lucifer sam

Well, since we're racing ahead, I reckon: 1979 - Michael Lee (and yes he would have been in it. In fact, he had an outstnading 1977 season and would have qualified for the 1978 GP series). 1980 - Dave Jessup 1981 - Bruce Penhall 1982 - either Bruce Penhall or Kenny Carter - discuss 1983 - no outstanding candidate, probably Hans Nielsen but I could be persuaded elsewhere on this one 1984 - Erik Gundersen - IMO, this was his best year and I think it unthinkable that Erik wouldn't have won a single GP series 1985 - Hans Nielsen (Nielsen stepped up his game even further this season) 1986 - Hans Nielsen 1987 - Hans Nielsen 1988 - Hans Nielsen 1989 - Hans Nielsen 1990 - Hans Nielsen (Actually not Hans's best year by a long shot, I think Gundersen's accident was on his mind, but who else could have won a GP series this season? There isn't anyone!) 1991 - Jan O. Pedersen 1992 - Per Jonsson 1993 - Hans Nielsen (remember lay-downs would be allowed in the GP series and Ermolenko didn't have one ) 1994 - Hans Nielsen Sorry TNT, but I can't see Ermolenko ever taking a GP series. In Ermolenko's best domestic season (1993), Nielsen would have had the advanatage of being on lay-downs. Nielsen looked the fastest rider at the '93 World Final by quite a way. All the best Rob

Norbold - just to confirm, I had Plechanov for '65 not '64. If you have Briggs for '64, who do you have for '65? All the best Rob

Right, we've leapt forward a bit but I think it's time for people to nail their colours to the mast for 1964-1878. My own choices are: 1964 - Bjorn Knutsson 1965 - Igor Plechanov 1966 - Barry Briggs 1967 - Barry Briggs 1968 - Ivan Mauger 1969 - Ivan Mauger 1970 - Ivan Mauger 1971 - Ivan Mauger 1972 - Ole Olsen 1973 - Ivan Mauger 1974 - Ivan Mauger 1975 - Ivan Mauger 1976 - Peter Collins 1977 - Ole Olsen 1978 - Ole Olsen All the best Rob

Whilst PC is very much up there in 1976 and 1977, there's no way he would have trumphed in '74, '75 or '78. 1978 is Olsen's most dominant year, whilst 1974 is probably Mauger maybe Michanek, and 1975 is a toss-up between Mauger, Olsen and maybe Phil Crump for the mechanical advantage that Grachan has mentioned (although I don't Crump would have been in the '75 series). Of course, we should not completely dismiss Malcolm Simmons from the equation. His best season was 1976. I think Peter Collins would have won in '76, but would have had Mauger and Simmons breathing down his neck. All the best Rob

RETAIN: 2 Jason Crump 5 Hans Andersen 7 Andreas Jonsson 1 Nicki Pedersen DROP: 15 Emil Sayfitdinov OLD £50,000 NEW RIDERS: 3 Tomasz Gollob NEW £50,000 Crump to remain as captain please. All the best Rob

Zonkers, so if you're not watching it live, then watch or record the repeat instead. All the best Rob

Jack Young had a pretty fine year in 1950 - his peformance in the World Final certainly suggests he would have breezed through the 1950 GP challenge and into the 1951 GP series. And yes league consistency has to be backed by something else and that's whay Michanek would not have been the GP champion in '73 - his performances on the world stage were not good enough. All the GPs from 1928 to 1956 were held in the UK, with the exception of one Aussie GP in the early fifties that cost the promoters a packet and was not repeated. Following Fundin's GP win in 1956, the first GP in Sweden was held in 1957 and the Swedes then had around 2 to 3 rounds of the 11-round series. The 1960s saw the GP become truly cosmopolitan with rounds spreading across Europe. So by 1965, the competition would have been Europe-wide, including a round in Russia and a couple of others behing the Iron Curtain. In which case, would Igor Plechanov been 1965 World Champion? All the best Rob

But as the fifth best Pole, he wouldn't have got into the GP series in the first place. All the best Rob

I'm sure Mr. Campbell will be ranting about the GP being on the red button at Armadale tonight All the best Rob

And rubbish in the 1973 World Final. I don't think Michanek would have won a GP series - he was too inconsistent at world level, probably because he was so laid back. He could string great scores together at league level, but was a bit hit and miss on the world stage. Probably the Leigh Adams of his day. All the best Rob

QUOTE (Rob B @ Sep 8 2009, 07:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I noticed on Sky planner, Slovenian GP is only on for 1 hour this week on Sky Sports Extra then its Live Spanish Football, presume it must switch to red button again Then watch the first hour and then press the red button. It's not rocket science, is it? All the best Rob

