Danish Grand Prix - Copenhagen

[Steve Shovlar]

What an excellent post Cappy. I apaud you in your honesty and praise of Tony.

 

I know that Tonys win tonight is probably the most unpopular result for any non Tony fan, but he has set the bar and everyone else is fally below it at the moment.

 

No good waiting for him to have an off night. It will happen but won't help anyone as Tony would have disappeared over the horizon by then, if he hasn't already.

 

better to step back, re-assess the situation, see where improvements can be made, and start all over again.

 

There are so many areas to look at. Personal fitness and belief, engines, equipement you are completely happy with, your mechanics, the list goes on and on. And of course even if you can tick those boxes, Tony has so much natural ability he could affod to team ride Lindback hoe in the semi to make sure Crump didn't make a last lap charge, making sure he defended second.

 

The only good news for non Tony fans is the fact that he is 34 years old, and nearing the end of his illustrious career. A couple of seasons and it will be all over, and he will leave a huge whole in the GP series, So rather than moan or crurse that Tony has won again, embrace it and know that when you supported speedway you were there when the best rider the sport has ever produced won his record breaking 7th title.

[Nevs]

I dont think anyone can say this season has been the most boring yet in GP terms at all.

 

Boring in as much as Ricko is running away with it maybe-but whos fault is that?-the racing and incidents havent been boring at all surely?

 

He realised possibly what the new format meant allowed for it in his planning this season and the rest just assumed it would be the same, and if he made a mistake they would get another chance and he would be on his way home.

 

Well sorry guys-up your game, and study the format and what you need to do-He aint going to hand it to you on a plate-Mr Consistent so it seems, and the more it goes on, the more others have realised that and getting desperate-too little too late me thinks. Should have thought of that before-

Hope he gets 7 championships an all-Will have deserved it.

 

Then retire and give someone else a chance.

Edited June 26, 2005 by Nevsy

[Liontamer]

I don't think it's just a matter of TRick "dialling" (whatever that means) his bikes in to each track, I think the fact he's running away with it this year is a lot to do with confidence. It dosen't matter who Sky interview, most of the riders don't come across as being 100% focussed, & they certainly don't seem to have the killer instinct or Rickardsson.

 

I think Nicki P is the only other rider who does have the killer instinct & because he tries a bit too hard & gets into a few scrapes he gets slated for it, but you have to give him full marks for effort.

 

I think the other reason Rickardsson is running away with it this year is because he's got supreme confidence in both his bikes & his ability. I think 99% of his opponents are beaten before the tapes have risen (assuming they do rise that is). Good luck to him, he's a fantastic rider & worthy champion, but it has made this years GP series predictable & boring.

 

Apologies for rambling, I only got up for a quick slash.

[AndyM]

Of course he's not cheating, but he's certainly found a way within the rules to obtain 10hp more than everyone else. Would be interesting to hear what theories the more technically-minded posters can come up with for that. I remember a number of years ago Erik Gundersen developed a world final bike that included titanium which improved the power:weight ratio, though I believe that was subsequently outlawed. Suspect TR's trick is down to an engine tuning device?

[Mr_T]

Although banned, there is currently no test in Speedway being used for detecting titanium and exotic alloys, the scrutineering in GP's is basic to say the least and would probably shock most people. Titanium is as strong as steel but 45% lighter, so when used in engine components, it can make a massive difference.

 

Tony cheating? No I wouldn't say that, he is superbly talented and by far has the best overall package, but his advantage mainly comes from his equipment...... Like most champions, his a boundary pusher.

[AndyM]

Of course you're right about the machine inspections. Presumably they would investigate if there was a complaint, but otherwise the assumption is that every rider is whiter than white. Call it naive, but it's certainly not as thorough as an F1 inspection!

 

I now have specs made from titanium and can vouch for their incredible strength and light weight. The other benefit is that titanium doesn't corrode.

[Trees]

Perhaps Penske are involved with his engines too like Bernie has already said.

 

I suppose it's the same company, I've just read that "According to one engineman the open Penske motors could now be pulling as much as 30 hp more than their Ford motors." If they are doing this with NASCAR engines, surely they could do it with simple speedway engines?

IF this is the case then looks as though he has certainly upped the anti!!

[AndyM]

So if the weight of bikes is much the same and the fuel batch is identical, how do you manufacture huge increases in BHP from what is essentially the same engine but stay within the rules?

 

If Penske can do this, you'd think every rider would be after one? Or maybe the cost is prohibitive to all but TR?!

Edited June 26, 2005 by AndyM

[Trees]

I haven't got a blinking clue AndyM but IF this is the way Tony has gone to have a company like Penske developing engines for you with all their knowledge you're on to a winner!

[essaitch]

So if the weight of bikes is much the same and the fuel batch is identical, how do you manufacture huge increases in BHP from what is essentially the same engine?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Knowledge, expierience and VERY carefull assembly.

and maybe a face face with an open mind reads the rules differently?

while you can't sabve weight a lighter frame means you can put the weight where you want it, and carbon is much stiffer, which gives a better "feel" from the track.

[AndyM]

The machine inspectors do weigh bikes, and any sub-minimum machine would be reported.

[Guest Jim Blanchard]

So if the weight of bikes is much the same and the fuel batch is identical, how do you manufacture huge increases in BHP from what is essentially the same engine?

 

You put a better rider on it. That is worth another 10BHP.

