BUDGIE Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 Stepping back a little from who's favourite is in or not in, it seems that the 'big' nations being Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and England are guaranteed 2 places, nominations may be used to ensure this. This is probably for commercial reasons as those countries have staged 7 of the 11 SGPs this season and the venues need to be filled. If we take the above as true then the question that remains is who should be the other British competitor after Harris, (because he will finish highest of the Brits in this years SGP, is next in line from qualification, and is the British Champion) in my opinion there is no point going over old ground and selecting a rider who will not really improve on his last efforts, so what we are looking at is giving someone experience so that perhaps we as a nation dont need to keep relying on selections and nominations. That being so the choice is down to Bridger, Woffinden or Kennett, all of whom would bring new young blood into the series. My preference out of that lot would be Woffinden. In reality if any of these 3 are nominated there will be 'noise' from people who feel that they have missed out, but ask yourself this question, when the 'noise' starts, "Could this rider have made the Top 6 in 2010?", the answer I beleive will be no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Duke Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 It's been a few years since 'England' last staged a GP Using your theory then it should be two Welshmen that get GP places next season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srbramble Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 (edited) Stepping back a little from who's favourite is in or not in, it seems that the 'big' nations being Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and England are guaranteed 2 places, nominations may be used to ensure this. This is probably for commercial reasons as those countries have staged 7 of the 11 SGPs this season and the venues need to be filled. If we take the above as true then the question that remains is who should be the other British competitor after Harris, (because he will finish highest of the Brits in this years SGP, is next in line from qualification, and is the British Champion) in my opinion there is no point going over old ground and selecting a rider who will not really improve on his last efforts, so what we are looking at is giving someone experience so that perhaps we as a nation dont need to keep relying on selections and nominations. That being so the choice is down to Bridger, Woffinden or Kennett, all of whom would bring new young blood into the series. My preference out of that lot would be Woffinden. In reality if any of these 3 are nominated there will be 'noise' from people who feel that they have missed out, but ask yourself this question, when the 'noise' starts, "Could this rider have made the Top 6 in 2010?", the answer I beleive will be no. of course it's about generating interest, not just fans but sponsors too, and I'm sorry for those who cannot see that. It is a must to have a Brit in the series, period. We don't have a single rider who has earned a place, therefore, we have to rely on a wildcard pick. The only British rider who has the charisma and the talent to enhance the series, is Tai Woffinden, and the FIM will no doubt be aware of this. There will be others who will possibly need a pick to get in, and they aren't British, yet I hear no noises about that, and one of those is the current champion, so for those who disagree with the wildcard process, that blows the arguement out of the water. Edited October 3, 2009 by srbramble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevePark Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 Cardiff is, of course, an important venue. But how many fans would NOT go to Cardiff just because there was no British rider in it? Very few I would think. There would be a British rider in it - as the Wild Card for the hosting nation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUDGIE Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 (edited) It's been a few years since 'England' last staged a GP Using your theory then it should be two Welshmen that get GP places next season. ....and how many Welshmen attend?, if you cant be sensible or contribute seriously to a debate why bother? Edited October 3, 2009 by BUDGIE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Duke Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 ....and how many Welshmen attend?, if you cant be sensible or contribute seriously to a debate why bother? I'm not aware of the numbers! You state that because Poland, Sweden and Denmark stage the GPs then riders from those countries should be included. Then you mention an Englishman, I was merely saying that England doesn't stage a GP. It was said as a tongue in cheek comment! For what it's worth, I think nationality is totally irrelevant, it should be the top 15 riders in the world who compete in the GPs and the wildcard representing the country the GP is held in. In the case of Cardiff, it should be a BRITISH rider Many speedway fans support the rider(s) from their club, or they have favourite riders that they like to see doing well. Of course we Brits want to see our countrymen competing in the GP competition but if they are not up to the mark then they don't deserve to take a place from a rider who should be there on ability, not nationality. Like others have said, the fans will still flock to Cardiff irrelevant of whether a British rider has a top 15 place or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinn Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 I don't think any of the Brits are 100% top 8 material. Scott has pretty much ruled himself out, if he's offered a place I would be surprised if he accepted it. Chris has had one good performance all year, in the last GP- he said it was because there was no pressure on him, if he's picked again surely the pressure's back on? Eddie isn't quite there, Lewis isn't scoring consistently across all continents and IMO Tai needs another year. Tai is riding fantastically in his leagues, but another year could see him 100% ready for that level of racing- throwing him in at the deep end too early could have negative effects. That leaves Lee, I don't know how interested he is in doing the GPs. He doesn't seem that bothered, and as some have said he's 'been there, done that.' I don't see why a Brit has to have a wildcard into the series, why not simply nominate a Brit in Cardiff? It would make no difference to me personally, I support the rider more than the nationality and would rather see Freddie get a wildcard than Bomber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 (edited) There would be a British rider in it - as the Wild Card for the hosting nation. Yes, I realised that, but not one with a chance of winning the Grand Prix. What I'm getting at is that I don't think that not having a full GP British rider at Cardiff would make any difference to the gate. I don't think not having a British rider would make any real difference to the interest in the Grand Prix series as a whole. After all, it's not as though British riders have any chance of winning the GP at the moment. Does anyone here watch the Grand Prix on television or go to see them live just because Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris are in them? Edited October 3, 2009 by norbold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pugwash Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 Fully agree with Norbold. Anyway Crumpy, Leigh and Noddy are just Brits with funny accents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 Fully agree with Norbold. Anyway Crumpy, Leigh and Noddy are just Brits with funny accents. I believe Tony Millard did once mention in passing that Crumpy was born in Bristol.