Hancock Retiring?

[Humphrey Appleby]

Is it a case of the riders grouping together to make something happen again?

 

Could be anything. The ousting of BSI by IMG from the organisation of the SGP, a rider takeover (although unlikely due to the long-term contract between the FIM and IMG/BSI), the Poles finally getting peed off with the SGP since the staging of their Golden Helmet meeting was ruined?

 

The only realistic way for BSI to be ousted completely though, would be for the main speedway countries to withdraw their riders from the SGP (by insisting they sign exclusive contracts) , and effectively leave it a worthless shell. Can't see the riders being able to do that by themselves.

[iris123]

Could be anything. The ousting of BSI by IMG from the organisation of the SGP, a rider takeover (although unlikely due to the long-term contract between the FIM and IMG/BSI), the Poles finally getting peed off with the SGP since the staging of their Golden Helmet meeting was ruined?

 

The only realistic way for BSI to be ousted completely though, would be for the main speedway countries to withdraw their riders from the SGP (by insisting they sign exclusive contracts) , and effectively leave it a worthless shell. Can't see the riders being able to do that by themselves.

I would have thought they might want more input.I think the riders were pretty peeved that they weren't consulted at all really in the chaos of the Gelsenkirchen GP.They were just told "the meeting is off and it will be held in Bydgoszcz".I can imagine they will try and make sure that sort of thing doesn't happen again without consultation.How they go about trying to do that i don't know.Do they threaten a strike?I imagine they are also pretty peeved at some of the tracks that have been produced.And going by what Nicki and Jason were heard to say to Ole at the recent Vojens meeting and some of the reactions from Gollob for instance i wouldn't be surprised if discussions on this subject are not on the agenda as well

[Humphrey Appleby]

They were just told "the meeting is off and it will be held in Bydgoszcz".I can imagine they will try and make sure that sort of thing doesn't happen again without consultation.

 

I don't know how consultation would have helped in the case of Gelsenkirchen. The meeting was called off and had to be re-arranged somewhere where dry shale could be found at short notice.

 

I can well imagine the anger of the riders at the incompetence of the organisers, and how it played into one rider in particular's hands, but I honestly can't see what else could have been done in the circumstances.

 

Do they threaten a strike?

 

Difficult because they can simply be replaced with another 16 riders.

 

[iris123]

I don't know how consultation would have helped in the case of Gelsenkirchen. The meeting was called off and had to be re-arranged somewhere where dry shale could be found at short notice.

 

I can well imagine the anger of the riders at the incompetence of the organisers, and how it played into one rider in particular's hands, but I honestly can't see what else could have been done in the circumstances.

No we can't know what else could have been done.But,the riders all have connections at various clubs.They might know there were alternatives to Bydgoszcz.

 

 

Difficult because they can simply be replaced with another 16 riders.

Fans and tv would be over the moon to see a GP with Ferjan,Ruud,Swiderski,Smolinski............Behave Humph

[rickmiller]

I can well imagine the anger of the riders at the incompetence of the organisers, and how it played into one rider in particular's hands, but I honestly can't see what else could have been done in the circumstances.

 

BSI could have tried a bit harder looking for an alternative track to Bydgoszcz - how about Norden, Coventry, Pardabice or anyware that has the correct FIM approval?

 

It seems too much of a co-incidence that all of the track's 'top brass' were in Germany and is it normal for the insurance assessors to be walking round on Friday morning?

[carlyboy]

Would they have been "allowed" to get away with moving the final GP from Germany to Bydgoszcz, if say Gollob was just the 2 points behind Pedersen in the title race?

 

[Humphrey Appleby]

BSI could have tried a bit harder looking for an alternative track to Bydgoszcz - how about Norden, Coventry, Pardabice or anyware that has the correct FIM approval?

 

Yes, but they wouldn't be a guaranteed sell-out like Bydgoszcz, and BSI would have been out even more money.

 

is it normal for the insurance assessors to be walking round on Friday morning?

 

It might be if they'd already realised earlier in the week that they were screwed with respect to the shale?

 

 

[spook]

this is another reference you have made to this humphrey but am I incorrect in remembering a machine that dries it being used in the past?

quite frankly even if that isnt possible then it doesnt take many organisational skills to make sure the shale stays dry

 

this was not a story about shale imo

[Humphrey Appleby]

I incorrect in remembering a machine that dries it being used in the past?

