The Cardiff Grand Prix Discussion Thread

[Trees]

Good post Vince,but did you see the meeting from Belle Vue last monday?A permanent track and the riders(although not in the class of a GP line-up)also looked like complete novices on that surface.So it isn't only temp tracks

Exactly these aren't "just" tracks they are GP, world championship tracks and are turning our sport into a farce and injuring the riders. The riders put on a brave, tough face and say it's the same for everyone but is it really fair for them to have to take their lives in the hands even more than they already do racing speedway. But they're the only ones who can do anything about it, the fans can pass opinion all they like but the riders need to stand up for what is right, Leigh Adams had no problem at Lynn so what's the difference here!! It's the same with that ref, they'll have to send the FIM a letter saying they will not race if that guy is officiating although surely after that performance he will be dropped from all speedway refereeing for life?

I think it was 30yards Trees.

Thanks for putting me right m8

Edited June 29, 2008 by Trees

[iris123]

Exactly these aren't "just" tracks they are GP, world championship tracks and are turning our sport into a farce and injuring the riders. The riders put on a brave, tough face and say it's the same for everyone but is it really fair for them to have to take their lives in the hands even more than they already do racing speedway.

I agree with the temp tracks.But my point is that the guys who prepare permanent tracks week in week out also cock up with far more experience than Olsen has.Last weeks Kirky Lane track was terrible when riders like Gjedde can hardly ride 4 laps without looking like a wobbler in his first few months

[DarrenCook]

Wow Thank you for introducing me to a new experience ...a DarrenCook post that I agree with 100%!!!!

 

 

How about my much-maligned pre-season prediction of Wolves to finish bottom?

 

Regarding Nicki, he had to win the Leigh Adams' heat, so a bit of "first-bend bunching" & a soft fall was essential if he didn't make the start.

 

Leigh Adams has said before thast Nicki "looks for other riders rather than riding his own race"; he's a cheat.

 

 

[Blazeaway]

How about my much-maligned pre-season prediction of Wolves to finish bottom?

 

Regarding Nicki, he had to win the Leigh Adams' heat, so a bit of "first-bend bunching" & a soft fall was essential if he didn't make the start.

 

Leigh Adams has said before thast Nicki "looks for other riders rather than riding his own race"; he's a cheat.

 

 

A cheat no, a winner yes. Leigh was a touch unlucky with both decisions yesterday but thats racing. He had ample opportunity to gain enough points to make the semis but failed as usual when the going got tough.

[Brummie Boy]

they'll have to send the FIM a letter saying they will not race if that guy is officiating although surely after that performance he will be dropped from all speedway refereeing for life?

 

 

If you think the FIM will have the guts to remove this clown from the Latvian and German Grand Prix, then you are deluded. This is not the first time he has officiated at a GP meeting and made a complete hash of it and it will probably not be the last. It is not just a shame on the FIM, but if this is the best ref Poland can put forward then they should also hang their heads in shame. There must be a better ref in Poland somewhere, one who understands the basic rule that if you touch the tapes you're out!

 

I was gutted for Adams and BJ, they have invested substantial amounts of time, effort and money to be in the GP and then this joker comes along and ruins any chance they have of furthering their chances in the standings. I put no blame on Nicki, and I was sorry to hear him bearing booed at the end, as he simply took advantage of the second chances given him. However, if we are not careful a new tactic could start up, if you miss the start cut across the track and run into the back of the guy who made the gate. Get a rider excluded and get another chance to make the gate.

 

Last night was filled with great racing, but it could have been better except for the Polish Joker in the box. FIM you know what you have to do........!!

[ruckerroo]

Nicki has this GP lark by the balls tbh, if he doesnt lead or is in any sort of questionable position he just slings the bike down and more often or not gets a re -run at worst.

 

I am 100% convinced its the olsen influence, in truth, the blokes an utter pain in the arris.

 

 

Nobody can condone the referree last night, maybe a trip to swansea docks was in order for him after the neeting to de-stress

[paulr]

Leigh Adams has said before thast Nicki "looks for other riders rather than riding his own race"; he's a cheat.

 

 

However, if we are not careful a new tactic could start up, if you miss the start cut across the track and run into the back of the guy who made the gate. Get a rider excluded and get another chance to make the gate.

 

Looks like we witnessed that tactic last night, the ref failed to spot it but the crowd did (and by Adams' quote seems the rider are aware of it too) - hence the frustration & the booing.

Edited June 29, 2008 by paulr

[Alcoholic Mathematician]

However, if we are not careful a new tactic could start up, if you miss the start cut across the track and run into the back of the guy who made the gate. Get a rider excluded and get another chance to make the gate.

It's hardly a new tactic. Getting the other guy excluded is a bonus.

[Mark]

Went to Cardiff, a great night, super presentation.

 

CRUMP - brilliant

 

PEDERSEN - couldn't understand why he was getting booed, he didn't exclude the other riders in his favour. He deserves credit for getting up after his smash in the final, that was a nasty crash. He had a poor night but still got to the final.

