salty

A couple of weeks ago if someone had told me Harris had got another nomination I would have been pretty miffed, but once the Kennett story surfaced I have to say I am glad that particular nonsense has been overlooked. Harris is a very lucky boy and it really is a joke that GB has to yet again rely on the powers that be to get in the GP's.

Was going to post something similar. If Janice Nicholls was at the peak of her popularity today then Max Clifford would be involved and she would beamed into our living rooms from the depths of the Australian rainforest. If memory serves, from my time living in the West Midlands, after her brush with fame she went back to the day job, settled down with her husband and raised a family. Think she lived in the Cannock area, though I might be wrong.

Not a problem. Apology accepted etc etc As for the 1980 figures I just took a quick glance and saw both riders had figures of 10.70. Closer inspection confirms that PC was .0057 better than Hans.

Rob, I quoted the guys who topped the BL averages in response to Bobbath's post. "I know that Nigel Boocock topped the top div. averages in 1965-but who did it in the years you missed out Rob"

Some of the missing years: 1973 - A.Michanek 1977 - M.Simmons 1978 - M.Lee 1979 - S.Autrey 1980 - P.Collins/H.Nielsen 1982 - K.Carter

Original posting from TMC (in his Philip Rising guise) asked for our thoughts on who were the best 15 riders in the world, regardless of whether we thought they would be in the 2010 series or not. Adams might have stood down for next year, but in the eyes of most he is still in the top 15.

Will have to agree to disagree about Erik's likely chances in a GP series against Hans. I just have a gut feeling Erik would have been able to adjust his approach to focus on the key 8 GP's As for 1982, I agree it is a toss up between Bruce and Kenny. Would his impending departure from the sport caused Penhall to lose focus over a 8 meeting series? Would Carter have had the temperament to be at his best for a whole season? 1983 is even more difficult to call - arguably any one of Sigalos, Carter, Nielsen, Gundersen, Sanders or Lee could have prevailed (and I have probably missed out a couple of other candidates).

I knew you would come up with that argument! No question Hans was more consistent, whilst Erik was arguably more effective in the one-off Finals. That was more a question of Erik basing his season about peaking on that night in September. Don't think it is inconceivable that if the GP system had been in place then Erik would have been able to adjust his approach and rise to the occasion. Guess its all conjecture, but I personally think Erik was talented enough to have triumphed whatever the format used. PS I don't hold much store to the points scored in the Finals. I always got the impression that Erik wasn't that bothered riding for a rostrum place. Will be interesting to see who gets the nod for the 1982 and 1983 seasons.

To be honest when I read the "blurb" for this issue I thought it might it might mirror the article in last months Backtrack which used comments from the "A track I wish I could have visited" thread. I agree with others that Mauger would have continued to collect more Championships throughout the 70's regardless of the format. In the next issue attention turns to the 80's - woe betide them if they try to give Erik less than 3 titles!

Interesting to read in the latest "Backtrack" Tony Mac and John Berry's thoughts on who would have been World champs in the 70's using a Grand Prix system.

Nicholls qualified by a run-off against Harris at Gelsenkirchen in 2007. Can't remember the time before that. If you are asking about a Brit qualifying via the Challenge, again I'm not too sure. Screeny got through one year, but that was when there were 6 qualifiers to the series.

Was hoping it might be a mistake via the other source, but thanks for confirming the news. Regardless of what people believe Ed will achieve in 2010, never has a rider been so undeserving of a nomination. Utter joke. Another thought - if Holta decides not to ride in the 2010 series then I believe Harris will be next in line?

Top quality comedy mate! Doesn't quite tally with the facts unfortunately. Much as Ed has improved year on year since his arrival, he has never made more than a ripple on the world stage. This year's performance in the Pocking qualifier (5 points) and in the WTC round at Peterborough (3 points) just about give a true reflection of where he is, not to mention the 2 underwhelming performances at Cardiff.

Totally disagree. A massive step backward for the GP's when a rider who has never come anywhere near qualifying gets a slot. Only a one-eyed Brit with a disdain for "non-descript foreigners" (copyright - Steve Shovlar) would welcome the decision to give Ed a place in the GP's.

Obvoiusly they have taken into account Ed's storming performances at Cardiff over the past couple of years, coupled with his 5 point haul in the Pocking qualifier. Not to mention the 3 points he amassed in the Peterborough WTC round and his fantastic record in the Under 21 Finals. I don't believe Harris should be in, but Kennett!!!!!?

