The Horns Of A Dilemma

[Sprog1]

Now that Chris Holder has announced his intention to do the GP qulalifiers this year it seems to leave a dilemma for Anderson, Lindgren. Woffinden and Harris, all of whom had to rely on being given wild cards for this years GP's. The dilemma is this:-

 

1 Should they throw all their eggs in one basket and rely on getting into the top 8 or should they take on the extra pressure of doing the qulifiers which may detract from their focus on the GP's themselves ?

 

2. If they don't do the qualifiers and don't reach the top 8 should any of them be given another wild card next year ?

 

3. What if they do compete in the qualifiers but don't get through on merit, should they be seeded through anyway? How many chances should they get ?

 

4 We are told that Harris will not get another wild card next year if he doesn't get through on merit this year, but what if any of the others finish behind him. Should they be given another chance if Bomber goes out ?

 

Personally I don't think any rider should be given consecutive wild cards if they don't get through on merit and if any of them fail to qulalify on merit they should go out for a season, but that is not how Sky see it.

How can it be fair on riders like Holder, a genuine qualifier this year, who has the drive and determination to do the qualifiers, if any of the wild cards get another free ticket. What do you think ?

[MattyHart]

I agree with you on your last point. If a rider is given a wildcard and doesn't qualify through the top 8 or through the Qualis. I don't believe they should be taken into consideration for the next years WC spots. Unless of course, circumstances went against them perhaps? Ie. Injuries.

[superguest]

4 We are told that Harris will not get another wild card next year if he doesn't get through on merit this year, but what if any of the others finish behind him. Should they be given another chance if Bomber goes out ?

 

Personally I don't think any rider should be given consecutive wild cards if they don't get through on merit and if any of them fail to qulalify on merit they should go out for a season, but that is not how Sky see it.

How can it be fair on riders like Holder, a genuine qualifier this year, who has the drive and determination to do the qualifiers, if any of the wild cards get another free ticket. What do you think ?

 

The problem is 7 riders will always 'fail'. If Hans finishes in 9th place in 2010, he is still better than anyone else, but people say 'why should he be given another wild card'. The system is flawed, it makes you think they've failed but really in reality they are the best on offer. OK maybe Harris and Nicholls aren't but thats an entirely different story.

Edited February 2, 2010 by superguest

[westhamboy66]

I think the wild cards should be cut down to a maximum of two. Fine if a top rider who has been in the top eight year after year has a bad season or injury ok but some riders (especially the British ones) could easily become career wild cards. When Our supposed No1 fails to qualify on his home track for this years GP's there is no way he should expect a wild card. I look forward to Tai Woffindens inclusion this year as he has earned his chance and will give it 100% rather than go through the motions.

Qualification is the name of the game and as such the likes of Chris Holder should enter the qualification rounds rather than rely on a wildcard.

Thats why as far as i am concerned fair play to Magnus Zeterstrom and I hope he does himself justice

[Sotonian]

I look forward to Tai Woffindens inclusion this year as he has earned his chance

Qualification is the name of the game and as such the likes of Chris Holder should enter the qualification rounds rather than rely on a wildcard.

Two conflicting statements there. In what way has Tai earned his place?

[Deano]

Just my opinion, but I think the only rider that should be guaranteed a place is the current world champion. Everyone else should qualify on merit through a series of knock out rounds the previous season. Might keep the one off world final fans a bit happier too.

[bigcatdiary]

Just my opinion, but I think the only rider that should be guaranteed a place is the current world champion. Everyone else should qualify on merit through a series of knock out rounds the previous season. Might keep the one off world final fans a bit happier too.

 

 

I would keep the top 8 but make everyone else qualify, if you take the chance and dont do the qualifiers and then dont get into the top 8 tough.

 

Its hard but a fair way to everyone, one wildcard is enough.

[Ghostwalker]

I would keep the top 8 but make everyone else qualify, if you take the chance and dont do the qualifiers and then dont get into the top 8 tough.

 

Its hard but a fair way to everyone, one wildcard is enough.

 

body { background: #FFFFFF; margin: 0px; padding: 4px; font-family: Verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; } What if a rider, who have entered the Qualification progress gets injured in a qualification semifinal?

Because of the injury he misses out on advancing to GP challenge and also fails to reach top 8 in the GP standings.

 

Another question is if there are room for all 15 riders in the qualification progress?

As they all have to enter the qualis since they cant know , when the season starts, if they will be top 8

at the end of the GP season.

Or should they have an extra end of season challenge for the 9-15th placed rider + the top 9 from the gp challenge?

 

Perhaps for a start they should be more restrictive to who they hand out WCs?

Maybe a rider should'nt be able to have one two years in a row unless he is a rider who meets the criteria above

for being inside top 8+ enters the qualis but gets injured and misses out on both top8 + GPC?

 

I Agree that riders (like Freddie and Harris and Nicholls in recent years) shouldn't be able to rely on WCs several years in a row

but remember that Emil S was a Wild Card rider last season.

 

So i thinks its nothing wrong with the system but rather the way the system is used?

Edited February 18, 2010 by Ghostwalker

[Dexter]

Re-introducing GP Challenge could be a solution to it. Top 8 stays in GP, the other 7 has to battle in that meeting against 9 other riders who successfully went through qualifiers. Of course, that could always lead to Andy Smith syndrome who fell off GP every year and then got through GP Challenge. Let's say the top 6 would advance and 1 permanent wild card would be given out.

[pandorum]

You are all forgetting that Speedway GP is run as a business.

Those running it do it to make money and are not likely to allow a lot of riders who don't enhance the product to earn qualification through some series of qualifying rounds like we had in the old days.

Earning a place in the GP has nothing at all to do with it.

If they believe X Y or Z will bring in some new audience or sponsor then X Y or Z will be given a pick.

Anyone who believes that the organisers want riders like Zorro in there is a bit naive.

Guys like Woofy and Holder and Darcy and Emil will always be given a leg up if they fail to reach the top 8.

Thats why they have a reign on the number who can qualify via racing. The top 8 usually will be be TV/sponsor/audience friendly and they will add a handful of the most glamourous candidates to that and allow the rest to crawl in and fill up the minor placings.

If a top guy decides to do the qualifiers and get in then one more pick for the guys in charge if not then a pick will do.

Its about enhancing the whole product nowadays and if I was running the show I would do exactly the same but have even less qualifiers than there are now if even any at all