DutchGrasstrack 804 Posted November 7, 2010 Calendar and the countries for the 2011 U21 Team Championship: 01.05 - Qualifier (Rivne, Ukraine) - (Ukraine, USA, Finland, Slovenia) 28.05 - Semifinal 1 (Rawicz, Poland) - (Poland, Czech Republic, Sweden, 1 st place of the qualification) 28.05 - Semifinal 2 (Diedenbergen, Germany) - (Germany, Denmark, Australia, 2 nd place of the qualification) 03.09 - Final (Balakovo, Russia) - (Russia, winners of the semifinals, the 2nd best team from the semi-finals) Main question: why is UK not taking part after even holding the final 'last year' in Rye House? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spanner47 336 Posted November 8, 2010 I can only think of 3 reasons. 1, We're very weak at this level and dont want to be embarrassed. 2, If we did scrape into the final, it's far too much hassle and expense to get to Russia. 3, The powers that be in this country obviously dont give a stuff!!! I'll be surprised if the Yanks can muster a side to go to the Ukraine. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TMGracing 4 Posted November 9, 2010 Calendar and the countries for the 2011 U21 Team Championship: 01.05 - Qualifier (Rivne, Ukraine) - (Ukraine, USA, Finland, Slovenia) 28.05 - Semifinal 1 (Rawicz, Poland) - (Poland, Czech Republic, Sweden, 1 st place of the qualification) 28.05 - Semifinal 2 (Diedenbergen, Germany) - (Germany, Denmark, Australia, 2 nd place of the qualification) 03.09 - Final (Balakovo, Russia) - (Russia, winners of the semifinals, the 2nd best team from the semi-finals) Main question: why is UK not taking part after even holding the final 'last year' in Rye House? Real Surprised to read that the UK is not involved.Didn't they almost win it this season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
f-s-p 832 Posted November 10, 2010 Didn't they almost win it this season. No. Surprised though that the qualifier has been given to Ukraine. After the reports from the U19 semi this year, I gathered that all local organization (except the racing itself on track and a nice stadium) was below standard and unacceptable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TMGracing 4 Posted November 13, 2010 No. Surprised though that the qualifier has been given to Ukraine. After the reports from the U19 semi this year, I gathered that all local organization (except the racing itself on track and a nice stadium) was below standard and unacceptable. Watch this space as we will have a announcement coming soon about the plans for the USA under 21 Team and a planned tour to the Uk to prepare for the qualifier. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan 2 Posted November 20, 2010 USA Under 21 Speedway, LLC is proud to announce that the United States has been selected to participate in the 2011 FIM World Under 21 Team Championship. The USA will begin their quest at the Qualifying Round on Sunday, May 1, 2011 in Rivne, Ukraine. The other teams in the meeting will be Finland, Slovenia, and the host nation, Ukraine. The American team will travel to Britain and compete in several matches there before going to the FIM Qualifier meeting. The entire trip would take approximately two to three weeks. The teams finishing first and second in the Qualifying Round will then compete in the Semi-Final Rounds in Rawicz, Poland or Diedenbergen, Germany on Saturday, May 28. The top teams for the Semi-Finals progress to the Final which will be held in Balakavo, Russia on Saturday, September 3. The men who developed USA Under 21 Speedway are Richard Child, Gary Gomez, and Ryan Evans. Child has been the USA Team Manager on several occasions and has worked with 1993 World Champion Sam Ermolenko and currently with 1997 World Champion Greg Hancock. Gomez created and developed the successful USA Dream Team tours and has guided his son, Tim Gomez, through the ranks of youth speedway and into First Division. Child and Gomez have countless important contacts in Europe and will utilize them to help make this project successful. Evans has worked as pit steward at all of the current tracks in Southern California and has written media articles, press releases, programs, etc. for over ten years. These men have worked tirelessly on speedway and are dedicated to this project. The goals for the 2011 team to progress through the Qualifying Round and for the young Americans to get experience racing in the highest levels of international competition. The experience will help them in terms of competing domestically in the United States and also help them showcase their talent to European promoters. The long-term goal for USA Under 21 Speedway is to continue to develop Team USA’s Speedway World Cup (SWC) team so that it will be a serious challenger to winning the SWC in the future. Sponsorship will be necessary for the substantial costs involved in this project: airfare, licenses, bike rental/shipping, team suits, team helmets, travel, accommodations, etc. In addition to seeking sponsorship, USA Under 21 Speedway is going to be selling shirts and sweatshirts through its soon-to-be-launched website and will have some unique fundraisers in the near future. Please watch for future information about the website, rider selection, and other information about USA Under 21 Speedway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ryan 2 Posted November 24, 2010 USA Under 21 Speedway, LLC has established a group page on the Facebook social networking site. The page was created on Friday, November 19 and grew to nearly 200 members in its first weekend of existence. The page can be found at the following URL: http://www.facebook.com/groups/USAU21Speedway. The group page will be utilized to make announcements regarding USA Under 21 Speedway and to promote support and discussion about the project. Speedway fans from the United States and from around the world are encouraged to join the page to get information and to participate in discussions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
