racers and royals

Round 1 live updates from Gillman tomorrow from 8.30am https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/relacja/94958/i-runda-im-australii-w-gillman

The qualification meeting at Gillman was held today - scorechart https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/relacja/94912/kwalifikacje-do-im-australii-w-gillman and the 8 riders who made it through to the final 5 round series starting tomorrow are Ryan Douglas, Jordan Stewart, Justin Sedgmen, Kye Thomson, Todd Kurtz, Nick Morris, Zach Cook and Ben Cook

Just seen that Czech international rider Miloslav Verner died on December 18th aged 80.

No doubt the Extraleague, the clubs and the riders will all be benefiting- this is from my post in the OP. This new contract for coverage of the Extraleague from 2019 to 2021 is reportedly worth 60 million PLN as against 25 million PLN for the period 2016-18.

What we can agree on is that the new TV deal is behind this !! All 4 matches per round televised between 2 companies - and i suppose with N Sport wanting to keep the prime Sunday slots, for continuity over the 14 rounds,Friday`s were the only day for Eleven sport TV fixtures.

Yes 2 but could be between 2 and 8 Friday`s. Not sure the Polish league AGREE to cancel their matches- more like the postponement day is next day for the GP`s and Poland decide to cancel if riders become unavailable for league duty- which is also what they do if riders become unavailable because of postponements to SEC comps, U21 and UEM comp`s etc. The Extraleague in my opinion on this matter have gone to far- there are many other Friday`s or Saturday`s they can use- however i would agree that it would split the round up which would lead to a disjointed league table.

I`m not sure there is anything positive regarding the Extraleague wanting to tie riders to racing on 10 Fridays- 24 hours before a round of the biggest competition in world speedway. If riders want to practice(and most do) they should be allowed to. The Extraleague was very lucky with the weather in 2018- might not be the same as regards postponements in 2019. In total there are in addition to the 2 definite Friday`s another 6 are reserve dates. Poland could, if the will is there , use other free Friday`s and Saturday`s instead.

As a guess both UK times 4.30pm and 7.00pm

Exactly- then why have the FIM not had the b*lls to do anything about it- there are so many other Friday nights that Poland could use(although not in the same week as the Sunday matches necessarily) or Saturday`s as well. For fear of repeating myself the FIM should have - as soon as it became apparent what the Extraleague were going to do was to change the rule so that riders themselves were to draw their riding number out of the hat 1 hour before practice starts.

The update is that the FIM(and BSI by not putting enough pressure on the FIM) have bottled it and for all purposes said to the Polish Extraleague you do want you want . In my opinion it devalues the GP with riders missing practice to ride in a league match 24hours before a GP. I have already said what the FIM should have done in the timescale before the Polish fixtures came out.There are 2 Friday`s scheduled which clash with GP practice 31st May(June 1st Krsko) and 1st August (2nd August Wroclaw)however there are also Extraleague reserved dates (for rain-offs) on Friday 17th May(Warsaw 18th May) Friday June 14th (Prague 15th June) Friday 5th July(Hallstavik 6th July) Friday 16th August(Malilla 17th August) plus play-off reserve rain-off dates the day before Vojens and Cardiff.

That`s Whitsun which i think is when Catholic`s visit Czestochowa as it is steeped in Catholic history.

It really depends on which home club it is and who they are against- If you wanted to watch Lublin at home i would suggest that all their matches will sell out. Leszno and Czestochowa for instances although well supported are big stadiums and almost certainly would not sell out. Friday matches might not be so popular as Sunday`s however. With the clubs ticket sales appearing to be more friendly to us foreigners these days !! i think i would buy before i went- most i think are "E" tickets(print at home) and presumably with most of the stadiums seating you can choose where to sit.

The thread i started on the Australian championship doesn’t say he’s doing it.

I remember it well- it was me picking him up at Stansted !!!

Balance the books almost certainly. The new TV contract for the Extraleague is for serious money !!!(N sport and Eleven sport) for 2019 /2021 is reportedly worth 60 Million ZL as against 25 Million for the period 2016-18

Krompa, that`s a very good question. Maybe Ghostie might have heard something. I will be taking out the monthly subscription to Speedway play again in 2019 if it carries on. We might have to wait until nearer the season to hear if increased matches will be made available to UK and Poland( will Premier/freesports and Eleven in Poland still have the contract?) for the Thursday matches.

I have been able to see the tickets for the GP page but the Polish i think says you can buy if season ticket holder- i should imagine at 2pm tomorrow it opens up to everyone.

These prices might not be adult prices- didn`t realise that website says FROM

Prices are back straight 60 zl 4th bend 119 zl 1st bend 149ZL main stand best seats 199 ZL

Not going but have just created an account- put country, passport and my passport number in. left out postcode because the Poles didn`t seem to like it ticked the agree at the bottom where the asterisks are and finally it said i had created it and i would get an email to activate and that email came immediately. If i were you i would start again and make sure the password complies with their requirements(the crosses turn to ticks)

Not likely i would think.

I would suggest that anyone wanting to buy tickets next week creates an account here asap https://bilety.wts.pl/TicketsOnline/ so that it becomes easier on the 19th to purchase.

You are not wrong- agreement has been reached with the club and the local authority for the speedway club to use the stadium in 2019(the club will be responsible for the track prep) and Lodz expect no problems in getting their licence from the PZM and therefore are selling season tickets from tomorrow.

I agree

If Birmingham are trying to get new assets they should attempt to sign Vastervik`s talented youngster Anton Karlsson.