mrss Posted October 12, 2012 Report Share Posted October 12, 2012 i dont think woffinden will do a bad a job as many people seem to think. he is still rather young, i reckon he could finish around about the magic 8th place next year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bri1966 Posted October 12, 2012 Report Share Posted October 12, 2012 How about putting every riders name in a hat and draw 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted October 12, 2012 Report Share Posted October 12, 2012 It seems inevitable Tai Woffinden will get a pick next Wednesday and in light of the discussions on this thread, surely the most pertinent question is, why? Because it's about money. Whilst a British television company provides a significant amount of income to BSI, there will likely always be a (nominal) Brit in the series. I have stated before and I will offer it again that I think it would be interesting if after each GP the bottom 5 riders stand down for each subsequent GP. I think the problem is that one of the big names could have a bad night/injury and end-up not being in the GP proper which might affect audiences. That happened with Tommy Knudsen in one of the early GPs when the bottom two after each round dropped to reserve for the next one. As result, he was never in contention for the rest of the season. It might work if an earlier meeting was used as a qualifier for the GP proper, but that would involve extra expense and riders having to be away for another day. Can't really see BSI going for that in the current climate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT Posted October 12, 2012 Report Share Posted October 12, 2012 (edited) Because it's about money. Whilst a British television company provides a significant amount of income to BSI, there will likely always be a (nominal) Brit in the series. Oh I fully understand that, but BSI are very unlikely to admit it. Looking at the past, they've always concocted an excuse to put Harris in the series (usually harking back to his one GP win), but as the years pass, these excuses become more and more comical. The trouble for the promoters is, unless they come out and confess they're sticking a Brit in for Sky TV, they've got absolutely no other justification for putting Woffinden in the series instead of the far more deserving Jepsen Jensen. Woffinden top scored for Britain in the World Cup race off. So what? He was beaten by Jepsen Jensen when they met and outperformed by the Dane overall. Tai had no chance to prove himself due to an injury before the qualifiers. No excuse, he had the opportunity to qualify for the British Grand Prix and make a name for himself, but couldn't even win the British Championship on his home track. Tai has a higher average in the British Elite League. On neutral ground he is behind Jepsen Jensen in the far stronger and arguably more significant Swedish and Polish Elite Leagues. To cap it all off, he said at the start of the season he wanted to qualify by right and not with a wildcard. Harris' latest press whine perfectly summarises the sense of entitlement among our riders. In the latest of his pleas, Harris hints if there has to be a British rider, Woffinden's pledge and subsequent failure to qualify by right, is reason enough to give himself yet another chance. I hope the Speedway Star puts these points to the organisers and I hope next year one of our riders is good enough to qualify by right. JT. Edited October 12, 2012 by JT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCookie Posted October 12, 2012 Report Share Posted October 12, 2012 The best part of Harris' interview was when he named Lindback and Lindgren as examples of riders who show improvement is possible. This is the Harris who took about 4 years to finish in the top 8 while Lindback took about 4 meetings to go from no-hoper to world number 7. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.N.T. Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 my 4 Wildcards would also be Hampel, Vaculik, Ward and Jepsen Jensen. Just got a gut feeling though that one of them may miss out in favour of Woffinden. Nope. It's WARD, HAMPEL, WOFFINDEN and VACULIK... Announcemt should be made Tues/Weds next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 Because it's about money. Whilst a British television company provides a significant amount of income to BSI, there will likely always be a (nominal) Brit in the series. Similarly the influence of sponsors will be increasingly a factor. With Monster's involvement as presentation sponsor's, being one of their stable of riders will be just as attractive as a British passport in the next couple of years if you require a pick. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwalker Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 why not using the existing thread? http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=70982&st=390 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavan Posted October 14, 2012 Report Share Posted October 14, 2012 In my opinion (and i hope i am wrong) Woffinden would be the only rider in the gp series that is not capable of winning a gp (maybe Iversen?) MJJ has proved he is capable of doing that though i would be surprised if MJJ would be consistent enough to make the top 8. Someone on here said Tai could make the top 8? never in a million years will he be in the top 8 and again i hope im wrong but in my mind he will be bottom of the 15 regulars 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheReturn Posted October 14, 2012 Report Share Posted October 14, 2012 Ok, if it is to be Woffinden I will get behind him and support him, but if as we all suspect he is out of his depth, what will they do for 2014 if no British rider makes it through the GP Challenge. I think BSP are merely delaying the inevitable, a SGP without a British rider. We just don't have anyone coming through. Now this should set huge alarm bells ringing in BSPA towers, they need to do something to bring through British kids for the future, if not these next 3 or 4 seasons, 5 years time, they need a long term plan. What that plan is I don't know, but won't be good for British Speedway with no real contenders for the World Title. