Bydgoszcz Gp

[topaz325]

Worst GP of the season very little overtaking and very little racing.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I must have been watching another GP last night then, unless you are trying to be sarcastic?

[T.N.T.]

Glad to see Lindback getting stuck in and even getting a race win. the confidence will return and I am sure in 2008 we will see the best of Antonio.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It will have to be at Poole then as he wont be in the GP Series SS

 

But what is up with Hancock? Surprised no-one's really mentioned this. Is it to do with a lack of British racing or is he just sliding down the tree?

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Think its partly age, but mainly the fact that the GP line up is possibly one of the strongest it has ever been with likes of Harris, AJ, Andersen, Holta, Jagus, Nicholls, Zagar and Hampel all still trying to finish in the top 8.

 

Greg has a big safety cushion for the final two rounds, so he will finish in the top 8, but I cant see him being in the same position next year. Shame really as he has been a great rider over the years but the young riders are coming through with KK and Lindgren likely to enter the fold next season as well.

[colincooke]

I modified it because a friend asked me to. And if so much as one other person thinks I owe you an apology then I shall. Anyone?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Only if it's returned Schumi!

[iris123]

I read well I believe.  I read "You need to be more than the master of one track to be World Champ, ya know " as inferring that you believed Gollob could not perform on any other track than Bydgoszcz.  I apologise if that is not the case, but inferred is inferred.  Yes, Tomasz will probably retire in 2009 without ever winning the SGP, but what a gap he will leave imo.  SGP may create World Champions but Great Speedway Riders are Born, not created by a system designed for TV.

 

And actually, what did you hear and from whom? :-)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No you got it wrong.I never infered Tomasz could not perform on any other tracks.Just that his performances on other tracks are not good enough to get him into World Championship winning positions.That has been the case for years now .In the past few years how many GPs has he won away from Bydgoszcz?How many times has he been on the rostrum at the end of the GP season in the past 5 or 6 years?That is the thing.No matter how often he wins at Bydgoszcz it doesn't matter in the overall scheme of things as he will more than likely have a GP or 2 where he just can't/won't get it together and score very little.

I doubt there are many fans in the world that don't love to see Tomasz in full flow,but your inference that Tomek had somehow got one over on Nicki.....Well i know who was/will be having the last laugh

 

Oh and i agree with Lupus.I thought it should be all 4 back or Jarek excluded,not Hans

Edited September 9, 2007 by iris123

[pirate paul]

I disagree. Andersen's exclusion was bang on. The kerbs at Bydgoszcz aren't as forgiving as the kerbs at the EoES - Andersen tried to get an advantage by going over the kerb, but it caught him out and he lost control. He had to go.

There's a general air of desperation over some of Andersen's riding at the minute in the GPs - he tried to smash Gollob into the fence in a later heat, but Gollob was far too good for him.

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Have to agree with all of that. And I did have a little chuckle when Andersen nearly fenced himself as Gollob calmly rode right round him

[Crump99]

Hans Andersen has all the potential to be a future SGP champion, but imo won't as he is too static on the bike and, as yet, cannot create enough different lines to pass riders who have gated in front of him, or defend against quicker riders behind him.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

And IMHO you are, yet again this evening, talking pants!! 

 

He's not and there's still work to do to for Hans on those points. I said at the start of the season that a top 8 finish would be a good result but the majority of the red and black brigade had him down for the title. Previous GP stats did not support that optimism. I'm sure that Hans is aware of what's needed and will work to achieve it.

[Crump99]

Sad to see the British learnt so little about Polish tracks at the SWC.

Never mind same again next year.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Doesn't help when, most of the time, you're 4th of 4 going into the first turn.

[G the Bee]

For Bydgoszcz I thought this was a pretty poor GP. This track is widely regarded as the best in the world, with multiple racing lines, so it was very disappointing to see riders in the main sticking, pretty much to one line. It seemed that unless you were Gollob, moving of the line meant you went backwards.

 

As for the Brits, I thought Bomber gave a good account of himself on his first visit to Bydgoszcz. Not an easy track to visit for the first time and yet he still went into his last ride with an outside chance of making the semis. Who would have thought this would have been the case at the start of the season?

 

Nicholls looked slow (as he has done in many GP's this year). Not an excuse but a fact. Why this should be the case, given his GP experience, is beyond me. We had Havelock on Sky saying they were struggling for a set-up. Is it me, or does it seem that in most GP's we hear the Nicholls camp saying they are struggling for a set-up?

 

So overall, a disappointing night.

[Seb the Snail]

Pure theatre from Gollob last night; simply stunning.

 

A disappointing evening for the assembled ranks of Clean supporters in the New Inn, but there's no shame in losing if you've given of your best. From his opening ride in Lonigo this has looked like Nicki's year, and so it has transpired. Leigh has also had his best ever GP season and given us some great moments along the way; let's hope he has a few more up his sleeve in Slovenia and Germany.

