Roll On Sgp 2010 - Best Series Ever

[manchesterpaul]

Whilst Sky were hyping up the upcoming final round of this years series - mathematically likely already done and dusted - my mind was wandering to 2010 and eagerly anticipating what could likely turn out to be the best series ever.

 

There will be a minimum three way battle royal with Jason Crump, Emil Sayfutdinov and Nicki Pedersen.

 

There is just a little chance that we would have a runaway leader in Sayfutdinov but the quality of the field being higher as a whole next season should help to avoid that. Pedersen will be like a fresh rider next year. It remains to be seen whether Tomasz 'peter pan' Gollob will maintain his form next year and be a fourth strong candidate.

 

One thing that should be pointed out whilst mentioning the 'duel' for the championship we have witnessed. If Sayfutdinov hadn't missed out last night on the additional nine points still available to him and pulled to within ten of Crump, he wouldn't have been an unworthy winner should he then have pulled out another excellent performance in the final meeting and overhauled Crump. Crump has had a poor run before his injury and presuming he takes a a recuperative break for three weeks he would only have had one meeting affected by his injury. In contrast Sayfutdinov has, if my memory serves me correctly, had a couple of meetings where he was shockingly unlucky as in tape exclusions etc. including the semi-finals.

 

Ideally it would be great if Pedersen, who is only four points clear of the cut off level, drops out of the top eight. As he would automatically be selected as a wild card this would ensure the (sgp) new wave inclusion of Fredrik Lindgren and Kenneth Bjerre who would join another with relative youth on his side in Andreas Jonsson.

 

Wild card candidates look promising with riders such as Matej Zagar and Tai Woffinden in the running and subsequently being capable of proving their inclusions valid. Surely Chris Harris would turn out to be more competitive next year???, especially if the tracks are made more raceable.

 

The GP Challenge has the potential to have provided three very good riders for a change. I say potential as hopefully Magnus Zetterstrom will do the honourable thing and withdraw. One only has to read the pre-challenge Q&A in the Speedway Star to see that it would be more fitting for a younger rider to be given the opportunity. I'm not taking anything away from his performance on the night, all credit to him. However, thankfully the Grand Prix series avoids the pitfall of a one-off single night performance to determine the best rider in the world.

 

Zetterstroms place would in effect create a fifth wild card in that either they either outright pick an extra one or alternatively promote the next placed finisher from Coventry. Maybe someone like Antonio Lindback could then be added to the series. If Lindgren is already in by virtue of a top eight place then Chris Harris would be next in line for promotion from the challenge as he finished fifth behind Lindgren in the meeting.

 

The two other qualifiers from the challenge are very respectable. Pretty much everyone is looking forward to Chris Holder participating and Jarek Hampel is unlikely to turn out to be one of the annual polish dead ducks. He is in the top seven of the averages in the three major leagues with excellent figures.

 

As for the remainder? well even if he does a 'Leigh Adams' i'm sure Greg Hancock will still rattle up a few heat wins and possibly the odd rostrum place. I'm presuming Scott Nicholls was the one in the recently touted story of a top rider who was to be announced as a surprising omission for next year.

 

Dependent on whether the selectors are bored with Runa Holta's inclusion and want more fresh meat we still have two places up for grabs. All in all i can't wait for next seasons contest.

 

One footnote, we may well get a German rider in the not too distant future. I couldn't believe that Kevin Wolbert was not snapped up to race over here at the start of the season. He had shown many signs of being a great prospect in international meetings. His performances in the Premier League have been excellent, moreso with everyone else having had a head start and visited most tracks already.

 

[BUDGIE]

The GP Challenge has the potential to have provided three very good riders for a change. I say potential as hopefully Magnus Zetterstrom will do the honourable thing and withdraw.

 

Dont understand why it would be 'honourable', in fact quite the opposite, and cant beleive it would happen after

he has quailfied by right along quite a long path, surely the people who have witnessed it and paid to see him qualify

deserve to see him go through?.