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted October 14, 2012 Report Share Posted October 14, 2012 Now this should set huge alarm bells ringing in BSPA towers, they need to do something to bring through British kids for the future, if not these next 3 or 4 seasons, 5 years time, they need a long term plan. What that plan is I don't know, but won't be good for British Speedway with no real contenders for the World Title. they don't care.... if they cared they would have done something 5/10/20 years ago.... and they certainly don't care about how it affects IMG this is just another from a long list of issues where they refuse to see further than the end of their noses................... I suspect that even if there was a shared understanding and need for a movement between the promoters, that the worst time to try to do something about it is in the middle of a recession I came to the conclusion some time ago that British speedway is all but dead and will remain so until something miraculous happens like a sugar daddy comes along, or proper businessmen get involved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.N.T. Posted October 14, 2012 Report Share Posted October 14, 2012 While I am an avid Wolves fan and pleased to have witnessed Tai turn into the teams #1 rider, I have no doubt that he will struggle to get in the top 8 next season and quite frankly even the top ten. I will however defend him when people think he will be out of his depth. To me he has he same abilites of Zagar, Iversen and Vaculik ...... and on current form also Lindgren and Jonsson and although he may have some rounds where he scores low, he will also have some decent scores. .... Could he win a GP ? Yes ....... 7 or 8 points followed by a second place in the semi's and then one amazing ride in the final ..... as MJJ proved !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LagutaRacingFan Posted October 14, 2012 Report Share Posted October 14, 2012 While I am an avid Wolves fan and pleased to have witnessed Tai turn into the teams #1 rider, I have no doubt that he will struggle to get in the top 8 next season and quite frankly even the top ten. I will however defend him when people think he will be out of his depth. To me he has he same abilites of Zagar, Iversen and Vaculik ...... and on current form also Lindgren and Jonsson and although he may have some rounds where he scores low, he will also have some decent scores. .... Could he win a GP ? Yes ....... 7 or 8 points followed by a second place in the semi's and then one amazing ride in the final ..... as MJJ proved !! On what planet is Woffinden as good as Zagar,Iversen and Vaculik? Delusion springs to mind... and He is nowhere near Andreas Jonsson, He is nowhere near Tomas H Jonasson never mind Andreas Jonsson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_minall Posted October 15, 2012 Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 Nope. It's WARD, HAMPEL, WOFFINDEN and VACULIK... Announcemt should be made Tues/Weds next week. that's a FACT apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavan Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 TNT i dont think Tai can win a GP but its all about opinion and if he is in the field i will support him. He could be as good as as Vaculik but think Vaculik will get better and Tai isnt as good as the others you mention Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGP Posted October 16, 2012 Report Share Posted October 16, 2012 THE 2013 SGP Wildcard announcement will be tomorrow. I expect the wildcards to be: HAMPEL, WARD, VACULIK and WOFFINDEN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunty Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 They have justed Posted this on facebook! #1 Chris Holder #2 Nicki Pedersen #3 Greg Hancock #4 Tomasz Gollob #5 Emil Sayfutdinov #6 Antonio Lindback #7 Fredrik Lindgren #8 Andreas Jonsson #9 Martin Vaculik #10 Jaroslaw Hampel #11 Krysztof Kasprzak #12 Matej Zagar #13 Niels Kristien Iversen #14 Tai Woffinden #15 Darcy Ward There ya go guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 As expected then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunty Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 Yes, fact... as I told you. HAMPEL is missing off that list btw. They have justed Posted this on facebook! https://www.facebook...89068813&type=1 #1 Chris Holder #2 Nicki Pedersen #3 Greg Hancock #4 Tomasz Gollob #5 Emil Sayfutdinov #6 Antonio Lindback #7 Fredrik Lindgren #8 Andreas Jonsson #9 Martin Vaculik #10 Jaroslaw Hampel #11 Krysztof Kasprzak #12 Matej Zagar #13 Niels Kristien Iversen #14 Tai Woffinden #15 Darcy Ward There ya go guys! Is he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadmau5 Posted October 17, 2012 Report Share Posted October 17, 2012 No, I spotted it and tried to cancel it after hitting submit. The original release that I received (which was embargoed) had his name off the list as a typo... silly me! THE 2013 SGP Wildcard announcement will be tomorrow. I expect the wildcards to be: HAMPEL, WARD, VACULIK and WOFFINDEN. It seems you were right SGP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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