speedibee Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 I'd agree with that. Although to be honest, I'd do away with wildcards altogether and make everyone qualify. Perhaps keep the top 6 (or preferably 3) from the previous year, everyone else has to come through open qualifiers. Yep bang on . selections are made as much for businees reasons as anything else . Fight your way in and then fight to stay in . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImpartialOne Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 sense prevails and the right choices were made ... for 2012 anyway............... i'd suggest Bomber, Freddie and Nicki should be in the last chance saloon though....... at least unless they are prepared to try to qualify in the challenge I agree with the last part. They should be told that unless they contest the qualifiers they have to make the top 8 next year or miss out. Bomber's on borrowed time now as well as borrowed machinery and next year could well see the likes of Woffinden and Barker as more likely choices in 2013 if they make the progress I expect them to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harleynut Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 I would much rather see a formula based on Top 6 retained in the GP joined by the U21 Champion - at least it is won on the track and one GP wildcard as now The other 8 places come from some form of qualification rounds leading up to two 'Semi Finals' in which each of the top four go through. Could make much more of cut throat semi final; good for TV Of course will never happen because of TV money determing the 'right and needed' mix of nationalities; as TV is footing the bill we will always have those in power needing to manipulate who is worthy of racing on track. Bring back selction being earned by racing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc61 Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 So the EL has 7 GP riders now. Try and tempt 3 more over and you could have a 1 per team rule... at this moment in time the 2012 elite league has no grand prix riders named in any of the teams. who are the 7 and which teams are they riding for next season. just being pernickity lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) My issue with Harris is that he never qualified in the 1st place and has actually only qualified once himself which to be honest is hardly deserving of another wildcard. It's irrelevant whats he or anyone else has done in the past. Ivan Mauger has won more titles than any current day rider but you'd not give him a wildcards. What if Rickardsson made a comeback tomorrow? What you should be asking is, "is Chris Harris one of the top 15 riders in the World at present - or will be next season?" IMO, he's borderline, same with Freddie. Don't forget, 8th is an arbitrary figure that has no meaning. If a rider was the 10th best rider in the World for 10 years are you telling me you'd boot him out of the GPs after a season because he didn't qualify and replacing him with the 16th (or worse) best rider in the World? I wouldn't, I want to see the best 15 riders in the World in the GPs - sadly, I think Bjarne ruins that and there is the issue with qualifiers. But take out Bjarne for the old Laguta and I think you'd have a pretty spot on field. Lets not forget 12 month ago people were claiming we had the strongest GP line up ever, so to lose Rune, Kolodziej and Laguta and we're gaining Ward and Pepe I think we straight away have a better series than last year. Edited October 11, 2011 by SCB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 Watching Pedersen in the Play Offs and especially last night, you have to ask what on earth is he doing in the GP competition? A good rider yes, but a light of other days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Brown Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) What you should be asking is, "is Chris Harris one of the top 15 riders in the World at present - or will be next season?" IMO, he's borderline, same with Freddie. Don't forget, 8th is an arbitrary figure that has no meaning. To be fair with 12 places available the question should be whether he is one of the top 12 in the world. In my opinion he has benefited hugely from being British, was he not then he would not be in the GP series Just an opinion Edited October 11, 2011 by Chris Brown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Brown Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 Watching Pedersen in the Play Offs and especially last night, you have to ask what on earth is he doing in the GP competition? A good rider yes, but a light of other days. He is in it because he done the qualifers and qualified. He therefore has more right than any of the 4 names today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) It's irrelevant whats he or anyone else has done in the past. Ivan Mauger has won more titles than any current day rider but you'd not give him a wildcards. What if Rickardsson made a comeback tomorrow? What you should be asking is, "is Chris Harris one of the top 15 riders in the World at present - or will be next season?" IMO, he's borderline, same with Freddie. Don't forget, 8th is an arbitrary figure that has no meaning. If a rider was the 10th best rider in the World for 10 years are you telling me you'd boot him out of the GPs after a season because he didn't qualify and replacing him with the 16th (or worse) best rider in the World? I wouldn't, I want to see the best 15 riders in the World in the GPs - sadly, I think Bjarne ruins that and there is the issue with qualifiers. But take out Bjarne for the old Laguta and I think you'd have a pretty spot on field. Lets not forget 12 month ago people were claiming we had the strongest GP line up ever, so to lose Rune, Kolodziej and Laguta and we're gaining Ward and Pepe I think we straight away have a better series than last year. Ah - but - will he ride in the GP's next Season?? Has Ward not already stated that he would prefer to ride in Poland and could be affected by the one GP Rider per Team Rule there. :unsure: He is (Bjarne Pedersen) in it because he done the qualifers and qualified. He therefore has more right than any of the 4 names today 100% agree with that statement too. Edited October 11, 2011 by The White Knight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirate Nick Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 It's irrelevant whats he or anyone else has done in the past. Ivan Mauger has won more titles than any current day rider but you'd not give him a wildcards. What if Rickardsson made a comeback tomorrow? What you should