Chris Holder For Gp

[LisaColette]

I agree with Chris next year is too soon.

 

thinking about it, he's probably right. don't want to put him onto that stage too soon. you only need to look at what happened to antonio to see the down side of having it all too quickly.

[arnieg]

thinking about it, he's probably right. don't want to put him onto that stage too soon. you only need to look at what happened to antonio to see the down side of having it all too quickly.

True, even Crump had a hard time in his first GP season. My first instinct is to say that it is too early. However his Polish form (average above Andersen, and way higher than Nicholls and Lindgren) suggests he does deserve a shot. (He's only ridden four matches in Sweden - scores OK). Like Saifutdinov he is an exceptional talent. (Lakeside score notwithstanding I think it is too early for Pavlic - although he should at least get a run-out as a wildcard in one of next year's GPs)

 

BSI need some new blood so I'd go for:

 

Lindgren (only 22 - Millard please note)

Harris

Saifutdinov

Holder

 

This leaves (assuming the top 7 don't change) Holta and Nicholls knowing that it's a top 8 place or nothing.

 

Of course this depends on the GP Qualifier result. If Sullivan, Richardson or Davidsson/P Karlsson qualify then Holder, Harris and Lindgren must be considered unlikely to receive a nomination. I'm assuming that Walasek and/or Ulamek will qualify, otherwise a nomination spot must go to a Pole (probably Hampel)

[Subedei]

I think BSI would find it hard to justify dropping Holta after he's won a Grand Prix this season.

The picture regarding nominations will become clearer after the next Grand Prix weekend, when the three qualifiers will be known. But, realistically, the Grands Prix series is probably only going to get a proper "shake up" when Messrs Gollob, Adams and Hancock, Crump and Nicki P follow Tony Rickardsson and step aside.

[arnieg]

I think BSI would find it hard to justify dropping Holta after he's won a Grand Prix this season.

Not sure about that - Holta is 35 (two years older than Crump, four years older than Pedersen)

 

I'd be interested to hear from our Polish posters how 'Polish' Holta is regarded. Who would be the choice of Polish speedway fans for a Polish nomination?

[Subedei]

Not sure about that - Holta is 35 (two years older than Crump, four years older than Pedersen)

 

I'd be interested to hear from our Polish posters how 'Polish' Holta is regarded. Who would be the choice of Polish speedway fans for a Polish nomination?

 

Not Holta.

But it'd be hard to see how BSI could justify nominating a rider who hadn't won a GP ahead of Holta.

 

[pedropete]

Not Holta.

But it'd be hard to see how BSI could justify nominating a rider who hadn't won a GP ahead of Holta.

 

He will qualify 8th, cannot really see anyone heading him. However speedway at present has 7 top line riders, we all know who they are, the other 9 don't really matter at this stage. I think this will continue next season, with 2010 being the change around with the young riders, coming through and the older ones retiring. Lot of years left for Pedersen, Crump, Andersen and Jonsson though.

[Fred the spread]

 

 

I don't have a problem with the Wild Cards who ride in only one GP and often to promote interest for the locals from that country, e.g. Laguta yesterday.

 

What I do have a problem with are the seedings for places each year.

Why only 3 from the qualifying rounds?

 

I would like to see top eight from this year's series, one Wild Card for each GP and the others to qualify on merit from the Qualifying rounds.

Or alternatively, just seed in this year's World Champion and the rest to go through the Qualifiers.

[Coventry_Bee]

I do Agree with the Top 8 of

 

Pedersen

Crump

Adams

Hancock

Jonsson

Gollob

B Pedersen

H. Andersen

 

Are a class above the rest of the guys. Scott was out in heats 4 & 5 where the track was more consistant then a long break which maybe caught him out when he came last but it is the same for them all.With 5 points after 2 rides you must be confident of picking up at least a point a ride to get a semi final spot. When he got excluded he was unlucky as the track was a shambles and as adams proved when he got caught out that he maybe tried to hard in the first bend. They did alot of work after Scott and Iversen had both been put out but it was a little to late for them two.

Lady Luck isnt with Scott this season, He has not done what is expected but after last night and being put out in the last GP, these things all add up and could cost a spot for next year.

I do feel that a year out will do Scott the world of good, give him chance to sit back and see things from another angle. He isnt in a position to challange the top guys and he looks totally shattered and it cant be good for confidence going out before the semi final stage time and again. Somebody else can then take the crap Scott has been given by alot of people on here, Bomber cant do it in England so does he deserve a spot for next season.

[Subedei]

B Pedersen

 

You are joking, aren't you?

 

[rabbit]

Much as I'm a huge Barney P fan...I have to agree with you there Sube.

[lucifer sam]

You are joking, aren't you?

 

Well, he was the best rider at Cardiff this year and extremely unlucky not to win that. Apart from that, though, he's been poor this year.

 

I'd prefer to see Iversen kept in the series over Bjarne.

 

All the best

Rob

 

[tigerblues]

I do Agree with the Top 8 of

 

Pedersen

Crump

Adams

Hancock

Jonsson

Gollob

B Pedersen

H. Andersen

How did you come to that conclusion?

