Subedei

It looks like Artiom Laguta could be as bright a prospect as Sajfutdinov on this showing. I believe Laguta Jnr is just 17-years-old, slightly younger than Sajfutdinov. Together, they could lead Russia into a glorious era.

But a bit easier on the eye than Peter Waite.

Rzeszow president Marta Poltorak very displeased with her foreign riders after the team's heavy home defeat at the hands of Czestochowa: http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/2008/06/...-obcokrajowcow/ The feisty Ms Poltorak is not someone to cross. She dropped Rune Holta from the Rzeszow team when he refused to apologise for offending her after she invoked a clause in his contract that reduced payments if his average went below a certain level. It appears that she hasn't yet considered financial punishments for the likes of Nicholls and Watt, but is talking about dismissing them from the team. It looks like she is looking for improved conduct in Sunday's meeting against Tarnow and that action will follow if she doesn't get it.

Here: http://live.sportowefakty.pl/launch_speedway_913.html

I don't think it's being televised. And it looks like no Nicki P for Czestochowa as a result of his meeting in Russia earlier in the week. Edit: It seems that Nicki P is there now - he was delayed in arriving at the stadium as a result of his meeting in Russia earlier in the week.

The Russians could be a real powerhouse nation in years to come, with the Artioms Vodjakov and Laguta (assuming he doesn't decide to become Latvian) showing real promise and, of course, the remarkable Emil Sajfutdinov.

Poland: http://sportowefakty.pl/img/_tmp/stateliga08.htm Sullivan at No 8, Watt at No 28. Sweden: http://web1.sportowefakty.pl/images/statelitserien2008.htm Sullivan at No 22, Watt at No 46.

But Sullivan's a better rider than Watt and you named Watt.

Also likely to be in contention for Poland are the likes of Grzegorz Walasek, Rafal Dobrucki and Robert Kosciecha. And in spite of not riding over here, Ryan Sullivan is still a more than useful performer and will be in the Australian team.

At the time the contract was signed I imagine that BSI were desperate for somewhere to host the thing. The Poles were probably prepared to promote the event when everyone else was steering clear. After all, it doesn't seem as if there was a great rush of tracks wanting to host the race-off and final this season, was there? But now it looks like Coventry, where the existing promotion has a one-year lease, are wanting to stage the event next season. Well, I've no doubt that BSI will seek to extricate themselves from the contract with Unia Leszno, hopefully the Polish club will fight them tooth and nail.

I just don't understand why Lynch persists in believing the SWC race-off and final will be staged at Coventry next year. BSI (IMG) have a signed contract with Leszno to stage the 2009 SWC race-off and final on their track: http://www.crash.net/news_View~cid~19~id~137758.htm To make it clear, it says: BSI and Unia Leszno today announced a three year deal for the Polish club to host seven world championship speedway events. The contract, that was signed today, means that Leszno will promote five FIM Speedway World Cup (SWC) events and two FIM Speedway Grand Prix (SGP) rounds from 2007-2009. The Leszno club will host and promote the following meetings: 2007 FIM Speedway World Cup Race Off and Final 2008 FIM Speedway Grand Prix - one round FIM Speedway World Cup - Polish Leg 2009 FIM Speedway Grand Prix - one round FIM Speedway World Cup Race Off and Final A delighted John Postlethwaite said: "Poland is one of our key markets and it is great news for the future of both the SGP Series and SWC that venues for seven events are already confirmed for 2007 - 2009. "With this news, and also the fact that we have just signed a new five year deal with Polish broadcaster Canal +, the future of both world championships in Poland is very bright indeed." Jozef Dworakowski, Unia Leszno President said: "We are delighted to sign a three year deal with BSI to stage both SGP and SWC events. It is not only a big success for the club UNIA Leszno, but it is also a triumph for the city of Leszno and all Leszno speedway fans. "As we all know, speedway meetings organized by BSI are very popular world-wide, and both the SGP and SWC are not just speedway meetings, they are big festivals for all speedway supporters. I am sure that everyone connected with Leszno will put on great events and we look forward to thrilling world championship racing at Leszno over the next three years."

When are Polonia going to give up on unSteady, Lawrence?

They gave Bydgoszcz a fright yesterday.

He scored 5+1 from 3.

He rode for Gdansk on the 11th May, 2008.

Incidentally, Niels-Kristian Iversen has now drawn No 14 in three out of the four GPs so far.

The draw has been made for the FIM Danish Grand Prix to be held in Copenhagen on 14th June, 2008, and is as follows: 1..B Pedersen..(DEN) 2..G Hancock..(USA) 3..F Lindgren..(SWE) 4..A Jonsson..(SWE) 5..S Nicholls..(GBR) 6..H Andersen..(DEN) 7..[W]..K Bjerre..(DEN) 8..J Crump..(AUS) 9..L Dryml..(CZR) 10..R Holta..(POL) 11..L Adams..(AUS) 12..T Gollob..(POL) 13..N Pedersen..(DEN) 14..N-K Iversen..(DEN) 15..K Kasprzak..(POL) 16..C Harris..(GBR) 17..[R]..N Klindt..(DEN) 18..[R]..P Hougaard..(DEN) Taken from: http://www.speedwayworld.tv Ht 14 looks mighty interesting: Hancock ( R ), N Pedersen ( B ), Crump ( W ), Adams ( Y ).

Lindgren's points situation currently looks good. But the points situation of Harris looked good after Cardiff. But, final analysis, Harris failed to qualify. Lindgren could yet fail to qualify. And then, excluding external influences, finishing second at Ullevi with 22 points wouldn't amount to much.

To be honest, Lindgren and Holta are in different situations. Holta's a bit of a "Nobody's Child" - his home nation is too small in speedway terms and the Poles would probably rather have a genuine Pole in the series ahead of him. Sweden are a big nation, albeit going through lean times at the minute, with only Jonsson and Lindgren up to standard. Holta's GP win probably keeps him in the GPs next season, regardless of future performance - how can BSI-FIM drop a current Grand Prix champion. Lindgren's nationality will probably save him, if he fails to qualify. But, imagine a scenario where both fail to qualify and there are no external circumstances - a Grand Prix winner and a rider who scored 5 points more than him over the course of a season. They're going to pick the winner, aren't they? And then there's money - Holta picked up the winner's cheque, not Lindgren. And that winner's cheque is bigger than the one for second.

Which just shows what a nonsense the current scoring regime is, doesn't it?

And they've nothing to prove - both multiple GP winners and both world champions. If Lindgren's happier with his 22 points than being a champion, then he's going down the wrong road.

By the way, Antonio Lindback made his return to Polish action in Ostrow today when he rode for Rybnik. But again it was a day to forget for him: A Lindback..0,0,T,0 = 0 It seems to me that riding in Poland was the beginning of the end for phase 1 of Lindback's career and it doesn't look like it's being any kinder to him. He'd have been better off chancing his arm over here again. Too much pressure in Poland and he's hopeless under pressure. But his average is a huge problem over here - I can't see anyone taking the risk as long as it's north of 7.00.

Who cares about points scored at this stage? It's about winning Grands Prix. Holta has won one, Lindgren hasn't. I know whose shoes I'd rather be in and they're the ones worn by a winner.

I wouldn't want to be Protasiewicz, Lindgren or Walasek in Zielona Gora tonight.

And if you want to watch Polonia Bydgoszcz (unSteady is always good for a chuckle, if Zenon Plech picks him) meetings, they're available at the following a day after the meeting is raced: http://www.itv24.com.pl/ Login: lawrence Haslo: bkspolonia All this season's meetings are in there, somewhere.