 

No, as others have mentioned, it's based at Coventry.

 

it doesnt take many organisational skills to make sure the shale stays dry

 

Of course not. It was nothing but incompetence, but I was referring to what had to be done once the die was cast, namely the shale getting wet (allegedly).

 

this was not a story about shale

 

Conspiracies theories are usually nothing more than a series of unfortunate events that when put together, look like a sinister plot. Sadly, simple things like someone forgetting to cover the shale do happen, and that's easier to imagine than an elaborate plot to cancel the Gelsenkirchen event and move it to Bydgozscz.

 

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

Do you seriously think Hancock deliberately allowed Harris through?

 

Well, do you honestly think that if the world title had depended on it, when Hancock looked back and saw Harris, that he wouldn't have taken him wide and held on to win..??!!

 

I thought you were arguing Greg was still world class. World class generosity to ones hosts is what that little incident was about...!!!

[salty]

Well, do you honestly think that if the world title had depended on it, when Hancock looked back and saw Harris, that he wouldn't have taken him wide and held on to win..??!!

 

I thought you were arguing Greg was still world class. World class generosity to ones hosts is what that little incident was about...!!!

So you do actually believe that Hancock allowed Harris through! Amazing! I suspect you are in a minority of one in such a view.

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

So you do actually believe that Hancock allowed Harris through! Amazing! I suspect you are in a minority of one in such a view.

 

Er, didn't you hear the commentators at this year's British GP chuckling about it...: actually commenting that Greg might do it again with Scotty (who then broke the tapes to ruin that possibility.. ).

 

Personally I was astonished when I first saw Hancock turn around, clock it was Harris (as opposed to say, Crumpie) and then appear not to take the action necessary to prevent him being passed..

 

EVERY person I've been with (and yes, non-Speedway people..) when the clip's been rerun on TV have commented, "why did he let him past"..?

 

 

[salty]

Guess we will have to agree to disagree on that one then. Would welcome the thoughts of others....

 

PS Someone who knows the lyrics to the mighty "Get Up Off Our Knees" can't be that bad, just don't know why you have such a downer on Greg Hancock!

[Hamill]

I for one hopes he doesn't retire. Greg is certainly still up there in the top 5 riders in the world, and if anything we need him back in the Elite League.

 

Be a Monster, Greg.

 

Greg Hancock fans will like this then

 

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/ind...showtopic=45040

[spook]

Conspiracies theories are usually nothing more than a series of unfortunate events that when put together, look like a sinister plot.

 

something like this is usually said by people who refuse to believe in conspiracy theories or plots.........

 

sorry but we are talking about speedway here arent we? The sport that has unfortunately been connected to just about every shady wrong doing possible over the decades

 

It is not always a case of there is no smoke without fire.......... but it is usually the case when those 'series of unfortunate events' come together

[shazzybird]

Or even "the top four riders allowed to compete in the Grand Closed Shop"...!!!!

 

Are you related to Trees?

 

 

I think he'll keep going as long as he can make money out of the GPs. Clearly that is still the case at the moment so why would he stop?!

 

Reckon you could be right there 21st!

 

 

So we were supposed to guess that this comment was referring to Cardiff 2007?

Do you seriously think Hancock deliberately allowed Harris through?

Must be nice in your world.

 

Must admit Salty was trying to think of a GP this season

 

 

Whats this "Monster" drink that people are talking about ? I must be the only person who has never heard about it . . .

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_Energy

 

Try it, it's good. Similar to Red Bull but tastes a bit nicer IMO.

 

 

Oooooooooo what's it like with Vodka????

 

I think the riders were pretty peeved that they weren't consulted at all really in the chaos of the Gelsenkirchen GP.

 

They didn't have to be consulted ..... some refused to practise on it! hmmmmm who's your source of information?

 

 

I can well imagine the anger of the riders at the incompetence of the organisers, and how it played into one rider in particular's hands, but I honestly can't see what else could have been done in the circumstances.

 

One person is responsible for the laying of the track (by this I mean overall seeing person) so surely it is down to the incompetence of ONE person!

 

Well, do you honestly think that if the world title had depended on it, when Hancock looked back and saw Harris, that he wouldn't have taken him wide and held on to win..??!!

