Anders

Fully agree. I have seen Bjerre pulling off some fantastic passes in the Swedish league and I just can't understand how he can be described as a gating tart.

Poland are broadcasting Elitserien! The new Polish channel Orange Sport Poland has bought the rights for the Swedish Elitserien, an agreements has been made for three years, just like the Scandinavian countries, Czech Republic and Slovakia. It means that seven countries in Europe will broadcast the Swedish speedway live. Negotiations are in the process for several more countries accoring to IEC, who manages the television rights for Elitserien.

The opposition was better on Saturday than Friday, and Jari didn't gate so he didn't score either. Tough meeting for Örnarna overall, with only Christian Agö scoring 2 points while the other 2 points were gifted.

Seems that the Finnish U21 training weekend was a success, I'm glad to hear that! It was nice to meet up with you in Vetlanda, f-s-p, shame it was so hectic on Friday, otherwise we would have been able to chat some more.

A bit lucky with the non-appearence of Saifutdinov (where was he anyway?), but you can only beat what's infront of you. So, well done to the Swedish team!

I obviously spoiled you all when I did the GP Qualifier Grand Final heat details (from Vetlanda) in English back in 2006.

Oh, yes! I'm right up here in the referee's box.

All league rounds for Elitserien will likely be covered by an individual thread for each round, but here I thought it would be an idea to post general news for Swedish speedway. Today, Friday April 18th, will be the first day of Swedish speedway. Vetlanda host a 4 Team Tournament (Vetlanda Lagcup) with 12 teams over 3 qualifying meetings on Friday and 3 finals on Saturday. All meetings, with the exception of the C-final, will be covered live by the Elit Vetlanda website, www.elitvetlanda.se. Gislaved also holds a Team Tournament, but I have no idea if that will be covered by the Lejonen website. VETLANDA LAGCUP (4TT) - FRIDAY APRIL 18TH: Qualifying round 1, 1300 hrs: Live Updates Qualifying round 2, 1600 hrs: Live Updates Qualifying round 3, 1900 hrs: Live Updates VETLANDA LAGCUP (4TT) - SATURDAY APRIL 19TH: C-final, 1000 hrs: No live updates B-final, 1300 hrs: Live Updates (Actual starting time; 1425) A-final, 1600 hrs: Live Updates (Actual starting time 1655) I will provide links for each live update as they becomes available.

Fingers crossed, all the way from Sweden!

Gothenburg club Kaparna decided yesterday to withdraw all their teams from all 500cc leagues for the 2008 season. In short, Kaparna don't have a home track this year either, and they simply can't go on touring other tracks to stay in the league system for another season. The work to establish a new track at Säve, part of Gothenburg, has taken longer than expected. Works in the Gothenburg city council seems to be drawn out, which eventully has forced Kaparna to withdraw. Kaparna will however have a team together with Mariestad outfit Örnarna in the 80cc league for U16 riders. The decision means that the Allsvenskan league, equivalent to Premier League, will only consist of 5 teams in 2008 and that all riders signed with Kaparna will now be able to sign with other clubs.

This meeting was held today. Jason Crump scoring half of Wroclaw's points, but they still came up short against the powerful newcomers of Gorzow. Gorzow 53 Tomasz Gollob ( 2* 1* 2 3 2 ) = 10+2 (5) Jesper B Monberg ( 3 2 1* 2* 0 ) = 8+2 (5) Peter Karlsson ( 3 3 2 3 1* ) = 12+1 (5) Matej Ferjan ( 0 1 1* 1 ) = 3+1 (4) Rune Holta ( 1* 3 3 3 2 ) = 12+1 (5) Adrian Szewczykowski ( 0 ) = 0 (1) Thomas H Jonasson ( 2 2 1 2* 1 ) = 8+1 (5) Wroclaw 40 Mikael Max ( Ef 0 2 3 ) = 5 (4) Daniel Jeleniewski ( 1 2 0 0 1 ) = 4 (5) Tomasz Jedrzejak ( 1* 2 1 1 Ef ) = 5+1 (5) Rory Schlein ( 2 0 0 0 ) = 2 (4) Jason Crump ( 3 3 6^ 3 2 3 ) = 20 (6) Maciej Janowski ( 1 ) = 1 (1) Filip Sitera ( 3 0 0 0 0 ) = 3 (5) Courtesy of the Sportowefakty live updates.

