Nicholls And Harris

[beesboybert]

I feel for Scott as the guy has made a genuine attempt to better himself. He's had an awful start to the season and inevitably people are going to use missing the Elite as the reason. The guy's confidence is obviously shot to pieces and I would say he is probably feeling quite low at the moment. I think it says a lot about the character of the man that he is willing to keep fighting and not take the easy route out by quitting.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a few people who want to wallow in his misery and want him to fail so they can say I told you so. In other words, kicking him whilst he's down.

This is not an "I love Scotty" post, to be honest I don't really have a favourite rider. I would feel sorry for anybody who has made attempts to better themselves, their career or family life and have it go wrong. My instinct is to help people when they are down, not be cowardly and stick the boot in.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If you believe Scott is not good enough for the GP's, fine, say so by all means, but why the unecessary remarks like - he's an embarrassment, I was embarrassed to watch him etc. He's the one going through the turmoil and feeling the pain, not to mention the expense, so to make those kind of remarks says more about the person making them than it does Scott.

On a different thread, I said I felt Bomber wasn't up to GP standard. I didn't however, make any nasty or spiteful remarks about him. I would love to be wrong! I'd quite happily come back on here and admit I was wrong! I certainly won't come on here if he has a bad meeting to gloat.

I keep seeing remarks such as - he shouldn't be in the WC squad, he shouldn't be captian, he shouldn't be allowed to compete in the British Champs etc - but I haven't seen a single reason as to why! I've seen "he's turned his back on Britain" spouted a few times but I cannot understand what that is supposed to mean. Do people think he owes us all something?

Every one of us has the freedom to choose our career path and if any of us want to better ourselves or be with our families more or whatever, we can do so. Please someone explain why he should be any different because I cannot understand why.

 

Spot on. Well said sir!

[wotnoaj]

Ah bless his little heart. What will he prove himself as exactly? What would be a sucessfull season for Scott?

 

I don't think it really matters does it Blaze? Only he knows what a sucessful season will be for him and as for proving himself, he doesn't need to prove himself to you or me.

Let's face it, no matter what he does, some people will jump on every miserable time that he has because some like having a pop at easy targets. Very brave.

[Blazeaway]

I don't think it really matters does it Blaze? Only he knows what a sucessful season will be for him and as for proving himself, he doesn't need to prove himself to you or me.

Let's face it, no matter what he does, some people will jump on every miserable time that he has because some like having a pop at easy targets. Very brave.

 

Or perhaps people are sick of him being a serial failure? He has done nothing to justify his selection for this years GP and in fact looks like he is getting worse. I actually like Scott he is a decent bloke and I would love it if he was challenging and winning GP's but sadly that aint gonna happen. He has opened himself up to criticsm by accepting chance after chance then failing to deliver.

[shoy]

I always thought being british ment supporting the brits not the danes or the aussies the brits ... the guy made a mistake not riding england but his reasons any family person and professional can understand nobodys perfect ... IF scott so bad why is he BRITISH CHAMPION and what does that say about the rest of the brits ... there still 9 GP's left be early to be righting him off isnt it ...

[screm]

I always thought being british ment supporting the brits not the danes or the aussies the brits ... the guy made a mistake not riding england but his reasons any family person and professional can understand nobodys perfect ... IF scott so bad why is he BRITISH CHAMPION and what does that say about the rest of the brits ... there still 9 GP's left be early to be righting him off isnt it ...

How about Scott Nicholls supporting his home league,which he isnt,maybe then he might get a bit more backing.Its this I dont need EL speedway attitude thats getting many peoples back up and also the clear evidence on the first two GPs that his decision has back fired big time a continue to do so.

 

The reason why Nicholls is British Champ,well it might just be that he is the best of a not very good bunch.

[hatcham]

The reason Scott Nicholls needs the elite, is quite simply because without it he is not winning enough races, and winning in any sport breeds confidence. In Poland and the GP's the competition is at far too high a level for his abilities, and without the confidence boost the British league gives him, his results are at an all time low, however the elite merely acts as a sort of 'sticking plaster' as regardless of how high his confidence is, he will never have the ability needed to succeed at the highest level. The top riders, Pedersen, Crump, Gollob, and Hancock dont need the elite as they are world class performers, Andersen does because he is not one of the very best.