 

 

 

Zetterstroms place would in effect create a fifth wild card

 

Dont think so, they would just promote from the challenge, therefore Lindgren, followed by Harris.

[Robbie B]

Whether people like the fact that Magnus Zetterstrom will be a GP rider or not next season. It must be pointed out he is there by right, after qualifying from a very tough meeting and other qualifying rounds.

 

Some of the riders that you Budgie didn't even make it to the GP challenge final, so why should they be put in front of Magnus Zetterstrom who won the GP challenge event, it doesn’t make sense. He may be older then the riders you mention, but he qualified and they didn't.

 

I wish they bring back the GP challenge as they used to have it, with the bottom seven riders from the GP series meeting the top nine from the GP challenge event. These riders then can fight it out for eight places. And rid of the stupid wild card, which most of the time is a complete waste.

 

Or even better still go back in time and make all riders qualify, like the old qualifying rounds in the past.

 

[BUDGIE]

QUOTE (Robbie B @ Sep 27 2009, 10:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Whether people like the fact that Magnus Zetterstrom will be a GP rider or not next season. It must be pointed out he is there by right, after qualifying from a very tough meeting and other qualifying rounds.

 

 

I quite agree with this

 

 

QUOTE (Robbie B @ Sep 27 2009, 10:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Some of the riders that you Budgie didn't even make it to the GP challenge final, so why should they be put in front of Magnus Zetterstrom who won the GP challenge event, it doesn’t make sense. He may be older then the riders you mention, but he qualified and they didn't.

 

Sorry but is this bit just doesnt make sense. I have never mentioned any riders that ought to be there, the riders that ought to be there are the ones who qualify!!

 

Any chance you could put the reply into some sort of English?

 

[Dekker]

<lots of words, little wisdom snipped>

 

1. Pedersen is finished as a contender, he is scared of the Russki and the Refs have sussed him by and large.

2. Zetterstrom is their on merit, if the others were good enough they would have qualified.

3. A lot of your suggestions seem to be throw away the qualifiers and let the organiser pick whoever they want.

4. Lindback even with Team Rick behind him has basically done diddly squat this season.

5. The only reason Gollob is still here is none of the Poles that followed him including Hempel have the "stuff" needed to challenge the top. In some ways how the Poles despite their league structure cannot produce another Gollob is a great mystery.

6. Wolbert's gating is pretty poor, he would be thrashed in the GP's.

Edited September 27, 2009 by Dekker

[superguest]

I can see this being 2010 line-up.

1. Jason Crump AUSTRALIA

2. Tomasz Gollob POLAND

3. Emil Sayfutdinov RUSSIA

4. Greg Hancock AMERICA

5. Andreas Jonsson SWEDEN

6. Nicki Pedersen DENMARK

7. Hans Andersen DENMARK

8. Rune Holta POLAND

9. Kenneth Bjerre DENMARK (WC)

10. Chris Harris GREAT BRITAIN or Freddie Lindgren SWEDEN (WC)

11. Magnus Zetterstrom SWEDEN

12. Chris Holder AUSTRALIA

13. Jarek Hampel POLAND

14. Matej Zagar SLOVENIA (WC)

15. Lee Richardsson GREAT BRITAIN (WC)

 

[philfromcov]

I can see this being 2010 line-up.

1. Jason Crump AUSTRALIA

2. Tomasz Gollob POLAND

3. Emil Sayfutdinov RUSSIA

4. Greg Hancock AMERICA

5. Andreas Jonsson SWEDEN

6. Nicki Pedersen DENMARK

7. Hans Andersen DENMARK

8. Rune Holta POLAND

9. Kenneth Bjerre DENMARK (WC)

10. Chris Harris GREAT BRITAIN or Freddie Lindgren SWEDEN (WC)

11. Magnus Zetterstrom SWEDEN

12. Chris Holder AUSTRALIA

13. Jarek Hampel POLAND

14. Matej Zagar SLOVENIA (WC)

15. Lee Richardsson GREAT BRITAIN (WC)

"Harris, meanwhile, enhanced his case for a permanent wild-card in 2010 by scoring 10 points in the qualifying, a tally that embraced passing Sayfutdinov for second place in Heat 9."

