Splatty Posted September 5, 2004 Report Share Posted September 5, 2004 (edited) There's obviously a couple of GP's to go but I reckon we are getting a good idea of who is likely to go through as of right and who just cannot be ignored next season. It looks like some have qualified as of right already but personally I can see the current top 13 being picked anyway (also fits into the theory that wild cards have been spread evenly between the 'main' nations in the past) - include the two qualifiers and that would make 3 swedes, 3 aussies, 3 Danes, 3 Poles, 2 Brits, 1 USA this would leave 1 position left which I believe will be between Mark Loram, Dave Norris, Matej Zagar, Rune Holta and Lukas Dryml - I would like to include Billy Hamill but I believe his absence from both the GP series and EL will work against him. There are of course others who have had good showings as wildcards this season but if the theory works out to be correct they will be ignored for the reason that their country is already well represented (eg Bjerre, Iversen) and with the greatest of respect I can't see Benfield giving Topinka a place. But then again................... If Benfield decide to base it on venues being able to cheer a home rider then it would be important that there are representatives from Norway, Slovenia and the Czech rep which would mean Rune and Lukas are picked and out of the top 13 who would lose out I could see being Ryan Sullivan and Bjarne/Hans. so........... Andreas Jonsson Tomas Gollob Bjarne Pedersen/Hans Andersen Scott Nicholls Lee Richardson Jaroslaw Hampel Rune Holta Lukas Dryml Matej Zagar but I would prefer to see Andreas Jonsson Tomas Gollob Bjarne Pedersen Hans Andersen Lee Richardson Jaroslaw Hampel Scott Nicholls Matej Zagar Rune Holta both of these would unfortunately spell the end of Loramski and Flying Ryan but they both seem to be on the way down and disinterested - also would ignore the great league performances of David Norris but his was just bad timing. I've never liked the thought of it being reduced to 16 riders - the current format is as good as you can get for a GP series and there are too many riders who deserve to be on the world stage for it to be whittled down to 16. No matter what happens it will be harsh Edited September 6, 2004 by Splatty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhaines Posted September 5, 2004 Report Share Posted September 5, 2004 First of all I believe there are 5 Nominated spaces: Top 8 2 Qualifiers 5 Seeded 1 Wildcard per event I may be wrong though. Top 8 will be IMO (In no order): 1 - Crump 2 - Rickardsson 3 - Hancock 4 - Adams 5 - N Pedersen 6 - Jonsson 7 - Gollob 8 - Andersen Plus the two Qualifiers 9 - Lindback 10 - Chranowzski (If thats spelt correct I'll be amazed!) That leaves the 5 to be out of: B Pedersen, Richardson, Hampel, Sullivan, Nicholls, Protasiewicz, Max, Holta, Loram, Jensen, Brhel, L Dryml, Laukkanen, A Dryml. Plus of course any wildcard, notably the likes of: Zagar, Bjerre, Iversen, Norris. I expect, out of those the following to be definates: 11 - B Pedersen (Won a GP) 12 - Richardson (Has shown glipses of brilliance) 13 - Hampel (Need 2 Poles + deserves it after good showings) 14 - Nicholls (Injury hampered his progress this campaign) Leaving 1 to come from: Sullivan, Protasiewicz, Max, Holta, Loram, Jensen, Brhel, L Dryml, Laukkanen, A Dryml. + the Wildcards. If they go on merit, then they should go for a new rider (maybe World U21 champ like they did with Hampel last year) or they may go on whichever one is going to make people turn on the TV etc.. The recent news that Speedway GP coverage is on the up in Norway may help Holta. The Czech GP can quite easily survive I feel with just a wildcard in that round, Polish fans travelling would make up for any Czech loss of interest. Slovenia would be in the same boat as the Czechs. None of the remaining 2004 SGP riders seem to merit the place (IMO) So it could well go to whoever takes the World Under 21 Final. Just my view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splatty Posted September 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2004 I didn't realise about the 1 wild card for each round - that makes a lot more sense and would on the whole solve the problem of who to pick - hopefully this will allow the best or most exciting to get a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robyn1972 Posted September 6, 2004 Report Share Posted September 6, 2004 (edited) I think Hans is determined to do enough in the final rounds to ensure either automatic inclusion OR a permanent place.......agree with whoever said that Scotty will get in on the ground that if it hadn't been for the injury he would have been top eight anyway. It is a shame but Mark Loram would indeed appear to be an unlikely inclusion, and sad to say it but I can't really see we have any more brits who can hope to get in next year either. Floppy has gone well this season but I think that 1) his age and 2) his patchy past form will go against him. After that we have some good up and comers who will likely make it to the GP's eventually, but aren't ready yet.......Neath and Bird to name two. Would imagine if his form carries on well Kim Jansson stands a good chance of a wildcard in Sweden in 2005. Jesper Jensen hasn't done enough this year to get in for next IMO. Give him another couple of years and maybe...... Edited September 6, 2004 by Robyn1972 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazzman Posted September 6, 2004 Report Share Posted September 6, 2004 Personally I think the World Under 21's Champion should get an automatic spot into next years SGP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted September 6, 2004 Report Share Posted September 6, 2004 Assuming the top 8 remains the top 8, thats Crump, TR, Hacock, Adams, Pedersen(Nicki), Jonsson, Gollob, Pedersen(Bjarne), I would go with (ignoring politics and number of Swedes, Danes, Brits etc...... Hans Andersen (you can't leave out a GP winner, what ever I think of him) Lee Richardson (He shows glimpses, but he really could do with final in one of the next 2 GP's to prove it) Scott Nicholls (ditto Lee, also not helped by injury) Ryan Sullivan (He's had an aweful season but he has to be in the SP's, surely?)