Miskowiak For Wroclaw GP

[Subedei]

Rumour (and rumours are just premature facts remember) suggests Ipswich's new Pole Robert Miskowiak is to be the wild card in the first Grand Prix at Wroclaw.

There were those who advocated Piotr Protasiewicz, but the Poles tend to allocate their wild card chances to their younger riders. Unlike here in good old GB where, no doubt, the wild card will go to Loram (if fit) or Norris. Surely it is time that Britain gave the wild card to a young hope for the future, rather than the old semi-dependables? Or maybe we just don't have any bright hopes for the future.

Any thoughts on Miskowiak or the wider point made?

[SCB]

Like when we had Howe, Harris and Stead in a GP and they all had 2 or 3 rides and went home? Much prefered watching Floppy last year and thinking he had a genuine chance to win it, not get past 2 rides and out.

 

Which young British rider would you give a chance to? We just don't seem to have any genuine contenders of a young age, sadly. The Poles seem to have loads of them year after year after year.

 

Prehaps as the current British Under 21 Champion, Richie Hawkins should be considered

Edited April 7, 2005 by SCB

[rabbit]

Isn't Miskowiak World U21 champion? In which case probably a justified move and reward for his achievement last year. Can only imagine that the likes of KK were also possibly considered. Oh, that we had up and coming riders in that position!

 

Sadly I'm with SCB on this - our youngsters still lack on the world stage at any level. Just look at the world U21 final - who were our representatives there? Much as I would love to see British youngsters at the GP if I'm paying £50+ for a ticket I expect to see riders of a certain level taking part with a decent chance of mixing it and progressing for my money. Harsh but fair I'm afraid.

[Subedei]

Agree with both of you, which is why I said:

 

Or maybe we just don't have any bright hopes for the future.

 

Furthermore, the Poles also have a couple likely to be near the top in Wroclaw (Gollob and Hampel) so they can probably afford to give a youngster a try.

[Steve Turner]

It's not a premature fact Subedei, it's a fact.

Robert Miskowiak IS the wildcard for Wroclaw and good luck to him.

[Guest speedway300105]

Kasprazak rode in a GP as a wild card towards the back end of the season last year. Can't remember which GP it was though.

[Rico]

FYI Kasprzak rode in the Bydgoszcz round last year, finishing 1st in heat 1, 3rd in heat 7 and being eliminated by finishing last in heat 11.

 

As they've gone for Miskowiak, I hope they still think of the great entertainer of last years Wroclaw GP, Grzegorz Walasek - he was worth the admission alone - and Pepe Protasiewicz (who made the final) for the track reserves.

Or will they go for the young guns of Rempala and Kolodziej ??

 

I look forward to the official announcement.

 

Rico

[Subedei]

Think Pepe is in the past as far as the Polish authorities are concerned now Rico. They tend to give their younger riders a chance in the grand prix meetings in Poland. That is the wider point I was making. If Loram was Polish he wouldn't stand a chance of getting a wild card shot - nor would Norris. But we always fall back on the semi-dependables.

[HenryW]

Think Pepe is in the past as far as the Polish authorities are concerned now Rico. They tend to give their younger riders a chance in the grand prix meetings in Poland. That is the wider point I was making. If Loram was Polish he wouldn't stand a chance of getting a wild card shot - nor would Norris. But we always fall back on the semi-dependables.

We shall wait and see whether Pepe is in the past as far as BSI are concerned, and that is a much more important factor. He has come back to the UK this season to try to prove that he deserves a place in the GP series in 2006, and I for one hope he succeeds.

 

Miskowiak was always the most likely choice for the Wroclaw wildcard. He has done well on that track in the past, and of course won the U-21 Final there last year. Whether he is ready for the big time just yet is up for debate, but I wish him well in his first GP.

 

I would, like Rico, now hope that Walasek and Protasiewicz are given the two track reserve slots for this GP. BSI did suggest in the past that they intended that the wildcard would go to a young hopeful with the track reserve slots being offered to former GP riders to give them an opportunity to show whether they are still good enough.

 

Both Greg and Pepe provided some great entertainment in Wroclaw last year and I'll be saddened if I don't get to see at least one of them make an appearance at this years GP!

[Subedei]

Think BSI would have a hard job justifying including Andersen, Pedersen, Sullivan, Richardson and Nicholls in 2006 if they fall to pre-qualify from this season. So there should be places up for grabs as I can only see Andersen breaking into the top eight. As for Pepe, I think Ipswich will benefit hugely from both his not being in the circus this season and his desire to break back into the circus again.

[Rico]

Think Pepe is in the past as far as the Polish authorities are concerned now Rico. They tend to give their younger riders a chance in the grand prix meetings in Poland. That is the wider point I was making. If Loram was Polish he wouldn't stand a chance of getting a wild card shot - nor would Norris. But we always fall back on the semi-dependables.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agree with the general point you are making Subedei - which reading between the lines is that our youngsters just aren't anywhere near the grade at the moment, whereas in Poland the youngsters can be competitive in the big events.

 

I remember first time I saw Hampel at Bydgoszcz I didn't think he'd be capable but the lad proved me wrong and has now gone on to prove himself in the top 8 of the world - hard part for him now comes taking another step up the ladder and improving on last year.

 

Hopefully from a British point of view Stead will progress in leaps and bounds this season and be ready to take on the number 16 jacket at Cardiff. At least he'd know he's got 5 rides and not just 2 or 3 as was likely in the past.

 

Rico

[Subedei]

I'd give it to Stead now.

Yes, I don't think we are producing good young riders, but we don't really seem to encourage them. Poland came to the WTC last year with Gollob and a group of young riders. They did reasonably well, but this year and in future years they will be among the favourites. We will keep returning to the semi-dependables and you have to think last year was their last real hope of winning it.

Not sure the Polish authorities mind if they are competitive as wild cards. Just getting them experience. But, as I said, Poland know they have Gollob and now Hampel with hopes of winning and certainly there at the death.

Edited April 8, 2005 by Subedei