll find out the remainder of the calendar? Seems odd being this far past Torun and only having dates for Cardiff & Warsaw? Is the delay going to be due to some exciting news or are they simply deliberating over whether Krsko or Gorican is going to capture the imagination of the paying public and create the ‘new era of speedway’

And this is the problem with speedway (at GP level and below). Speedway journos are too entrenched with their paymasters… not dissimilar from some of our MSM during Covid If the head honchos at DSE think that was the best year ever then ‘new era of speedway’ isn’t filling me with confidence. You’d hope outsiders would freshen it up - every conversation I have with my non speedway partner about the GP is “why do they do that/why don’t they just do that”… surely a professional outfit should be asking the same simple questions… clearly not… can the last person leaving Cardiff in 2023 please turn off the lights

Agree FSP, fantastic idea in principle but it just hasn’t worked. Will be interesting to see if they go for more of the same in 23 (likely) or do something different… it worked better stand alone but now it’s under the same umbrella I can’t see them wanting to promote additional stand alone events.

Wouldn’t feel the cold as much if there was anything interesting going on on track. 3 awful rounds of what was previously an exciting championship before DSE got their mits on it.

Dull and cold here in Torun… what have DSE and Morris done to the track?!

Is Poland so short of decent U21s that Celina gets the first reserve berth

Any news on this yet? I can see from Wrocław ticket site the Final is due to start at 4pm but no news on the 2 x Semi Finals on the Thursday in terms of tickets or timings? Let alone line ups?

They’ll be calling Bomber to guest soon if any more drop out

Hilariously awkward video on the SGP instagram of Greg Hancock awarding Dan his ‘overtake of the day’ award from Cardiff… “but I didn’t pass anyone” says Dan

Some good talent on show this afternoon in the Polish sunshine. Luke in with a real shout of being in the mix tomorrow. Looking forward to this evening. A shame Speedway GP seem to have forgotten this championship is happening across all their socials and website and aren’t giving the boys the airtime and promotion their efforts deserve.

Supposedly 2 semi final meetings on the Thursday too… but the ‘new era of speedway’ doesn’t do communication so who knows if that’s happening and who’s riding.

Looks like there is a direct train a few times a day - first class is very affordable in Poland so if available would recommend it for a long journey.

There were about 300 standing tickets available about 4 weeks ago when I booked. Unsure if any still remaining but worth a look.

I’ve sat through some bad speedway in my time but I’m off to Wetherspoons… Hope Casper and Daniel are ok. One more crash and I think this will be off.

Random question, are Polish meetings generally well run in terms of timing or can they be long drawn out affairs like some of our meetings? (Granted incidents can happen to delay) Asking as it looks like Częstochowa may be at home the day after Wrocław GP with a 7.15 start for all the 2nd legs of the quarter finals and trying to see if I can fit it in and get to Krakow afterwards easily for hotel and early Monday flight.

Good old British Speedway

A good entertaining meeting with some exciting talents on show - future looks bright for Czechia and Latvia on that showing if the likes of Gusts and Kvech can kick on. Adding to the likes of Salonen for Finland. Concerning future for Sweden - where is their next GP rider coming from? None of their 3 looked like potential world beaters or special talents. Positive outcome for GB but like the senior team, felt the body language on the podium said a lot about the mood in the camp - Flint particularly looking very hard done by to have gone all the way for no rides! Questionable decision on gates and lack of Flint rides - why pay TMs if you are just going to go as per programme (and GB have 3!). Looking forward to tomorrow but for the pinnacle of the sport and ‘new era’ the coverage is at times embarrassing - can somebody please give Kelvin and Chris a calculator or programme… it isn’t difficult to follow and professional commentators should be able to tell us the implications of a race! Secondly they should have some knowledge of the riders to add a bit of colour to their commentary - “I don’t know a lot about him” isn’t a great look with all the detail easily available online. And finally, Abi… please ask one question at a time with simpler words when speaking to riders who don’t speak a word of English… the poor Poles had a glazed look as she asked multiple questions in one!

Not suggesting Wrocław is the place to hold the qualifiers… but if Germany are in the qualifier and it’s held at the right German track and marketed correctly surely the crowd would be ok? Likewise Latvia, Czechia, Hungary who all get decent crowds for one off meetings. Replace the weird and wonderful UEM meetings with a meaningful pathway and market it as such.

Seems strange to seed all 9 straight to the World Cup when the alleged mission of Discovery+ is to develop Speedway (yer right). Surely a qualifying round or two for the smaller nations outside of the World Cup cycle to make it to the competition should be in place - the likes of USA, Latvia and Slovenia could outqualify a Finland, Germany or France on their day…. Let alone the question of what to do if Russia re-join the fold in 2023 (albeit unlikely). Ideally a ‘tiered’ solution should be in place allowing nations to ride meaningful competition against others of a similar level - with a pathway to the ‘World Cup’ and promotion/relegation between the tiers. (Almost like the UEFA Nations League). For example: World Cup Poland, Sweden, Russia*, GB, Australia, Denmark, 2 x Qualifier from T1 Tier 1 Finland, Germany, France, Czech Tier 2 Slovenia, USA, Latvia, Ukraine Tier 3 (run as pairs) Norway, Italy, Hungary, Argentina, Slovakia, New Zealand + others (Estonia/Romania/Austria/Netherlands?