Mark Loram

[ezekiel]

Mark was interviewed at the Ipswich meeting last night and said that he was hoping to get another crack at the GP series. He feels he is hitting the same form as when he was World Champ and that Richardson has had his chance in the GPs after 3 seasons.

 

Personally I think that it would be great to see Mark in the GP series again - the current format should suit him a lot more than the old format. Nicholls should finish in the top 8 and qualify for next year, and surely the powers-that-be would want to have at least 2 Brits in the series. Richardson surely won't get another chance, and apart from Mark who else is there?

 

I really hope that Mark does get picked for the series next season, if he was then I'd be very tempted to go to more GPs than just Cardiff...

[rabbit]

Sounds a damn good idea to me. The series needs more racers like him back in it. Sad to say, but we have a big gap in this country of riders ready for the GP stage and although i've nothing against Rico, he's just not making a place his own.

 

Having seen Loramski on Wednesday he's definitely back to his stunning old form. Haven't seen him as dominant round our track for a couple of years and thought maybe we'd seen the best of him.

 

Loramski for the GPs - got my vote.

[ezekiel]

I never thought I'd see the day when I actually agreed with a Poole fan!!!

[Steve Shovlar]

No. Mark had his chance and its time for the youngsters. If he wanted it he should have applied to enter and quaify through this year.

 

It was awful watching some old Norwegian beat him in his last GP. Don't want to see that again.

 

Let the youngsters have a go.

[pirate paul]

Difficult one. I would LOVE to see Mark back to his gp best, however could he still mix it at that level? Yes I know he beats gp riders week in and out in the elite league but the boys step it up a gear for the gps. But yeah, if he shows some of the old magic, then why the hell not!

[SuzieQ]

No. Mark had his chance and its time for the youngsters. If he wanted it he should have applied to enter and quaify through this year.

 

It was awful watching some old Norwegian beat him in his last GP. Don't want to see that again.

 

Let the youngsters have a go.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

OK Steve, name a young Brit that can mix it with the best in the GP's

 

Go on............... Just one name will do!

 

It's OK, I'll wait for you to think of one!

 

[Addy]

It will be great if this happens.

He is a brilliant rider

[pirate paul]

OK Steve, name a young Brit that can mix it with the best in the GP's

 

Go on...............  Just one name will do!

 

It's OK, I'll wait for you to think of one!

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Don't know about mixing with the best, but I reckon Bomber Harris would do better than Richardson.

[The Know]

Sounds a damn good idea to me. The series needs more racers like him back in it. Sad to say, but we have a big gap in this country of riders ready for the GP stage and although i've nothing against Rico, he's just not making a place his own.

 

Having seen Loramski on Wednesday he's definitely back to his stunning old form. Haven't seen him as dominant round our track for a couple of years and thought maybe we'd seen the best of him.

 

Loramski for the GPs - got my vote. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think he should get a shot at it again also, lee is just dreadful and we have no riders yet who can mix it in the g.p.

[tony159]

Think Mark should get another shot at the G.P's next year .

 

This year with no injuries he is back to his best .

 

Last week at Poole he was awesome and worth the admission price alone .

[ezekiel]

Looks like Mark got a 4-ride paid maximum tonight, guesting for Eastbourne - it might have been against a depleted Hammers team but he was the only 'Eagle' to get one!

[SCB]

OK Steve, name a young Brit that can mix it with the best in the GP's

Whya Brit? I want to see 16 good riders, not 2 Brits, 2 Swedes, 2 Danes, 2 Germna,s 2 Aussies, 2 czechs etc etc. Natoinality is irrelevant it should be the best 16 riders in the World.

[garf]

. . . . .

Natoinality is irrelevant it should be the best 16 riders in the World.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Only then you can say the winner of the GP seria is World Champion.

[one of clubs]

Purely from a spectacle point of view Mark should get the nod as the wild card.The guy is a true racer.On the other hand youth should be given the chance.As we found in the WTC final it is all very well going for experience but the kids need to be given the chance.They may fail but they will learn from the experience and hopefully improve because we all learn from our mistakes.

 

 

Speaking of mistakes i would like to share my mistake with anyone who cares to read it.A couple of weeks ago i was holidaying in Cornwall.While i was watching my kids play in the water i saw a lady who had muscly legs,a mans facial features etc.etc.I said to the guy stood a few feet away look at that woman there i think she is one of those transgenders and i went to great lenghts to point this person out to him and he just laughed.I returned to me deck chair,went back towards the water and there was the guy walking up the beach with the lady i have described.He looked at me as if to say that was me wife you were less than complimentary about.I made my self scarce.I then visited the toilet,returned and saw this guy looking anxiously around with an annoyed look on his face. He thankfully did not see me,much to my delight as i may have been in line for a black eye. I kept my alcohol consumption down and would not talk to strangers for a while after that.

