Conkers

Looking at the scorers - Russia, Germany and Team Europa were the most even of teams It may appear a little harsh on the others, but Posa, Aakko, Tuinstra and Klatovsky show the gap between themselves and their fellow countrymen. I can only think that Had Zorn rode, then Austria would have been in the same boat, with a high scoring rider and the odd point by their team-mates. Bauer is undoubtedly a great rider, but he has Eibl nipping at his heels, with Kreklau scoring in his only ride, Germany are now Sweden's opposition for second place. And for the second year in succession, Sweden aren't on the rostrum. A record they possibly don't want to mention. It was noted by Wolfslayer, Icanicant and myself last year, after the Roloef Thijs Bokaal, that the Russians are bringing on new talent by the bucket load and its a question of who can stop them. On this performance, they are still as strong and the dominant nation on the Ice. Roll on the Individual Semi's next weekend.......

Oh well - certainly no surprises there this weekend

I seem to remember when Jarmo Hirvasoya was going like a train in 1990, and was favourite to win the World Championship, the Finnish Authorities excused him from the team event, in order to keep him as free from injury as possible (or so the story went at the time). I wonder if Austria are trying a similar ploy with Frankie as he is having a great season so far? As for having Team Europa - it does make a mockery of the event IMHO. Oh well, I still think the Russians will win, and Team Europa will be in the top half of the field.

Looks like Bulankin will ride after all next weekend

Teams for this weekend: Czech Rep: Antonin Klatovsky, Jan Klatovsky, Jan Pecina Sweden: Per-Olof Serenius, Thomas Ekstrom, Hans-Olov Olsen Austria: Franz Zorn, Harald Simon, Martin Leitner Russia: Nikolai Krasnikov, Vitali Khomitsevich, Ivan Ivanov Netherlands: Johnny Tuinstra, Rene Verhoef, Rene Stellingwerf Finland: Antti Aakko, Sami Rasonen, Tomi Kirilov Germany: Gunter Bauer, Robert Eibl, Marian Kreklau The Russian team look very strong even without Bulankin, and Germany should be favourites for second place. I don't think Zorn can carry the Austrian Team unless Leitner has improved in the last couple of years Prediction: 1) RUSSIA, 2) Germany, 3) Sweden or Finland

Didn't he tune Jarmo Hirvasoya's bike the year he was World Champion?

Interesting! Flyktman scores a 15 point maximum and beats Aakko. Perhaps the Swedes have a rider who could follow Svensson after all.

Thanks for clarifying the Situation, and thanks for the update on Jimmy F. Saw him and Tommy ride last year at Assen, and thought that with a few more meetings they could cause a few upsets. Once again, thanks.

If Raimo has retired then Aakko has won (unless of course he does something stupid). Isn't Flyktman Swedish? And do you know what has happened to his Brother, Jimmy?

I'm flying out Saturday for the Sat/Sun meetings, and I'm staying at a Hotel across the road (so to speak) from the Stadium. I land in Berlin around 2.30pm, and then I'm on the U-Bahn/S-Bahn to the Stadium. I fly back home Monday Morning. Because of other commitments I can only do it that way

According to Franky's web site - he didn't really want to ride at Flims as he had Pnemonia, but rode on the Saturday and only dropped the two points. However he was so bad Sunday Morning he had to withdraw, and he's upset he disappointed his fans.

B*gger! Franky puts my argument out Nice result for Klabo Jnr and Eibl. Good result for Germany all round really, with three in the top 5. The last round in Assen should be interesting if any of these riders are in the World Championship meeting, as I don't see them competing in the Friday night racing. You're not planning a trip to Assen as well as Berlin are you?

That's still only four races where he hasn't finished first - only four points dropped!

So, could Bulankin be about to defend his title? Or will team mate Krasnikov make a challenge for his first World Title? I tried to look on that site, but my computer isn't displaying Russian (BTW iris123 did you say you would be in Berlin for the last rounds of the World Championship? I know that Wolfslayer and his mates are going, and I'll be there too.)

My german is rusty (to say the least!) I take it that this spot is not yet decided and that should he be fit, Dimitri Bulankin will ride at no. 7? What a good draw for Zorn and Skabraut - literally around the corner for them, whilst Posa and Aakko go to Russia.

Good to see Marian and Robert alonside Bauer. I just hope the Germans can go one better than last year, but the Russians will be very striong in Krasnagorsk

You've got to hand it to Posa, as at 56 (57 in March) he just keeps going. Maybe he is after another record as next year will be his 30th season without a break - if the FIM continue to let him ride!

