MJJ AWOL & causing a stink!

[admin]

Sounds familiar

Denmark’s leading stars have threatened to boycott the nation’s FIM Speedway Grand Prix qualifying meeting at Esbjerg on April 15 over the wild card row which saw Anders Secher resign as national team manager.

The DMU is reportedly holding crisis talks tonight after 18 riders signed a letter, threatening not to take part in the meeting.

The standoff was caused by DMU speedway chairman Stefan Kristjansson handing former SGP regular Michael Jepsen Jensen a wild card for the SGP qualifying quarter final, despite him being unable to take part in the Danish qualifier on April 15 due to a Polish commitment.

Secher’s objection to the move prompted him to leave his role as national team coach after five years at the helm and two Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup wins.

And allegations of favouritism have resulted in riders taking a stand against the federation, with current SGP star Peter Kildemand and SWC winners Hans Andersen, Kenneth Bjerre and Bjarne Pedersen reported to have signed the letter.

In one of world speedway’s most competitive countries, MJJ getting a free pass into the international rounds has sparked fury among his rivals, although the anger is directed at the federation not the former World Under-21 champion.

Pedersen told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet: “It is clear that it impairs everyone's chances if suddenly there are only five places to race for.

“If the competition was not so tough, it might not matter, but it is close to being the most important race for many riders. It’s nothing personal against Michael Jepsen Jensen, but the Speedway Commission should be able to understand what we think and take note.”

Danish rider Mikkel Bech Jensen will be forced to miss a meeting for Wolverhampton at Lakeside to take part in the qualifier, while Nicolai Klindt, Charlie Gjedde and Kasper Lykke would have to sit out Premier League meetings if they were to compete.

Andersen feels the DMU shouldn’t offer preferential treatment to one rider. He said: “There must be an end to it. There are others who had to race in England that day, who had to cancel and lose money. They are just not as high profile. We must be fair to all and I also think that it should be the national coach, who makes such decisions.”

speedwaygp.com/news/danes-threaten-qualifier-boycott 4/4/16

[admin]

Denmark’s Motor Union could be open to bringing Anders Secher back as national team coach after their standoff with Denmark’s top riders was resolved and their FIM Speedway Grand Prix qualifier moved to April 19.

The nation’s biggest stars were fuming after former SGP regular Michael Jepsen Jensen was handed a wild card for the international qualifying quarter final without having to participate at the national qualifier in Esbjerg, originally scheduled for next Friday.

MJJ was ordered by Polish club Gorzow to compete in their Ekstraliga meeting with Grudziadz the same night, and riders were angry he was given preferential treatment, while some rivals were forced to sit out British meetings.

But he will now line-up in the rescheduled qualifier, which will see five places up for grabs in the international rounds, with the DMU set to choose a wild card to join them following the Esbjerg meeting.

With Jepsen Jensen’s wild card withdrawn, there have been calls for Secher to return as national boss, despite his decision to quit over the nomination.

DMU chairman Jorgen Bitsch is open to the idea. He told dr.dk: “It is not me who has slammed the door – it is Anders. My door is always open.

“Now we have this conflict resolved, and there's a new day tomorrow. So let's see what happens. I have always said that we have been satisfied with Anders Secher's great work for the sport.”

Bitsch held talks with former FIM Speedway World Cup winners Hans Andersen and Bjarne Pedersen, who represented the riders, while Speedway Commission chairman Stefan Kristjansson and Søren Normann Andersen also spoke on behalf of the DMU.

Further talks between the riders and DMU over future wild cards will be held at a later stage.

In a DMU press release, Bitsch was pleased with the outcome of the discussions. He said: "On the DMU’s behalf, we are very satisfied with the solution that was the result of a three-hour long meeting and detailed discussion of various options.

“It was important that we focused on the sport and not least the many fans that would have been disappointed if the meeting was cancelled.

"It is also positive that we have restored confidence between the riders and management, so that we can look forward to the season that is upon us, and also any changes for season 2017, which will be addressed soon.”

speedwaygp.com/news/article/dmu-open-to-secher-return 8/4/16

[Bigcatdiary]

Apr 4, 2016 22:20:00 GMT admin said:

Sounds familiar

Denmark’s leading stars have threatened to boycott the nation’s FIM Speedway Grand Prix qualifying meeting at Esbjerg on April 15 over the wild card row which saw Anders Secher resign as national team manager.

The DMU is reportedly holding crisis talks tonight after 18 riders signed a letter, threatening not to take part in the meeting.

The standoff was caused by DMU speedway chairman Stefan Kristjansson handing former SGP regular Michael Jepsen Jensen a wild card for the SGP qualifying quarter final, despite him being unable to take part in the Danish qualifier on April 15 due to a Polish commitment.

Secher’s objection to the move prompted him to leave his role as national team coach after five years at the helm and two Monster Energy FIM Speedway World Cup wins.

And allegations of favouritism have resulted in riders taking a stand against the federation, with current SGP star Peter Kildemand and SWC winners Hans Andersen, Kenneth Bjerre and Bjarne Pedersen reported to have signed the letter.

In one of world speedway’s most competitive countries, MJJ getting a free pass into the international rounds has sparked fury among his rivals, although the anger is directed at the federation not the former World Under-21 champion.

Pedersen told Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet: “It is clear that it impairs everyone's chances if suddenly there are only five places to race for.

“If the competition was not so tough, it might not matter, but it is close to being the most important race for many riders. It’s nothing personal against Michael Jepsen Jensen, but the Speedway Commission should be able to understand what we think and take note.”

Danish rider Mikkel Bech Jensen will be forced to miss a meeting for Wolverhampton at Lakeside to take part in the qualifier, while Nicolai Klindt, Charlie Gjedde and Kasper Lykke would have to sit out Premier League meetings if they were to compete.

Andersen feels the DMU shouldn’t offer preferential treatment to one rider. He said: “There must be an end to it. There are others who had to race in England that day, who had to cancel and lose money. They are just not as high profile. We must be fair to all and I also think that it should be the national coach, who makes such decisions.”

speedwaygp.com/news/danes-threaten-qualifier-boycott 4/4/16

It's difficult to disagree as it's a fair point, neither side appear to be budging at the moment so somethings got to give.