[sancho]

Forgive me if I'm wrong but aren't all motor sport world championships a closed shop. What qualifyers are there for F1 MotoGP etc

Edited September 1, 2008 by sancho

[Jeff.]

Forgive me if I'm wrong but aren't all motor sport world championships a closed shop. What qualifyers are there for F1 MotoGP etc

 

Quite, also these people who scream how unfair it all is and how much better the old system was convieniently forget the seedings in the past.

 

Peter Craven was seeded straight into the World Final in 1956

Peter Collins to the ICF in 1977

4 Brits were guaranteed a place at Wembley in 1978 (they were all deserving, and in fact at least 4 more Brits could have justified inclusion)

5 Continentals (largely no hopers) were guaranteed a place in each years final

 

 

[salty]

Not Holta.

But it'd be hard to see how BSI could justify nominating a rider who hadn't won a GP ahead of Holta.

Rune's only hope of getting in next year is if he finishes in the top 8 and he needs to pull his finger out if he is going to overtake Lindgren. Can't see him ever getting a nomination, the rumour was he wouldn't even have got one this year if he hadn't won the run off against the 2 Brits.

When on form he is well deserving of a place in the Gp's, but his last couple of outings have been below par (though he is carrying an injury)

Having said all that he is wearing the red helmet in the Super GP whatsit final, so he may win that and make if difficult for the powers that be to drop him.

Politics aside, as you say, he should get a nomination in front of any other riders who a) finish behind him in this years series or have failed to win a GP.

[Subedei]

I don't think there can be any doubt that Holta wouldn't have got a nomination if he hadn't finished in the top eight last year. Maybe that's why he did? Holta has to fight to survive. Holta can't rely on his nationality to usher him into the series year after year. I think he'll edge into eighth spot anyway. The next GP is at Bydgoszcz, where Holta goes well, while Lindgren's form in Poland this season has been awful. And Lindgren can probably rely on being Swedish to get him back in, while Holta will have to fight for a place.

You see the point I'm getting at?

[Humphrey Appleby]

4 Brits were guaranteed a place at Wembley in 1978 (they were all deserving, and in fact at least 4 more Brits could have justified inclusion)

5 Continentals (largely no hopers) were guaranteed a place in each years final

 

It was still largely an open qualifying process though, and wasn't the British Final open to Commonwealth riders in those days?

 

Yes, the odd rider was seeded in the past, but that was usually the guaranteed local place that was allocated on the basis of some sort of qualification criteria itself (e.g. I seem to remember Jan Andersson being seeded direct to a Gothenburg World Final on the basis of being Swedish Champion). That's a far cry from half the field being hand-picked.

 

[salty]

I don't think there can be any doubt that Holta wouldn't have got a nomination if he hadn't finished in the top eight last year. Maybe that's why he did? Holta has to fight to survive. Holta can't rely on his nationality to usher him into the series year after year. I think he'll edge into eighth spot anyway. The next GP is at Bydgoszcz, where Holta goes well, while Lindgren's form in Poland this season has been awful. And Lindgren can probably rely on being Swedish to get him back in, while Holta will have to fight for a place.

You see the point I'm getting at?

Know exactly the point you are making. I just sense a change in Holta since he won in Gothenburg, last year he absolutely rode his socks off (and was involved in many of the series's more exciting races) but in the past 2 Gp's he doesn't seem to be getting stuck in so much. Mind you he pulled out a good last bend overtake on Lindgren that could be very important in the greater scheme of things, so maybe he is just struggling for fitness.

I was so glad he qualified by right last year because as you say he was the only rider who went into that run-off knowing he absolutely needed to get in the first 2 to get a spot for 2008.

 

Hopefully he will be fully fit for Bydgoszcz and reclaim the 8th spot.

[Subedei]

Know exactly the point you are making. I just sense a change in Holta since he won in Gothenburg, last year he absolutely rode his socks off (and was involved in many of the series's more exciting races) but in the past 2 Gp's he doesn't seem to be getting stuck in so much. Mind you he pulled out a good last bend overtake on Lindgren that could be very important in the greater scheme of things, so maybe he is just struggling for fitness.

 

Let's not forget that Lindgren's total is distorted by a very high score in a single round. He accumulated 22 points at Gothenburg, which was five more than the GP winner Holta. Lindgren's next highest score is just 7 points.

Edited September 1, 2008 by Subedei

[lucifer sam]

I don't think there can be any doubt that Holta wouldn't have got a nomination if he hadn't finished in the top eight last year. Maybe that's why he did? Holta has to fight to survive. Holta can't rely on his nationality to usher him into the series year after year. I think he'll edge into eighth spot anyway. The next GP is at Bydgoszcz, where Holta goes well, while Lindgren's form in Poland this season has been awful. And Lindgren can probably rely on being Swedish to get him back in, while Holta will have to fight for a place.

You see the point I'm getting at?

 

 

Rune Holta is the worst culprit of all - he actually hops around nationalities to get into the GP series. When there was a Norwegian GP, he was Norwegian. That dissapears and suddenly he's Polish, because they have two rounds and there's more chance of getting in that way.

 

All the best

Rob