Sgp Challenge Final

[marcel]

Last I checked he was 2nd in the Polish league averages, 4th in the Swedish league ones, and reached the final in his only GP this season.

 

It's a bit harsh to say that he isn't ready. A rider from any other nation with those credentials would be an absolute guarantee for a pick.

enough said .. some people on here wouldnt know a class rider if it rode over them!

[Ghostwalker]

You miss the point - VERY likely he would not have had to ride in the run-off if he hadn't got an EF in his regular race.

 

on the contrary Mateusz , he would have ridden in a three rider run off for 1st-3rd place

if he had managed 3rd in his EF heat.

 

In the run off for third well Kolodziej rode very well but Freddie was so determined to hold on to that

1st place.

[HenryW]

on the contrary Mateusz , he would have ridden in a three rider run off for 1st-3rd place

if he had managed 3rd in his EF heat.

Nah, surely not.

If Kolodziej had scored a point there would have been no need for Antonio to have sat back and waved Zorro on to the front, so Lindback would have probably won heat 20 and the meeting

[ballinger]

in fact Scott is probably ahead of Bomber too.

 

As proven in this years British Final and the recent SWC (!)

 

IMO, the sooner all of these qualifications are scrapped in favour of an immediate qualification system the day before a GP the better.

[Authorised]

As proven in this years British Final and the recent SWC (!)

 

 

Yes, the British Final, but I think they split the SWC events? Looking at Scott in the British Averages in 4th, and Harris in 14th as of a few weeks ago, even behind Stead, Bomber´s consistency can be questionable.

 

Equally, I would disagree with TNT´s post that Tai is in front of both of them given his tough season. Would I put Nicholls back in the GPs? Not sure, if it needs Brits, then yes. He may not do well on the continent, but it will be considered an achievement to manage 10 to 11 consecutive seasons ending as a number 1 at Coventry, Ipswich and Eastbourne.

 

The only true test would have been for him to be in the qualification system this year. Be interesting to see if he wants to go for it next season.

[HenryW]

IMO, the sooner all of these qualifications are scrapped in favour of an immediate qualification system the day before a GP the better.

Care to explain what format you would like to see that take?

 

Looking at Scott in the British Averages in 4th, and Harris in 14th as of a few weeks ago, even behind Stead, Bomber´s consistency can be questionable.

Just a shame for Scott that no UK Elite League tracks are used in SGP, eh?

 

However, while comparing their placing in league averages....

 

In Sweden...Scott 51st (5.64), Chris 17th (8.00)

[Coventry_Bee]

I can't imagine that Scott wants to join the GP circus again, all it seems to do is be a drain on finances and confidence. When your main aim is to just get into the top 8 for the following season you must question what you are doing. Harris has had his chances and if they want a british rider in the gp's then Lee deserves another shot but on current form we have no rider who warrents a place on the world stage.

[Ghostwalker]

Care to explain what format you would like to see that take?

 

 

Just a shame for Scott that no UK Elite League tracks are used in SGP, eh?

 

However, while comparing their placing in league averages....

 

In Sweden...Scott 51st (5.64), Chris 17th (8.00)

 

 

Harris does not have 8.00

He started the season at 6.90 and have increased it to 7,08.

Nicholls started at 5.65 and now have 5,01

Richardson started at 7,72 and now have 7,23

Tai started at 6,63 and now have 5.21

Daniel King started at 5,92 and now have 4,92

Ben Barker started at 6,83 and now have 5,29

 

source speedway.nu

 

point statistics: http://www.aktuellspeedway.se/1.0.Jostu/index.php?list=leaguestats&id=1&s=2010

[spook]

Harris does not have 8.00

He started the season at 6.90 and have increased it to 7,08.

Nicholls started at 5.65 and now have 5,01

Richardson started at 7,72 and now have 7,23

Tai started at 6,63 and now have 5.21

Daniel King started at 5,92 and now have 4,92

Ben Barker started at 6,83 and now have 5,29

 

source speedway.nu

 

point statistics: http://www.aktuellspeedway.se/1.0.Jostu/index.php?list=leaguestats&id=1&s=2010

 

so the brits are doing us proud then

[ladyluck]

Equally, I would disagree with TNT´s post that Tai is in front of both of them given his tough season.

 

I wouldn't.

To drop Woffinden after this season would be an admission from BSI that they made a huge mistake in nominating him for this season and they don't take easily to that sort of thing. In view of this, I'd say that Woffinden is ahead of Harris and Nicholls. The only problem is that strange condition known as "second season syndrome".

[HenryW]

Harris does not have 8.00

He started the season at 6.90 and have increased it to 7,08.

I took my figures from a Polish site. They almost agree on the details for Harris with the site you linked to, but credit him with 1 less race and quote averages including bonus points.

 

If he has taken that extra race, his average is 7.90 including bonus points!

[tocha]

And now BSI are gonna give a charity wild card for Harris (5th time in a row?). Is he better than Kolodziej? No, he's not... but that's politics.

 

Its not politics, its SKY

[marcel]

I wouldn't.

