norbold Posted May 19, 2003 Report Share Posted May 19, 2003 On the evidence of the first Grand Prix it certainly seems as though this year's championship has already been decided. TR is in a class of his own. It seems to me that the problem is that his once greatest rivals - Crump, Sullivan, Loram, Hancock, Adams - have had their day and are not going to get back to a challenging position. This may be a bit unfair because of injuries, track condition etc., but, I did say this is on the evidence of the first Grand Prix. When you consider how long Rickardsson himself has been around it is no mean feat that he is still out on his own amongst his contemporaries. On the other hand the next generation - Pedersen, Dryml, Richardson, Nicholls - are not quite ready yet to challenge for the master's crown. Next year, the year after maybe, but not just yet. It all leaves Rickardsson far and away the world's best rider and on course to equal and then beat Mauger's record number of championship wins. There is no doubt he is an all time great and a rider to be spoken of as at least the equal of the likes of Duggan, Fundin, Mauger, Neilsen and all those other usual candidates for the 'greatest rider ever'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatface Posted May 19, 2003 Report Share Posted May 19, 2003 will be very interesting come the end of the GP....think of a possible scenario... Loram beats Jonsson by 4 points to grab the 10th qualifying place for next year. What will they do? yes i know they will probably give a wild card but that's not the point Agree Steve. I think Loramski is great and I doubt this would have been part of his plan. But, (not for the first time in speedway) the rules have been bent here. Even if it did all happen a bit last-minute, I'm sure another wild card could have been put in at the bottom end, with another GP rider being pushed upwards to the main event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21st century heathen Posted May 19, 2003 Report Share Posted May 19, 2003 Back to the action if I may. I thought the track was dreadful. There was a blue grooves after about 4 races which tell it's own story. There was very little dirt, and as far as I could see no watering. One thing nobody else has picked up on but what the hell was going on with the tapes :?: :? No rider touched them all night but they had to be mended after virtually every race, very strange :!: Tony was pure class. Pedersen recovered from a bad start when, as he admitted himself, he may have lost the plot a couple of years ago. Dryml and Holta produced the majority if the passing, and were the riders of the night for me. I was a little disappointed with the Brits. Both are better than that, and I'd like to think they can make the semis more often than not. It should have suited Lees fast gating. He could have cleared off if he could have got out the gate. To be fair I suppose it's not Scotts fave kind of track but he needs to find a way around the slick tracks if he's to do well in the GPs. I thought Gollob and Crump would go very close to win it but neither were a genuine threat to Tony. Pepe and Krys C. were both good value so well done to them for their best showing to date. Ryan did OK after the injury. Good points in the bag. Rescued the night really because it would have been a disaster not to get anything. Wiltshire was a disappiontment going out very early. The rest did more or less what you might expect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storming Norman Posted May 20, 2003 Report Share Posted May 20, 2003 Why did the Ref keep bringing races back when someone tried to jump the start but was left at the back? Surely it can't be fair on the other 3 riders who got away ok? For once, Pedersen didn't unfairly knock someone off but Ref Steele also got that wrong despite the video replays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted May 20, 2003 Report Share Posted May 20, 2003 I thought that of Pedersen too SN :!: Ref was unfair to ex him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wes lake Posted May 20, 2003 Report Share Posted May 20, 2003 I cannot believe what i read sometimes people moaning about the GP tracks, dirt doesnt always make for good racing, a slightly banked track would make a lot of differance instead many are flat or have adverse cambers which will always make the quickest way, round the line hence the blue groove (much mentioned by Mr Tatum) which gives grip like you wouldnt believe!! Yes some of the man made tracks are not the best i will agree but Benfields are trying to get them into major city stadiums to show that speedway is not a little back yard sport to prospective sponsors media agencies etc, also the logistics to put people up in major cities is a lot easier. Hey dont get me wrong it aint perfect but its the best we got at the moment so until someone comes along and has a better way of laying tracks we have to put up with it. You will always see some processional races every meeting but you will also always see some very good ones speedway is a sprint sport over in less than 60 sec sit and watch F1 if you wanna talk about boring.Had my say feel better now (as he steps off his soap box!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KIWIPIRATE Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Rickardsson far and away the world's best rider and on course to equal and then beat Mauger's record number of championship wins As a matter of interest, they ran a brief summary of the Polish GP on NZ's TV3 6 O''Clock News, mentioning the above, of course! So, speedway does sometimes make prime time TV!