spook

It is the same every year... the WC's are very easy to predict as long as we dont allow ourselves to believe that BSI/IMG think like us.......................Holder, Gollob & Lindgren were always nailed on........ however AJ is a rare moment of shoe horning in from them outside of their unofficial policies... by including him and not using a different Swede after he finished adrift

Wow didnt Miedzinski has something special in his engine for the semi & final? special bikes being brought out again................ makes our sport a farce

based on 'Cardiff will still have 2 Brits' ... then lets say 3 Brits at Cardiff is the issue as that is what we are talking about here and is what it was at least for donkeys years.................................. the only reason we have only had one representative in the GP's for the last few years is because Tai & Bomber did so badly that they were unpickable for the following year...........that isnt the issue this year and I truly believe that they arent bothered how many WC's they give to any singular rider...... I believe they are more bothered about being seen to give a WC to someone who was clearly adrift in the previous series but not one who made themselves unpickable like Antonio or AJ............ if not THJ then which Swede? Nermark? Magnus? Kim? THJ reached a final last season in one of his two GP's (average score of 8) ...... made a semi the year before in one, and was on course to in the other before the meeting was postponed (average 8 points).... in 2010 he failed to reach the semis on 8 pts...............He has pretty impressively staked a claim within the series itself and has most likely up to now been a victim of Swedish quota............. there arent many (any?!) riders who have consistently managed his success in the GP's with meeting wild cards It seems to me that machinery has suddenly become everything............. all the talk about diets and fitness regimes are impressive but that doesnt explain why some riders are SO much faster than the others.... and so consistently regardless of the track, conditions, and it seems engine/bike ........................... i'm sure there is a whole other thread waiting to be started on that....... but for me it does ask a few questions about some riders and by extension on what basis should they be picked when WC's are dished out on previous performance Freddie isn't a problem for the series.......... he is of a good enough standard to warrant being there and he is the kind of guy who could stick in a top 4 season out of the blue................ offering a spot to someone like THJ surely has to be dependent on what backing he has or can have and if he can have those super fast engines he had in previous years............. Another thing to consider is that we have known in the past that certain quota based picks were going to struggle but it didnt stop them picking them Well I guess you will know more than most whether a lack of noise on a rider means they are unlikely......... for the record I think the WC's should be Holder, Gollob, Laguta & MJJ........but that doesnt take into account quota, politics or the need to fill IMG promoted GP's ............... Stockholm didnt look impressively populated to me and that was with 4 home riders............ I suspect only having 2 including the meeting wildcard is going to be a problem

we've done this one before Phil.......... why were they picking Rico alongside Scotty? Scotty alongside Rico? Bomber alongside either of them? Tai alongside Bomber? Bomber alongside Tai? ............. i'm sure Tai's stock has risen dramatically but in the end this has always been about filling Cardiff.........now the Swedes are in trouble and IMG have their own promoted events endangered there we might see a shift to overtly helping them but BSI/IMG history dictates that Bomber should be a very strong candidate................... i'm interested in why you sound so definite........... it doesnt come across like the personal opinion you suggested it was last time You are right that two of the reserves have enjoyed a few GP's this year... and also last year.... but actually Bomber finishing next in line is also a great excuse for them to pick him again....... that kind of excuse is all they have needed in the past reading through some of these posts though i'm amazed that some people still don't get it after all these years ... year after year we have thought along the lines of 'Joe Bloggs' is too good not to get in.... or 'John Doe' is too exciting and the WU21 champ so he must get in'............ and 'Bill Stickers' has already had 3 WC's (and I hate him)..... and i'm bored of 'Oldy McOldy' because he has been around since the dinosaurs In the end none of it matters as I think its an annual political game strongly based on the financial self interests of BSI/IMG............ they do have some 'rules' as to how they choose their picks though based on history ........ with danger of revving up the 'bring back the one off/IMG are pillaging league speedway brigade' here are a few I can come up with: If you are GP box office and have been injured then you will get a WC If you are one of the best riders in the world and not yet in the GP's you will be considered If there are already 4 riders from your nation you will not get a WC If there are already 3 riders from your nation then it depends on the spread of riders from other nations If there are already 1 or 2 riders from your nation then lets hope you arent from a minor nation or you arent getting in If you dont have a home GP its going to be an uphill battle If there are already 2 riders from your nation and you are Aussie then you are probably in trouble (untested) If you speak out against the GP's you may not be given a WC If you are British and international quality you have a great chance of a WC and exceptions will be made (probably also applies to Sweden & Denmark when they are in trouble as they also have IMG promoted GP's to fill) If you finished adrift of the main pack you will not get a WC until earliest the folowing season( I believe the only exception to the rule has been Bomber) If in the GP standings you finish behind a rider who is not receiving a WC then it is unlikely you will (a couple of exceptions down the years) rules are there to be broken.... and they do set a new precedent occasionally but the grim reality is that actually once you get over who your favourite is, most hated is, or who is the most deserving.... it generally isn't that hard to predict who they are going to pick

