Bavarian

Grindsted also withdrawn from the Superliga for this year, but will be back in 2021

John Hyam has written about Antti Pajari at the Online Speedway Museum http://www.speedwaymuseumonline.co.uk/anttipajari.html

o.k., let's wait for Ghostwalkers response then

o.k.

O.k. then it will probaly be the top six in the Playoffs with 3rd to 6th in two quarter-finals, and 1st and 2nd straight into the semis. I guess with Eskilstuna already withdrawing, there would be no relegation from the Eliteserien to the Allsvenskan this year. Right?

How many teams qualify for the play-offs ? Is it four (top four straight into the semis) or six (with an additional quarter-final round) ?

That is ridiculous, especially in Sweden, to allow only 50 spectators at outdoor sports venues that could easily accomodate thousands of people. Is there any hope that more spectators will be allowed in July, August, September, or October ? Norway had an upper limit of 50 until June 15, and now they let up to 200 spectators in, and Finland already allows up to 500. Why can't the Swedes agree on a higher number?

What I don't understand is why can't a limited number of specators be allowed for Swedish Elitserien meetings ? Even only a few hundred would bring the clubs some much needed cash. I thought that Sweden are quite liberal with the Covid-19 restrictions ! But then they don't allow any spectators at speedway meetings ! Why ?

Last heat decider at Rybnik - great match !

I expect Czestochowa v Wroclaw tonight to be a real thriller. This really should be THE top match in roudn 3 of the Ekstraliga this weekend.

I have watched the same meeting on Polish TV with all the Polish commentators, reporters, re-plays and interviews, and found it highly exciting to watch (even without understanding the Polish language!), and then the same meeting with english commentary on Premier Sports felt so drawn out and rather boring to watch. So the problem seems to be the presentation of the Ekstraliga on Premier Sports, rather than the raw product, which is good quality as we get to see on nSport+ and on Eleven Sports each week. By the way, it is the same problem with speedway on TV here in Germany. Speedway has never caught on with a wider sports audience on TV here in Germany, because speedway on TV has NEVER been presented in a good enough quality to capture the casual viewer. The coverage is more often than not drawn out with lengthy spells of nothign Happening. Our commentators usually lack in-depth knowledge of the Sport, tend to talk non-sense, and never ever reach the level of excitement that we get to experience in Poland. The Polish style of commentary is so full of excitement and enthusiasm. They show us how it should be done.

The problem ist that Goddard has to do the commentary all alone. He should get a co-commentor, best some rider or ex-rider (like with Pearson & Tatum). This would make it much easier for him and more entertaining for the viewers.

Lublin v Gorzow today was a very entertaining meeting. Exciting racing at this track.

Togliatti looks rather doubtful. I don't think there will be a Russian SGP this year. With five Grand Prix's this year there could be three in Poland, one in Prague, and one in ??? (Daugavpils maybe?)

Thanks @steve roberts I'm surprised to learn that there were no "official" England / GB team managers before 1973. I wonder who managed the England teams in the famous test series against Australia and other nations during the 1930s, '40s, '50s and 60's then ?

Are there no records kept of who was England Team Manager from year to year ?

Does anyone have a chronological list of all the official England (and GB) speedway team managers we ever had through the years since 1930? Who was the longest serving, who was the most successful, who was the worst ?

Lots of pictures of the visit are on Sportowy Fakty https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/zdjecia/galeria/19390/prezydent-andrzej-duda-z-wizyta-u-bartosza-zmarzlika

For all who still doubt the status of speedway in Poland, take a look here. This is the Polish State president Andrzej Duda, who on Friday visited the home and workshop of world champion Bartosz Zmarzlik ! https://www.speedwaygp.com/news/article/8278/polish-president-visits-zmarzlik-Workshop

Will Lokomotiv Daugavpils be allowed to take part ?

This "Velodromo Vigorelli" stadium is in Milan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velodromo_Vigorelli

Yes, it seems they have run their "speedway" meetings on the long-track.