Nice to see some results from the challenges in Poland on Sportowefakty. I noticed the following thing from the live updates from the Tarnow vs Czestochowa meeting: Appears that Nicki didn't come out for his fourth ride, and then all Czestochowa riders were excluded in the nomination heats. What on earth happened in Tarnow? Was it some kind of protest against something, or what!?

Can't decide if that's funny or sad...

So you couldn't understand the logic? Well, I couldn't either. Guess it must be a Swedish thing!?

OK. Thanks!

What is happening in Liga 2? On Sportowefakty, neither Lublin or Prague have any riders listed in their squads. Five of the Czech riders have left Prague already so could one assume they won't ride in Liga 2 at all? What about Lublin? I've found an article on Sportowefakty that seems to be about their Liga 2 campaign, but I can't understand a thing. Surely they can't wait until the teams in Ekstraliga and Liga 1 release riders for loan? That certainly would be risky...

From the newspaper of Östran/Nyheterna (covering Dackarna and Västervik). PRAISED BY 'VARG-OLLE' Dackarna rider Fredrik Lindgren has received this year's 'Varg-Olle' scholarship within the car and motorcycle sports. The legend 'Varg-Olle' Nygren presented the prize on the motorcycle show 'På två hjul' (On two wheels) in Gothenburg on Sunday. -Fredrik Lindgren was a natural choice, 'Varg-Olle' says to Norrköpings Tidningar. A good guy who already has done a great deal for the sport of speedway. He has all the tools to be the next big Swedish star in speedway. It's really only the experience that he's lacking at the moment. It's the third time that the 'Varg-Olle' scholarship has been presented to a leader or rider within the car and motorcycle sports. The scolarship sum is 50 000:- SEK. Last autumn, Lindgren became Swedish league champion with Dackarna of Målilla. This season he is one of two Swedish riders in the Grand Prix series. ---- 'Varg-Olle' also holds training sessions at the Örebro track (home of Vikingarna) on 7 occasions during the month of May.

What? Surely you don't mean that neighbouring countries give each other 12 points all the time? That's unheard of in the ESC! But I do seem to remember that most of the German 12 points throughout the latest years have gone to Turkey and not Austria or Switzerland for example. To steer this thread slightly back towards topic , may I just say I'm looking forward to see some Finnish riders in the Vetlanda 4TT in April. Juha Hautamäki usually provides good racing in Vetlanda and hopefully Jari Mäkinen can stay injury-free so he can make his first crack at the Vetlanda track.

Think the Grand Prix is, but league speedway is on Polsat Sport.

Now when an agreement has been made with Canal+ for Sweden and the other Nordic countries, I would guess they will try to reach a deal with other speedway markets such as Poland and/or Britain as well. If I hear any more news I will let you know.

A reply has now been sent.

After five years as Elit Vetlanda's (previously VMS Elit) team manager, Christian Fridh decided to step down, that was announced shortly after Christmas, but Fridh's successor has been unknown, until now. Fredrik Staaf, coming from a four year stint as team manager for Piraterna, will be taking his place leading the 2004 and 2006 years Swedish Elite League champions Elit Vetlanda during 2008, according to a press release.

There will be a meeting in Malmö, on Saturday the 14th, the same day as the Copenhagen Grand Prix, it's the 2nd round of the Southern U16 Championship (80cc). The start time isn't determined but the Malmö officials thought it would likely be a 12:00 start.

According to Vetlanda-Posten, the local newspaper which covers Elit Vetlanda, 18 year old junior Robin Aspegren has signed a contract with Ostrow of Liga 1.

No problems. I'll be going to that meeting myself so I'll post anything official ASAP.