 

 

taken from speedwaygp website permanant wild card? thats a new one also heared that lindback didnt turn up at the gp challenge because his been told his got a place.

 

its all aboput what faces will sell seats and tv, nothing to do with the best

 

[Robbie B]

I quite agree with this

 

 

 

 

Sorry but is this bit just doesnt make sense. I have never mentioned any riders that ought to be there, the riders that ought to be there are the ones who qualify!!

 

Any chance you could put the reply into some sort of English?

 

My brother phoned me when I was writing this, no-wonder it dosen't make sense. Too much multi-tasking going on there. Can't remember what I was going to say now, sorry.

 

I think that Leigh Adams will be asked if he whats a wild card. Along with Zagar or even Lindback. Can't see more then one British rider in the GP next year.

Edited September 27, 2009 by Robbie B

[iris123]

Don't think it will work out as the best.Probably not even a good year.I think the injuries and maybe the family life is taking its toll on Nicki sadly.Don't think he will be challenging and i very much doubt Crump will be up there again.I tend to think Emil will romp away with it.The old guard are on the way out and he could possibly win a few on the trot.But he does seem to be a bit slower since all the stuff about him cheating came out.I think he will have learnt a hell of a lot from this year though and come out far better next year.Which is frightening for the others........Hans and Andreas have shown flashes of what might have been over the past few years,but i don't think either will ever really challenge.Kenneth maybe.......

[Robbie B]

Totally agree with Iris123, Emil will win next season at a romp. He can only get better after his season in the GPs. I personally will be putting a very nice bet on him. Wouldn't surprise me if the bookies havedown him down as favourite, in 2010.

[manchesterpaul]

QUOTE (manchesterpaul @ Sep 27 2009, 09:08 AM)

<lots of words, little wisdom snipped>

 

Dear oh dear! let's hope the forum isn't about to slip back into inane attacks on a post or poster. I thought we had returned to intelligent adult debate once more.

 

You are as free as i am to set up a thread in order to hear other peoples views. If you don't agree with some or all of those expressed, then by all means make your alternate view known. You should be able to do this without resorting to asinine comments such as the above. It serves no purpose or use. It certainly wouldn't sway folk to your own stance on things.

 

Anyway, i'll do the civilised thing and reply to points you made or opposed.

 

1. Pedersen is finished as a contender, he is scared of the Russki and the Refs have sussed him by and large.

2. Zetterstrom is their on merit, if the others were good enough they would have qualified.

3. A lot of your suggestions seem to be throw away the qualifiers and let the organiser pick whoever they want.

4. Lindback even with Team Rick behind him has basically done diddly squat this season.

5. The only reason Gollob is still here is none of the Poles that followed him including Hempel have the "stuff" needed to challenge the top. In some ways how the Poles despite their league structure cannot produce another Gollob is a great mystery.

6. Wolbert's gating is pretty poor, he would be thrashed in the GP's.

 

1. Are you sure that come this time next year Pedersen will show in the standings as being finished?. I'm not predicting he will win it but i think he'll put up a far better show next year.

 

2. I've never said Zetterstrom didn't win his meeting/s on merit and legitimately claim a place in the GP's. However, you can't deny there has been widespread surprise, even shock, across the speedway world. Most of that is being expressed in regard to him making any impression over the course of a whole tellingly long series.