Parsloes, but Collins was injured in late August. Could he have held off a charging Olsen in the final three / four rounds with a dodgy leg - I doubt it Anyway, we have jumped ahead - we're on '64 at the moment. All the best Rob

Blimey, that's leaping ahead. Mauger in 1967? I don't quite see that one. More likely Briggs. Olsen would have won titles, but Mauger would have been difficult to handle over 11 rounds from 1968 through to 1974. Olsen might have sneaked one in '72, otherwise his time comes more in 1975/77/78. (with Collins '76). EDIT: And I've leapt forward even more. All the best Rob

Hmmm, good point. I did have Briggo down for GP titles, but only from the mid-sixties onwards. Would it have been that long before his first title? After all, he more-or-less pushed Fundin off the track in the 1957 World Final run-off. He wanted it - and badly. I've changed my mind. I'm going for Fundin in 1956 & 1957, Briggo in 1958 (pushing Fundin off the track in the final GP ), and Fundin for 1959 to 1963 (sorry Peter Craven ) All the best Rob

Indeed, but otherwise the whole thing becomes more complicated than an episode of Quantum Leap. All the best Rob

Iris, I see your point. And the competition was fierce in Fundin's period. So at which point would his motivation slipped? 1956 is his first title - so his motivation would have slipped around 60/61? But then again 1960 or 1961 were his peak years. You know, it's all pointing towards him losing the 1962 title to Peter Craven. (I'm still arguing on Craven's behalf ). All the best Rob

And (while the discussion continues regarding 1956 to 1963), we move onto 1964 and 1965. IMO, the leading contenders are: * Barry Briggs * Bjorn Knutsson * Igor Plechanov * Ove Fundin I'm tempted to go for Knutsson in 1964 and Plechanov in 1965, but it's much less clear cut than '56 to '63 (Briggo is my man for 1966 & 1967, but I feel there's plenty to discuss for '64 & '65 first). All the best Rob

Yes, but was Rickardsson as good as Fundin? Probably not. Fundin probably would have won all 8 titles from the 1956 to 1963, but I'm going for all his "bad luck" to come at once in 1962 and therefore allow Peter Craven a title. (Unfortunately it looks like no-one else is backing Craven for a title and the greatest ever Brit is going to finish without a championship ) All the best Rob

Norbold, Knutsson seemed to cope quite well with the nerves in one-off finals - he won it once and finished second twice. There's no doubt from 1961, he was a real force. But I think his peak was in 1964 and 1965 and we'll come to those years shortly. Plechanov's best year also seems to be somewhere between 1964 to 1967 - I think 1962 would have been a little bit too early for him. I'm nailed my colours to the mast for 1956 to 1963, with Fundin champion for 1956 to 1961 & 1963 and Craven for 1962. Do people agree or disagree with that? All the best Rob

Norbold, Briggo's strongest claim appears to be 1958. So could he have beaten Fundin over a 11-round GP series in 1958? I'm not so sure, Fundin was still pretty hot that year. In fact, Fundin looks completely unstoppable from 1956 to 1961. Briggo would be my favourite for 1966-1967 (and probably 1964 & 1965 as well), but we haven't quite got there yet. And what about Peter Craven and Bjorn Knutsson - two giants of the sport, but would they have been World Champion under a GP series? Most likely years seem to 1957 or 1962 for Craven, or 1961 or 1962 for Knutsson (and also 1964 & 1965 for Knutsson, but again we haven't quite gone there ). Actually 1962 looks like a chink in Fundin's armour, he finished just seventh in the NL averages. It's true handicapping was introduced that year, but it seems to have slowed down Knutsson and Craven much less than Fundin. I believe Fundin suffered a broken leg during 1962 as well. Therefore I plump for Fundin for 1956 to 1961 and also 1963, but Peter Craven for 1962. A slightly sentimental choice perhaps, but there you go. What are other people's thoughts for 1956 to 1963? All the best Rob

And it's still too much. Make it 50p and throw in a free packet of Chewits and I'll consider it. All the best Rob

OK, time to get this going again? 1956-1963, could ANYONE have stopped Ove Fundin from taking eight GP titles on the bounce? All the best Rob

See you on the 19th then All the best Rob

Very good line-up. Really, really, really looking forward to this now. All the best Rob

Parsloes, just tell the Missus you're popping down to Homebase at 8.00am and then arrive back home at 3.00am the following morning. When she asks we you've been, tell her that the local branch of Homebase didn't have what you wanted but they advised you could get it from the Workington branch so you decided to drive up and get it. There you go. Simples. All the best Rob