 

I thought you were arguing Greg was still world class. World class generosity to ones hosts is what that little incident was about...!!!

 

Did you go to the P&P for this meeting??? If you had, you would know that Harris was more than up for winning this meeting, his practise races with Leigh Adams and Scott Nicholls proved out of the 3 he was the better racer at that particular point ....... Either that or Greg overheard me telling people that Chris was going to win Cardiff, yes much to the amusement of several forum people, one of which said "what do you know, you are a girl! and of course when I took my winning betting slip along to the bookies to pick up my 2k plus ..... this little girl was right.

 

In the past it has been said that EVERY rider wants to win Cardiff and I think both Greg and Chris would be pretty pissed off with your theory that Greg let him win! As am I for dissing what was a British win, Greg looked round, which she should never of done, Chris took advantage of this and won .... fair and square get over it!!

 

Er, didn't you hear the commentators at this year's British GP chuckling about it...: actually commenting that Greg might do it again with Scotty (who then broke the tapes to ruin that possibility.. ).

 

Unfortunately no .... I was at Cardiff but if you ever get the chance to ask the commentators what they meant by such comments, am sure you will pass on the reply to us all here!

[Jeff.]

EVERY person I've been with (and yes, non-Speedway people..) when the clip's been rerun on TV have commented, "why did he let him past"..?

 

 

I know, I could never understand how Hans Nielsen wasn't bothered about winning world finals, take 1994, jees how far in front of Rickardsson was he before he realized it wasn't a credible championship and simply let him past.

 

Malcolm Simmons did the same in 1976 simply letting PC ride past him (in a move very very similar to Harris' move on Hancock actually) if he was in the least bit bothered about winning he would simply have stuffed Collins' up the fence.

 

Now this is the point were I insert the imaginary "everyone I have spoken to about these incidents agrees with me" line. It turns an otherwise load of old cobblers into absolute fact, even better if they are "non speedway people"

[Parsloes 1928 nearly]

I know, I could never understand how Hans Nielsen wasn't bothered about winning world finals, take 1994, jees how far in front of Rickardsson was he before he realized it wasn't a credible championship and simply let him past.

 

Malcolm Simmons did the same in 1976 simply letting PC ride past him (in a move very very similar to Harris' move on Hancock actually) if he was in the least bit bothered about winning he would simply have stuffed Collins' up the fence.

 

Now this is the point were I insert the imaginary "everyone I have spoken to about these incidents agrees with me" line. It turns an otherwise load of old cobblers into absolute fact, even better if they are "non speedway people"

 

Well I know Simmo most certainly didn't look around in the deliberate fashion seen at Cardiff in 2007.. I've NEVER seen a rider do that - not at that level or any other..!! Don't know about the Neilsen/Rickardsson run-off as I've never sen that..

BUT the MASSIVE difference was that in the others the World title was a stake. You'll notice my very point was/is that IF this too had been a World Final, there's no way on God's earth Harris would've got past Greg..

 

And as I said before, witness the guffawing of the Sky commentary team this year when referring back to that incident of the year before..

 

BTW, did Harris score a maximum or finish top scorer in the heats preceding the Final..?? Surely if he was in the peerless form shazzy talks of, he would've..??

 

[iris123]

They didn't have to be consulted ..... some refused to practise on it! hmmmmm who's your source of information?

Not sure what you are on about .I was not only talking about being consulted about the state of the Gelsenkirchen track.I was talking about all the goings on,but particularly the decision to move the GP to Poland a week later.The riders were pretty p'd off that they were not in on any of the talks.Just told "It's off and will be run next week at Bydgoszcz".You don't nee a "source of information" to gather that much.A number of riders have said so publicly.

[salty]

BUT the MASSIVE difference was that in the others the World title was a stake. You'll notice my very point was/is that IF this too had been a World Final, there's no way on God's earth Harris would've got past Greg..

Of course we should have guessed - it is all the fault of that dastardly GP series. It wouldn't have happened using the old system! watch the race again and see how much ground Harris makes up on Greg - he clearly had the speed to overtake. I'll agree that Hancock could have maybe defended the line better, but to suggest that he let Harris through deliberately...next you will be saying that Lance King and Shawn Moran let Erik overtake them at Bradford in 1985!

Still waiting for anybody else to come on and agree with your "version" of events.