Gp In Auckland 2012

[tellboy]

Disappointed to have missed a portion of the meeting after sky + ing the meeting... including the Semi Finals due to Sky buggering it up

Don't think Sky buggered up it was ok for me.If you noticed Sports 1 had it down from 4-6 and 6-7 like two seperate programmes.

Anyway pretty good GP to start the season with Sayfutdinov and Lindback being my riders of the night.

[Blazeaway]

A very good GP Nicki somehow getting third despite not looking particularly quick. The Russian nutjob proving once again he's a liability. Lindback looked super fast but stuffed up his semi.

 

I thought it was gonna be a borefest after the first four heats but it turned out a very enjoyable GP in the end.

[LagutaRacingFan]

Bunyan beats Bjerre. Sums up why Bjerre is nothing but a gating tart.

 

Oh dear. one point kenny cant even beat a Coventry reserve. How the mighty fall.

 

1. How many points did Holder score?

2. Who went flying past Freddie Lindgren on a track that didn't conduct racing

 

Enjoy.

[5 FURROW]

A very good GP Nicki somehow getting third despite not looking particularly quick. The Russian nutjob proving once again he's a liability. Lindback looked super fast but stuffed up his semi.

 

I thought it was gonna be a borefest after the first four heats but it turned out a very enjoyable GP in the end.

Don't know what you were watching but as you quote the Russian nutjob did hit the hole on the third bend which caused him to hit Niki or is it that you require specsavers

[Fingersfin]

Enjoyed that, some cracking heats and what a crowd, local promotion must of worked their socks off to get that crowd, in (nowadays) a speedway back water.

 

A wee change to hear clapping and cheering rather than the airhorn.

[DutchGrasstrack]

What a day! Brilliant weather, massive crowd and overall good racing. Gotta say that it wasn't Emil his fault that he crashed into Nicki. He hit the rut on bend 3 and had nowhere to go... after the crash they also did some work on bend 3

 

Here are my photo's from today:

http://baansportfansite.nl/nieuws/99/hancock-wint-eerste-gp-.html

 

See ya in Leszno!

[frigbo]

Well my Sky + buggered up and I only got as far as heat 16. The majority of what I saw was a complete borefest, but it seems like I missed most of the best bits??

 

At least I didn't have to suffer the sight of Hancock winning again and that 'All American' fake grin of his - so not all bad.

[Gavan]

Nothing to change my opinion that Hampel will be world champion. Had bike troubles and wasnt really on the pace but scraped second but saying that Greg was awesome could be a good season. Good to see Gollob going well too

[keef]

Well done to Greg...and Lindback. First 3 pretty much as expected. Hans and Harris not disgraced, surprisingly finishing above Holder Jonsson and Bjerre, who were disappointing. Would have liked to have seen Wardy, Protosserwiecz, Schwein, or Bratch instead of Lung and Bunion. Roll on August and Cardiff.

[Brummie Kev]

Surprised people had problems with Sky Plus, as it was absolutley fine for me. The first programme ended right in the middle of the Hans Andersen interview. However I thought it was fantastic that when the next programme started it started about 3minutes BEFORE the Hans Andersen interview so you missed nothing. Also it carried on recording right to the end and didnt cut off at 7. So fair play Sky Sports.

 

After a slow start, I thought it was a really enjoyable Grand Prix. Some of the racing in the second half was very good I thought. It exceeded my expectations as I thought we wouldnt see alot of passing on a new track. There looked to be an excellent crowd, made up of alot of Aussies, some Poles and Swedes and I suspect quite a few Kiwi's.

 

Delighted Greg won, what a way to start in the defence of the title. Good to see Nicki in the top 3, he had a very lucky escape when Emil took him out. For me you have got to say it was down to the brilliance of Greg, that Nicki wasnt run over. Hampel I think is in for a good year, next Gp at Leszno should be good for him to.

 

Lindback for me was outstanding but sadly couldnt do it in the semis. The same with Gollob, he could have easily won today considering how dominant he looked. Decent return for Bjarne in just missing out on the semis. Bunyan deserved his point, he gave it his best shot but was always going to struggle in that field. Fair play to him

 

Some poor performances around, AJ was one of them, perhaps he should have done a few meetings in Britain. Poor from Bjerre too, suffered bad with bike trouble. Difficult meeting for Bomber, think once again its going to struggle for him this yaer. Chris Holder was my tip for the GP, so a bit of a shock he didnt do well. Although he has become a dad so perhaps that affected him a bit. Congratualtions Chris on that

 

So all in all a massive success in my opinion, Bill Buckley deserves alot of credit for bringing the GP series to New Zealand. Hopefully this leads to the GP series being a regular feature in New Zealand. Also we see a return to Australia too, but not at a giant rugby stadium like the last time it was there.

 

Well done Herbie!!

Edited March 31, 2012 by Brummie Kev

[severnsider]

In NZ for gp.

 

Bill Buckley deserves a lot of credit for putting on the event. Crowd was very good and will probably 2nd or 3rd highest crowd of the year.

 

Lots of people travelled to gp from Britain, Australia, Sweden & Poland so looks to have been good for airlines & NZ hotels & restaurants. The passport control officers mentioned how many had come in when we arrived at the airport and the waitress at the restaurant said the whole restaurant seemed to be going to the speedway. Unfortunately she wasn't a fan but may be converted in the future I suppose

 

Some Aussies in our hotel in central Auckland now thinking of doing a gp in Europe in the future so good for the spread of the sport.

 

Also Ole Olsen has got a lot of stick about tracks over the years but did a terrific job in making this track. Only one small problem area in third/fourth bend and race between Jarek and Emil was awesome. Also nearly 4 in a line onto back straight in final

 

[stevebrum]

1. How many points did Holder score?

2. Who went flying past Freddie Lindgren on a track that didn't conduct racing

 

Enjoy.

