This year for the first time the FIM organised an Ice Speedway training camp, held in Ylitornio, Finland, where, under the supervision of Ice Race Co-ordinator Jouni Seppänen, 18 young racers were given the opportunity to train on a frozen lake.
Over a four-day period they were given the chance to practice under the expert guidance of former World Champions ‘Posa’ Serenius and the ‘Flying Finn’ Jarmo Hirvasoja as well as Swedish champion Stefan Svensson. Riders from Germany, Finland, Sweden, Austria, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Norway and far-away Australia took part and all voted the camp a resounding success. It is hoped that this initiative will help to develop the next generation of Ice Gladiators and the boost the expansion of the World Championship to new regions.
The 2016 story so far
The spikes are sharpened, engines tuned and riders ready to race as the 2016 Astana Expo FIM Ice Speedway Gladiators World Championship begins this weekend coming. Thanks to good weather conditions, all the preliminary qualification rounds have been completed, and with a new series partner there is high anticipation that this year’s series could be the best for some years. Qualifying Rounds:
• Q1 - The first of the qualifying rounds for this year’s championship was also held in Ylitornio and, in contrast to recent years, was marked by very cold conditions; so cold in fact that the practice session had to be cancelled because the ice was too hard. The meeting was won by Egor Myshkovets, the latest Russian pretender to the ice race crown, who took the first place in a dramatic run-off, passing Austrian Franky Zorn on the last bend.
• Q2 - Östersund in Sweden was the scene of the second qualifier where temperatures of minus 25 degrees produced a challenging track. Winners here were the Russians Ivanov, Khomitsevich and Kononov.
• Challenge - The following day the action moved to nearby Strömsund where the Challenge once again took place in sub-zero temperatures. The Russians were dominant, taking the top five places, but eight riders progressed and are joined in the Final series by the current World Champion Dmitri Koltakov and six riders nominated by the Track Racing Commission.
Photo © Good-Shoot
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