Should There Be A British Rider In The 2012 Grand Prix Series?

[mothorsen]

No. Not only based on nationality, which seems to be the case this year. Pedersen is also having his second crap season, and should not rest comfortably on his 3xWC. Britain will have to rely on GP wild cards next year, and perhaps next year someone will qualify through the challenge. People are slagging of Bjarne and PePe, but they won it fair and square. As for Ward, I hope he'll make it work should he get picked out, but look at Kolodziej, he's not having the season of his carrer, is he? He looked like a rocket last year, but have done so-so in the GP.

But picking out riders on nationality is wrong, wrong, wrong.

[ImpartialOne]

No. Not only based on nationality, which seems to be the case this year. Pedersen is also having his second crap season, and should not rest comfortably on his 3xWC. Britain will have to rely on GP wild cards next year, and perhaps next year someone will qualify through the challenge. People are slagging of Bjarne and PePe, but they won it fair and square. As for Ward, I hope he'll make it work should he get picked out, but look at Kolodziej, he's not having the season of his carrer, is he? He looked like a rocket last year, but have done so-so in the GP.

But picking out riders on nationality is wrong, wrong, wrong.

Kolodziej has had injured kidneys all year hence his absence last night and I would guess his poor form all series.

 

You basically echoed my points on Nicki though. He should have to qualify like the rest now.

[Marmite]

I am a huge Harris fan for his racing style, and on his day (given the right track) he can match anyone, but last night showed that in general he is not consistent enough and therefore I think it would be hard to give him a wildcard. I would love to see him take a season out of the GP and then qualify on his own merit for 2013 and come back refreshed.

[screm]

I am a huge Harris fan for his racing style, and on his day (given the right track) he can match anyone, but last night showed that in general he is not consistent enough and therefore I think it would be hard to give him a wildcard. I would love to see him take a season out of the GP and then qualify on his own merit for 2013 and come back refreshed.

Do you really think Harris is capable of getting to the GPs through the qualifiers.

 

As a top GP rider he should be able to adapt to any track conditions,which he obviously cant.

[Marmite]

Do you really think Harris is capable of getting to the GPs through the qualifiers.

 

 

That's my point, if he qualifies then he will be worthy of his place in the GP's for 2013.

[home straight]

I just can't see how a British rider in next years series can be justified. Harris is the best British rider and he's just not good enough. I see people are mention giving Ben Barker a go. With all due respect, the fact we're even considering Barker shows how low the standard is.

Edited August 28, 2011 by home straight

[ImpartialOne]

I am a huge Harris fan for his racing style, and on his day (given the right track) he can match anyone, but last night showed that in general he is not consistent enough

He was actually the most consistent rider on show last night.

[screm]

That's my point, if he qualifies then he will be worthy of his place in the GP's for 2013.

My point is I dont think he is capable of making the GPs through the qualifiers.He did make a decent fist of the latter GPs last year and you wouldve thought he wouldve kicked on this time round,but he has gone backwards.

[Fromafar]

There are NO Brits good enough to be given a Wildcard IMO.Chances of any qualifing through GP Challenge in the near future look slim.

[screm]

There are NO Brits good enough to be given a Wildcard IMO.Chances of any qualifing through GP Challenge in the near future look slim.

Sadly I agree with you,theres just nobody good enough at present,and that is a sad state of affairs of speedway in this country.

[norbold]

 

The best way of sorting out riders for next years grand prix is to give those that miss out on the top 8 a chance to compete with those that missed out on the GP qualifier a chance to re-qualify by a meaningful meeting.

 

Of course, they used to have nos 9-16 in the previous year's Grand Prix racing against the top qualifiers in the Grand Prix Challenge for the final places in the Grand Prix line up, but they had to stop that because Andy Smith kept qualifying through this method!

[Gemini]

That used to be really funny. I think the only way they would have stopped Andy from qualifying every year would have been to kidnap him and tie him up somewhere miles away from the track.

[Rebelfan]

I think we need to answer the question:

 

Why would any Brit want to become a full time professional speedway rider?

 

Can it support a family, pay bills and pay a mortgage? Until it can where is the incentive?

 

Britain actually does a lot for world speedway... but not for Brits. We bring on young Danes, Swedes, Poles and most of all Australians. So yes I think for that a Brit does deserve a place in the GP's in the current format. If it was done through proper qualifying rounds, like the old one off final, then I can't see a Brit getting through.

 

A mortgage should not be a consideration for a speedway rider, the problem is they are not hungry enough, or maybe just not good enough e.g. Kennet, Bridger

[home straight]

A mortgage should not be a consideration for a speedway rider

 

Yeah, they love living on the streets.

[richiej95]

Don't think a Brit should be in the series next year, but if the BSI do feel there should be one then for me it has to be Woffinden. Harris has shown year on year he isn't really up to standard and at least Tai is young and very talented and has the potential to be a World Championship contender in year's to come.

[BigFatDave]

Pretty naff response I must say, the issue is not to do with gate receipts its is how the sport is being run - the lack of British riders isn't to do with a lack of funds

 

I will congratulate you however on you being able to unearth some British talent in that Australian Speedway Academy on the south coast!

RF, if people such as yourself don't attend Speedway and even go so far as to boast about it, then where's the money going to come from to develop Juniors? No money = no developement of juniors; of course it's all to do with funding - there is no Magic Pudding.

As far as I know ALL the Australians who've ridden for Poole have been fully trained and capable of winning at the top level, due to their lengthy apprenticeship as juniors in Oz, entirely financed by themselves and their parents and sponsors, so your gratuitous gibe doesn't hold any water, I'm afraid.

Edited August 28, 2011 by BigFatDave

[The White Knight]

Once again a Debate that NEVER took place when you had to QUALIFY for the World Final.

 

GIVING somebody a place for ANY reason is MORALLY wrong and cannot be justified in any Sport.

 

This 'we must get the best Riders in the G.P's' makes me sick. A CONTRIVED System that ends up with a CONTRIVED World Champion.

 

Top EIGHT automatically Qualify the Rules say - no they don't - they are GIVEN a place the following year. For those who say that they 'qualified' by getting in to the 'top eight' I would say - they got in to the Top eight THIS year. THAT has absolutely NOTHING to do with NEXT year.

 

B****y FARCE if you ask me.

[Trees]

Perhaps it all depends on whether BSI's british sponsors want a brit in ...........

[BigFatDave]

Perhaps it all depends on whether BSI's british sponsors want a brit in ...........

Hit the nail on the head, Trees.

[WIE-JA]

It's about time British riders were banned from competing in all levels of speedway. They are a constant disappointment to fans. Take Ben Barker. He's been talked of for years as a Grand Prix rider but hasn't made it yet. How many people has he let down? Disgusting!!! How many young Danes have been talked about as the next Nikki Pedersen but haven't made an impact? Ban them as well.