moomin man 76

Call it off. Even if it stops raining at this exact moment, it is going to take an age to get the track rideable let alone raceable.

As a further footnote, Ossi Rantala is now riding for Finland in the Longtrack of Nations event. I presume he'll be using Jesse Mustonen's bikes...

The winner of this event, Ossi Rantala was also part of the Varkaus team, which won the Finnish Pairs Speedway Championship this weekend. Were it not for speedway being at such a low ebb in Finland, I suspect he would have the talent to go far in the sport...

Given that Riga is a purpose built permanent speedway track, there is no reason for the quality of racing resemble the temporary track that was built at Ratina, Tampere for the two stagings of the Finnish GP in 2014-15.

Marmande postponed - a number of riders seriously out of pocket. Jesse Mustonen and team ended up doing a 7,000km round trip from Varkaus in Finland for nothing.

Antti Vuolas fills Finland's only spot.

History made as Finland win the Ice Speedway of Nations for the first time.

Will definitely get the Varkaus stream.

It'll be good to see the European Ice Speedway final at Varkaus. Big respect to the Mustonen family and all the other volunteers at Varkaus.

Looking at which riders might be available to each nation, I would have thought that Sweden or Finland will be contesting the gold medal in the team event.

Tero Aarnio has signed for Masarna.

Can't see any benefit of having France and Italy in front of Finland, bearing in mind the scores in the first semi-final, plus Finland qualifying for the final two years ago.

Timo Lahti has a Swedish passport on account of him riding in Sweden for numerous years, but it makes him as Swedish as it makes me a Finn (my wife being Finnish). Rding on a Swedish licence is out of convenience too, as although he is a Finn, he counts as a Swede for team building purposes in the Elitserien. Sadly speedway in Finland is really struggling, withno meetings held this season, due to the well documented insurance nightmare. Otto Raak being picked at reserve is largely due to their being no one else left to ride, rather than his ability as a 16 year old up and coming rider.

The situation regarding insurance for speedway in Finland is getting beyond a joke now. The sport was already struggling and the insurance issue could potentially finish off the sport. The sums quoted are astronomical per bike. You can practice, but cannot take part in a competitive meeting without insurance. Sadly there will probably be no speedway meetings in Finland at all this year, as the planned pairs series has also been cancelled.

Otto Raak for Finland at Varkaus.