 

3. Who made the semi`s whilst one point Kenny couldnt, happy days.

[pandorum]

I enjoyed it for what it was. Worth getting up at 4 am to see.

Lovely stadium and a very good crowd that created an atmosphere.

Some good racing, some very good racing and some boring racing.

Pretty much like most speedway meetings.

I don't know what tracks the moaners go to but it must be run by Jesus as the racing is so good there.

Us mere mortals have to do with tracks where the racing varies from sublime to p#ss poor depending on a variety of factors.

Congrats to Hancock and the old brigade.

Tomasz was unlucky but that's how it goes.

Bunyan got a deserved point and only the bitter and twisted would begrudge him that.

Some unexpected poor performances and some surprise performances. Lindback to name a surprise.

I would truly love to see Harris win a GP or two but his performance was lamentable and he really needs to up his game as he has had too much Charity in the GP and deserves no more.

Bill Buckley on the other hand deserves a lot of praise for doing this for NZ speedway and the GP series.

Be nice to see some Kiwi's coming through in the next decade and maybe next year actually have a representative in the GP.

This in no way is disrespectful to Jason Bunyan who from what I have seen and read does a very good job for speedway in his adopted country.

Nice to see Nicki and Emil getting along nicely even though they are still magnetically attracted to each other somehow.

Sky coverage was good and the commentary team did a good job from their vantage point in the Sky studio.

Overall a very good start to the GP year.

[spencebel]

Well done Greg.

Hope KB gets his bike probs sorted, ready for good fri..

[brandonbee48]

I enjoyed it for what it was. Worth getting up at 4 am to see.

Lovely stadium and a very good crowd that created an atmosphere.

Some good racing, some very good racing and some boring racing.

Pretty much like most speedway meetings.

I don't know what tracks the moaners go to but it must be run by Jesus as the racing is so good there.

Us mere mortals have to do with tracks where the racing varies from sublime to p#ss poor depending on a variety of factors.

Congrats to Hancock and the old brigade.

Tomasz was unlucky but that's how it goes.

Bunyan got a deserved point and only the bitter and twisted would begrudge him that.

Some unexpected poor performances and some surprise performances. Lindback to name a surprise.

I would truly love to see Harris win a GP or two but his performance was lamentable and he really needs to up his game as he has had too much Charity in the GP and deserves no more.

Bill Buckley on the other hand deserves a lot of praise for doing this for NZ speedway and the GP series.

Be nice to see some Kiwi's coming through in the next decade and maybe next year actually have a representative in the GP.

This in no way is disrespectful to Jason Bunyan who from what I have seen and read does a very good job for speedway in his adopted country.

Nice to see Nicki and Emil getting along nicely even though they are still magnetically attracted to each other somehow.

Sky coverage was good and the commentary team did a good job from their vantage point in the Sky studio.

Overall a very good start to the GP year.

 

Well said. You have summed it up nicely. Congratu;ations New Zealand. Regards. Alan.

 

Well my Sky + buggered up and I only got as far as heat 16. The majority of what I saw was a complete borefest, but it seems like I missed most of the best bits??

 

At least I didn't have to suffer the sight of Hancock winning again and that 'All American' fake grin of his - so not all bad.

 

I think you are being VERY harsh on one of the greatest ambassadors the sport has ever had. 12 years ago, when my son was 5 he wrote a little note to Greg telling him how he was his hero. A few weeks later a very large parcel arrived for him containing programmes, magazines, autographed photos, stickers and a lovely signed letter that he still treasures to this day. Greg Hancock is a true gentleman, devoted family man and an amazing rider. I guarantee you Nicki Pedersen will have him on his Christmas card list for his evasive reflex action after Emil clattered him. CONGRATULATIONS GREG.

Sincerely. Alan.

[stratton]

I stayed up and i enjoyed it i liked the track,Gollob at times was outstanding the best rider on view for me very unlucky.A good event and hopefully N.Z will be a regular gp venue. Crump showed flashes of his old self, Lindback fair play to him i am not a fan but he rode very well.

[robert72]

I thought it was a great GP and a superb win for greg.

[BigFatDave]

Highpoint of the day for me was after the heats - I'd just popped into the dunny for a snake's hiss on the way to the bar and was standing at the urinal next to an ol' Kiwi mate of mine, who just happens to be a six-time world champ and well-known bookseller, when a voice behind me said "I know him! That's BigFatDave!"

Good to see he got his priorities right!

How good was this - a ripper evening's entertainment from go to whoa - can't do better than that!

Some of the comments on here really make me laugh - those pathetic excuses for speedway fans who managed to find fault from afar with this meeting have already pretty well established themselves as the Forum's laughing stocks, but most of us already knew that anyway. Maybe one day they'll get a life - who knows?

No Airhorns made for a quieter meeting, and doubtless the organisers will take on board suggestions for improvement. I'll be back for sure.

[hagonshocker]

The track looks a super shape banking a plenty....seemed to run through well also and considering it was relaid it stood up very well with the odd rut bit Sayf apart(shocker) the rest quickly sussed that out...heat 20 was amazing but impressive how the old guard keep going...on that form Gollob is gonna run Greg close® this year.

I did think the natural amphitheatre of the place looks like it made viewing really good just a shame other side of the world for me...havent done down under for years!! Top marks to all concerned and fanx to Pux for the facebook monster sheila pics!!

[BigFatDave]

But wait - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150767752322848&set=a.10150107747707848.310852.755092847&type=1&theater - there's MORE! (As Haza found out!)