ladyluck Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 That does not make sense though, it is almost saying to a rider, don't worry, you don't have to perform to be guaranteed a place next season. Lots of things don't make much sense and I wouldn't be surprised if Woffinden was given assurances regarding next season. After all, when Nigel Pearson first mentioned "Wuffy for the GPs" his sidekick Kelvin Tatum was adamant that Woffinden had to be given a two year gig and not just thrown to the sharks for a season. Somebody always has to come last, but if Woffiden rode next season he'd be last again in what is shaping up to arguably be the strongest line-up GP has seen (in my opinion). Woffinden last even with Artem Laguta in the field? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted October 11, 2010 Report Share Posted October 11, 2010 After all, when Nigel Pearson first mentioned "Wuffy for the GPs" his sidekick Kelvin Tatum was adamant that Woffinden had to be given a two year gig and not just thrown to the sharks for a season. Woffinden last even with Artem Laguta in the field? A two year gig, as you put it, would be totally unprecedented and totally unfair on all other riders. Why should Tai be given such preferential treatment? For what it's worth I reckon Laguta will ruffle a few feathers next year. He may have the odd poor score, but will also win races. At least he qualified and didn't rely on a nomination to get him in (let alone a two year one!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirt Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 (edited) IMO he would do a bit better next year, but for the sport to not be a complete rabble, they cant give him another shot, until he qualifies. The riders trying to have a go, would be disparaged no end if Tai jumped the que again. Once was acceptable, twice unforgivable. If this was allowed to happen, I truly believe it would be the right time for someone to start a breakaway series, and sign riders up and run a legit series based on merit, facts and results. The conflicts of interest in the current GP setup is a total joke and a well run alternative would soon take over as the premier competition. Edited October 12, 2010 by dirt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wjm Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 That does not make sense though, it is almost saying to a rider, don't worry, you don't have to perform to be guaranteed a place next season. Many GP newbies have had average seasons, but shone through at times, Emil, Holder, and even Chris Harris did so perhaps deserved their second chances, but Tai has not really shown any glimpses of being good enough at all this season and nearly always looked off the pace. So whilst I hope he makes it back in a season or two, and shows what he is capable of, I don't think his performances justify a place next season. I think it makes perfect sense personally. I think the GP is a MASSIVE step for any rider I think it is a series that riders need to learn, it isn’t just about on track performance it is about finding a balance both on and off the track. Learning how to fit in a racing calendar and schedule, the demands of extra sponsors, managing where to be and when it is all pressure and tricks of the trade that the riders need to learn. Many riders have struggled in there early GP career, it didn’t happen right away for the likes of Adams and others. I can remember plenty riders struggling when they first stepped up to the GP. Woffinden is a bright young emerging talent, IMO for the GP to improve it does help if they offer a 2 year wild card to a young emerging talent and blood them into the Grand Prix series. To many capable riders have been in and out of the GP each season IF they were given a run at it I don’t doubt they would improve with the series. For what its worth for a first season GP rider, his age and what has went on his life this year I think he has done well enough to deserve a chance next season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyluck Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 (edited) I think the GP is a MASSIVE step for any rider. The step into the GPs is massive. The SWC just doesn't compare. In reality, the decision to nominate Woffinden for 2010 was nonsense, but the [british] alternatives weren't as acceptable as "Wuffy, Wuffy, Wuffy" and the similarly aged Emil Sayfutdinov had been a sensation in 2009. Who were the British alternatives? Nicholls, who had finished stone last in 2009, had finally had enough and ruled himself out before BSI did the ruling for him. Few fans really like Lee Richardson and he hadn't really covered himself in glory when he was in the GPs. Edward Kennett was mentioned, but the ridicule heaped upon that probably ended that one. On the back of Sayfutdinov's remarkable first season, Woffinden looked a decent choice (from a BSI perspective). The problem is, of course, that, as Darcy Ward has pointed out, Emil Sayfutdinov is a one-off and Sayfutdinov managed to congregate around him an established GP team, consisting of some that had worked with Tony Rickardsson. Edited October 12, 2010 by ladyluck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 Lots of things don't make much sense and I wouldn't be surprised if Woffinden was given assurances regarding next season. After all, when Nigel Pearson first mentioned "Wuffy for the GPs" his sidekick Kelvin Tatum was adamant that Woffinden had to be given a two year gig and not just thrown to the sharks for a season. since when has Sir Kelvin decided what happens within GP picks?...... just because he said something once it really doesnt mean a whole great deal...