NEWSDESK
CALLS TO END RUSSIAN BAN T
HE growing clamour for the FIM to lift their controversial ban on Russian stars Artem Laguta and Emil Sayfutdinov and welcome them back into the Speedway Grand Prix series is gathering momentum.
‘Any support will be appreciated. The more, the better. Thank you for your understanding and help.’
Laguta’s manager Rafal Lewicki responded directly to Majaranta, saying: “Hello, Rolf. Thanks for your message. Great idea. We hope
At least one former World Champion, a national team manager, ex-world finalists and other key figures in the sport have voiced strong opinions calling upon the sport’s international governing body to allow two of the world’s current top riders to compete again at the highest level.
Why should they continue to be expelled as a consequence of the barbaric actions of a dictator over whom they obviously have no influence? Why punish them for where they happened to be born?
they will be back for 2025.”
Sayfutdinov’s long-time manager Tomasz Suskiewicz said: “Just make sure you send many letters to the FIM and not to info mail. I think you should send (them) personally to the board people.”
Michael Lee, who won the FIM speedway and longtrack World Championship in 1980 and 1981 respectively, has never been afraid to challenge officialdom. An incredulous Lee added: “Amazing SGP can't rise above political crap for these two world class riders.”
Polish passport-holders Sayfutdinov and Laguta, who was thrown out of the SGP series he had automatically qualified for without even being given the chance to defend the world title he won in 2021 after Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine early in 2022, have continued to race freely in the Polish and British leagues. Laguta stars for Wroclaw, while Sayfutdinov is hugely popular with fans of Torun and of course Ipswich.
If it’s good enough for the Poles – who, let’s face it, more or less run world speedway anyway – and the BSPL, why should the FIM deny them another taste of the big-time in their prime racing years?
The crazy thing is, the FIM’s ban is not only diluting the quality of its elite speedway championship (Zmarzlik would certainly have faced much tougher opposition in the past three seasons), the lack of genuine title rivals to the five-time World No. 1 must also be costing them in lost ticket sales revenue.
Now, after three years in the international wilderness, many are urging the FIM to put politics aside and end this travesty.
Fans and frustrated onlookers have long complained in isolation, via social media platforms, but now they have been galvanised by an online Facebook petition group launched last week by 69-year-old Swiss tracksport enthusiast and photographer Rolf MajarantaFlückiger. In the space of five days, the group had attracted more than 1,400 members – and rising by the hour – by the time Speedway Star went to press on Tuesday.
Marek Cieślak, who led Poland to an array of World Cup victories at different levels in his 13 years as national boss, said: “I support it as much as possible. You cannot combine politics with the spirit of sport. They did not contribute to the war and I also cannot understand where such absurd decisions come from. It is not right. The Grand Prix has been boring for a few years and brings nothing without these two gentlemen, who deserve to fight for World Championship medals with their results.
Respected Swedish TV broadcaster and producer Tommy Rander said: “The competition is called the individual World Championship. It is NOT about national sides. Both riders should be given wild cards and ride under the FIM banner. It would be very rude to ask them to ride under the Polish flag – they would very likely feel extremely bad vis-à-vis other Polish riders. The FIM should not hide behind the Olympic Committee, a body that can't even separate men from women.”
Hundreds of supporters from all over the globe have also weighed in with their views. Here is just a flavour of their overwhelming support of the Russians:
Lynda Donston: “It is disgusting that the FIM are still banning Emil and Artem from competing in the SGP. What Putin is doing has nothing to do with them, they just want to ride their bikes. Get them back in the GPs.”
Based in Solothurn, Majaranta-Flückiger is a long-time friend and former manager of his fellow countryman, 1992 World Longtrack Champion Marcel Gerhard. Rolf’s initial post read:
‘Dear Speedway friends all over the world. Many supporters are disappointed that two of the best riders of the last years are not allowed to compete in the Speedway Grand Prix World Championship. Both are barred from participating in any FIMsanctioned events since 2022, due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. In the meantime they can compete again in the team championships of Poland and England with great success. On the other hand, they are missed very much in the World Championship.
‘Many think the competition would be more spectacular, more entertaining and more interesting if they were allowed to participate for 2025. Let's not forget, both have been living in Poland for many years, are fully integrated and are riding with Polish licences. In my opinion the
FIM should re-consider their case and let them ride again in the SGP 2025 as wild cards.
‘For which country? I am positive there would be a reasonable solution. Speedway GP is an individual sport. There could be a solution that they would compete as "neutral" competitors. We know that in some other sports, such as tennis, Russians were allowed to compete at the 2024 Olympics.
Meredith Sterry: “In other sports worldwide, Russian athletes are permitted to participate, so why is the FIM continuing with their draconian decision to ban both Artem and Emil from competing in the SGP? These riders are not representing Russia but competing as individual athletes, so the decision of the FIM is even more perplexing.
“Politics should never dictate any competitors’ participation in any sport.”
Andy Hawthorne: “Simply put, the BEST athletes in the world should compete at the highest level and the strangest thing is (I checked earlier), the FIM are the only sporting body I can find still blocking Russians and Belarusians from competing (under a neutral flag). Even other motorsports bodies allow them to compete. Why?”
Kenneth Crichton: “World class riders being punished through no fault of their own. Public being cheated as usual.”
Eddie Knight: “Russians were in some Olympic events but under a neutral flag. Why can’t they do the same for Emil and Artem?”
Malcolm Uzzell pointed out to fellow supporters that Armando Castagna, the current FIM Track Racing Commission director, has no say in the FIM’s decision to bar the Russians. Malcolm wrote: “Armando has no influence over this decision. He helped Emil a lot before and probably still does. Emil always practiced in Lonigo at the beginning of the season and stayed with AC. He is not stopping him from riding in the GP.
“The FIM has a worldwide ban on all Russian motorcycle riders riding in FIM events. AC is in charge of track racing, which is just one department of the FIM. The world commission pass the rules down to the various departments. This includes track racing (speedway, ice racing, longtrack, flat-track and motoball). Other departments include, motocross, MotoGP and World Superbikes, as well as many others.”
But Malcolm admits he is not optimistic that the FIM will listen to
4 speedway star June 1, 2024