[spook]

I'd love it if Mark was to be brought back into the picture again but I just can't see it............The riders that BSI have brought in have been young (or had great sponsorship) .....i'm fully expecting Rico or Steady to be given the wildcard

 

....and if Steady or Bomber qualify as of right I think the chances of a 3rd Brit getting in by WC are very slim

[andy moore]

Isnt there a case for Louis as well then - sorry but Loram has had his chance how long has it actually took for him to get back to his previous form way too long in my book.

[Sulli]

Whya  Brit? I want to see 16 good riders, not 2 Brits, 2 Swedes, 2 Danes, 2 Germna,s 2 Aussies, 2 czechs etc etc.  Natoinality is irrelevant it should be the best 16 riders in the World.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Here, Here !

 

Why would speedway fans want to see "sub standard" riders due purely to nationality. A true world champion should be judged by beating the best in the world, not the best designated countries can offer.

 

It's about time that qualification for the GP's was transparent to all - riders and supporters - and not clouded behind the doors of "power".

 

Although discussed elsewhere, I would suggest the following.

 

Top 8 from previous year (no change there)

If a qualifying rider elects not to take part, his place is offered to the next highest rider - 9th.

 

 

Top 2 averages (not already qualified from above) from each of the Swedish, Polish & GB "elite" leagues. This would allow for qualification year long through domestic racing which could be seen to provide greater reward to 100% effort at all meetings.

If a rider qualifies based on his average from two/three leagues - the higher average would take priority and he would be considered as already qualified in the others.

If a qualifying rider elects not to take part his place is offered to the next qualifying rider from his qualifying league.

 

 

2 qualifying places through individual qualification meetings culminating in a qualification final where top 2 places over 16 rider, 20 heat, format would qualify. No single race first two past the post final.

Third and fourth would be offered positions as series reserves to cover for injuries etc (as per Hans & Ryan this year)

 

 

No single round wild cards - does this generally serve any purpose?

 

 

No rider would be able to qualify through no more than two routes. ie: those in this years GP series would not be eligible to participate in the individual qualifying rounds.

 

 

Nothing is perfect but at least with this system everyone would know how a rider would qualify. It would get away from riders "lobbying" for a place (a la Mark) and for others knowing why they didn't qualify (Hans). It would provide the paying public with the "best" available line-up with the top performers from the previous years GP's; the top performers from the previous years top leagues, and two riders who have shown the ability to qualify through a series of individual meetings.

[big lebowski]

Ok. I'm sitting down with the sky sports / benfield people. Which Brit should we throw a lifeline to for next years GP series (assuming Nicholls auto qualifies). Harris & Stead could qualify by right (though I doubt it in that company). So we could have Harris, Stead, Richardson, or ex-world champ & top racer Loram. Hmm, tough call - NOT !!! Get Loram in NOW even ! Will he be world champ again? not likely, but good GP's for TV with him in the races - Definitely.

[iris123]

I'm with scb,garf,sulli and to an extent even Shovlar.Why should we be talking about Loram for Richardson?.Loram hasn't gone into the quali's.He didn't go face to face with the others that wanted to get in.If the Brits fail to get through in Vetlanda and they don' qualify automatically i think they should at least lose one place,so that probably means only Scott.What i would like to see though is if a rider outside of the GP's is showing obvious World class form(like Hans at the mo) there should be a way of getting him in.That may be Loram next year,it might even be Lee or Peter Karlsson......whoever.The best should be there regardless of nationality,no quotas

[Ron Butler]

No. Mark had his chance and its time for the youngsters. If he wanted it he should have applied to enter and quaify through this year.

 

It was awful watching some old Norwegian beat him in his last GP. Don't want to see that again.

 

Let the youngsters have a go.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I agree, Steve. How often do we see contributors to this forum saying that youth should be given a chance. Now is the time to suit actions to words. People such as Loram and Richardson have had many opportunities.

 

The fact that Mark was the World Champion some years ago is totally irrelevant.

 

Now British speedway needs to look ahead toward its younger men. Men such as Chris Harris, Simon Stead et al. Hopefully in years to come they too will be supurceded by young riders who are just at the foot of the British ladder. Riders who are the future members of the British international team. Men such as Lewis Bridger and James Wright.

 

With respect to Mark Loram I feel he should now step down from the national team and the Grand Prix circuit. He is still a highly vauable contibutor to the Elite League and I feel he should content himself with this and not try to renew his past glories.

 

Speedway in Britain must progress in every respect if it is to regain the status it once held in the national sporting environment. Status which was lost some years ago and is still far from being regained.