T.N.T. Posted June 6, 2010 Report Share Posted June 6, 2010 So far in the 2010 GP Series, only Tomasz Gollob of the older brigade has really shown up while defending Champion, Jason Crump (Age 34) struggles to make Semi Finals, Nicki Pedersen is being passed and missing the cut, while Greg Hancock is looking well off the pace and slower from the gate. Is this old age catching up with them or simply as Sky TV commented, The Changing Of The Guard ? Jaroslaw Hampel (Age 28) leads the series after winning in Copenhagen, 3rd in Czecho and 2nd in Poland for the European Final. On 60 points he is 5 points clear of Czecho winner, Kenneth Bjerre (Age 26) who has been brilliant in every round so far. Gollob is back in third on 54 points but there is then an eleven point gap to Jason Crump and Andreas Jonsson (Age 29) who at least in the last two GP's has looked excellent and one of the quickest around and on current form looks the most likely to challenge the present top three, all of whom have yet to be crowned World Champion ! Nicki Pedersen (Age 33) looks a remote distance from the rider that has lifted three world titles and when he is struggling to score a hand full of points then the younger riders are stepping in to fill the gaps. With Chris Holder (Age 22) looking fast, Emil Sayfutdinov (AGE 20) already shown last season ewhat he can do and Fredrik Lindgren (Age 24) who keeps completing 4 riders each GP and missing the cut, is surely going to get higher in the rankings as the season goes on. Tai Woffinden (Age 20) is starting to show signs of mixing it with the best and in Denmark beat Crump, Pedersen and Gollob in one race with ease and with the lack of British World Class riders, he will surely get a nomination next year if he continues to improve. Notice also that young Emil's injury forced him to miss last nights GP and was replaced by a 35 year-old ...... who failed to score !! Although there is only FOUR rounds gone, some things are looking odds on with the bookies 1 ~ The Winner of the World Title in 2010 will be a first time winner ! 2 ~ At least one present rider over the age of 30 will miss the 2011 Series ! 3 ~ Chances are a former World Champion in the series now may be missing the 2011 Series ! 4 ~ After 2 continous years of a 19 year-old recieving a Wild Card nomination, chances are another teenager will be drafted in next year too ! 5 ~ After 37 years of waiting ..... Poland could have a World Champion once more ! Here is to the next decade of Hampel, Bjerre, Jonsson, Lindgren, Holder, Sayfutdinov, Woffinden and prospects like Ward, Janowski etc coming into the Series and form The Changing Of The Guard !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyMadTom Posted June 6, 2010 Report Share Posted June 6, 2010 Excellent post and sounds spot on, BUT you never know the likes of Crump,Pedersen and even Hancock could wake up and make it even more of a classic season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie b Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 Said on Sky the other day that Crump wasn't expecting to be back to full fitness until June. As we are only just into June and he is only eleven points behind don't write him off yet. Did not see Saturdays GP, but his body language up till now has not been one of frustration but one of recognition of the situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 Really would be sad if Hampel wins this season.He is not in Gollobs league really and would go down as one of the worst World Champs ever imo.Isn't a shock that Crump has croaked.He always seems to after winning the title.But it is a major shock for me that Nicki is performing so badly.Not only in the GPs,but look at his score in the first leg of the Danish Final!!!!Changed tuner before the last GP,but goes from bad to worse.Maybe he is missing JJ in the pits? All for the youngsters coming through and winning this year,just please not Jarek.Kenneth,Chris H and Emil(though it isn't going to happen now....)would all make World Champs that could go on and win a few more titles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 Really would be sad if Hampel wins this season.He is not in Gollobs league really and would go down as one of the worst World Champs ever imo.Isn't a shock that Crump has croaked.He always seems to after winning the title.But it is a major shock for me that Nicki is performing so badly.Not only in the GPs,but look at his score in the first leg of the Danish Final!!!!Changed tuner before the last GP,but goes from bad to worse.Maybe he is missing JJ in the pits? All for the youngsters coming through and winning this year,just please not Jarek.Kenneth,Chris H and Emil(though it isn't going to happen now....)would all make World Champs that could go on and win a few more titles I disagree! Hampel is a class act IMO and will be around at the top for a while IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 Really would be sad if Hampel wins this season.He is not in Gollobs league really and would go down as one of the worst World Champs ever imo.Isn't a shock that Crump has croaked.He always seems to after winning the title.But it is a major shock for me that Nicki is performing so badly.Not only in the GPs,but look at his score in the first leg of the Danish Final!!!!Changed tuner before the last GP,but goes from bad to worse.Maybe he is missing JJ in the pits? All for the youngsters coming through and winning this year,just please not Jarek.Kenneth,Chris H and Emil(though it isn't going to happen now....)would all make World Champs that could go on and win a few more titles I disagree! Hampel is a class act IMO and will be around at the top for a while IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Shovlar Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 Really