 

NICHOLLS - super stuff but blew the final, a right shame that. Gave it 100%

 

ANDERSEN - looked fast ( exciting in heat 4 when over cooked it ) but had some bad luck when Lingren stayed down thus losing points & subsequent gate choices.

 

BOMBER - battered & bruised but still kept going, great effort

 

REF - awful performance & ruined the night with some dreadful calls

 

 

 

 

 

[rodneyparade]

The track was nowhere near as bad as it has been in the past

 

 

Agree with you DB

 

 

ps. Cider sales in Cardiff hit an all time low yesterday

 

 

[hatcham]

personally i thought the only thing worse than the refereeing last night was moronic members of the crowd booing nicki pedersen.

the man is world champion,was a great servant to british speedway for many years until the ludicrous points limit forced him out,and who in an attempt to entertain us last night ended up on the floor on four occasions.

 

he deserves respect,and the lynch mob should stick to cock fighting and dog baiting,true sports for the yob and bully

[KEITH M]

personally i thought the only thing worse than the refereeing last night was moronic members of the crowd booing nicki pedersen.

Totally agree(see speedway fans topic)

[Steve Shovlar]

personally i thought the only thing worse than the refereeing last night was moronic members of the crowd booing nicki pedersen.

the man is world champion,was a great servant to british speedway for many years until the ludicrous points limit forced him out,and who in an attempt to entertain us last night ended up on the floor on four occasions.

 

he deserves respect,and the lynch mob should stick to cock fighting and dog baiting,true sports for the yob and bully

 

NP didn't help his cause at all by waving and smirking to the crowd. It incensed them. If had had any sense at the time he woould have kept his head low but baited them by waving after getting through to the final, fully in the knowledge it was strirring them up.

 

The ref made the bad calls, not NP, buut the crowd see NP as the villian as he was the one to gain from the bad calls.

Edited June 29, 2008 by Steve Shovlar

[JT]

personally i thought the only thing worse than the refereeing last night was moronic members of the crowd booing nicki pedersen.

the man is world champion,was a great servant to british speedway for many years until the ludicrous points limit forced him out,and who in an attempt to entertain us last night ended up on the floor on four occasions.

 

he deserves respect,and the lynch mob should stick to cock fighting and dog baiting,true sports for the yob and bully

 

Rubbish! Booing (and cheering) adds to the carnival atmosphere, is totally harmless and Pedersen plays off it like a pantomine villain.

[Dietbowers]

Agree with you DB

 

 

ps. Cider sales in Cardiff hit an all time low yesterday

And with Moose being under the weather as well,it`s no wonder cider sales were down.

 

[hatcham]

Rubbish! Booing (and cheering) adds to the carnival atmosphere, is totally harmless and Pedersen plays off it like a pantomine villain.

 

then we will have to agree to disagree,i think the booing was of a personal nature,and is tantamount to bullying.in many ways booing and jeering of this nature is worse than racist jeering,because it is uniquely personal.

nicki may appear to play it off as you say,but what other choice does he have? i would imagine he was deeply hurt and shocked by events,and would be surprised to see him eager to return to britain.

 

 

[Trees]

However, if we are not careful a new tactic could start up, if you miss the start cut across the track and run into the back of the guy who made the gate. Get a rider excluded and get another chance to make the gate.

Perhaps that's why the fans were booing Nicki, because they thought he did just this?

[Blazeaway]

then we will have to agree to disagree,i think the booing was of a personal nature,and is tantamount to bullying.in many ways booing and jeering of this nature is worse than racist jeering,because it is uniquely personal.

nicki may appear to play it off as you say,but what other choice does he have? i would imagine he was deeply hurt and shocked by events,and would be surprised to see him eager to return to britain.

 

 

Oh behave, Nicki loves to play the pantomime villain. If anything the hostility towards him makes him try even harder.

[paulr]

i would imagine he was deeply hurt and shocked by events,and would be surprised to see him eager to return to britain.

 

Good - and double good - if thats how he wants to win 'at all costs' then not having over here again is a bonus IMHO - as someone posted earlier hes a drama queen - lying around on the track til the decision goes his way then pop up he gets not even a limp or a rub of his hand.

 

The crowd let him know how we felt about his antics - what else could we have done - written to our MP ??

 

So the crowd were bullying a cheat - sounds about even then

[T.N.T.]

personally i thought the only thing worse than the refereeing last night was moronic members of the crowd booing nicki pedersen.

the man is world champion,was a great servant to british speedway for many years until the ludicrous points limit forced him out,and who in an attempt to entertain us last night ended up on the floor on four occasions.

 

he deserves respect,and the lynch mob should stick to cock fighting and dog baiting,true sports for the yob and bully

Nicki revels in the role of the villan and has earnt the tag through his own actions in the past. I agree that it wasn't his fault last night, it was the referee that made the mistakes and Nicki can't be blamed for any of the incidents.

 

As for a great servant to British Speedway, how has he been and maybe if he didn't try for more money than any other rider he would still be riding here as he was approached by at least two teams about his availability.

 

As a rider, I admire his skill and bravery but his actions and attitude to fellow riders have let him down too much. I didn't boo him last night, just had a few chuckles at how many times he ended on his butt.