Schwantz34

Hi Steve I'll keep my eyes peeled for the union jack, standing at the first corner on Saturday and sitting somewhere on the start/ finish on Sunday. Went to Heerenveen in 2017 for my first meeting and really enjoyed it although I felt the Herris fencing round the side spoils the view a bit ( for some reason they don't have it in Inzell). Can't come soon enough and although I probably preferred the last 2 years at Inzell, Amsterdam is easier to do in a weekend from Glasgow than Munich or Salzburg. I hear what you're saying about the rider in second potentially having more points with the old scoring system. But, like my British Superbike analogy I feel the champion at the end of the year will be a deserving champion whether or not they would have been should the scoring be as per last year. Enjoy Inzell and if I get a chance I'll say hi at Thialf

Does the new system not make it easier for 3rd and 4th to catch up with the top two, technically making it a more open title race? Not saying I agree with it but seeing as I'm going to Heerenveen, the more riders with a shot at the title the better

Weber was excellent this weekend, very exciting to watch. To harp back to the scoring, the new system has kept the top of the table close whereas Steves old table shows Ivanov and Khomitsevich way out in front with a gap nigh on impossible to close ( with the old scoring).

Steve, I know what you're saying but it's totally hypothetical. Ivanov might have tried harder in some of the heats etc if it was the old scoring system. Don't know if you follow British Superbikes but they introduced a " showdown" about 10 years ago, without going in to the detail basically it's a manipulation of the points to ensure the championship goes down to the final round. On at least one occasion thereafter the champion would not have been champion if the traditional scoring system had been used. Although others say they didn't deserve their championship I say you can't use ifs buts and maybes to insinuate they were less deserving. All of course IMHO

Great ride by Weber second day, and incredible stuff by Ivanov to stay on board in that final. I watched one of the Russian YouTubers videos containing all races from both days, you can't help but be disappointed by some of the westerners like Schaap, Ebner and even fan favourite Zorn. To me it looks like Zorn must have a decent budget and Simon the opposite, aside from being a quick starter Zorn has very little fight about him whereas Simon gets stuck in

All too short but Kazakhstan highlights from FIM TV

Thanks fsp, interesting stuff

Thanks fsp, where would you get " soft" ice then?

Good news, nasty incident. If you watch the first lap the front on Webers bike was trying to tuck at that bit too, couldn't see from shaky footage whether that happened to Zorn, Weber or both when the accident happened. Does the brittle state of the ice mean it is soft ice? I read about riders claiming ice being soft or hard and I'm not quite sure about the characteristics of each, can anyone help?

The racing in the Russian super league is tremendous, some of those younger lesser known riders are really stepping up. Thought Ledstrom had a great first day, not so good on the second and Haaruhiltunen beating Krasnikov on day two was a great race

I agree, watching his vlogs make me appreciate how unglamorous it can be being an ice speedway rider ( travelling must be horrendous and exhausting). Fair play to him sticking at it after the comparatively glam world of the moto gp paddock!!!!

I can't help but feel disappointed, surely the FIM want the strongest possible field for the premier series. I don't mean any disrespect but can't non Russians get their chance as wildcards at their home rounds? As I've said before I've not followed the sport for that long but did younger riders like Haaruhiltunen or Weber get full time wildcards to prove themselves and get established or did they get established and then qualify off their own back with perhaps a one off wildcard here and there?

Is there any chance of Shishegov getting one of the permanent wild cards for ISG this year or will it be one of the non qualifiers from Saturday?

Tom, Berlin last year coincided with a stag weekend I was on. Didn't go on the Saturday but when the other guys went home on the Sunday morning I went to the afternoon ISG and although I already had my ticket there were plenty of folk buying tickets from the boots and plenty of space at turns 1 and 2/ the back straight. Don't buy anything for turns 3 or 4, you'll need binoculars. Inzell you'd have no chance of turning up and getting a brief and Heerenveen is pretty busy too although you might be able to pay at the gate

Think I said this last year but that guy Sergey Makarov is an exciting rider, hope he makes it into the world championships this year

Pardon the ignorance, I take it that means the winner of the final will walk away with the most points? I know previously this didn't necessarily happen ie someone scrapes through heats/ semi final and wins the event but has less points than say second or third finisher in final

Just to give a heads up to those of you wanting to buy tickets for Heerenveen, tickets are on sale now

http://www.speedway-forum.de/index.php?thread/17637-eisspeedway-labberfred-2019/&postID=343161#post343161 Some YouTube videos of training, gives a link to the German forum

A combination of this forum, the German and Russian speedway forums hold allow you to play streams of most events including Russian league meetings. FIM TV usually release a 30min highlights programme of the Ice Speedway Gladiators rounds a week or so after each event

I've got huge admiration for the skill these riders have on their bikes, but my god have I got admiration for the patience and resolve of the western Europeans at the Russian border.

Thanks

Any word on a new ticket seller being found for Heerenveen Dutch Grass track?

Thanks Dutch Grass track, I seem to remember last year that there was nothing for a long time and then when they went on sale all the good seats were gone. I have to say the organisers for tickets at Inzell are exceptional, every request I've made ie for front row of whatever section, has been granted.

Jeez it's along wait for the release of Heerenveen tickets!!! At least if I was going to inzell my order would be in by now