Difficult Decisions Ahead............

[Brummie Boy]

The way the 2006 championship is shaping up it looks very likely that there may only be one Brit in the 2007 GPs. The current top five look to be definitely through:

 

Jason Crump

Greg Hancock

Leigh Adams

Nicki Pedersen

Andreas Jonsson

 

Add the three qualifiers:

 

Weislaw Jagus

Rune Holta

Hans Andersen

 

With one wildcard per meeting that leaves 7 places to fill. With positions 6th to 11th in the current standings being very close between:

 

Jaroslaw Hampel

Matej Zagar

Tomasz Gollob

Bjarne Pedersen

Scott Nicholls

Antonio Lindback

 

I would suggest that virtually all these are guaranteed a place next year, even if they fail to finish in the top eight. This leaves one pick for next year and I cannot see either Lee Richardson, Simon Stead, Mark Loram or Chris Harris getting the remaining spot over Niels Kristian-Iversen.

 

This would mean that in next year's GP we would have :

 

4 Danes

3 Poles

2 Aussies

2 Swedes

1 Norwegian

1 American

1 Slovenian

1 Brit

 

With Iversen probably getting that last pick it makes the Danes, with four riders, look a little over represented. However, given Iversen's connections with Reading I would be astounded if he got overlooked.

 

When was the last time GB only had one rider in the World Championships?

Edited August 27, 2006 by Brummie Boy

[Trees]

If we're not good enough to qualify we're not good enough, should make our riders more determined to get there in 2008 perhaps?

[iris123]

Probably reflects the various countries strengths at the mo.But i very much doubt NKI will be there next year,despite having powerful support.Also think he has proved the doubters wrong and he hasn't struggled like Pepe.If it is given to a Brit( and i would rather Stead or Harris),i hope that they can at least match his performance and maybe really surprise most like Zagar has

[Guest PanthersChamp06]

Niels is prooving his worth for that last place. His first ever meeting at Prague last night and it went well.

 

Time is on his side though so he can afford to miss out on a season of GP's.

[Mr Bee]

Give it to the Mighty Harris.

 

His showing last week in Vetlanda is worthy of a pick and he soundly beat the likes of Pepe, Ryan, NKI etc......

 

Harris for GP 2007!!!

[Sir Jasper]

I cant see the Danes getting 4 people in....

[sweet_lil_mystery]

I cant see the Danes getting 4 people in....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Same, there's no way they'll have four! Nicki and Hans are in there already, so if Bjarne doesn't make the top eight, then they'll give him a wildcard and leave Niels out I reckon. Tough for Niels, but I think four Danes is way too many.

 

I think wildcard-wise it'll maybe be:

 

Bjarne (if he doesnt make the top eight)

Antonio (ditto)

Scott (ditto)

And then another Swede or another Brit - most likely Peter Karlsson or Mark Loram, Chris Harris? I can't say Lee getting another wildcard personally..

 

Of course that's providing that the likes of Gollob and Hampel don't make the top eight (actually nine, cos of Hans).. Hmm.. kinda confusing isn't it?

[arnieg]

Niels is prooving his worth for that last place. His first ever meeting at Prague last night and it went well.

 

Time is on his side though so he can afford to miss out on a season of GP's.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes - Crump dropped out of the GPs after his first season, and it hardly put an end to his GP career

 

I think he may miss out because there are already three Danes

[Ron Butler]

Maybe 1.5 British contestants. Jason Crump was born in Bristol, England when his father, Phil, was riding for a an English team. He's also based in the Northampton area.

 

Maybe the British speedway authorities could claim a 50% interest in him on the basis that half a loaf is better than no bread.

[Biddows]

Maybe 1.5 British contestants.  Jason Crump was born in Bristol, England when his father, Phil, was riding for a an English team.  He's also based in the Northampton area.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Jason Crump was born in Bristol?? I had no idea... You'd have thought Millard would have mentioned that at some point.

 

Realistically, there will probably be two British entrants for the event next year, since Cardiff is the flagship GP and BSI will want a good turnout. If it were an event between the top 16 riders in the world, there would definitely be only one Brit, but I think we've all agreed that BSI and the FIM are more interested in creating a sellable product than a pure competition.

[masked_rooster]

one thing for sure it wont be Richardson. scott should make the top 8. i also assume Rickardsson and Anderssen are still listed in the leader board.so there is two you can take out of the equasion.

