World Rankings 2008

[speedyguy]

Opinions please on this? Seems that quite a few USA riders - especially from the East Coast - are missing, as well as most of the Canadians. Take a look at the rankings on here:

 

http://www.speedwayranking.com

 

[iris123]

Not sure who is missing,but it all gets a bit mucked up around Ryan Sullivan who is listed as Danish and Bjarne is British and Nicholls Swedish etc,etc,etc

[speedyguy]

Not sure who is missing,but it all gets a bit mucked up around Ryan Sullivan who is listed as Danish and Bjarne is British and Nicholls Swedish etc,etc,etc

 

 

I quite agree. Go into the list more deeply - where are the East Coast USA riders, Canadians and Argentines. What about South Africa?

[iris123]

It is a very hard task(almost pointless i would say)to rank 800+ riders who would hardly race against the others in their section.Not too keen on these things myself.But they are a labour of love for some people.In speedway general discussions i think a Russian guy was updating his rankings daily.But it all depends on if people can find the results from South Africa and the East Coast to start with.And how do you rank someone who only has 1 or two meetings per season against someone who has 100?Some riders are obviously ranked on previous reputation

[arnieg]

It is a very hard task(almost pointless i would say)to rank 800+ riders who would hardly race against the others in their section.Not too keen on these things myself.But they are a labour of love for some people.In speedway general discussions i think a Russian guy was updating his rankings daily.But it all depends on if people can find the results from South Africa and the East Coast to start with.And how do you rank someone who only has 1 or two meetings per season against someone who has 100?

I find this one the best of the three that seem to be around. I agree that below about 250-300 the ranking becomes more random, but even in the lower places it gives a good idea of rankings within countries. The one thing I don't like is the inclusion of retired riders who have ridden just one meeting (often a testimonial).

 

Most of the complaints along the 'why is Rider X so high?' can generally explained by looking at Polish and Swedish league form. For example Coventry fans might think that Rory Schlein should be higher than 34, but given his Swedish form (where he averaged less than Ludvig Lindgren and Kim Nilsson (242 & 178 in the rankings) but a Swedish speedway supporter might be surprised to find him that high.

 

Riders from East Coast America and Argentina are included - but along with Canadians they are difficult to rank because they ride so little against anyone else. In past years the rankings of New Zealanders have been very erratic but with riders like Aldridge and Cunningham rising in the Conference league that may be less of a problem this year. (Although I note that David Bargh is third and Larry Ross fifth among the New Zealanders listed!)

 

Some riders are obviously ranked on previous reputation

There is no element of past reputation in the ranking metric. The one thing I don't like is the inclusion of retired riders who have ridden just one meeting (often a testimonial) which is the cause of some of these odd positions.

 

 

But overall I'm a fan

Edited December 26, 2008 by arnieg

[iris123]

There is no element of past reputation in the ranking metric. The one thing I don't like is the inclusion of retired riders who have ridden just one meeting (often a testimonial) which is the cause of some of these odd positions.

 

 

But overall I'm a fan

Well that is what i meant Arnie.A rider,say Andy Smith or Billy Hamill is so high based on one or two meetings and a past reputation.

 

I would for instance be interested to know how Joe Screen finishes above the likes of Charlie Gjedde.I think at BV Charlie was more than 1 point in the averages better than Joe.Not sure if Joe rides elsewhere,so i guess it is because Charlie(he is even below Nieminen and Jeleniewski!!!) didn't do so well in Poland or Sweden or Denmark.But then the person is assuming that Screen would do well

And how do you rank someone like Brian Lyngsö,who goes very well in Denmark,but hardly rides anywhere else?Ok he did this season do a few meetings in the Polish 2nd Div.But he doesn't enter International or even the Danish national Championship

 

Good to see one of my family in the rankings.Even if he is 1399th.Well done Martin

Edited December 27, 2008 by iris123

[speedyguy]

Well that is what i meant Arnie.A rider,say Andy Smith or Billy Hamill is so high based on one or two meetings and a past reputation.

 

I would for instance be interested to know how Joe Screen finishes above the likes of Charlie Gjedde.I think at BV Charlie was more than 1 point in the averages better than Joe.Not sure if Joe rides elsewhere,so i guess it is because Charlie(he is even below Nieminen and Jeleniewski!!!) didn't do so well in Poland or Sweden or Denmark.But then the person is assuming that Screen would do well

And how do you rank someone like Brian Lyngsö,who goes very well in Denmark,but hardly rides anywhere else?Ok he did this season do a few meetings in the Polish 2nd Div.But he doesn't enter International or even the Danish national Championship

 

Good to see one of my family in the rankings.Even if he is 1399th.Well done Martin

 

Agree with your comments. I would like to know just as examples how 323 Mark Burrows and 343 Ben Powell are rated higher than the Americans 443 Mike Faria, 467 Charlie Venegas and 553 Shawn McConnell?

[dolgin]

I have alernative ranking (and ratings, naturally).

Some words about it and top of the list for different dates you can read on this forum here http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/ind...showtopic=41503

Full history (day by day) of calculations you can see here http://speedwayrating.webasyst.net/files/a65d7bb8 (Excel file - 1.7 Mb)

More then 1500 racers.

More then 2500 races from March to December calculated.

 

Some ratings from 1500 to 1700-1800 (for racers which have not much races in 2008) can to be unauthentic. But from 2000 and above - more or less sufficient.

Another problem - I have shortage information (heat by heat) about some races in USA, Canada, Australia, RSA, Argentina ect.

 

Best regadrs