salty 2,202 Posted December 17, 2010 Calendar and the countries for the 2011 U21 Team Championship: 01.05 - Qualifier (Rivne, Ukraine) - (Ukraine, USA, Finland, Slovenia) 28.05 - Semifinal 1 (Rawicz, Poland) - (Poland, Czech Republic, Sweden, 1 st place of the qualification) 28.05 - Semifinal 2 (Diedenbergen, Germany) - (Germany, Denmark, Australia, 2 nd place of the qualification) 03.09 - Final (Balakovo, Russia) - (Russia, winners of the semifinals, the 2nd best team from the semi-finals) Main question: why is UK not taking part after even holding the final 'last year' in Rye House? Just saw this news. If true, what an absolute disgrace that GB aren't taking part. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SCB 0 Posted December 17, 2010 Just saw this news. If true, what an absolute disgrace that GB aren't taking part. Maybe we don't feel comfortable taking 5 or 6 kids over to Russia. Did you see the line ups of the Russian rounds for the GP qualifiers last season? Nobody could get visas so the Russians took the places. No doubt they'll do the same again to give themselves a fake title. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bavarian 767 Posted December 17, 2010 Maybe we don't feel comfortable taking 5 or 6 kids over to Russia. Did you see the line ups of the Russian rounds for the GP qualifiers last season? Nobody could get visas so the Russians took the places. No doubt they'll do the same again to give themselves a fake title. Not so, the problem last year was that there was not enough time (just a couple of weeks) between the previous round and the next one in Russia, and that made it difficult for many of the western Europe riders to get their visas in time. This problem has been looked at this year and between the semi-finals and the final of the U21 World Cup there are more than two months which is easily enough time for the teams/riders to apply and sort out the visas. It simply is a poor decision by the British authorities not to take part this year, when even the USA does organise a team to go all the way from a preliminary round in the Ukraine, something the British team would not have had to bother with. As finalists last year Great Britain would have been seeded for one of the semi-finals in Poland or Germany. As I see it, all teh other major and many of the minor nations take part, only the British are missing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
salty 2,202 Posted December 24, 2010 (edited) Maybe we don't feel comfortable taking 5 or 6 kids over to Russia. Did you see the line ups of the Russian rounds for the GP qualifiers last season? Nobody could get visas so the Russians took the places. No doubt they'll do the same again to give themselves a fake title. As we were in the Final last year I would expect us to have been seeded to one of the semi's. If we had got through to the Final then we would have had a full 3 months to organise paperwork and logistics for getting a team to Russia for the Final. It will be interesting to see what the other 3 countries in the Final manage to do. How are our youngsters ever going to get experience at International level? There just doesn't seem to be any collective effort to map out a future strategy. Edited December 24, 2010 by salty Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DutchGrasstrack 804 Posted December 24, 2010 As we were in the Final last year I would expect us to have been seeded to one of the semi's. If we had got through to the Final then we would have had a full 3 months to organise paperwork and logistics for getting a team to Russia for the Final. It will be interesting to see what the other 3 countries in the Final manage to do. How are our youngsters ever going to get experience at International level? There just doesn't seem to be any collective effort to map out a future strategy. You lot where seeded in the final last year But you are quite right, these meetings are perfect for the youngsters to get the important experience. It looks like that the ACU isn't interested in sending riders to the UEM and FIM meetings, I'm sure France got even more riders in these meetings then UK . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DutchGrasstrack 804 Posted December 24, 2010 2011 ACU Allocations FIM - Speedway GP Qualifiers 5 spots FIM - Speedway U21 only 2 spots FIM - Speedway U21 Teams not taking part European Championship Speedway not taking part European Championship Speedway Juniors only 2 spots European Championship Speedway Teams taking part European Championship Speedway Pairs not taking part Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
salty 2,202 Posted December 24, 2010 2011 ACU Allocations FIM - Speedway GP Qualifiers 5 spots FIM - Speedway U21 only 2 spots FIM - Speedway U21 Teams not taking part European Championship Speedway not taking part European Championship Speedway Juniors only 2 spots European Championship Speedway Teams taking part European Championship Speedway Pairs not taking part Just about sums up the GB mentality. I guess we have always snubbed the European Championships because they impinge on the domestic calendar, but it is such a short sighted policy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigFatDave 258 Posted December 24, 2010 As I see it, many of the minor nations take part, only the British are missing. Got that right! Seems like the only way GB youngsters are getting any International experience is thanks to Marcus the Pom and his Darren & Sharon Boocock Scholarship. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