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lupus Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Addy - I'm not questioning Mark's intentions for one minute, and I too believe he had every intention of riding and no doubt, as you rightly say, scoring more points than five. Are you saying Andreas should have turned up at the GP if he wanted to be awarded his point, because as far as I can see that's the only difference, or am I missing something? One thing is for sure as LW says, that the can of worms is now well and truely open with the FIM seemingly bringing in a new rule for Mark. :roll: AJ had the choice of turning up - he chose not to. See ICQ Am I the only one who could see the ridiculous situation where riders with legs in plaster trun up to ride just so they get their points and we end up with races with two riders. Addict I think you need to see the bigger picture - no-one is doubting that Mark wanted to ride and was refused but the problem is that a precedent has now been set. As stevehone said, what happens if those points Mark was awarded decide whose in the GP's next year and who isn't?! I'm sure if Jonsson had KNOWN that Loram was going to be awarded points, he would have turned up to ride as well! :? :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Oh. dear! Got to agree with two people and I usually only reserve this statement for Beowulf. (Incidentally where is he these days?) Wes lake..... Fully agree with what you said. I don't know why people do so much moaning about the man-made tracks. They are not that bad and usually produce a decent amount of racing, even if sometimes it's by riders making mistakes or hitting bumps/ruts. I've seen a lot of boring one off World Finals over the years. Lupus....Also agree with you. In fact I did criticize the fact Mark was given 5 points in an earlier posting knowing that I would probably upset the Loram lovers. Thank goodness Loramski Legends is not around. Addict I can deal with...... .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midnight_Lady Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 I agree with others who have already said about Mark Loram getting the five points when he didn't ride. It's totally wrong and I hope it will never come down to a rider winning the GP series with points awarded when they didn't race :x Just because you happen to be a fan of the rider concerned (Loram) shouldn't colour your judgement on a ludicrous decision. Lupus is right when he says you have to view the bigger picture. It's now set a precedent which will be difficult to break. Loram may have wanted to race but he was NEVER going to be fit enough to ride so soon after an injury like that. I am fed up of seeing riders trying to race with broken collar bones and far worse. It is not just their safety that may be at risk but the safety of others in the race with them. We can all admire guts and detertmination but down right stupidity is another thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunaplop Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 will be very interesting come the end of the GP....think of a possible scenario... Loram beats Jonsson by 4 points to grab the 10th qualifying place for next year. What will they do? yes i know they will probably give a wild card but that's not the point As far as I understand it, a rider just has to turn up and sign on for the GP, then he gets his points. He doesn't even have to turn a wheel. AJ should have gone if he was that bothered. Maybe he wasn't? Maybe, as you say, he's already guaranteed a 2004 spot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Thank goodness Loramski Legends is not around. Addict I can deal with...... .. But I too am still here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addy Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Oh and how am I best dealt with :?: I think I put forward what I knew of the Loram situation rather well - The bigger picture is irrelevant - each situation is different - we could just have, as easily, been discussing Mr. Sullivan in the same manner - but the shoulder area is better hidden ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Thumb Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Oh and how am I best dealt with :?: A large bottle of wine, so I`m told Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addy Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 We can all admire guts and detertmination but down right stupidity is another thing. That excludes alot of riders :clown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addy Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Oh and how am I best dealt with :?: A large bottle of wine, so I`m told Let it be our secret, don't tell too many people TT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Thumb Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Your secret is safe with me. Hope your still doing the positive thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addy Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Thanks TT yes positive thinking ... rain falls everywhere 'cept on Foxall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Oh and how am I best dealt with :?: Addict....You are not so scary. It was a compliment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addy Posted May 21, 2003 Report Share Posted May 21, 2003 Ar Fanx Gem we have always been friends - even since the old days ... you coming up on Sunday? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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