I believe that the meeting was this afternoon, and that this qualifier is a one day affair. When we were looking at the qualifiers for James Gillespie it was listed as a one day meeting whereas the others were two dayers. No doubt the FIM in their wisdom know why but they aren't saying. Perhaps we'll find out one day. Roll on the semi Finals! (BTW James decided not to ride this season, but hopes to be back in 2006 as the USA's representitive)

Final scores from Saransk (from Inspeed.de) 1. Lumpow 29 2. Khomitsewitsch 27 3. Bogdanow 22 4. Kreklau 24 5. Olsen 22 6. Persson 17 7. Pecina 17 8. Tschatschin 17 9. Siska 15 10. Kirilov 11 11. Räsanen 11 12. Weiss 10 13. Halsall 5 14. Uzzel 5 15. Sakharow 3 16. Göldi 3 17. Siegl 2 18. Baseew 0 The qualifiers from Saransk after two days are: - (again, taken from Inspeed.de) 1. Vladimir Lumpov 2. Vitalij Khomitsewitsch 3. Michial Bogdanow 4. Marian Kreklau 5. Hans-Olov Olson 6. Mickeal Persson 7. Dimitri Tschatschin 8. Jan Pecina Platz Reserve: Josef Siska Good result for Marian Kreklau there. Having seen him ride in recent years, very pleased to see him do well in the qualifier.. Pity that Graham and Mark didn't get any further but as Graham gets older, it's good to see Mark is getting better each year!

Taken from Inspeed.de 1.F.Zorn 14p 2.A.Aakko 11p 3.I.Ivanov 13p 4.D.Ivanov 14p 5.Skabraut 10p 6.A.Klatovsky 10p 7.Lindström 10p 8.Tuinstra 8p 9.Flyktman 7p 10.Seppänen 6p 11.Verhoef 5p 12.Gengenbauer 4p 13.Gartmann 3p 14.Gavigelli 2p 15.Ebner 2p 16.A.Weber 0p 17. Gaaeyne 0p 18.Rösti 0p Franky wins again - dropping a single point and winning the Final, but those Ivanov brothers are certainly going to be there or thereabouts this year!

taken from Inspeed.de 1. Krasnikov 15 Pkt. 2. Serenius 14 Pkt. 3. D. Khomitsevich 13 Pkt. 4. Eibl 12 Pkt. 5. Pletschacher 11 Pkt. 6. Björklin 10 Pkt. 7. Koij 8 Pkt. 8. Ekström 8 Pkt. 9. Mayerbuechler 6 Pkt. 10. Kastrén 6 Pkt. 11. Lach 6 Pkt. 12. Stellingwerf 3 Pkt. 13. J. Klatovsky 3 Pkt. 14. P. Johansson 2 Pkt. 15. Kreuzberger 1 Pkt. 16. Mäki 1 Pkt. 17. Ljungkvist 1 Pkt. 18. Leitner 1 Pkt.

I'd love to be there GSF - are you going? This should test Zorn as Ivan is a good rider, but his younger brother is possibly the wildest Russian rider I've seen. Wonder how Posa will fair in Bollnas? Also good luck to Mark and Graham in Saransk flying the British Flag

Inspeed.de lists the line-ups for the three World Championship Qualifiers this weekend: Bollnass: 1. Nikolaj Krasnikov 2. Robert Eibl 3. Tommy Björklin 4. Jaromir Lach 5. Peter Koji 6. Jan Klatovsky 7. Martin Leitner 8. Reinhart Greißel 9. Mika Kastren 10. Stefan Pletschacher 11. Per Olov Serenius 12. Rene Stellingenwerf 13. Jaakko Maki 14. Dimitri Khomitsevich 15. Tomas Ekström 16. Joasef Keulberger R1. Peter Koj R2. Martin Ljungqvist Saalfelden 1. Markus Skabraut 2. Simon Gartmann 3. Johnny Tuinstra 4. Ivan Ianov 5. Anton Weber 6. Franky Zorn 7. Tommy Flyktman 8. Danil Ivanov 9. Thomas Cavigelli 10. René Verhoef 11. Antti Aakko 12. Claude Gadeyne 13. Per Anders Lindström 14. Antonin Klatovsky 15. Sebastian Gegenbauer 16. Jouni Seppänen R1. Charlie Ebner R2. Lukas Rösti Saransk CH - Heinz Goldie - Philip Weiss D - Marian Kreklau - Hans Siegl - Franz Mayerbuchler SWE - Mickael Persson - Hans-Olov Olsen FIN - Tomi Kirilov - Sami Rasanen GB - Graham Halsall - Mark Uzzel RUS - Michail Bogdanov - Vitalij Khomitsevitsj - Vladimir Lumpov - Maksim Zacharov (Reserver) - Junir Bazeev (Reserver) CZE - ?

Whilst I don't disagree with you GSF - it has to be said that Franky has only finished second in one race this year - the rest he has won. I don't think Robert Eibl was winning as many as Franky this time last year. I must admit that having seen Eibl over the last few years he has the attitude and the ability to go far as long as he doesn't fall to any serious injury. As for the Rusians, it looks like the young guns are certainly up for it this year with Krasnikov, the Khomisewichs and the Ivanovs all showing well in the Russian Final. I can't wait for the World Championship to start! I spoke to Thomas Schifner who was the TV Screening Rights Holder to the Ice Racing Series last year at Assen. He can only get it televised if Eurosport commission him to record the meetings. It is too expensive for him to go out , hire a TV Crew and then try and "cold call" TV Companies. Especially as he would have to do the whole series. Generally, broadcasters won't commission but express an interest if he came to them with a ready made programme. But without the money from a commission, he can't afford to hire a TV Crew - Chicken and Egg situation.

There is a guy in the Netherlands who tapes Grasstrack and I think if you contact the member DutchGrasstrack he may know a bit more (or may very well be the same person) BTW Nice to see you on the Forum Anth