 

its one of three for me to make up the british interest.Loram,Stead,Harris.i personaly think they will opt for Stead as i think he might have had more GP runs than Harris and BSI do seem to be taking the youth policy which leaves Loram out in the cold

[garf]

I cant see the Danes getting 4 people in....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You might be right here!

 

Too much politics and economy in the GP circus.

 

It does not matter if Denmark had 5 riders in the top 10 in all leagues, we will still only get 3 maybe 4 (if lucky) spots in the circus.

 

You can hardly call the GP's for World championship, as not all the participants has to go through a qualifyer. So in fact it is most likely that some good racers is left out of the circus and some "toddlers" have got the pass.

 

Not quite fair, but the economy and politic decides who are going to be in and who is left out.

[AndyM]

Several of us predicted this scenario months ago (including Subedei and Kevin M.) It's a symptom of the lack of time, effort and investment put in by our clubs and the BSPA to ensure that our talented riders are boosted through the system rapidly, get the right support and sponsorship, and have the ambition and professionalism to go all the way. We have just as many decent young riders as any other country, but we don't help them. If anything, we offer more support to young Poles, Swedes, Danes and Aussies than to our own. This cannot go on!

 

In short, it won't be fixed in 5 minutes, nor indeed a couple of years. If this is a wake-up call I hope somebody in the halls of power will realise that unless something is done about it, it's not impossible that we could end up with no riders. Time to make sure our youngsters achieve their potential and don't get trapped in the top end of PL or the lower reaches of EL.

 

Let's start by finding money and sponsorship while earmarking the riders who need to be in the next generation GP circus - Stead, Kennett, Bridger, Auty, whoever it happens to be - and making darn sure they get there.

[Ron Butler]

Jason Crump was born in Bristol?? I had no idea... You'd have thought Millard would have mentioned that at some point. 

 

Realistically, there will probably be two British entrants for the event next year, since Cardiff is the flagship GP and BSI will want a good turnout. If it were an event between the top 16 riders in the world, there would definitely be only one Brit, but I think we've all agreed that BSI and the FIM are more interested in creating a sellable product than a pure competition.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Fortunately, Biddows, Millard apparently didn't think to do so. He would probably have had Jason born 100% in Brisbane which would have been a shock to Mrs [Pat?] Crump who, I assure you, was in Bristol at the time.

Edited August 27, 2006 by Ludwig_ron_BertHoven

[Cheekee Raylee Monkee]

Interested to read the debate. Surely the key question is who are the best 15 riders in the world rather than the arbitrary numbers game about how many from each nation?

[richard]

i think if we have scott only next year then it will only be for aone year, surely after that harris and stead should get the chance, but to be fair harris would not look out of place in there next year. then we have quite a few to look forward to but thats a few years away, eddie kennett for one seen him quite a few times and he as a good attitude to speedway.

[tigerblues]

Rune Holta

1 Norwegian

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wasn't he Polish last year

 

Anyway, if and when Scott takes his place in the remaining 2 rounds he should(if fully fit)score the required points to take him into the top 8, if not he should get a wildcard...somehow I can't see only 1 Brit being included and if there is 2 I'd like to think Lee has had his chances....Bomber Harris for the 2007 GPs.

[Ron Butler]

Interested to read the debate. Surely the key question is who are the best 15 riders in the world rather than the arbitrary numbers game about how many from each nation?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

What a quaint, old-fashioned and superb idea!

[Ron Butler]

Wasn't he Polish last year 

 

Anyway, if and when Scott takes his place in the remaining 2 rounds he should(if fully fit)score the required points to take him into the top 8, if not he should get a wildcard...somehow I can't see only 1 Brit being included and if there is 2 I'd like to think Lee has had his chances....Bomber Harris for the 2007 GPs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Hi Fudge,

 

Yes, Rune Holta rode on a Polish licence last year. I read recently that he had fallen out with the Polish authorities - or they with him - so now he's again riding under his true nationality.

 

Hope evrything is OK with you,

 

Ron.

[AndyM]

Several people on this forum were insisting he'd taken Polish nationality rather than just riding on a Polish licence. If this were true, he'd be a dual national and could therefore switch between authorities at will - in theory at least. Don't know whether that makes the slightest difference from a speedway perspective.

Edited August 27, 2006 by AndyM