BOBBATH Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 In the thread on the one-off World Finals which has turned into a discussion of deserving and undeserving World Champs,Jerzy Szczakiel's name crops up the most.Whether Jerzy deserved to be World Champ or not-it got me thinking as to who would have been Poland's most deserving first ever World Champion.I can think of three-Antoni Woryna who dropped only two points in 1966 and finished third, Pawel Waloszek who had a number of top years and creditable World Final Appearances and of course Zenon Plech.What do forumlanders think??BTW Happy New Year to all you Brits and Aussies-its already 2009 there- a few more hours to go here-I'll be glad to see the back of 2008 along with many others I suspect-hope everyone has a healthy and happy 09!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHALEWAY69 Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 In the thread on the one-off World Finals which has turned into a discussion of deserving and undeserving World Champs,Jerzy Szczakiel's name crops up the most.Whether Jerzy deserved to be World Champ or not-it got me thinking as to who would have been Poland's most deserving first ever World Champion.I can think of three-Antoni Woryna who dropped only two points in 1966 and finished third, Pawel Waloszek who had a number of top years and creditable World Final Appearances and of course Zenon Plech.What do forumlanders think??BTW Happy New Year to all you Brits and Aussies-its already 2009 there- a few more hours to go here-I'll be glad to see the back of 2008 along with many others I suspect-hope everyone has a healthy and happy 09!! Zenon Plech in my book was the most exciting of all the Poles and a great ambassador for speedway so unlucky in the year that Jerzy won you have only to watch it on UTUBE to see how close he came. TONY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 (edited) Well the first Eastern European World Champ should really have been Plechanov.I think he is most deserving.Of the Poles,my sypathy lies with Steady Eddie of course.Whether he was more deserving than Woryna or Pogorzelski or Rose i couldn't say.Might have changed his life for the better though if he had of done.I guess my friend from Bydoszcz would choose Glücklich Edited January 1, 2009 by iris123 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 Jerzy Szczakiel deserved to be Poland's first World Champ because he was the one who won it. None of the others did, so didn't deserve to - with the possible exception of Plech who seemed to be robbed of a possible place in the 1973 run-off by a bizarre refereeing decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 That is of course true.I would only really say Plechanov as he never had the chance to ride for the title in his own country.That might have made the difference between 2nd place and the title.All the Polish riders had the same chance as Jerzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Blanchard Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 That is of course true.I would only really say Plechanov as he never had the chance to ride for the title in his own country.That might have made the difference between 2nd place and the title.All the Polish riders had the same chance as Jerzy I think you could be right about that Doug. Not too many Eastern Europeans could humble Fundin on the world stage in ‘run off’s’ in ‘64 and ‘65 as Plech did. Also agree with Grachan about Jerzy Szczakiel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 I think you could be right about that Doug. Not too many Eastern Europeans could humble Fundin on the world stage in ‘run off’s’ in ‘64 and ‘65 as Plech did. Just to save others (potentially...) being confused by this...: when Jim says 'Plech' he does, of course, mean Plechanov, NOT Zenon...!!! With two second-places Plechanov (alongside England's Spilt Waterman) stands as the most successful rider in World Indiv. Final terms NEVER to be World Champ. Plech (ie Poland's Zenon...) had two rostrum finishes too so he's well up there. But unquestionably the most successful rider in terms of rostrum positions NEVER to step onto the top step of the rostrum overall is Tomas Gollob. IF they'd still have been a World Final I doubt anyone would disagree that Gollob would've claimed at least one (and quite possibly upwards of three...) world titles.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno Posted January 2, 2009 Report Share Posted January 2, 2009 Just to save others (potentially...) being confused by this...: when Jim says 'Plech' he does, of course, mean Plechanov, NOT Zenon...!!! With two second-places Plechanov (alongside England's Spilt Waterman) stands as the most successful rider in World Indiv. Final terms NEVER to be World Champ. Plech (ie Poland's Zenon...) had two rostrum finishes too so he's well up there. But unquestionably the most successful rider in terms of rostrum positions NEVER to step onto the top step of the rostrum overall is Tomas Gollob. IF they'd still have been a World Final I doubt anyone would disagree that Gollob would've claimed at least one (and quite possibly upwards of three...) world titles.... got to agree with gollob. he prob wouldnt have won outside of poland but would obviously have been up there everytime it was held in poland especially at bydy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
czechhero Posted January 2, 2009 Report Share Posted January 2, 2009 Jerzy Szczakiel deserved to be Poland's first World Champ because he was the one who won it. None of the others did, so didn't deserve to - with the possible exception of Plech who seemed to be robbed of a possible place in the 1973 run-off by a bizarre refereeing decision. Agree 100% Finals like 1973, for me, add to the attraction of the sport. Well at least they used to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted January 3, 2009 Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 Agree 100% Finals like 1973, for me, add to the attraction of the sport. Well at least they used to. Well, that's right. Over 35 years later we're still talking about it... No-one ever bothers to talk about any of the GPs even 35 DAYS after them...!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted January 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2009 You are right Parsloes -the one-off World Finals were wonderful- I always recall Nigel Boocock beating Fundin in Heat One at the 65 World Final-then Brian Brett winning Heat 2, Jansoon beating Knutsson in Heat 3 and Plechanov defeating Briggs in Heat 4-however none of those heat winners hung in and finished Champ-Knutsson won his first and only title-I recall talking about it with other spectators all the way back on the night train from Paddington to Cardiff.I thought Brett was in with a real chance that year by the way-but not to be-and it was his only WF appearance. RIP Bretty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shazzybird Posted January 4, 2009 Report Share Posted January 4, 2009 I would of loved to see Zenon crowned as World Champ definately one of the nicest people I've ever met and also one of the funniest without meaning to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 Would have to say Zenon Plech, in his heyday he was a joy to watch, and a very skillful rider, he had a season at Sheffield at the end of his British career but was way past his best by that time. Changing the subject slightly, how many World Titles would Tomas Gollob have won if they were still one of World Finals, I reckon by now he could have won around 3 or 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 Changing the subject slightly, how many World Titles would Tomas Gollob have won if they were still one of World Finals, I reckon by now he could have won around 3 or 4. That probably depends on how many were held in Poland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oddfossengen Posted January 5, 2009 Report Share Posted January 5, 2009 plechanov would of won but was stitched up by the authoritys anyone who knows speedway knows this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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