Edited September 9, 2007 by Seb the Snail

[lupus]

Ha, Ha.  Hope that ones been put to bed now - so here goes, there is no way that Hampel was at fault for the crash in that Heat.  The only possible cause of the stoppage was Hans Andersen putting his front wheel over the (raised) white line and losing control because of it and running straight into Hampel who had nowhere to go apart from the fence taking Nicki (I almost said 'Little Nicki' but won't in case it upsets some people) off in the process.  No doubt weaker refs would have put all 4 back, but excluding Hans as the primary cause of the stoppage was, imo, correct.

 

Hans Andersen has all the potential to be a future SGP champion, but imo won't as he is too static on the bike and, as yet, cannot create enough different lines to pass riders who have gated in front of him, or defend against quicker riders behind him.  Unless he develops a gating strategy like Nicki's this season, he will not be SGP champion - imho.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I disagree. Andersen's exclusion was bang on. The kerbs at Bydgoszcz aren't as forgiving as the kerbs at the EoES - Andersen tried to get an advantage by going over the kerb, but it caught him out and he lost control. He had to go.

There's a general air of desperation over some of Andersen's riding at the minute in the GPs - he tried to smash Gollob into the fence in a later heat, but Gollob was far too good for him.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Sorry but I strongly disagree with you both. I suggest you watch it again from EVERY angle. Where exactly was Andersen's wheel going to go other than up the kerb after Hampel turned left about 10 yards before the corner. I'm sure the fact that Andersen rides over the kerb at the Showground has influenced your view. The fact is that it all happened in less than a second. Hampel clearly turns left, clips Andersen who then hits the kerb which causes his wheel tolift. Due the the 'closeness' of Hampel this caused the domino effect we saw. If I had been the ref it would have been an all four to be honest but if I was going to exclude anyone it would have been Hampl.....mind you I'd have probably taken the easy option in Poland too and excluded Andersen for my own safety!

Edited September 9, 2007 by lupus

[tigerblues]

My opinion for what it's worth..

Gollob deserved that victory, home track or not he proved he is still one of the best. That move in the final was an absolute beauty, how he pulled it off is beyond me

I think it's safe to say Nicki now has that title wrapped up, basically he needs to not score and Leigh to have 2 awesome rounds to get in front. Realistically, it won't happen will it. Credit where it's due, he has been head and shoulders above everyone else this year.

As for the track, arguably the best track in the world and it was sad to see it so slick and as someone else mentioned, only Gollob knowing how to move off the one racing line. I think some are dressing this up too much, it really was not a good GP, and it was poor by Bydgoszcz standards.

The Brits.. well. If it was Bomber's first visit then I take my hat off to the performance on a night when many riders were on form. As for Scott, what was Havvy rambling on about, couldn't find a set-up? Everyone else managed it. Poor excuse. Expected more. As much as I hope he does it, he will be lucky to finish in the top 8 IMO.

Overall I think it was a poor GP and god knows who let the track get that slick. Gollob deserved the win and Nicki has deserved to pull in front by such a margin.

[Mr. Clemens]

It was like an old world final - reminded me of the 1976 world final

 

Nicki is coming of age and has the potential to be a great world champion

 

He is doing everything right - developing into a consumate professional

 

Rides in four leagues - scores points - turns up on the night - puts on the same hard rding show - everywhere he goes - and long may he continue to do so

The problems with his forearms have impeded him in the past - but now that problem is seemly gone - the sky's the limit for Nicki

 

Nicki Pedersen is becoming a credit to the sport and long may he continue to do so

 

Tomasz Gollob - a master of that track - pity he can't or won't do the same everywhere he goes - for if he did he would have been a multiple world champion

 

And it could be said that - perhaps - Gollob is building himself up to make the supreme effort next year - to top off his career with a world championship win

 

Otherwise why should he have all of a sudden turned from a disinterested bystander into what could have been a realistic challenge for this years world championship - if he had turned it on earlier

 

Perhaps that plane crash has turned some sort of light on inside his mind that has told him that he can be world champion - for once you have had that kind of brush with death - some people are freed from a lot of negative inhibitions that previously chained them down

 

Perhaps that's why he could contemplate a return to Elite League racing next season

 

Does that also mean that quite a few riders are beginning to 'realise' that racing in GB is more of a necessity than recently has seen to be the case - by them

All of this will no doubt remain to be seen

 

Gollob's performances in the last two GP's will be an indicator as to what sort of challenge he will offer next year

 

As it has been said - it's a pity it was a slick track - the racing would have been even better if it had been - but perhaps the 'drizzle' dicated that the track preparation would make it slick - just in case there was a downpour

 

Gollob was masterful in his last race - there is a thread asking for your opinion on what is the best GP race you have seen

 

I was simply going to say any featuring Tomasz Gollob - at his best

 

 

But for me Nicki Pedersen was the best rider on the night - despite the Gollob magic - because he's done it throughout the season

 

And tonight he did it despite that horrendous crash that could have put him out of the meeting - out of the GP's and cost him the world championship

He's the main man at the moment and good luck to him the rest of the way

 

But watch out for Gollob - something is happening with him - and it could be a world title

 

 

As for myself -

I'm hoping for the wild card in the German GP as I could do with $100,000

 

 

 

