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No way can Saifudinov and Laguta take their places in the GP series. Even as neutrals. No Russians allowed, full stop. Whilst it is hard on these riders, there is no place in sport for nothing Russian. The ban on sportsman and women must be worldwide and include polish league and Swedish league racing.

If indeed Emil and Artem are against the Russian acts, it makes no difference. They are Russian by an act of birth and therefore had no choice as to their nationality. Yes it's hard on them but the citizens of Ukraine had no choice in where they were born either and it's even bloody harder on them. Being banned from sport of a short while pales into insignificance compared to losing your life or your family.

And I think that's correct. Individuals are officially representing Russian and Belarus teams (regardless of what they're called) so should not be allowed at the Paralympics.

I believe everything Russian should be regarded as Persona Non Gratta . Whilst innocents may suffer , I also believe that the only thing that will stop Putin and his henchmen is a popular uprising.

I tend to agree here. Especially in sport and culture ( i did see quite a few Russian arts and music events have been cancelled and a few prominent Russians have left or been removed from their jobs), where they are put on a pedestal or even podium.Many competitors and spectators will feel uneasy about competing against them or paying to watch them. Sports bodies have taken the easy option far too often in the past of letting teams compete under a neutral flag. It also to a certain extent make it easier for the athlete etc, as they then don't need to make a statement that they might not even believe that could come back to bite them later

As do i 100%.

tenuous but thanks for the info. is that an official FIM event. Or is it akin to Jan Graversen claiming to be a Danish international because he once round for a team called the Vikings? Sounds like the PZM have been quite specific in their requirements to allow him to continue, a bit like the BSPL shoe horning Josh Bates into the Rising Star criteria. My understanding is that there is, understandably, quite an anti Russian atmosphere in Poland atm. Plus those Polish speedway fans can be quite vociferous so it might be for the best if all those Russian national riders are excluded while the conflict continues. Best for all concerned IMO.

And if they do denounce the invasion, what then? Novichok and polonium for tea. Many have condemned them as cowards for not speaking out against the war, but it carries with it real dangers.

With the Polish rule still very much in place, it’s abit immaterial but I have said for a long period of time that a good way to get some of the top riders here would be to allow for the no.1 position to be shared. As an example you might have Nicki Pedersen and Tai Woffinden share one position and they could be rotated accordingly to availability, form or just personal preference. If teams could make it pay (and that would be their choice) why wouldn’t that work?

Seconded, he was a good watch in his brief spell at Leicester

Not now.As other nations were ready to pull out if the teams from Russia and Belarus competed.

They are not racing under the Russian flag nor is the Russian anthem being played at any sporting event This is nothing to do with the current situation in Ukraine but issues with drugs over a long period. Emil Sayfutinov & Artum Laguta were representing the Russian federation (MFR) in international events last season & are due to represent them again. My opinion is that The FIM should remove all Russian's from their events whilst the current hostile situation exists. I understand that Emil holds a Polish passport & Like Gleb Chugenov (Russian) & Rune Holta (Norwegian) could possibly represent Poland.

Now Oxford are back what are the chances of other tracks returning like Coventry, Bradford, Swindon, Workington, Exeter, Arena Essex or even Reading

Well I'm excited anyway.

Never , maybe , expected , planned , never , never , never

Although he’s told you your wrong, you are, in fact, not wrong

and if all the paperwork goes through without any hiccups the exciting edition should shut a few up.

Agreed but I'm afraid many who might be inclined to take it out on a someone they perceive as Russian may not spend too much time carrying out any prior detailed research into the precise views held by that individual. My point remains the same it is probably not safe for Emil and Artem to be riding at the moment and that has little to do with whether they denounce anything.

We are never going to compete with Polish rates but Sweden is not looking good if reports are true on a number of issues, we shall see as 2022 unfolds..