As for whether Nicholls is Britains number 1, it would have to be said, that at least until next wednesday he is. The British championship, it could be argued is more prestigious than other national champoinships because the 'elite' from Australia, Denmark, Poland and Sweden have higher goals in their sights than national honours.

As for whether Nicholls and Harris are an embarrassment, its worth remembering that it was not their decision, that regardless of ability Britain would be guaranteed two places in the GP's. Are they currently Britains top two ? probably not, we'll know more next wednesday, but certainly they appeared the top two as of the end of last season.

I would have thought the opportunities to train as a speedway rider in Britain are extremely limited except for a tiny few who are lucky enough to have the contacts to 'give it a shot', it follows that if the pool we draw our future riders from is small the likelihood of producing world beaters is small.

[hatcham]

How about Scott Nicholls supporting his home league,which he isnt,maybe then he might get a bit more backing.Its this I dont need EL speedway attitude thats getting many peoples back up and also the clear evidence on the first two GPs that his decision has back fired big time a continue to do so.

 

The reason why Nicholls is British Champ,well it might just be that he is the best of a not very good bunch.

 

We need to balance the argument though Screm by remembering that the elite only has nine teams and there was certainly no openings for him at Poole, Swindon, Lakeside, Ipswich, Coventry, Wolverhampton or Peterborough, and we dont know if Belle Vue wanted him or what sort of offer Eastbourne made him.

 

[wotnoaj]

Or perhaps people are sick of him being a serial failure? He has done nothing to justify his selection for this years GP and in fact looks like he is getting worse. I actually like Scott he is a decent bloke and I would love it if he was challenging and winning GP's but sadly that aint gonna happen. He has opened himself up to criticsm by accepting chance after chance then failing to deliver.

 

Does that give people the right to be verbally abusive about him? Not in my opinion.

 

[wotnoaj]

How about Scott Nicholls supporting his home league,which he isnt,maybe then he might get a bit more backing.Its this I dont need EL speedway attitude thats getting many peoples back up and also the clear evidence on the first two GPs that his decision has back fired big time a continue to do so.

 

The reason why Nicholls is British Champ,well it might just be that he is the best of a not very good bunch.

 

Why should he? It's his choice, he doesn't owe anyone anything.

When did he ever say " I don't need EL Speedway "? I don't remember seeing/hearing this anywhere.

[Blazeaway]

Does that give people the right to be verbally abusive about him? Not in my opinion.

 

 

Who has been verbally abusive?

[screm]

We need to balance the argument though Screm by remembering that the elite only has nine teams and there was certainly no openings for him at Poole, Swindon, Lakeside, Ipswich, Coventry, Wolverhampton or Peterborough, and we dont know if Belle Vue wanted him or what sort of offer Eastbourne made him.

The only club not to contact Nicholls last winter was Ipswich,he is quoted in this weeks Speedway Star as saying "They (Ipswich) were probably one of the only clubs who didnt contact me".

 

Now I agree that it doesnt mean he was offered a team place by every EL club but even if he had been he was hardly eager was he.I get your point though but when Nicholls himself decided he wouldnt commit to the EL we needed to see some improvement in the GP series and we havent,indeed far from it.Added to that Nicholls form in Poland he been nearly as bad as in the GPs,so much so that his future there is far from certain.That leaves only Sweden for him to get into some sort of form.

[hatcham]

Does that give people the right to be verbally abusive about him? Not in my opinion.

 

 

Your quite right Pearcey, but you have to remember British speedway fans are disappointed and upset that we have no genuine world class performers to support, disappointment invariably turns to frustration and anger, so people demand someone to blame and that is all falling at the feet of Nicholls, of course the fault actually lies with the rest of us for not being able to 'raise his bar'

[hatcham]

The only club not to contact Nicholls last winter was Ipswich,he is quoted in this weeks Speedway Star as saying "They (Ipswich) were probably one of the only clubs who didnt contact me".

 

Now I agree that it doesnt mean he was offered a team place by every EL club but even if he had been he was hardly eager was he.I get your point though but when Nicholls himself decided he wouldnt commit to the EL we needed to see some improvement in the GP series and we havent,indeed far from it.Added to that Nicholls form in Poland he been nearly as bad as in the GPs,so much so that his future there is far from certain.That leaves only Sweden for him to get into some sort of form.

