waiheke1

Is there definitely no chance the Russians are allowed back in for 2025?

Any update on whether this autobiography will still be published this year, or any other news? If prior to Christmas, I know what my Christmas reading will be...

78 world final it maybe cost him the title. And cost him probably a silver medal in 81

I think he would hsve done. Scored a max in the world pairs final as well iiirc, and was favourite for the final. Drew two heats in gate 3 which scored only around 19pts all night...always needed a little luck to be world champ, and he never had it.

Fair point ArnieG! That said, I think racers may peak earlier in their careers than gaters

Emil is one of my all time favourite riders, and will go into discussions about the greatest riders never to be world champion. Bur his peak years he was missing from the series of his own volition. Similarly, I wouldn't have sympathy for Darcy if the only reason he missed out was his ban. Agree that at this point, he is, imo, less of a threat to Zmarzlik than the young talent in the series.

Every final in the 80s was missing a genuine contender, with the possible exception of 81. And had at least 4 riders that you couldn't see winning a ride. Zmarzlik as you say is an all-time great - if GPs were present in the 80s, would Nielsen have cleaned up from 83 onwards and we be bemoaning the lack of competition? - but the title went to the last heat. Holder, Bewley and Lambert are improving each season. Woffy reminds me of a post-77 Peter Collins, both he and Doyley would have an outside chance in a one off final, unlikely to be world champion agsin in this format, but are top ten riders. Freddy, Vaculik and Mads capable of pushing Zmarzlik close if they have a great season, though I can't see any of them being world champ. The rider we still miss in this era tbh is Darcy.

Fricke is very unlucky, and deserved a place imo. I can understand going Kubera over Janowski/Dudek, and I think in the past we've seen an unwillingness to seed riders from nations that already hsve 3 representatives. Would have liked to see Becker higher in the reserve list. I'm not as disappointed with the wildcards as others, though obviously would hsve liked (from a speedway perspective) to see Artem and Emil in rather than Lebedevs and Huckenbeck. And while those latter two may be in, at least partly, to give representation to more nations; they will be far more competitive than the continental riders in the world finals of the 80s (Muller excepted of course). And outside the Russians, there is noone who would hsve been fighting for a medal missing from thr series

Thinking outside thr box, but sounds like a terrible proposal tbh!

It's also why I think Dan and Robert are probably going to be the closest rivals to Zmarzlik in the coming years. Just need to be a little tougher, and mentally stranger in the crunch heats

Interesting you mention Nielsen and Gundersen. Their titles were all won against line-ups missing, for various reasons, Penhall, Lee, Carter and Sigalos, arguably the 4 other best riders of that era. Sanders and the Moran brothers also missed most of those finals.

Lindgren 50 more Woffy 50 more. Bewley 50 more Thomsen 50 more

Wide yes, banked yes, though nowhere near as steep as the Shay. Gundersen certainly made good use of the full width in 85!

85 overseas final and 90 World Final both had cracking racing, and 85 World Final wasn't too bad either. But for league meetings, I preferred my visits to the Shay, and neither produced racing on a consistent basis to rival Hyde rd

Agree. If the Russians are back, then add Thomsen and Vaculik to that, barring a big last round from Vaculik

Not convinced by that, though agree this format would make it closer. Regardless of scoring system, I think Eric would have picked up a couple of titles, with Hans potentially taking the rest in the period 83-92

Now I'm intrigued! One of the Clegg brothers? David Clay? Trying to think which of the colts I subsequently saw at the Shay.

Agreed, it's all opinions. I'm just interested. There's been a fair amount of debate on this on the forum, and I think the general consensus is he would hsve won 7 titles under a gp system, all between 68-75, with Olsen winning one in that period ( with one school of thought thinking Michanek may have won in 73, which would reduce Ivan back to six). Nielsen I think would hsve been the big beneficiary of a gp system, he could easily have doubled his world title tally...

80 would surely have been Jessup with Lee and Penhall on the podium. Penhall's time would come the next season...

Are you Daz Sumner who used to ride in the odd second half at Hyde Rd?

Which years from 76 onwards do you think he would have won a gp series? 76 was surely pc (Mauger on the podium) 77 pc or olsen (mauger third) 78 olsen (mauger 2nd) 79 Lee? Mauger maybe top three? 80Jessup Be genuinely interested to know which of those seasons you would see Ivan winning.

I'd say it's not so tough- places 7-9 plus the two former Russians. If they are not available then a second Dane (prob Michelsen) and Vaculik. Doyle definitely deserves a pick over Fricke if it comes down to it

As well as looking like he could win the SEC, he's also in the top 10 in the Ekstraliga averages. If he qualifies then he deserves his place and he'll be competitive next season, nowhere near top six, but he won't be last either.

You could well be right. For sure they are both some way off Zmarzlik right now. But looking at the field, they are the ones I see with the highest potential to challenge him in the years ahead- next season may be too soon though.

Yes, but we were talking about under a GP series format. Does anyone think he would have won in those years if it was a series?