It's very difficult to gauge what sort of team we're going to end up with ? The optimism shrinks by the day.... I know the rule of thumb is 'support your club at all costs'....but times have changed.... I want to know what I'm investing in before parting with any money, it's not because I've fell out of love with my club, it's more that I'm not so thrilled with the sport in general.

Maybe people don't want to pay with their cash until they really have to. Human nature.

somewhat patronising as usual skids,what your saying is "my team will be in the play-offs but yours wont"nah nah n na na,my teams sponsors are bigger than your teams and my dad was bigger than yours cause he was from poole

The way this horrific war is going I also don’t think it will be safe for Emil and Artem to race in most places at this moment.

But Josh has already signed!

You should tell LR.

Great to see local lad josh embleton getting a national League team place with armadale devils

What’s happened to stevebrum? Not a single contribution on this thread since it started! Has been a regular poster over the years so hope the fella is ok

Well if you put it down correctly no one would have to explain it to you Twit

I rather think the problem was that two Saturday tracks (Workington and Lakeside) wanted to run extra meetings on Fridays, on nights the three regular Friday tracks already had fixtures set. While this has nowt to do with Oxford (and lets remember the Cheetahs were originally wanting to enter the Premiership as a Thursday club anyway) it needs to be remembered what really was the problem in four years ago.

According to the Facebook post I've seen, it says that they've "agreed terms", but won't announce a name until the paperwork is done. In other words, nobody has actually "signed" (yet?). That Facebook news comes to us from the same source that said that two riders were on the brink and just needed to check their fixtures, a couple of months ago, and more recently, that there were 6-8 riders of interest. Let's wait until we see who turns up at P&P in 3 weeks' time. My take on this is, it's 3 weeks to go, and 3 riders still to sign.

Apparently the F.A. have stated that they will not play against Russia in any competition for the foreseeable future. Good for them.

The situation may solve itself, as if Laguta and Sayfitdonov are currently in Russia they will have extreme difficulty travelling anywhere else at the moment (Belarus excepted).

Doubt Russians will get permission (visa?) to enter many countries at the moment, for whatever reason.

Tough on Artem and Emil but a great opportunity for Dan if this is how it pans out.

Josh Embleton annouced: https://britishspeedway.co.uk/ndl/embleton-joins-devils/

And the banks have lost nothing during the pandemic. All loans underwritten by the government are what is described as ‘zero risk’ rated so no bank capital is used and the return on the loan goes straight to the bottom line of the bank as net as profit. The conservatives have been irresponsible in the loans/grants to businesses during the pandemic and those in receipt are surprised regarding the tax implications and are pleading ignorance on this point despite most having accountants who will have given best advice. The tax payer in the U.K. has been ripped off because of so many unscrupulous businesses falsely taking loans and an irresponsible government who with such abandon, threw money at a situation without thinking it through and consequently leaving a system open to abuse. How many businesses owners have taken the open cheques from the government and bought premium bonds etc. Those who doubt this are ill informed, most accountants know what has gone on and when tax returns are completed, accountants are alerted as to why the returns are wrong and most of the issues relate to the grants and loans dished out willy nilley by the government to businesses who are less than honest. The current financial implications for the domestic market re price caps on fuel etc. are because of the failure to manage the reduction in fossil fuel use over a reasonable period of time and the investment in alternatives which has lead to everyone paying over the odds in the short term rather than a managed financial strategy over a reasonable period of time. The hike in direct/indirect taxation through NI as well as the fuel increase etc. should never be solely down to one individual of the like of Sunak who through family wealth will never ever be impacted by the hardship of the average U.K. citizen. It says it where the country has a top table as a governing body which is made up of the privilege few who the rules do not apply and yet claim to understand the current financial crisis but will never be affected by the financial hardship many will suffer. They seem to be really taking the p... out of each and every struggling worker/household.

Talking of Chelsea I wish they still had the speedway track at their football ground

Yep, the whole world has just become a much more dangerous place... especially for Russian's. There's going to be a generation or more of Ukrainians that will have anyone or anything Russian in their sights. Such madness smh