Jump to content
British Speedway Forum

2010 Grand Prix Contenders


Recommended Posts

  • Replies 82
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

I WAS curious to see a consensus of opinion on who the world's top 15

riders are and how that would marry up to the 2010 Grand Prix line-up.

 

Magnus Zetterstrom hasn't appeared on anyone's list and that is hardly

surprising so does that add weight to the argument that riders should

have to qualify or does it reinforce the seeding scheme?

 

PHILIP RISING

 

Phil, he was on my list which automatically contained all 11 riders who had qualified for the 2010 series (which is why I only named the other four). I believe in the qualifiers - and think that a closed shop without qualifying rounds would diminish the status of the World Championship. I'd actually go further and have qualifying rounds through April & may and then start the series in June - so every rider wakes up on January 1 of that year with a chance of being World Champion.

 

Zorro won at Coventry, so he deserves to be there!! :wink:

 

All the best

Rob

Edited by lucifer sam
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My GP line up for next year would be

 

Top 8:

Jason Crump

Tomasz Gollob

Emil Sajfutdinov

Greg Hancock

Andreas Jonsson

Nicki Pedersen

Rune Holta

Kenneth Bjerre

 

Qualifiers:

Magnus Zetterstrom

Chris Holder

Jaroslaw Hampel

 

Wild Cards:

Hans Andersen

Freddie Lindgren

Lee Richardson

Matej Zagar

 

Hans is bound to get one.

 

I would love to have seen Lindback back in but as Zetterstrom qualified think that has ruined his chances as dont think they will run with 4 Swedes and think is pretty obvious after his form this year that Freddie deserves the nod.

 

Theres bound to be at least 1 Brit and my pick would be Richardson, has proved his worth this season across europe, dont see how Harris warrants a spot after 3 years outside the top 8. Also dont see how Tai qualifies after 1 season in the elite league and 1 impressive world cup performance. He didnt really set the world alight in it this year and I believe its time Rico had another shot.

 

Think Zagar is the other choice for me. They might run with Miedzinski so another Pole is in but Zagar is a superior rider who again deserves another chance.

 

If Holta drops out as rumoured would then put Miedzinski in as the other pole.

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Phil, he was on my list which automatically contained all 11 riders who had qualified for the 2010 series (which is why I only named the other four). I believe in the qualifiers - and think that a closed shop without qualifying rounds would diminish the status of the World Championship. I'd actually go further and have qualifying rounds through April & may and then start the series in June - so every rider wakes up on January 1 of that year with a chance of being World Champion.

 

Zorro won at Coventry, so he deserves to be there!! :wink:

 

All the best

Rob

 

Typical Englishman, us Scots dont wake up on the 1st January we just party right through it :D

 

So do you think Rob, that the 4 wildcards should be replaced with a second qualifier?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Typical Englishman, us Scots dont wake up on the 1st January we just party right through it :D

 

So do you think Rob, that the 4 wildcards should be replaced with a second qualifier?

 

Snyper, I think I'd go for:

 

* Top 6 from GP series qualify for next year's series

* Qualifying rounds throughout April and May, culminating in a qualifying final in late May, from which 6 riders qualify

* Three seeded riders - maximum of one seeded rider from any one country

 

All the best

Rob

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Snyper, I think I'd go for:

 

* Top 6 from GP series qualify for next year's series

* Qualifying rounds throughout April and May, culminating in a qualifying final in late May, from which 6 riders qualify

* Three seeded riders - maximum of one seeded rider from any one country

 

All the best

Rob

 

Should riders really have a "free lunch" pass handed to them? Why not the top X riders go through (thats a no brainer) and the rest of the places filled via qualifiers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Should riders really have a "free lunch" pass handed to them? Why not the top X riders go through (thats a no brainer) and the rest of the places filled via qualifiers.

 

Snyper, I think there is a need, simply because it is a multi-round series instead of a one-off. There were a couple of times in the early years of the GP series (before seeding) when riders who would have added a little colour to the series weren't in it - e.g. Gollob in 1996 and Crump in 1997.

 

I would add an extra proviso, though - not only is it only one seeded rider per country, but also a rider could only be seeded in just the once. So you wouldn't have a situation develop where a rider who has never qualified for the series is in it for five years!! :blink:

 

All the best

Rob

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Snyper, I think there is a need, simply because it is a multi-round series instead of a one-off. There were a couple of times in the early years of the GP series (before seeding) when riders who would have added a little colour to the series weren't in it - e.g. Gollob in 1996 and Crump in 1997.

 

I would add an extra proviso, though - not only is it only one seeded rider per country, but also a rider could only be seeded in just the once. So you wouldn't have a situation develop where a rider who has never qualified for the series is in it for five years!! :blink:

 

All the best

Rob

 

Maybe adding the once only rule could help this situation. But then wouldnt that force young lads and lesser riders to be thrown in so a nation can use the wildcard/seed?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I WAS curious to see a consensus of opinion on who the world's top 15

riders are and how that would marry up to the 2010 Grand Prix line-up.

 

Magnus Zetterstrom hasn't appeared on anyone's list and that is hardly

surprising so does that add weight to the argument that riders should

have to qualify or does it reinforce the seeding scheme?

 

PHILIP RISING

Interesting point. I think you will find few people begrudge Zorro his spot, because he qualified, but by the same token very few people would consider him in the best 15 in the world. On the whole people accept that the qualifying system is open to all and those that succeed may not always be the riders one would consider to be in the top 15.

