frigbo Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 There is little difference between this and the days when GB was too weak to fill a side with all British born riders. In those days such greats as Briggo rode for GB. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yep, and that was daft too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanzilla Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 I think the Poles have pulled a stroke too, but I say live and let live. Personally I think the Poles have enough quality without having to bother including Holta, especially on their own soil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derwent Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Didn't Andy Smith ride under a Polish licence for a while ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbit Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Still does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photo Eddie Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 I don't think that this is a case of Poland pulling a fast one. They have selected a team that they believe is strong enough using the best available eligible riders, including Rune Holta, who is a Polish citizen. It might be argued that as Holta is also a Norwegian citizen and has represented Norway at FIM level in the Grand Prix, the old Pairs and World Team Cup (and indeed the qualifying round of the new World Cup in 2001 - the only time I think that Norway have competed) he shouldn't be eligible to ride in another national side. However as in all sports, times have changed and this sort of thing happens all the time. Fiona May represented Britian as a long jumper, married an Italian and won medals for Italy. Speedway was right there at the start of it all - mention has already been made of the farcical situation in the early 1970s when one year there was a GB team with New Zealanders in it, the next there were separate England and Scotland teams and then sometimes an English team with Scotsmen in it. The Norwegian authorities have neglected speedway to the point where it is virtually dead and it is not surprising that their best rider has decided to look elsewhere. I should add that this is a view shared by Dag Lovaas who I interviewed recently. He said he would prefer it if Holta was riding for another Scandinavian country but he was quite sympathetic to his situation. It is worth noting that in Poland the decision is far from being universally popular. Both fans and insiders have mixed feelings and one former World finalist told me that he would prefer to see Poland finish second if it meant giving an international chance to a young Polish rider. Personally I believe that Holta deserves his chance on merit although there are several very good riders knocking on the door (Walasek, Miedzinski, Zabik, Hlib, Miskowiak etc. not to mention Wieslaw Jagus who has never really been given a chance at international level despite frequently outscoring Jason Crump at Torun). The pressure is certainly going to be on Holta to perform tonight. One final point - I believe it is essential for Holta's personal credibility now that he is riding for the Polish national team he should ride in all international situations for Poland rather than Norway. If he does that (and produces the goods on the track of course) he will go a long way towards convincing the doubters. Eddie Slater Speedway Correspondent - Dziennik Polski www.dziennikpolski.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subedei Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Wouldn't like to be in Holta's shoes if the Poles don't win and it's because he has a couple of poor meetings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Clemens Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Eddie SlaterSpeedway Correspondent - Dziennik Polski www.dziennikpolski.co.uk Being this person you are, you must be in a position therefor to answer the question 'why is it with all the riders that poland have at their disposal they should need to use Holta in the first place'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subedei Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Being this person you are, you must be in a position therefor to answer the question 'why is it with all the riders that poland have at their disposal they should need to use Holta in the first place'? It's being held in Poland, they want to win and Holta adds strength to their line-up. The Poles have some fabulous young riders coming through, but Holta, an experienced GP rider, is less risky than say Kolodziej or Rempala. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Photo Eddie Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Being this person you are, you must be in a position therefor to answer the question 'why is it with all the riders that poland have at their disposal they should need to use Holta in the first place'? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I suppose the point here is that Holta is a 'rider at Poland's disposal' as he is both a citizen and a Polish licence holder. As I hinted in my earlier post there is no shortage of talented Polish riders and Holta is going to be under tremendous pressure to perform. Polish speedway fans are not known as a forgiving lot! I'm not sure whether my role as the speedway reporter for DP (which is published daily in London) gives me that much more insight into the minds of the selectors than anyone else but I think the reason he has been picked is on the strength of his peformances this season for Czestochowa and VMS Elit. He wasn't particularly impressive in the Eskilstuna GP so I personally think his selection is a big risk. I shall be in Wroclaw for the race off and final so I'll try to speak to some people from the PZM to find out what the justification is. So far there has been little in the way of official comment (although we don't see everything that appears in the Polish press about Speedway - try as we might) other than the announcement first of all that he was in the twelve man squad and then in the team. One wonders what team spirit will be like - Holta recently had an altercation with Krzys Kasprzak's brother which resulted in young Robert being banned from speedway for six months! Looking at the way team GB performed on Sunday night you would have to say that the team was more than the sum of its parts and that team spirit and motivation from Neil Middleditch made a very big difference. I have often thought that Poland have delivered performances in the World Cup that have been less than the sum of the parts. We will soon see! Eddie Slater Speedway Correspondent - Dziennik Polski www.dziennikpolski.