be asking is, "is Chris Harris one of the top 15 riders in the World at present - or will be next season?" IMO, he's borderline, same with Freddie. Don't forget, 8th is an arbitrary figure that has no meaning. If a rider was the 10th best rider in the World for 10 years are you telling me you'd boot him out of the GPs after a season because he didn't qualify and replacing him with the 16th (or worse) best rider in the World? I wouldn't, I want to see the best 15 riders in the World in the GPs - sadly, I think Bjarne ruins that and there is the issue with qualifiers. But take out Bjarne for the old Laguta and I think you'd have a pretty spot on field. Lets not forget 12 month ago people were claiming we had the strongest GP line up ever, so to lose Rune, Kolodziej and Laguta and we're gaining Ward and Pepe I think we straight away have a better series than last year. Just a quick point of order: Bjarne finished behind Harris in he Swedish league averages but ahead of him in Poland and Britain. Statistically the better rider then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmite Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 Harris? Well I guess there has to be a token Brit. Based on his last two GP appearances, he was the best rider bar Hancock, so I am glad he gets another chance, but he needs to show that GP after GP now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_boon Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 Darcy Ward now has a license to print money. There's not an EL track that wouldn't like him as their number one, and with the GP rule in Poland he could tout his services to I Liga tracks who will need top line riders as the non-GP riders get snapped up by Ekstraliga clubs... Just a quick point of order: Bjarne finished behind Harris in he Swedish league averages but ahead of him in Poland and Britain. Statistically the better rider then? Yeah, bit very, very boring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) Based on his last two GP appearances, he was the best rider bar Hancock, so I am glad he gets another chance, but he needs to show that GP after GP now. I seem to remember a Post saying exactly that twelve months ago. Edited October 11, 2011 by The White Knight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazeaway Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 You make a very good point there Nicki P, hated and adored but never ignored. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Rob Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 Bjarne qualified on merit. Harris, obviously thinking the qualification system is below him, has to rely one one decent round to get him a nomination Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wjm Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 Bjarne qualified on merit. Harris, obviously thinking the qualification system is below him, has to rely one one decent round to get him a nomination I could understand why some riders would chose to prioritise the GP over qualification. Should be finding a better way to fit the Qualification in for those riders that are currently in the GP, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 To be fair with 12 places available the question should be whether he is one of the top 12 in the world. In my opinion he has benefited hugely from being British, was he not then he would not be in the GP series Just an opinion Fair point about the top 12. Thought as I believe that Pepe and Ward are in the top 15, we're actually talking top 14 but it all gets a bit awkward. Basically, is there anyone not in the GPs who will do a better job than Harris and/or Lindgren? Just a quick point of order: Bjarne finished behind Harris in he Swedish league averages but ahead of him in Poland and Britain. Statistically the better rider then? Freddie and Holder are 2 of the top 3 in the EL averages but World Champions they are not We're talking on the World stage here. I just don't feel Bjarne has the fight to do it any more despite being a damn good league rider. He'll no doubt be ok in a few of the GPs but I can't see him adding much that someone like Greg Laguta wouldn't add. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazeaway Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 I could understand why some riders would chose to prioritise the GP over qualification. Should be finding a better way to fit the Qualification in for those riders that are currently in the GP, IMO. Bring back the GP Challenge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wjm Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) As good a meeting as it was to watch – I don’t even know if that’s the answer personally. Some people have a problem with the WC that are handed out. I don’t know if the current qualification/ GP Challenge offers much to the GP either. Would be interesting to know the points/performance ratio of those that have qualified in comparison to the WC that have been handed out. Riders that qualify, just like riders that are given a WC have more often than not got their because of the misfortune to another rider. The qualifier has given the opportunity to some riders who have been completely out of their depth when in the GP – some of the riders have qualified because of things like home track advance, another rider being injured, having machine problems etc, which is just as advantageous as a rider given a WC spot. I would scrap GP Qualifiers and base it on averages across Europe during the season. Which could help the leagues when it comes to riders turning up or riders turning up and putting in a half arsed performance like was seen from Bjerre in the PO S.F Edited October 11, 2011 by wjm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
engineman Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 There was a young aussie who rode for the bees on saturday at leicester . he should have got a place , he's young, australian , looks half right , and has not managed to qualify by other means . I vote we chuck out one of the riders who has actually qualified in the past and proved their worth at that level of competituion , lets chuck Harris out and give Rohan Tungate his place . after all the biggest speedway nation in the world ,deserves to be well represented , rather than one of these countries like England, Sweden, Denmark or Poland that have little or no support for speedway , the stadiums will all be bursting at the seams with travelling Aussie fans if we get enough of them in . Not until he "signs " for Poole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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