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 Well after today's Under 21 WF there can no longer be any doubt what the answer to this question posed in this thread MUST be. It HAS to be Tai who was so unlucky not to win the world crown and in which case he'd be in, in 2010 anyhow. A SGP next year containing Sayfutdinov, Holder, now Ward and also Woffinden..? Blimey, this would transform it IMHO.. If we go instead for Scotty we may as well all pack up and go home... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sotonian Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 There will be others who will possibly need a pick to get in, and they aren't British, yet I hear no noises about that, and one of those is the current champion, so for those who disagree with the wildcard process, that blows the arguement out of the water. No it does not. There simply isn't an argument about giving a 3 times champion a wildcard if needed. And even if he were not an ex-champ, it's not as though there are any better Danish options The case for Tai is far less clear cut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philfromcov Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 Well after today's Under 21 WF there can no longer be any doubt what the answer to this question posed in this thread MUST be. It HAS to be Tai who was so unlucky not to win the world crown and in which case he'd be in, in 2010 anyhow. A SGP next year containing Sayfutdinov, Holder, now Ward and also Woffinden..? Blimey, this would transform it IMHO.. If we go instead for Scotty we may as well all pack up and go home... ward and woffiden would indeed transfor the gp's the first riders to be excluded for being lapped pserhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsloes 1928 nearly Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 ward and woffiden would indeed transfor the gp's the first riders to be excluded for being lapped pserhaps? Hmm, and I wonder if you might have posted this same comment about Sayfutdinov a year ago..?! If the likes of Nicholls who is a million miles away from being world class can inhabit this series for so long without being lapped I don't think there's too much to concern you.. BTW, your posting is almost certainly the most stupid in the history of the BSF...: well done!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BUDGIE Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 I'm not aware of the numbers! You state that because Poland, Sweden and Denmark stage the GPs then riders from those countries should be included. I didnt say that , did you read my post at all? Try reading it and you will see that I didnt say 'should be included', in fact I offered no opinion, quite the opposite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidba Posted October 3, 2009 Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 My opinion for what it's worth is that they should give Tai the only brit wildcard as he's shown he can mix it at the top level in all 3 major leagues and will only improve, and he's a bit narky so should increase the entertainment value! Richardson has had a good season but so have many other non brits, plenty of whom haven't had the numerous chances he has had in the series. Hope he can keep it up and qualify by right in the future. Harris will probably be first reserve anyhow if Lindgren is picked or finishes top 8, this will probably mean 3-4 grand prix's covering injuries for him to make his case for 2011. Hope Adams is going to retire to free up another place, he shouldn't carry on if no longer at the top or his heart not 100% in it. Holder and Hampel make the series stronger, god knows what will happen with Zorro, but at least he's shown he can win on the big occasions and did qualify by right, so good luck to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDY69 Posted October 4, 2009 Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 (edited) Yes, I realised that, but not one with a chance of winning the Grand Prix. What I'm getting at is that I don't think that not having a full GP British rider at Cardiff would make any difference to the gate. I don't think not having a British rider would make any real difference to the interest in the Grand Prix series as a whole. After all, it's not as though British riders have any chance of winning the GP at the moment. Does anyone here watch the Grand Prix on television or go to see them live just because Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris are in them? Actually, yes. I went to Latvia this year but wouldn't have if there were no brits to support. The event loses appeal for me. Also, a lot of people are puitting Woffinden forward but isn't he a reserve in the foreign leagues? Edited October 4, 2009 by SPEEDY69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted October 4, 2009 Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 You went all the way to Latvia to see Scott Nicholls and Chris Harris. Fair play to you, mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidba Posted October 4, 2009 Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 Actually, yes. I went to Latvia this year but wouldn't have if there were no brits to support. The event loses appeal for me. Also, a lot of people are puitting Woffinden forward but isn't he a reserve in the foreign leagues? The reserve berths are not taken by the lowest averages riders like in the UK but by under 21's. He has done so well for both Vargarna and Czestochowa(SP) that they almost always use him for the maxmium number of rides as he beats the worlds top riders each week. You obviously never watch the live feeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srbramble Posted October 4, 2009 Report Share Posted October 4, 2009 Anyone out there know when the wildcards are chosen? I imagine it's after the final GP, but how soon after? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.