would be sad if Hampel wins this season.He is not in Gollobs league really and would go down as one of the worst World Champs ever imo.Isn't a shock that Crump has croaked.He always seems to after winning the title.But it is a major shock for me that Nicki is performing so badly.Not only in the GPs,but look at his score in the first leg of the Danish Final!!!!Changed tuner before the last GP,but goes from bad to worse.Maybe he is missing JJ in the pits? All for the youngsters coming through and winning this year,just please not Jarek.Kenneth,Chris H and Emil(though it isn't going to happen now....)would all make World Champs that could go on and win a few more titles My god we agree on something! I also think Hampel would makeWorld champion. I also think the muchkin would as well, though i rate him slightly above Hampel. The old guard is certaily changing, and about time too. Adams has gone, Crump and gollob will be going soon as well, and Hancock should have gone when Adams called it quits. New, young blood not afraid to race, but perhaps don't have the financial backing of the old boys who have stayed at the top of the game through being financially sound and who could afford the best of the best in their corner. Emil, Noddy, Darcy, Tai, this is what is needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 (edited) Really would be sad if Hampel wins this season.He is not in Gollobs league really and would go down as one of the worst World Champs ever imo.Isn't a shock that Crump has croaked.He always seems to after winning the title.But it is a major shock for me that Nicki is performing so badly.Not only in the GPs,but look at his score in the first leg of the Danish Final!!!!Changed tuner before the last GP,but goes from bad to worse.Maybe he is missing JJ in the pits? All for the youngsters coming through and winning this year,just please not Jarek.Kenneth,Chris H and Emil(though it isn't going to happen now....)would all make World Champs that could go on and win a few more titles Can't be a bad champion if you win over a season and this many rounds ....if he were to win this season i can't see a reason why he's can't win another as at the moment he top of the table on merit . Edited June 8, 2010 by orion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 Can't be a bad champion if you win over a season and this many rounds .... Depends on how you look at it.Imo Nicki and Jason are way off their normal standard and Emil hadn't improved on last year,in fact i would say he had also dropped off.So for me that means to win the series a rider probably won't have to ride at such a great level that previous champs have had to race over the past few years.Imo,if Hampel wins he will just be fortunate to be in the right place at the right time with the right amount of experience as the old guard drop away and the youngsters who will dominate over the next few years haven't gathered enough experience at the mo.And it is my personal opinion,but Hampel is no where near the rider Gollob was and will never be as far as i can see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 We are only 4 rounds into the season and Crump has won one GP. Cant say he's not going to come back strong in the next 7 as he is still winning races. If Hampel or Bjerre are champion after 11 rounds they deserve the title as you dont get lucky over a season. Gollob has failed because he is inconsistant and always throws in a terrible GP or two. Cardiff will be his big one. Nikki P looks slow but is somehow still 7th so he will be involved when he gets his bikes sorted shaping up to be best and closest season with anyone in top 8 able to win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orion Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 If Hampel or Bjerre are champion after 11 rounds they deserve the title as you dont get lucky over a season. Gollob has failed because he is inconsistant and always throws in a terrible GP or two. Cardiff will be his big one. Yep that how i see it ,at the moment weather certain riders are below form there can be no doubt that Hampel and Bjerre are in the form of there lives ...i can't see no reason if they they keep this form that not only they would be worthy champions but also make a good fist of staying at the top . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwalker Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 I think it good to see that there are other riders then "The old usual" that are at the top of the leaderboard and more important the last couple of years the title was almost decided already by this time of the season. I think now that Jarek got his first victory, i think he can ride a bit more "relaxed" in the later stages of the GPs since the mental pressure on him to win his first gp is gone. Anyway i hope that someone of the current top 3 will take the title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprog1 Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 Depends on how you look at it.Imo Nicki and Jason are way off their normal standard and Emil hadn't improved on last year,in fact i would say he had also dropped off.So for me that means to win the series a rider probably won't have to ride at such a great level that previous champs have had to race over the past few years.Imo,if Hampel wins he will just be fortunate to be in the right place at the right time with the right amount of experience as the old guard drop away and the youngsters who will dominate over the next few years haven't gathered enough experience at the mo.And it is my personal opinion,but Hampel is no where near the rider Gollob was and will never be as far as i can see Not sure I agree with you there. When great riders are slipping from the top its always difficult to accept that the younger ones are as