However, it is harder to accept a rider who is not perceived to be in that top echelon getting in by way of nomination, just because they are of the right nationality to suit commercial needs.

 

I like the idea of Rob Peasley's to hold early season qualifiers, but accept that the need to put together sponsorship packages etc might mean that is unworkable.

 

I guess most people see the seeding system as a necessary evil given the commercial concerns.

Edited by salty
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Should riders really have a "free lunch" pass handed to them? Why not the top X riders go through (thats a no brainer) and the rest of the places filled via qualifiers.

Exactly. Then Harris would be in on merit

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Exactly. Then Harris would be in on merit

 

There is absolutely no way Harris should get a wildcard. On merit? How do you work that out? He's been so far off the pace in nearly all the GPs, which is quite surprising, when you consider the quality of his machinery, the sponsors he has, and the man doing his engines. I have heard, from a swedish friend who has many contacts around the continent, that he is mighty fond of partying, which suggests to me his professionalism must be questioned, and whether he really has the right stuff to compete at this level. There are many others who deserve their chance before Harris gets another go at it. That includes a couple of youngsters, who have the fire in their bellies to really give the series the shot in the arm it so desperately needs. Ward, Woffinden, Zagar and Lindgren for me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interesting discussion this one.

 

Well other than the top 8 and the qualifiers who we already know are in, my 4 w/c's would be

 

Hans and Freddie who for me are certs to be back. Personally if we are talking deserved then no Brits im afraid. I would go for 2 of Pepe, Zagar or Lindback.

 

Having said that the SGP authorities will have at least one Brit maybe even 2. In which case Hans and Freddie will be joined by Harris and Tai. Unless Tai turns it down. Harris gets it for me because he is British Champion. I know there is an argument of whether he deserves it or not, but he is by all accounts the best in this country by name so should be in. (if a brit gets in)

Edited by torpointfanatic22
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My 15 are as follows

1. Crump - will still win grand prixs

2. Gollob - will still win grand prixs

3. Emil - Will win Grand prixs

4. Hancock -will still spoil and get to finals

5. AJ - Can win Grand Prixs

6. Pedersen- will still win grand prixs

7. Holta - will still spoil and get to finals

8. Bjerre- will reach finals and maybe get a win if gates

9. Lindgren (if chosen) can reach finals and could win

10. Andersen (if chosen) Could still win Grand prixs

11. Zorro- will reach a couple of semis at the most

12. Holder- Will spoil like Emil this year

13.Hampel- PLenty of finals maybe a win

14. Zagar (if selected) could spoil for a couple of finals

15.Tai(??????)-who knows

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interesting discussion this one.

 

Well other than the top 8 and the qualifiers who we already know are in, my 4 w/c's would be

 

Hans and Freddie who for me are certs to be back. Personally if we are talking deserved then no Brits im afraid. I would go for 2 of Pepe, Zagar or Lindback.

 

Having said that the SGP authorities will have at least one Brit maybe even 2. In which case Hans and Freddie will be joined by Harris and Tai. Unless Tai turns it down. Harris gets it for me because he is British Champion. I know there is an argument of whether he deserves it or not, but he is by all accounts the best in this country by name so should be in. (if a brit gets in)

 

 

I too believe that they'll go with Hans and Freddie as well as the two Brits; Chris as British Champion, and Tai as young blood for the series.

 

I'm not saying this is right,in fact it clearly isn't on merit, just what i think they'll do.

 

On merit i'd have to say that sadly you could make a pretty good case for the inclusion of NO Brits.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There is absolutely no way Harris should get a wildcard. On merit? How do you work that out? He's been so far off the pace in nearly all the GPs, which is quite surprising, when you consider the quality of his machinery, the sponsors he has, and the man doing his engines. I have heard, from a swedish friend who has many contacts around the continent, that he is mighty fond of partying, which suggests to me his professionalism must be questioned, and whether he really has the right stuff to compete at this level. There are many others who deserve their chance before Harris gets another go at it. That includes a couple of youngsters, who have the fire in their bellies to really give the series the shot in the arm it so desperately needs. Ward, Woffinden, Zagar and Lindgren for me.

What I originally said was that I would like to see all riders who have won at least 1 GP being invited back who this year are the top 6 finishers. Add to these the next 4 and the top 5 finishers in the GP Challenge final who include one rider who has pre qualified giving the final place to the 6th best finalist who was Chris Harris. Simple really and only my thoughts on being fair allround. I know this won't happen because it is not the rules but I am just conveying my own personal wishes for how it ought to be done. This way everyone properly qualifies on merit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What I originally said was that I would like to see all riders who have won at least 1 GP being invited back who this year are the top 6 finishers. Add to these the next 4 and the top 5 finishers in the GP Challenge final who include one rider who has pre qualified giving the final place to the 6th best finalist who was Chris Harris. Simple really and only my thoughts on being fair allround. I know this won't happen because it is not the rules but I am just conveying my own personal wishes for how it ought to be done. This way everyone properly qualifies on merit.

 

I think 5 from one qualifying round is too many why not had 3 "GP Challenges" first two from each get a GP place.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I liked the old system they had in place whereas those outside the top 8 from that years series raced against those who'd qualified through from all the usual world championship rounds.....British,Nordic,Commonwealth etc......

You then had pretty much half the field qualifying, but it seemed a fair system.

 

Why did they have to tinker with it? Was it because if it was done this way a nation like Britain(just usung us as an example) could possibly be without representation at the following years series?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Privacy Policy