 

As one-off world finals proved in the past one piece of misfortune can cost the clear best rider in the world a victory on the night, no matter how much he has been head and shoulders dominant over a season. Also, as in Zetterstrom's case a (won't be too critical and say fluke) one-off exceptional night has gained him access to something that needs a season long very high level of commitment. Reading his interview in the Speedway Star before he qualified doesn't bode well. Whilst i don't think he'll be so nonchalent as to chug up to a GP in the 'Trotters' three-wheeler and don a boiler suit to race i really don't see the level of hunger and sacrifice needed on show.

 

If he does take his place well the best of luck to him and i'd be the first to acclaim any success he could attain.

 

3. I've only argued against one qualifier (Magnus) and don't forget qualifiers include the top eight in the series.

 

4. I share your question mark over Lindback which is why i deliberately worded my reference to him as 'someone like'.

 

5. I'm not sure what your point is regarding Golllob. Are you saying he shouldn't be in the series despite being right at the top of the standings just because a fellow countryman hasn't challenged him?

 

6. I quoted Wolbert as one for the future not for here and now. Obviously he is hardly the finished product. Worth noting that despite your judgement of his gating being pretty poor he is 5th. in the Premier League averages! He is clearly going to improve over time with his gating and be returning to tracks instead of seeing them all for the first time.

 

As with every thread across the forums thanks for your input. It matters not one jot to me if you disagree with my views but please try and put forward your view of events without decrying another's. I'm perfectly open to having my views changed if given a constructive reason to or food for thought. However, if the opening words are a silly insult then normally i don't even bother to read on.

Edited September 27, 2009 by manchesterpaul

[manchesterpaul]

Zetterstroms place would in effect create a fifth wild card in that either they either outright pick an extra one or alternatively promote the next placed finisher from Coventry.

 

 

(manchesterpaul @ Sep 27 2009, 09:08 AM)

Zetterstroms place would in effect create a fifth wild card

 

Dont think so, they would just promote from the challenge, therefore Lindgren, followed by Harris.

 

Not sure the logic behind cutting my original sentence in half and in doing so totally changing what was said. It's similar to you quoting and criticizing a part sentence 'the man ran up to the woman and pushed her' when the original reads 'the man ran up to the woman and pushed her out of the way of the falling debris'

 

Ignore the typo of 'either' being written twice but key parts of the sentence in bold

 

'Zetterstroms place would in effect create a fifth wild card in that either they either outright pick an extra one or alternatively promote the next placed finisher from Coventry.'

Edited September 27, 2009 by manchesterpaul

[WimbledonDon]

Rico should get the WC (not because 1 brit should get one, becuase he's taken the time off from gps - soul searched and proved he's ready... best brit (although doesn't have the title) withdrew from the gp qualification due to illness... and really he would have a crack at the top 8.

Sad truth is.... i may fear Harris may also get a WC purely because whats the anniversary at Cardiff this year.... 10 years and BSI want to make it special... and i feel one brit and a wild card may just not be "good promotion" so maybe just we may be as shocked as the begining of this year when Chris Harris got "A Gift From God" in getting his wild card... or maybe he's just still dinning on his 2007 Cardiff win....

[spook]

sorry to be boring but 2010 will not be the best series ever for one simple reason...........Ole Olsen will still be in charge and the tracks will still be god awful

 

we will all remember this season for reasons such as NickiP's fall from grace...... Emil's introduction..... Leigh's farewell etc ......but this year's GP series has to go down as one of the worst .... because of the lack of racing........... yes last night was good in a strange kind of way but looking back over the season nights like that have been few and far between

 

Quite simply Ole is scared of rain and during his time in charge has chosen to keep the tracks bare to combat the rain instead of making sure the necessary machinery is there to combat it when it happens............. all we have ended up with is rain 1 time in 8 on average (ish) and 7 times in 8 dry with no shale down

 

 

 