good but Hampel has been knocking at the door for a long time and maybe he really has just got his act together this time. He is just at the right age for a perfect blend of youth and experience. It is interesting though, that in general those who had to qualify the hard way seem to be doing better than those who were gifted a place. If those who were given permanent wild cards don't make the top eight they should be chopped out and made to qualify next year. Nobody would have given Bjerre or Hampel a wild card if they had not also been genuine qualifiers but look at them now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.N.T. Posted June 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 With a possible 27 points available in each GP, a few big scores could turn around quite a few riders chances this year as out of a possible 108 points the current leader has just 60 points so far and a 20+ haul from Holder, Lindgren, Hancock etc will be back in the frame. With 3 Polish GP's I think the title this year will go to a new Champion from Hampel, Gollob and Jonsson. Certainly think Woffinden, Lindgren, Holder and Emil have to be included next season even if they miss the cut as the current line up is not too far off the top 15 in the world at present with possibly one or two exceptions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rico Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 With a possible 27 points available in each GP, a few big scores could turn around quite a few riders chances this year as out of a possible 108 points the current leader has just 60 points so far and a 20+ haul from Holder, Lindgren, Hancock etc will be back in the frame. With 3 Polish GP's I think the title this year will go to a new Champion from Hampel, Gollob and Jonsson. Certainly think Woffinden, Lindgren, Holder and Emil have to be included next season even if they miss the cut as the current line up is not too far off the top 15 in the world at present with possibly one or two exceptions. 3+3+3+3+3 = 15 + 3 = 18 + 6 = 24. 24 X 4 = 96. Rico Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprog1 Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 Certainly think Woffinden, Lindgren, Holder and Emil have to be included next season even if they miss the cut as the current line up is not too far off the top 15 in the world at present with possibly one or two exceptions. The problem there is leapfrogging. If for the sake of argument they were to finish in the order they are now in, with Zorro 9th, do you kick Zorro out but let Lindgren, currently 14th, have another year ? Greg is currently 13 th, so do you let a rider of his stature go out after an impeccable career but keep someone else just because they are younger ? On the other hand if Greg is put back next yeat what do you do with Zorro if he were to stay ahead of Greg. With Nicki currently languishing in 7th what would you do if he were to slip the 9th ? How could you put him out and let Chris Harris go through. I agree there should be exceptions in the case of riders like Emil who have time out due to injury and maybe he should then be assessed on the basis of his average points per GP ridden but if a rider is outside the top 8 for the whole season I don't see case for seeding him through the following year unless he quallifies either by staying in the top 8 or top 10 max, or by doing the qualifying rounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted June 10, 2010 Report Share Posted June 10, 2010 Depends on how you look at it.Imo Nicki and Jason are way off their normal standard and Emil hadn't improved on last year,in fact i would say he had also dropped off.So for me that means to win the series a rider probably won't have to ride at such a great level that previous champs have had to race over the past few years.Imo,if Hampel wins he will just be fortunate to be in the right place at the right time with the right amount of experience as the old guard drop away and the youngsters who will dominate over the next few years haven't gathered enough experience at the mo.And it is my personal opinion,but Hampel is no where near the rider Gollob was and will never be as far as i can see The Question is can Jason & Nicky return to their top notch standard,because IMO they will have too if want to be Champ again . Emil,Holder,Hampel Lingren& Bjerre for example are not going to fade away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted June 10, 2010 Report Share Posted June 10, 2010 has anything official been said about Emil's absense. A broken upper arm could be 3 months given the strength required to ride a bike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwalker Posted June 10, 2010 Report Share Posted June 10, 2010 (edited) has anything official been said about Emil's absense. A broken upper arm could be 3 months given the strength required to ride a bike i think i read that he would be absent for at least two months. IMO neither Freddie Lindgren or Chris Harris should be awarded a WC if they misses out on top 8 and the same goes for Harris Both have had many chances to qualify for top 8 but have failed each time so if they're not top 8 or in via qualies they shouldn't be in for 2011. They cant rely of a WC year after year like Nicholls did. Edited June 10, 2010 by Ghostwalker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted June 11, 2010 Report Share Posted June 11, 2010 Both have had many chances to qualify for top 8 but have failed each time so if they're not top 8 or in via qualies they shouldn't be in for 2011. They cant rely of a WC year after year like Nicholls did. how many wild cards did Nicholls get. Thought he qualified as top 8 a few times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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