To drop Woffinden after this season would be an admission from BSI that they made a huge mistake in nominating him for this season and they don't take easily to that sort of thing. In view of this, I'd say that Woffinden is ahead of Harris and Nicholls. The only problem is that strange condition known as "second season syndrome".

yes maybe but given the long long que of talent capable and waiting id say no. maybe in 2 -3 years time tai come back.im english and if im honest theres no english rider strong enough at moment to warrant being in this series. like zorro was considered being the underdog but even he imo has done better than the brits

[ladyluck]

yes maybe but given the long long que of talent capable and waiting id say no. maybe in 2 -3 years time tai come back.im english and if im honest theres no english rider strong enough at moment to warrant being in this series.

 

The worry has to be that BSI stick with Woffinden and he subsequently gets caught in the same spiral of failure that captured Nicholls and Harris. Nicholls was a rider with enormous promise, but continual nominations after failure led to a terrible waste of that promise. You get sucked into a delusion. Doing nothing much gets you back into the GPs year after year, so you do nothing very much. As I said earlier, contrast a Harris or a Nicholls with Rune Holta. Even Kelvin Tatum finally worked that one out, as he noted during the meeting on Monday. Harris has never qualified because he's never needed to qualify.

[spook]

but now lets get into the real world Marcel

 

whether we like them or not ... the facts are that BSI/IMG have consistently on an annual basis given the brits wildcards.... to the degree where they have embarrassed themselves on a couple of occasions now

 

so we can assume that this mission of IMG's isnt just going to evaporate overnight??.... I think it is safe to say that no matter what we post or posture with there will be at least one Brit in the championship next season

 

The good news though is that IMG are under more pressure than they have ever been under to weaken the Brit representation down to just one.....and I think it is going to happen.... can they really bring Tai back over Greg or Kolodziej (AJ, Hans or Nicki)? ...... there never has been any investment into Tai despite what others will have you believe..... just a very premature and naive wildcard that has been proven as such............... the only chance for two brits is if someone gets on the sherry and decides that Nicholls will come good this time (ie learn hows to gate, watches the lines that everyone else takes, has good machinery, and a professional setup and approach for the entire season)

 

 

Its racing like tonight that reminds us that its a poor era for the British rider but we do still have one guy who belongs in the company...... and maybe the blessing and improvement for next season's championship is that its more obvious than ever that we do just literally have one

[HenryW]

whether we like them or not ... the facts are that BSI/IMG have consistently on an annual basis given the brits wildcards.... to the degree where they have embarrassed themselves on a couple of occasions now

I know it's a little off topic, but looking at the current state of Brits in the SGP, how amazing is it that back in 1999, just 1 year before his title, with 22 permanent riders rather than just 15...Mark Loram DIDN'T get a regular place in the series because there were already 3 Brits in there...

 

Oh how times have changed...

[tocha]

The sooner we accept that Britain is no longer an elite speedway nation the better. The reason is quite valid. There are too many other high profile sports in this country to compete against. Poland claims Speedway to be their no.1 sport. I suspect, in reality, it is on par, or just second to football. In all probability, it is the same situation in Denmark. Whatever, they are high profile sports in their respective countries. They don't have to compete against other major events. In other words, I don't see them involved in world class cricket, rugby, tennis, golf, or staging top league PL football or being the mainstay of formula one etc. Without doing any detailed research, I doubt that it ranks within the top 30 sports in the UK and is, to all intents and purposes and, despite the efforts of SKY SPORTS, a forgotten sport. I cannot help but notice that most young British riders entering the sport are only there through junior grasstrack, because their dads used to ride, or both. Because Speedway is marketed poorly, why would anyone think of becoming a rider if they do not know of its existence! (This does not excuse, of course, the continuous influx of Australians who succeed for no other reason than being Australian and who take to sport like ducks to water!).

[ladyluck]

I cannot help but notice that most young British riders entering the sport are only there through junior grasstrack, because their dads used to ride, or both.

 

To be fair, if you look back into the history of Polish speedway you find a lot of familiar names. A lot of the current Polish riders are carrying on a family tradition.

[spook]

I know it's a little off topic, but looking at the current state of Brits in the SGP, how amazing is it that back in 1999, just 1 year before his title, with 22 permanent riders rather than just 15...Mark Loram DIDN'T get a regular place in the series because there were already 3 Brits in there...

 

Oh how times have changed...

 

it almost makes it look like the decline has only taken place during the last decade!...... I just had to check 99 as the alzheimers is kicking in these days..... Screen and Louis were hot property in those days ...along with Andy Smith honing his limpet impression .. numbers of swedish riders had become out of control though which probably had more to do with it

 

I'd love to hear a get together of our last decent generation (Loram, Screen, Louis, Tatum) to see what they have to say about it all and what they think the differences are between now and then

[ballinger]

Care to explain what format you would like to see that take?

 

Happily Henry, the semi finalists from one GP automatically start in the next GP, the remaining 7 (excluding the local wildcard) have to pre-qualify along with 7 others and 2 local nominations. Top 5 from pre-qualifying start in the GP along with 2 BSI picks, and 1 local wild card.

 

Pre-qualifying to be staged on the Friday, on a secondary track, the 7 others paying an entry fee to compete, the entry fee to be no more than 50% of the prize money for 16th place in the GP.