Superguest where is Freddie Lindgren in your list? The only guy in the top 10 who is possibly not safe is Rune Holta because the last time he was left out they could have easily included him and chose not to.... he is one of those riders that over time BSI/IMG have seen as expendable........personally I think the closeness between 6th and 10th and the 20 point gap between 10th and 11th should make the top 10 safe .................... if Rune does end up safe it leaves one question for IMG after they have given a WC to a Brit ....... who gets the last WC? another Brit? Zagar? Lindback?................... personally I think Zorro has messed up Lindback's chances (there are already 3 Swedes) and it is a straight decision between Zagar or a Brit............... we know it should be Zagar but imo it will end up being a Brit so as to protect the Cardiff attendance

 

and Emil next season? I think Emil's future success and well being (and those other riders around him!!) will have a lot to do with the volume and frequency that he is chasing back wheels................. the guy is great to watch but he is leaving himself and others very little room for manouver and an error of judgement is becoming as little as an nth of a second now under the pressures that he is setting himself and those around him........................ watch the 2nd semi final last night on the last lap (I think) ... and how close he was to taking out himself and Jonsson ................... if we were to look at this in terms of odds then what are the odds that he can string a whole season together without injury while doing this? (and yes I realise he has in effect just done it ) ....................... I think JC has played this year's campaign like a stradivarius ... knowing when to give it some welly... and when to play it safe .......... and I think as long as he keeps doing this and has some of the best machinery in the field he will keep winning titles

 

 

[gmuncie]

isn't ole olsen retiring at the end of the current gp campaign

[manchesterpaul]

isn't ole olsen retiring at the end of the current gp campaign

 

Nope! taken from the usual excellent in depth GP report section in the Speedway Star a couple of weeks ago 'Ole Olsen is somewhat bemused by a story emanating from a foreign newspaper interview that he is planning to quit as SGP Race Director at the end of this season. Nothing could be further from the truth. Olsen has a contract with the FIM until the end of 2010 and fully intends honouring it before handing the reins over to his current deputy, Sweden's Tonly Olsson.'

Edited September 28, 2009 by manchesterpaul

[BUDGIE]

Dont think so, they would just promote from the challenge, therefore Lindgren, followed by Harris.

 

 

Not sure the logic behind cutting my original sentence in half and in doing so totally changing what was said. It's similar to you quoting and criticizing a part sentence 'the man ran up to the woman and pushed her' when the original reads 'the man ran up to the woman and pushed her out of the way of the falling debris'

 

Ignore the typo of 'either' being written twice but key parts of the sentence in bold

 

'Zetterstroms place would in effect create a fifth wild card in that either they either outright pick an extra one or alternatively promote the next placed finisher from Coventry.'

 

 

 

In summary then we said the same thing

[T.N.T.]

The top 10 from this years series will be back in, plus the three qualifiers which only leaves two more wild cards.

 

Matej Zagar will be a firm favourite to get one place which would mean only one British rider in 2010 with Tai Woffinden most likely to show that England also has a highly talented 19 year old.

 

 

Holder, Zagar, Woffinden and Hampel are good replacements for Walasek, Adams, Harris and Ulamek while Zetterstrom is about right for Nicholls !

[austrian hammer]

Nope! taken from the usual excellent in depth GP report section in the Speedway Star a couple of weeks ago 'Ole Olsen is somewhat bemused by a story emanating from a foreign newspaper interview that he is planning to quit as SGP Race Director at the end of this season. Nothing could be further from the truth. Olsen has a contract with the FIM until the end of 2010 and fully intends honouring it before handing the reins over to his current deputy, Sweden's Tonly Olsson.'

 

 

So another season of über slick tracks then! (über-german slang term used specifically for emphasis)

 

Look at the way the guy ruined a great race track in Slovenia, and there are other examples too.

 

He can stay race director,but allow the guys at the permanent tracks to just do their jobs, though i wont hold my breath on that one.

 

When it comes to just track prep, the man´s a clown!

[Sotonian]

Also, as in Zetterstrom's case a (won't be too critical and say fluke) one-off exceptional night has gained him access to something that needs a season long very high level of commitment.

He did actually come through a series of qualifying rounds before the GP challenge, so not just a one-off night.