schumi

Things must have got better in Balakovo, since it seems the club have signed Russian starlet and GP newcomer Emil Sajfutdinov from Russian champions Togliatti: http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/2008/12/...-barwy-klubowe/

Notably, Ryan Sullivan.

But what will all this mean for the GPs? If the big bucks aren't available in Poland, Russia and Sweden, will the stars be so willing to squander money traipsing around the GP circus for the pittance it brings in?

The Poles do have a fair degree of latitude, since they survived for a few years with just one foreign rider per team and therefore have the domestic riders available. They could just go back to that scenario. In 2009 teams will have to field at least three Poles.

Not sure if it's what you're after, but Hans Andersen has one for his Swedish club, Dackarna.

But it's the infrastructure as much as anything else and the likes of Adams and Crump have the infrastructure in place. It's not ability that counts, it's having the support team in place. That's why the likes of Adams, Hancock, Gollob, Nicki P, Crump and Andersen have been able to pull away from the also-rans.

Information about the stadium 1. Localization: The stadium is located in an urban terrain, with Szosa Bydgoska to the north, railway line to the south-west, a power station building, as well as halls and industrial warehouses, to the east. 2. Terrain balance: The area within the boundaries of the report 72,471 m2, including: Area of the stadium and high capacity buildings forming sports complex 26,649 m2 Area of the speedway track 5308 m2 Area of the centre of the track 6863 m2 Remaining area for manoeuvring places, parking spaces, pavements 3. Parking spaces and halting-places: 502 cars 12 bus spaces 94 VIP spaces 4. The stand and premium seats: Designed with 15 thousand seats and wholly roofed (the construction of the roof enables roofing over the whole speedway track in the second stage of the investment). The stand is designed on two levels, available from the stadium terrain. The lower level is arranged at ground level and has 10 rows (first floor for approximately 7,000 people). The first row is situated at the level of 2 metres above the track. The upper level is available from the stadium terrain by means of staircases leading to particular sectors (second floor for approximately 8,000 people). On the north side of the stadium there is a holding area, along with a 50-place car park for the competitors, competitions service and a washer. On the south side there is the main pavilion including VIP, administration, gastronomy, press and reporting for radio and television stations service spaces, competitions functions service spaces, safeguard and monitoring of the stadium space. Under the upper premium seats, are situated the toilets and the buffets for the spectators. The lower and upper premium seats are divided into sectors (sector allowed for the supporters on a long corner, for 1,100 guests with separate entry, toilets and buffets). 5. Speedway track – specification: Traditional, with a granite surface with drainage Lenght of the track: 325 metres Lenght of the stretch: 62 metres Radius of corners: 31 metres Width of the track on stretches: 12 metres, on corners 18 metres Bank of the track on stretches: 4 %, which is 50 cm, on corner 6/7 %, which is 110 cm The track is surrounded by a safety barrier separated by 3m-wide strips from the stands 6. Holding area: Holding area has 24 service boxes and all technical back-ups. 7. Lighting of the stadium: The track: 1,200 lux The field: 1,000 lux (suspended under the roofing) 8. Internal field: Green surface with drainage designed for speedway, speedbike, fourcross, horse racings and other sports disciplines.

And here it is: http://www.stadion-dla-torunia.alstal.eu/

And he had a lifetime contract with them. I don't blame him - they routinely dropped him in favour of Simon and other riders last year, despite Henka outscoring them. I like him, and hope he does well at Rospiggarna.

There is a farming agreement for 2009, whereby the Swedish juniors and Swedish riders under 6 points can be used by the Elitserien's partner teams in the Allsvenskan. This means riders like Mikael Max, Thomas H Jonasson, etc, can be used in both divisions, so fans of one team can see their favourite Swedish riders at another track. Don't think any of the Allsvenskan teams have a team in the Elitserien now that Masarna are no more (although I could be wrong - I'm having a really crappy week), but there are some Elit teams who have division one teams, certainly, so more than one team might use a track.

Well, to be fair, British fans disagree with everything.

They only have a home and away meeting - not B fixtures, Craven Shields, KO Cups and all sorts of other Mickey Mouse meetings.

I doubt it. They have their calendar finalised, most teams are in place, and they have the best riders wanting to appear. f-s-p - errr...well I didn't like to point that out myself.

Seems the only people complaining about it are the Brits.

Can't believe you're putting Nicholls down as seventh. And Hampel will likely be the top scoring "wild card".