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladyluck Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 since when has Sir Kelvin decided what happens within GP picks?...... just because he said something once it really doesnt mean a whole great deal...... Most people tend to think Sky have leverage over BSI. Anyway, nothing I have read leads me to believe Woffinden thinks the decision is not in his hands. He talked after Terenzano of being "fifty-fifty" regarding doing the GPs next season. The Speedway Star, whose managing editor is part of the circus, never mentions Woffinden in their various nomination articles, while discussing freely the possible consequences of failure for Andersen and Jonsson. In addition, when has a British rider ever been left out after a single season? Richardson was given a few, Nicholls and Harris have enjoyed many. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samthepalaceman2 Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 You also have to look whether the GP's are financially viable for Tai, obviously I don't know whether he has made/lost money from his GP adventures this year but its something else to factor in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 You also have to look whether the GP's are financially viable for Tai, obviously I don't know whether he has made/lost money from his GP adventures this year but its something else to factor in. I think you will find that it is not financially viable to any of the riders in the GP's. Costs are massive and the income will never meet the expenditure. What the GP's do is to showcase the rider to get higher earnings in the bigger leagues. Remember both Hamill and Bjarne dropped out, if it paid they would have stayed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatDave Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 I think you will find that it is not financially viable to any of the riders in the GP's. Costs are massive and the income will never meet the expenditure. What the GP's do is to showcase the rider to get higher earnings in the bigger leagues. Remember both Hamill and Bjarne dropped out, if it paid they would have stayed. Don't forget - the more exposure at the highest level = more lucrative and better sponsorship as well'd have to put $Big Buck$ into your bank account. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryW Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 I think you will find that it is not financially viable to any of the riders in the GP's. Costs are massive and the income will never meet the expenditure. What the GP's do is to showcase the rider to get higher earnings in the bigger leagues. Remember both Hamill and Bjarne dropped out, if it paid they would have stayed. Billy and Bjarne dropped out? I think you need to check your facts. Both failed to qualify when they left the series. Billy was offered a place but chose not to take it, so you can have that one. He had a disaster with sponsors that failed to put up the cash promised. Bjarne you can certainly NOT have. He was kicked after his failure. If he wasn't interested he wouldn't have done the qualifiers after losing his place. Take a look at the income difference for Walasek and Ulamek from 2008 to 2009 and tell me the SGP doesn't pay... The payment from the FIM might not be a big deal, but the additional sponsorship from the TV coverage for those that can get it certainly makes a huge difference... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WIE-JA Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 Don't forget - the more exposure at the highest level = more lucrative and better sponsorship as well'd have to put $Big Buck$ into your bank account. you've just ruined the thread by posting sense! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted October 12, 2010 Report Share Posted October 12, 2010 Most people tend to think Sky have leverage over BSI. Anyway, nothing I have read leads me to believe Woffinden thinks the decision is not in his hands. He talked after Terenzano of being "fifty-fifty" regarding doing the GPs next season. The Speedway Star, whose managing editor is part of the circus, never mentions Woffinden in their various nomination articles, while discussing freely the possible consequences of failure for Andersen and Jonsson. In addition, when has a British rider ever been left out after a single season? Richardson was given a few, Nicholls and Harris have enjoyed many. that is quite a bold statement..... the vast majority of posts I see suggesting this come from you ladyluck........ I don't seem to be able to join the dots like you have tbh.... Kelvin doesnt run Sky or their speedway production.... and in turn Sky don't run IMG or are in a better position to know 'best'... although of course I am sure that they have collective influence... along with the Star and others in the entourage.... The Brits for sure have enjoyed chances but only on a few occasions could they have been described as off the pace of the top 8 and therefore not deserving of a wildcard...... Like Tom Haines I also checked through the hall of shame in the GP's yesterday and two things became obvious..... the Brits lead the way.... and only one rider has returned the following season after their shocking year... Bomber....which coincidentally was the worst and most unsubtle decision that IMG/BSI have made based on the previous season's results .... although was also a decision made about a guy who everyone knows (and has subsequently been proven) is capable of far greater things..... I'm not sure that the same can be said currently of Tai (16 rider format) Max 17 from 6 Cox 15 from 5 Lindback 31 from 10 Chrzanowski 29 from 9 Staechmann 23 from 6 Rico 39 from 10 Scott Nicholls 45 from 11 Lukas Dryml 47 from 11 Woffinden 49 from 11 Iversen 51 from 10 Zagar 54 from 11 Kasprzak 57 from 11 Harris 58 from 11 Iversen 59 from 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryW Posted October 13, 2010 Report Share Posted October 13, 2010 (16 rider format) Max 17 from 6 Cox 15 from 5 Lindback 31 from 10 Chrzanowski 29 from 9 Staechmann 23 from 6 Rico 39 from 10 Scott Nicholls 45 from 11 Lukas Dryml 47 from 11 Woffinden 49 from 11 Iversen 51 from 10 Zagar 54 from 11 Kasprzak 57 from 11 Harris 58 from 11 Iversen 59 from 11 I haven't tried to make sense of these figures....are they the riders that were "the worst" or was there more to it than that? If it was just down to "the worst", I appreciate you making an obvious omission from 2006, despite naming Rico who scored 8 more in the same season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatDave Posted October 13, 2010 Report Share Posted October 13, 2010 you've just ruined the thread by posting sense! .............and I don't care! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryW Posted October 13, 2010 Report Share Posted October 13, 2010 .............and I don't care! Lovely link.....but "The Damned" were still better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted October 13, 2010 Report Share Posted October 13, 2010 I haven't tried to make sense of these figures....are they the riders that were "the worst" or was there more to it than that? If it was just down to "the worst", I appreciate you making an obvious omission from 2006, despite naming Rico who scored 8 more in the same season yeah basically nothing more than a walk of shame list in a vague order of points divided by meetings just to show one perspective of Tai's season but lol I did completely have a blank on your mate Pepe and now after looking it seems he is worse than even Michael Max and is top of the table with 31 from 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryW Posted October 13, 2010 Report Share Posted October 13, 2010 but lol I did completely have a blank on your mate Pepe and now after looking it seems he is worse than even Michael Max and is top of the table with 31 from 11 Thankfully for the legend that is PePe, 2006 only had 10 rounds... However, if I remember rightly, he was a BSI pick for 2006, which sadly would probably make him the worst pick in the history of SGP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirt Posted October 13, 2010 Report Share Posted October 13, 2010 As much as it would be rewarding mediocrity in tai's case, and failing to concede they BSI made a mistake, I feel giving him another skid on the platter would make some riders fairly furious to put it nicely, and wouldnt want to be close to the likes of Schlein, Batchelor, numerous Poles, etc etc, when the news breaks as they will surely throw a mild hissy fit minimum. As they must now believe they are trying to fight an unwinnable battle. If Schlein or Batchelor, Stead, and other contenders dont spit chips about such a charitable gesture by BSI, but a stab in the back to them, I would be most surprised. Would it turn the circus into an absolute freak show...? IMO Yes it would. Would many riders be envyous or disgruntled with BSI? Of course. Would BSI be proven correct when Woffinden has a top 9 finish and justifies his charity pick? very doubtful? very very doubtful IMO. No brainer for mine. Harris to represent the GB flag, and Woffinden a possible replacement if Harris was unavailable through injury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullbore Posted October 13, 2010 Report Share Posted October 13, 2010 No brainer for mine. Harris to represent the GB flag, and Woffinden a possible replacement if Harris was unavailable through injury. If Tai's reported comments regarding him really being an Aussie are true then I don't think he should be considered for a pick in the "GB quota" Niamh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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