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyM Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Rune has both a Polish passport and speedway licence. He's ranked 2nd among Polish riders in ekstraliga. Team manager's job is to pick the best polish riders, wether their background is Swedish, Jamaican or Swahili. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Though presumably he hasn't given up his Norwegian nationality or passport in the process but take up dual nationality and therefore qualifies to ride for either country. Perhaps, like Kevin Pietersen and many others, he felt his chances were greater by appearing for his second country? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest newman Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Holta shouldn't be riding for Poland, simple as that. He is not Polish whether he has a Polish passport or not. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hargreaves shouldn't play for English football NT. Rusedski shouldn't play for GB in Davis Cup. The question that needs to be asked is 'why is Poland, where the sport is at it's most popular, in the eyes of the people, with so many home born riders available, in need of Holta in the first place? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Just replace Poland, speedway and Holta with England, football and Hargreaves and try to answer yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Clemens Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Hargreaves shouldn't play for English football NT. Rusedski shouldn't play for GB in Davis Cup. Just replace Poland, speedway and Holta with England, football and Hargreaves and try to answer yourself. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Indeed neither should Rudeski play tennis for GB nor Hargreaves if he is not english nor zola budd or anyone else. It is a matter of opinion but I think that people should partake in sport for their country of origin whichever country that might be and I have always believed this and always said this. So my part of the question is answered. Also having been a member of the Polish community for 30 years I believe also that the Poles would much rather a Pole have ridden instead of Holta. In the play offs look for a Pole riding in place of Holta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subedei Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 (edited) One wonders what team spirit will be like - Holta recently had an altercation with Krzys Kasprzak's brother which resulted in young Robert being banned from speedway for six months! And the altercation happened while Krzysztof Kasprzak was lying on the track after being shoved into the fence by Holta. But Holta loaned Kasprzak a bike for his last ride tonight, so I guess there's no hard feelings. In the play offs look for a Pole riding in place of Holta. I'd expect to see Walasek in the race-off. But I think it'll be Protasiewicz or Kasprzak that'll make way for him. Edited August 2, 2005 by Subedei Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PolskiZuzel Posted August 2, 2005 Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 (edited) (...) one former World finalist told me that he would prefer to see Poland finish second if it meant giving an international chance to a young Polish rider. It wouldn't be Zenon Plech ? Would it ? Anyway, discussion - as you already mentioned - on whether Rune Holta should, or should not ride for Polish team in the WTC has been going on in Poland for some time now. Opion is divided, although perhaps there are more voices against it. To me each stick has two ends. Rune will most likely get a world championships medal. His chances of getting permanent wild card for 2006 GP will also increase. So that's one end of a story.On the other hand, Poland with Rune in the team, has the best chances in the last 10 years for getteing at the top of a tree. Who in the next 10 years will ever remember that Holta even rode for Poland. After all, record books will be showing that Poland ( in 2005) won, came second or third. And that's the end of the story! cheers PolskiZuzel Edited August 2, 2005 by PolskiZuzel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Listening to Rune's interview tonight it would appear that one of the main motivations for him is to try and ensure he stays on the radar as far as BSI are concerned. Given that they have done away with qualifying for GP series, this is obviously one of the best ways for Rune to make sure that he stays in their thoughts for a permanent slot for next year. As to why the Poles have picked him... on league form in Sweden and Poland he is one of their top 5 riders simple as that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 It is a matter of opinion but I think that people should partake in sport for their country of origin whichever country that might be and I have always believed this and always said this. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> In general, I'd agree. But can you always clearly define 'country of origin'. Suppose you have an Irish mother, an Australian father, was born in India, lived in China for 5 years, then lived in England for the rest of your life. What is your country of origin? On the subject of Speedway riders, I remember Gordon Kennett once considered riding for Denmark because he kept being overlooked by England, though I don't believe he ever actually went through with it. I think he had a Danish wife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Lets hope that good old Englishman Kevin Pietersen scores a century against the Aussies. Holta riding for Poland, doesn't make the sport look daft as it happens in all sports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philfromcov Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 if he has a polish passport then i dont see the problem, clearly e has joint nationality, rider on a polish licence would be a farse but if his contry has given him a passport then i dont see a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frigbo Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Lets hope that good old Englishman Kevin Pietersen scores a century against the Aussies. Holta riding for Poland, doesn't make the sport look daft as it happens in all sports. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Doesn't make it right though, in my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Jim Blanchard Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 There are precedents. Ronnie Moore was born in Hobart, Tasmania which we all know is part of Australia. I am sure he rode very successfully in international events for Australia. He later moved to New Zealand becoming a citizen of that country and that the rest of his international career which included two world championship titles were as a Kiwi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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