rusky

I re-iterate Tony Olsson (Note the spelling....) does not prepare the track himself, but is reliant on the local track staff providing the surface for him. Tony does give guidance to how the riders would like the track to be prepared to give a good racing surface, however if the local trackstaff ignore him what is to be done? As has been mentioned many, many times Prague is always slick, not just for the SGP, but always, and the surface was exactly as could be expected. Leszno however was a different kettle of fish, and why the local trackstaff decided to prepare it that way is anybodies guess, but you can be assured, it was not prepared in the manner that Tony Olsson or his colleagues in the FIM would of liked.

That's absolutely right HenryW. Tony does leave the track staff to prepare the track in the manner that they think most appropriate. Tony's input to the track is to confirm that any track equipment meets the commitment that the promoters make to the FIM when signing up to host the SGP, other than reporting to the FIM on the track staffs ability to produce a reasonable track. The thing is, that if you go to Prague there are only 2 types of tracks that you will ever be presented with - Slick, or very Slick, and so it will of come as no surprise to any of the riders just how slick it can be there - I'm surprised that Ermelenko seems to have forgotten that.

Rob, you have to remember the size of Ullevi. If it was a third full, it would of had about 14000 people there. They had sold in excess of 10000 tickets for the GP last night, and yes the weather was rubbish in Gothenburg last night. I have been to SGP's at Gothenburg in the past when the weather has been absolutely glorious with temperatures in the high 20's. Granted they were both at the end of May, rather than the middle of the Month. I'm not sure that our weather is any more predictable than anywhere else in the world to be honest, its a gamble where ever you have it at this time of year in Western Europe.

Personally, I think we should go back to Amsterdam....... The 2 day World final there was one of the most enjoyable speedway weekends that I have been to.

Its obviously the year for ex national team mangers to come back into the role, with Neil Middleditch coming back to the UK team. I first met Bo way back in the 80's when Per Jonsson and Jimmy Nilsen were first making an impact at world level, and found him to be a good guy, who was quite a motivational team manager ( not dissimilar to Rob Lyon here in the UK)and was very popular with the riders. I think that he will be good for Swedish speedway at this level and I have no doubt taht he will have the full backing of Svemo. With the team that they have put in place for the U21's I don't think that this is any kind of short term fix, but is definitely for the long term.I don't know Peter or Anders, but if they are the same kind of people as Mats, then I think things are looking positive for Swedish speedway

Sorry, I can't. I won't break a confidence

I can't name my source as I was told the exact details in confidence ( similar to Mr Shovlar in the EL sections.... ), but I have no reason whatsoever to dispute their thoughts.

My sources tell me that there is at least one Elitserien club that has been warned by its local council that it must reduce noise in the coming years, or they will not allow it to continue.

Tarabanko, as I said above Noise was NOT the only reason, but one of them. It was not possible to run speedway at Galgberget, and get within the noise limit required without spending lots of money, which would of put the club even further in debt. I also hear that the newly proposed venue is unlikely to run as environmental issues are considered a major issue.

Not strictly true Tarabanko. One of the reasons (NOT the only reason) that Bysarna closed was noise related, and proposed locations have been turned down on environmental grounds including noise.

Not sure that the Swedes will go back to the old silencers. They have recently lost one club over noise issues, Bysarna (Gotland) and there are others under threat because of noise is my understanding

Doubt it very much Mateusz. As I understand it the riders have all signed up for the 2011 SGP series using the rules as laid down by the FIM, which is for new silencers.

So what are the Polish riders going to do in FIM events, such as SGP and SWC where these silencers are compulsory ?

And I'm fairly sure that Per Jonsson won the Nissan open in '87

My understanding is that this is likely to happen. Its as much of a pain for the officials as it is for anybody else remember.

Reported in the IT press at Cardiff AV

Postspook, on 15 August 2010 - 01:24 PM, said: holta always seems to be on ultra fast engines.... i'm getting concerned with the consistent head and shoulders speed of a couple of riders above all others every gp..... the difference between them and the rest seemingly equates to them having perfect bikes, perfect engines, and perfect mechanics ........... nothing is so consistently perfect As previously mentioned, Holta has had his engines tested this year, and they were found to be significantly under the upper limit. I believe his engines have been tested on more than one occasion this year. Flemming is just doing a good job I guess !!

Flemming Gravesen GM I believe. His engines were measured in previous rounds and found to be way under size.....

What are ytou going to be doing at the showground at half past midnight (12:30 AM)?

No Rob, No practice in the 2 weeks preceding the FIM meeting, at the track hosting the meeting according to the FIM rules, and no meetings in the week before I believe

Sort of answered my own questions by looking at Suplemenray regs Fjelsted which suggests that the Jury should be Ila Teromma (president), Jorgen Jensen from the DMU, and Jim Lawrence. It also states that any protests regarding the eligibility of any competitor or machine must be made before the commencement of official practise - that would be a little difficult if he didn't attend practise wouldn't it !!

2 questions if you don't mind Spanner47 ? Do you know if his bike had been through the pre-meeting scrutineering (rather than the practise scrutineering), and do you know who were on the Jury ?

Given the meeting was in Denmark, I'm guessing the machine examiner was Danish, and the problem was picked up in the pre-meeting scrutineering, I'm guessing as well that he was told that it didn't conform to the rules and was told to change it. In theory it should of been bought up at the Jury meeting as well.

Unlikely, as the FIM contractor for Cardiff (as well as Gothenburg, Copenhagen & Vojens) in terms of track installation & preparation is Speedsport A/S, as it has been for the last few years.

As I understand things, Tony O is effectively letting the local track guys prepare the way the tracks the way that they think best. There is a fairly substantial list of requirements from the FIM for all tracks in terms of equipment neccessary to prepare the race track, and indeed maintain it. I believe that this is a different list than that held in previous years. I'm not sure whose responsibility the man made tracks are as there are no 'local' staff for these. I believe that speedsport A/S have the rights to build & prepare these tracks, with the FIM, but I could be wrong.