According to an old programme, I have Howard scoring 12 at Brandon early in the 1973 season. Not sure if was a maximum, but he definitely wouldn't have been riding at reserve.

He was seeded through to the semi at Motala because he won the Swedish final last year. I suppose you could argue that therefore the Swedish Championship was a qualifier in itself, albeit the previous year.

Interesting point. I think you will find few people begrudge Zorro his spot, because he qualified, but by the same token very few people would consider him in the best 15 in the world. On the whole people accept that the qualifying system is open to all and those that succeed may not always be the riders one would consider to be in the top 15. However, it is harder to accept a rider who is not perceived to be in that top echelon getting in by way of nomination, just because they are of the right nationality to suit commercial needs. I like the idea of Rob Peasley's to hold early season qualifiers, but accept that the need to put together sponsorship packages etc might mean that is unworkable. I guess most people see the seeding system as a necessary evil given the commercial concerns.

Unless they are Rune Holta. It has been widely mentioned that Rune would have struggled to get a pick if he had finished outside of the top 8. Which is why for the past 3 years he has ridden his socks off to qualify by right. Whereas, as you say, Lindgren and Andersen must be fairly confident of getting a spot, so the motivation just isn't quite the same. I can't really argue with Freddie and Hans getting back in for next year as I feel they are amongst the top 15 in the world, but it would be laughable if Harris, who finished 14th, got yet another nomination.

Holta's comments after the GP must cast some doubt over his participation in 2010. If he decides to give it up, then as far as I understand Freddie gets in by finishing 4th at Coventry. Then that would still leave 4 nominations, Hans would certainly get one and I reckon Lindback did enough in his 2 wildcard appearances to be given another shot. Lindback's links to TR will not harm his chances either. At least one of the other nominations will go to a Brit and it isn't easy to make a convincing case for any of them. Harris and Nicholls finished as the bottom 2 this year and have shown little in the 11 GP's to convince that it wouldn't be the same next year. Harris has never qualified for the GP's by right and though he is the reigning British Champ it would seem very unfair if he got a pick ahead of Ulamek and Walaszek who finished ahead of him in 2009. Richardson would be a step backward imo and Kennett has never shown enough at international level to suggest he could cope at the top level (at the moment). That leaves Tai who got knocked out of the qualification process at Lonigo, got a second bite at Motala and only gleaned 5 points. However, he has improved as the season has progressed and performed with promise in the SWC and showed his ability in the Under-21 Final. With the success of Emil in GP 2009 I reckon the organisers will give Tai his chance. That leaves one spot, which depends on whether they want 2 Brits or not. Personally I hope they don't give the Brits 2 spots (for the reasons outlined above) in which case I would like to see Zagar back in. So if Holta rides I would go for Lindgren, Andersen, Woffinden and Lindback - if Rune gives it away then add Zagar.

Well done Crumpy, great to see him back on top of the world.

Not doubting your memory Andy, but that seems strange. Howard moved to Cradley from Kings Lynn at the start of the 1973 season and I'm pretty sure that he had a serious injury the previous season. If you are correct that it was 1972 then he must have been a guest, but he was a fully fledged heat leader in those days.

Jason Crump Emil Sajfutdinov Tomasz Gollob Greg Hancock Andreas Jonsson Nicki Pedersen Hans Andersen Rune Holta Freddie Lindgren Kenneth Bjerre Chris Holder Leigh Adams Jarek Hampel ....then it gets tough - any 2 from Harris, Pepe, Lindback, Zagar, Iversen, with ward and Woffinden to break into the top 15 in the next 12 months.

Haven't got the time or inclination to trawl back through threads from a year ago, but I certainly don't remember people being disparaging of Emil's chances. From memory, the majority accepted the validity of his wild card on the back of his 2 Under-21 World Championships and felt that he would be an asset to the GP's. Personally, I didn't think he would do quite so well as he has, but I think its fair to say that his previous Under 21 performances showed he was an exceptional talent with a quality back up team. I think Tai, if given a chance, would be competitive at the top level and would be a more interesting proposition than Nicholls, Harris or Richardson.

Look at Rune Holta for proof of that theory. He knows if he finishes outside of the top 8 it is unlikely he will get a nomination (which shows why the system is so rotten), so therefore he rides his socks off to get in the top 8 each year. Nicholls and Harris always seem to relax, knowing that a near miss gets them a pick anyway.