 

If Trick was to lend his bikes to another rider in the GP's would they be winning them all? I doubt it. He sets them up well and get's the best from them, but essentially its him I think.

 

Compared to most other forms of motorcycle racing the speedway bike really is limited to the possibilities of changing the set up though, its a pretty basic concept. Its difficult to define what makes a rider faster than another but they just are. They think faster.

[12bore]

You put a better rider on it.    That is worth another 10BHP.

 

If Trick was to lend his bikes to another rider in the GP's would they be winning them all? I doubt it. He sets them up well and get's the best from them, but essentially its him I think.

 

Compared to most other forms of motorcycle racing the speedway bike really is limited to the possibilities of changing the set up though,  its a pretty basic concept.  Its difficult to define what makes a rider faster than another but they just are. They think faster.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

i agree Jim unlike road racing where speed is of the essence you often hear of riders "de-tuning" their bikes to make them competitive I remember Martin Smolinski saying the reason why he was struggling early on was the fact that his machines were actually too powerful for the british tracks hence 10-20-30 bhp extra would be absolutely no use at all on many tracks ... its a delicate mix of rider attitude/ability a competitive machine and the ability to get the right set up for the track quickly that are key and of course Trick has all of those ... nothing suspicious i fear he's just doing the job

[cappy]

I presume Tony uses his GP bikes/mechanics etc in his league meetings? I've not checked (hung over), but I heard he isn't doing all that great in his meetings this year??!!

 

If his bike was that much better in GPs, he'd be wiping the floor with league riders. So maybe it is a confidence thing, as has been mentioned? When he's interviewed he sounds excited to be doing what he's doing, as though he feels no pressure and just gets on with it, for the fun of it. Maybe the confidence thing is a snowball effect, but in his league meetings perhaps he does feel pressure because his results aren't as good as they could be?

 

I dunno.

[TheCedarMan]

Sorry to slightly change direction on this thread, but what did Antonio say for sky to apologise for his language?. I didn't hear anything out of the ordinary, hter again I didn't see Pedersen being throttled by the tapes first time either

 

No I'm not a polish referee

[home straight]

I thought he said "everything was working good" and still do, but I watched the replay and it could be argued that he said "everything was f***ing good.

[Jason.C]

Perhaps Penske are involved with his engines too like Bernie has already said.

 

Penske do not have anything to do with Tricks motors, they are only involved with the construction of his frames, and this is done in there spare time.

If i remember correctly Brian Andersen is doing Tricks engines along with Antonios and some of Bjarnes

[Bernie]

Hi All yes normal service resumed.

 

However I do beleive a lot of the forum members are right about Trick pushing the boundaries.

 

Penscy are new to this game but perhaps can see an opportunity to break into Speedway. I do beleive Trick has this company working on his engines.

 

Bikes are weighed but does this mean that the bike weight can be changed around the frame?

 

I appreciate Trick is very good at speedway but do we want to watch F1 boring racing transposed to speedway. I do not want this at all.

 

I want to watch some competitive racing. How is that 1 man can be half a lap in front of these riders. I feel its down to engines more power.

 

Just to add Penscy were watching and at Cardiff GP.

Edited June 26, 2005 by Bernie

[Steve Shovlar]

Hi All yes normal service resumed.

 

However I do beleive a lot of the forum members are right about Trick pushing the boundaries.

 

Penscy are new to this game but perhaps can see an opportunity to break into Speedway. I do beleive Trick has this company working on his engines.

 

Bikes are weighed but does this mean that the bike weight can be changed around the frame?

 

I appreciate Trick is very good at speedway but do we want to watch F1 boring racing transposed to speedway. I do not want this at all.

 

I want to watch some competitive racing. How is that 1 man can be half a lap in front of these riders. I feel its down to engines more power.

 

Just to add Penscy were watching and at Cardiff GP.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry Bernie no on no and no.

 

Penske have NOTHING to do with TRicks engines. brian Andersen does them, as he does a lot of other riders as well. I would however say there is a pecking order. The more you pay Andersen the longer he will work on your engines to get the best out of them.

 

Penske, the company itself, have nothing to do with speedway. Some of the workers at Penske work in their spare time to bild TRicks frames. Not the company itself.

 

As for finsing the GP series boring this year, well you should blame every other ride except TRick. It's their fault they are lagging behind. Why should TRick not continue to dominate if they haven't go their acts together?

 

The same at the moment goes for elite league speedway. Poole have dominated over recent seasons because no other team have got their act together to bring their standards up to Pooles.

 

The engines are all 500cc. You could do a test on Tonys and I bet £1000 they are within the limits. The guy is the worlds best ever speedway rider. Better than any rider that has ridden a bike before, and IMO that includes Mauger, Neilsen, Gundersen, Briggs, Olsen, Michenek, Fundin et al. In 20 years time youo can look back and say I remember Rickardsson, and these upstarts are not a patch on him etc etc etc.( and by then you will probably look back at his dominance and realise just what a star the guy is)

Edited June 26, 2005 by Steve Shovlar

[Guest Jim Blanchard]

There are many people on here who remember the one off finals, me being one of them, and I prefer the GP, and as you say you pay for Sky so if it went back to one off finals you'd only get one match for your money instead of 9.

 

Fair point home straight and I do too. Though when I said I thought the old format was a better one, I meant it in the context of a full GP series. Sorry - I did not make that clear.