[Reviresco]

Sorry but I strongly disagree with you both.  I suggest you watch it again from EVERY angle.  Where exactly was Andersen's wheel going to go other than up the kerb after Hampel turned left about 10 yards before the corner.  I'm sure the fact that Andersen rides over the kerb at the Showground has influenced your view.  The fact is that it all happened in less than a second.  Hampel clearly turns left, clips Andersen who then hits the kerb which causes his wheel tolift.  Due the the 'closeness' of Hampel this caused the domino effect we saw.  If I had been the ref it would have been an all four to be honest but if I was going to exclude anyone it would have been Hampl.....mind you I'd have probably taken the easy option in Poland too and excluded Andersen for my own safety!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I had always thought that a speedway rider is suppossed to turn left at the end of a straight or going into the 1st corner after the start. Have I been wrong all these years then

 

Hampel had the drop, turned left (not right as that would have led to an exclusion), Andersen had the option of shutting off or riding the white line, chose the latter and, due to poor bike & throttle control, lost it & straightened up causing the accident - from EVERY angle.

 

And, Mr Clemens, you are correct - it was like an old one off world final and reminded me too of 1976 and the Warners Tours train journey to Poland that year. I have always thought that Gollob, and to a lesser extent Adams, have suffered with the introduction of the SGP and both would have been WC at least once each if the one off finals still existed. Happy days.

 

Would be nice to see Tomasz finish on the rostrum (again) this year after looking totally disinterested earlier in the season and give it a real go next season before retiring in 2009.

Edited September 9, 2007 by macca56

[Trees]

I had always thought that a speedway rider is suppossed to turn left at the end of a straight or going into the 1st corner after the start. Have I been wrong all these years then

Left from the starting gate you mean

[MARK246]

Thought it a similar move to the one by Kenneth Bjerre that ended with a broken arm for Kosciecha.Like Nicki said,if it was anywhere else he might have thought about going down

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Interesting quote. I also heard the interview by Nicki on Swedish television. He said in english that if the GP were anywhere else apart from Bydgoszcz that he would have laid the bike down in the final when Gollob went past. Was this intervew aired on British TV?

 

Also on Swedish TV was Ashley Holloway's interview. Glad to hear he's lost his Wiltshire accent and talked in either Danish or Swedish. I still can't speak Swedish after living here for 2 years and still have my Wiltshire accent, so fair play to Ashley. Was his interview on British TV?

Edited September 9, 2007 by MARK246

[Guest Panther22]

Nicki is coming of age and has the potential to be a great world champion

 

He is doing everything right - developing into a consumate professional

 

Nicki Pedersen is becoming a credit to the sport and long may he continue to do so

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yet such a shame he still also acts like the consumate petulant child (sorry Schumi!)

 

Now Jason Crump, there's a man who has really grown up compared to the stroppy moody mushroom he could be a few years ago. Now he truly is a great world champion

Edited September 9, 2007 by Panther22

[Ghostwalker]

Yet such a shame he still also acts like cosumate petulant child (sorry Schumi!) 

 

Now Jason Crump, there's a man who has really grown up compared to the stroppy moody mushroom he could be a few years ago. Now he truly is a great world champion 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

well just for another 3 weeks and 6½ days then he's a "truly ... great" ex-world champion

Edited September 9, 2007 by Ghostwalker

[MattyHart]

The thing that made me laugh was the exscuses from nigel and kelvin,,now i've heard of bike problems even injuries,,but in that race with nicholls and bjarne and nicholls came last,,the age old exscuse of "maybe the ticker tape held him up"

[stevehone]

feel i have to mention something that Nigel Pearson said in his commentary last night ... he said the Poles obviously would have been at the track practising plenty of times before this meeting, something that isn't possible for British riders in Britain.

 

well ok, i accept Cardiff isn't an option, but there are other tracks you can go to for testing things and bonding, just ask the Danes.

they managed to have 3 or 4 sessions on different tracks at the start of the season, something that 'team' GB never managed to get around to, having their bonding session at the world cup!

 

from what i can understand, Stekkers rented the tracks in question, although i could be wrong, but then if they can do it, why can't 'team' GB?

 

full marks to Denmark and the team manager.

[lupus]

I had always thought that a speedway rider is suppossed to turn left at the end of a straight or going into the 1st corner after the start.  Have I been wrong all these years  then

 

Hampel had the drop, turned left (not right as that would have led to an exclusion), Andersen had the option of shutting off or riding the white line, chose the latter and, due to poor bike & throttle control, lost it & straightened up causing the accident - from EVERY angle.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I've just - literally - watched the race again and I HAVE to disagree. Hampel (as Trees said) turned left immediatly after leaving the start long before the 'norm' for turning into the bend. Andersen didn't have time to shut off, was clearly clipped by Hampel, and hit the white line which caused his front wheel to lift. I would imagine (having never ridden a speedway bike) that it is very difficult to have 'throttle control' with your front wheel 2 inches off the ground. Just try watching it on full speed and tell me how on earth he had the time to think and act to avoid that crash?

Edited September 9, 2007 by lupus