[/b] Jarek Hampel (He has shown at times how brilliant he is and at 23(?) he is only going to get better, like AJ has done in recent years) Other to consider, Mark Loram (WC in 2000 but you can't relly on that too much and he doesn't deserve a place on this years GP results) Niels Kristian Iversen (He seems to know how to raise his game for the GP's and SWC, is young and exciting, prety much everything BSI and the fans(I'd imagine) want from a GP rider) Kenneth Bjerre (ditto Puk) Matej Zagar (ditto Puk and BK) David Norris (Finally realised how good he is and what eh can do if he wants to, I'm sure he'd not be out of contention for GP finals if he was given a chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mylor Posted September 6, 2004 Report Share Posted September 6, 2004 Is the final format set in stone yet? My thinking is that regular underperformers should be sidelined after, say, 3 consecutive failures, to be replaced from a pool of those who just missed out. I haven't thought out the detail yet. What do you guys think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinRyan Posted September 6, 2004 Report Share Posted September 6, 2004 Is the final format set in stone yet? My thinking is that regular underperformers should be sidelined after, say, 3 consecutive failures, to be replaced from a pool of those who just missed out. I haven't thought out the detail yet. What do you guys think? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Sullivan has had a torrid season. His equipment is definitely lacking this year. I think he deserves a wildcard on his performances over the last two seasons and he will get his equipment sorted for next season, I am sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhaines Posted September 6, 2004 Report Share Posted September 6, 2004 Is the final format set in stone yet? My thinking is that regular underperformers should be sidelined after, say, 3 consecutive failures, to be replaced from a pool of those who just missed out. I haven't thought out the detail yet. What do you guys think? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You could have a pool of say 3/4 riders (possibly even the GP reserves). Then after each GP, the person finishing last moves to the end of this pool with the guy next in line taking his place and so on... So the rider top of the pool (Bjerre i believe would be 1st reserve next season from the Qualifying) could in theory cement his place in the series if he didnt finish in last place. Would certainly make it a bit interesting with the battle to finish 'not last' almost as huge as the battle to win the GP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT Posted September 6, 2004 Report Share Posted September 6, 2004 As long as the dreary Drymls the most boring riders in the world dont get a place then the GP series will be far better for it, stuff 'oh their is a GP in that country we must give them one slot' that is what wild cards are for, to be honest with you I'd give one to Iversen (flamboyant, young and as SCB said can raise his game for GP's and World Cups) or Bjerre (less exciting than Iversen but equally as good), the same can be said of Zagar, any one of these riders would be a credit to the series far more than no hopers like the Drymls (Lukas has lost his bottle) and Laukkanen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornishman Posted September 14, 2004 Report Share Posted September 14, 2004 Surely scotty and lee deserve places. when they are fit they very rarely miss out on the semis, especially scotty. Why doesnt joe screen get a place as BRITISH CAHMPION. it may have been a fluke but he still did it And MAJEJ ZAGAR deserves a place aswell. the last two years he has had a wild card and shown the 'best riders in the world' how to do it Floppy has rode well enough to merit a place but it would be a gamble to give him a wildcard due to his recent injury Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garf Posted September 14, 2004 Report Share Posted September 14, 2004 As long as the dreary Drymls the most boring riders in the world dont get a place then the GP series will be far better for it, stuff 'oh their is a GP in that country we must give them one slot' that is what wild cards are for, to be honest with you I'd give one to Iversen (flamboyant, young and as SCB said can raise his game for GP's and World Cups) or Bjerre (less exciting than Iversen but equally as good), the same can be said of Zagar, any one of these riders would be a credit to the series far more than no hopers like the Drymls (Lukas has lost his bottle) and Laukkanen! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hmmmm. Less exciting. I don't see what you mean. Did you see the U/21 final ? I was told that Kenneth was all over Miskowiak and almost passed him on the finish line. If this is not exciting then. . . . . But if you mean that excitment is the same as less control of the bike, tough unfair riding, fencing riders and so on. Then you are right, as Kenneth is one of the most fair riders at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted September 14, 2004 Report Share Posted September 14, 2004 (edited) From what I have seen of Kenneth, he is good but he's not as exciting as Puk. All a matter of opinion I guess. Edited September 14, 2004 by SCB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Bee Posted September 18, 2004 Report Share Posted September 18, 2004 I think this is rather pointless at the moment because we don't know who is in the top 8. But would to see zager/iversen in the series although with the amont of riders going out from the series, I can't see it happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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