 

If Nicholls fails at next weeks British championship he will of course then have no claims on a world cup or GP place, and he will only have himself to blame, anyone who then argues for him to be left out of the world cup squad will have a very valid case.

Next wednesday will be very interesting.

 

[wotnoaj]

Who has been verbally abusive?

 

I'm talking about the guys who are calling him an embarrassment or finished or whatever. I just don't think it's necessary. As I said earlier, I've no problem with people having the opinion he's not GP standard and if people want to speculate about the reasons for his form then fine, that's the point of a forum. I just don't think it's right when people have to go OTT and have personal digs, they wouldn't do it to his face.

 

[screm]

If Nicholls fails at next weeks British championship he will of course then have no claims on a world cup or GP place, and he will only have himself to blame, anyone who then argues for him to be left out of the world cup squad will have a very valid case.

Next wednesday will be very interesting.

It will indded,its a chance for Nicholls to silence one or two critics but looking at the field there are one or two riders who could be a problem for our current Champion.For Nicholls to show us that missing the EL is making him a better rider where would he have to finish,rostrum at least Id say.

[hatcham]

It will indded,its a chance for Nicholls to silence one or two critics but looking at the field there are one or two riders who could be a problem for our current Champion.For Nicholls to show us that missing the EL is making him a better rider where would he have to finish,rostrum at least Id say.

 

There certainly will be a few riders who genuinely believe they can win, which will make a difference to the last few seasons.

 

[shoy]

I'm talking about the guys who are calling him an embarrassment or finished or whatever. I just don't think it's necessary. As I said earlier, I've no problem with people having the opinion he's not GP standard and if people want to speculate about the reasons for his form then fine, that's the point of a forum. I just don't think it's right when people have to go OTT and have personal digs, they wouldn't do it to his face.

 

 

I agree with you and to say he shouldnt be in the world cup is ridiculous ... the guy wants less time in a van and more time with his little girl . why does that make him a bad speedway rider .. I just hope things start going in the right direction for scotty by winning the british final

[spook]

How about Scott Nicholls supporting his home league,which he isnt,maybe then he might get a bit more backing.Its this I dont need EL speedway attitude thats getting many peoples back up and also the clear evidence on the first two GPs that his decision has back fired big time a continue to do so.

 

The reason why Nicholls is British Champ,well it might just be that he is the best of a not very good bunch.

 

 

'i dont need EL speedway attitude thats getting peoples backs up'

hmmmm

and how about those very same 'people'....ie the fans? Here we have what was a thriving sport and even in the 70s and 80s it was still big....... and we have systematically ruined it because every man, dog is going to wet their knickers over the latest average american/aussie/dane/swede/pole/czech/slovenian/croatian(i'm not seeing GB yet are you?)/new zealander/italian/russian.... ok you get the point

 

so its fine for the fans in this country to say "yeah bring them all over... the more the merrier" despite the effects that it will have on our home grown riders...... and yet our own riders arent allowed to have the same freedom of movement........ and we would be lying if we said that Scott Nicholls hasnt been a target when riding here for the very same fans complaining about him not riding here .....damned if he does damned if he doesnt

 

As much as I have an interest in Scott Nicholls because I want him to do well he has frustrated me on the world stage........ that does not allow me though, to get things out of perspective and demand blood from the guy

 

[Cornishman]

The reason Scott Nicholls needs the elite, is quite simply because without it he is not winning enough races, and winning in any sport breeds confidence.

 

 

Thats exactly the point i've been trying to make. He's almost going out expecting to fight for 3rd place every heat now, whereas in the past he has at least won some heats through a gp. Confidence is a huge part of anything we do and unfortunately Scotty has very little at the moment. And the only way to get it back is to start winning, even if it is against 'lesser' riders.

 

Who knows, maybe wednesday night's British Final might be just what he needs....

[MARK246]

Thats exactly the point i've been trying to make. He's almost going out expecting to fight for 3rd place every heat now, whereas in the past he has at least won some heats through a gp. Confidence is a huge part of anything we do and unfortunately Scotty has very little at the moment. And the only way to get it back is to start winning, even if it is against 'lesser' riders.

 

 

In the last GP series Nicholls won 5 races in 11 GP's, what he's not doing is getting close to fight for second place, which is where the majority of his points have come from in previous seasons.

This season he's won less then 8 races in two leagues and two GP's. But I have no doubt if he wins the British final he will accept the Sky Sports wildcard again.