I am suprised that Phil Rising is so certain that Harris isnt in the frame as there is no other Brit who can realistically take a spot and this works against previous behaviour of BSI/IMG ........ if this is right then they can only be looking at giving it to another Swede Holder, Gollob, Lindgren are already as safe as houses as long as they are fit in time ................BSI/IMG are a bit backed into a corner with this one and the only name that stands out is THJ

Salty no one is suggesting that Bomber should be considered. I am suggesting that he will be considered based on quota. History strongly dictates it........... If I was in charge it wouldnt be so.......... re: the #16 at Cardiff ..... that is semantics......... it still doesnt change what their attitude (and WC picks) was when GB had more than one possible rider to offer.... we now have that again Still all indications point towards a Brit (Bomber) vs a Swede for the final WC....... unless IMG start changing the way they do things...

in the years where IMG have had one GB representative they havent had a choice Philip. They have only had Woffy & Bomber to select in recent years and have been hamstrung by poor seasons by them both making it virtually impossible to repick them the next season....... this has created almost a turn taking process............... Woffy making the top 8 as of right breaks that & for the first time in years gives them a chance to have both. I am sure that if Tomasz wants to ride then his age is as much a number as it was when he last won the championship. It would be a bold and final move to leave him out........ I would have thought it would be a decision heavily influenced by those in Poland. I'm not sure if IMG are as financially involved with the 2 Swedish GP's in 2014 as they are with Cardiff........ If they are then I guess their statistics could end up choosing the WC................. re: GB's Speedway rainbow nation i'd suggest those sweeping crowd shots of wall to wall union jacks that they love showing with their tv coverage might suggest otherwise.

I am certain that you are more likely to have your finger on the pulse more than 99% of us Philip ........... but in the last few days you have suggested that both Bomber & Tomasz are unlikely to be receiving wild cards........... this seems to fly in the face of both logic in the case of Gollob..... and history in the case of WC's given to Brits Gollob may have decided he is a part timer this year but he is still most certainly box office............. unless the Polish venue promoters for 2014 can assure IMG that Janowski, Dudek etc are as big a draw for selling tickets I just cannot see him being left out.................... more interesting for me is WHY he has decided he is a part timer this year.... what changed behind the scenes to make him half hearted? ...His machinery certainly doesnt seem to have the 'guts' that he is used to... or indeed that those young Aussies & Brit have Bomber is Bomber and the question is not if he deserves it but if IMG want to take no chances with Cardiff attendance........... if not Bomber then which Brit?.... which unless IMG are about to suprise us all by being blind to nationality & quota takes us right back to Bomber vs Swede

but we arent blind to the quota system that has clearly been in place for the last decade are we Ghostwalker? In the end we are just banging on about nothing if we refuse to see it. We know that there are no red tinted spectacles here involving a true path to world championship glory. Instead we have organisers, sponsors, big stadiums to fill, tv companies to satisfy etc etc There are guys on here who will swear blind that the old world finals were better despite what amounted to about 6 no hopers in any given year because of a lop sided qualification system that served quota. It is unlikely that any of the riders that you have mentioned as above Bomber, Lindgren or Jonsson will be chosen, purely because of quota. There are now likely to be 3 Danes, 3 Poles, & a huge question mark as to how a Russian suits IMG and the SGP when the same Russian has had visa issues and pulled out of IMG & FIM meetings before. I get the feeling that IMG's russian quota value is currently zero (edit: oops one!). History dictates that IMG live and breathe their national quota system no matter how some of us see the speedway world as one rainbow nation, or despise the corporate values. In fact I suspect they are probably quite proud of it this year of all years considering Tai's wildcard was so universally jarring when it was announced. I dont think it is ideal, but we do generally get the best riders in the world riding in the competition. I am more than happy when GB once again has the best riders in the world, that Poland, Sweden & Denmark get the odd wildcard handout unless something changes like a retirement I think it is odds on that Bomber or THJ get the final wildcard (along with Holder, Gollob & Lindgren)................... and mostly because of quota

ye gods theres been some bleating (over and over and over again) about Bomber in this thread blame the FIM, blame Zagar (Pavlic/kennett/cook?), blame the sheer lack of decent British quality, blame Scotty for peeing off people, but I really cannot see how Bomber can be blamed for anything here. I remember the days when we had 20 guys of the standard of Danny King and up to Tai...... only with those kind of numbers would we be able to talk about 'chances being given' ..... while we only realistically have Bomber & Tai (& previously Scott and Rico...then Scott & Bomber) at the relevant standard, they are obviously going to keep getting nominations and wildcards ... especially when IMG have been so insistent on a British presence Maybe to put it in perspective it should be imagined that BSI are Slovenian based & that the millenium stadium is in slovenia (or right next door).... which riders would they be trying to square block in? Do we think they would be sharing out the chances equally to guys who would obviously struggle ....or would they be giving Zagar the most they could? ...............I think maybe some people are taking out the embarrassments of their nation out on the best riders of that nation As far as wildcards go, as I said the other day I can see Bomber being on the final shortlist, and that unless someone retires the final WC should be between him and a Swede.... it doesn't mean its right or ideal but it is highly probable. As for comments on Tai leading the way for Britain now, it remains to be seen whether that is good enough for IMG as it didnt stop them clumsily square blocking a second brit in the past on more than one year. I wonder if they have ever tried to quantify, through market research & ticket sale analysis, the bums on Cardiff seats factor of a Brit presence....... or maybe it is just an opinion of one or more in the office?

but do you trust that IMG feel the same way? They have a history of square blocking a Brit in the wildcards........... and going back to the days when we had 2 or 3 of standard I really wouldnt put it past them

I would be amazed if the usual IMG formula is about to change.... quota is king based on the standings at the moment and the history of IMG picks, the top 11 are safe.......... and like SCB is saying, they probably should be anyway Noddy & Darcy are lucky that the GP Challenge is a bit sparce on the Aussie front.... I'm sure IMG wouldnt want 3 in but if Batch qualifies I cant see them blanking either of the 2 golden boys I should imagine IMG and the Stadium promoters need Tomasz Gollob for the 3 Polish rounds providing he doesnt retire anyway.....who knows maybe the relevent people will look away while his bikes return to their best speeds and he will qualify on merit??? IMG are having a bit of a Swedish issue currently and if Freddie doesnt make the top 8 he will be close enough without giving them an issue in picking him.............the problem they have is that one Swedish rider probably isnt enough and unless AJ saves his hide with a GP win I can see the final WC going to THJ unless he or Nermark qualify as of right There is competition for that final WC though as despite 99% of us thinking a Harris wild card cant be viable I am certain he will be at least shortlisted (unless King qualifies) as Cardiff is the golden goose and they want bums on seats........... Vaculik no doubt has a longer career ahead but he isnt outscoring what Bomber usually scores and Chris means more to the organisers.......... tough on Vaculik but we have seen this before with the likes of Zagar One or both of the Laguta's should probably be in the frame but IMG havent shown much interest in the past and issues seem to follow them around I should imagine that ideally IMG would want THJ/King/Nermark, A Pole, & MJJ to qualify from the GP Challenge ........ Crumpy's retirement really helped them out this season but with the chase on for a USA GP and the hero worship of Tomasz it would be a double edged sword if it happened again this time ............ and then all of this could end up being a chaotic farce anyway if the trouble allegedly brewing with SEC comes to fruition

oops I wouldnt have thought so while Chris Harris is around Tai Woffinden Darcy Ward Nicki Pedersen Andrej Lebedevs cheers

Sajfutdinov Hancock Vaculik Lindback cheers

there is an argument that he shouldnt support it by participating. Sad to say but Middlo has now become the face of the BSPA run GB team and everything that it has stood for over the last couple of decades. I would prefer to see a revolving door of frustrated managers than one compliant manager that allows the stifling of change

I hate to say it, but yes maybe the Danes should have. All teams face the same rules at the start of the meeting and the jokers should bring both an eye on how to use one tactically but also how to defend against one. While the Joker rule is in play, a purists point of view is no longer significant...... but knowing the tactics surrounding them is essential

compared to the Bjerre point any Polish joker points gained are positively righteous

reckon that extra point for Bjerre is going to end up being significant

Not a good idea at the end of a long straight with Darcy & KK looming

Its decisions like this that makes speedway a joke. Why did it take the ref so long to decide? What new bit of info was he going to gain from more replays? Huge bottle job

The young guns are coming through.... but after swapping everyones engines around a little I wonder if they are coming through at a faster rate than before? The old boys have kept on top of their machinery for years now and this is the first year in a very long time where that isnt happening. Greg, Tomasz & Nicki clearly are struggling to find the right engines and setup, but as fast as Tai & Emil can find their incredible machinery, so can the old boys and everything could change again next season. I'm still seeing the same old hunger in Greg & Nicki but I question how much fight there is left in AJ & Tomasz. It speaks volumes for me that Gollob is only riding in one league. He cant be needing the money that much.

seen one of the Relentless Energy Drink adverts over the last year? Out of all the Music stars they could have approached they chose Professor Green (he of whiney Eminem impression) who also has tats on his neck I personally think Tai is going to regret it when he is older but he's obviously enjoying what he is doing & I dont think it is going to hold him back with sponsorship. It will just rule out certain companies make him more relevant with others

Woffinden Hancock Pedersen Gollob cheers

I still say he should have a career as a psychic for all the moments he 'senses' something

I'd agree that i'd want to see the track doing more at the 8th heat mark.... but plenty of races left.............. as for what we have been served up this season so far I dont think its been bad..... Cardiff was wild for the riders but not bad for the fans.... Auckland wasnt great