Should Tai Woffinden Be In The Gp Next Year?

[slickmick]

Does Nikki Pedersen stiil live in Stevenage UK. Then he could ride for GB next season, worked for the Olympic team

 

Or even Jason Crump another half aussie.

 

Unless they can be motivated to qualify, why should they be included on a dodgy wildcard, unless they had missed qualification through injury so could not take that route. Would the GP Season be any less attractive to the fans, or sponsors and advertisers come to that.

[pandorum]

But there is the difference between you and me, I dont give a monkeys what Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Australia etc think about British Speedway ...

But I don't give a monkeys either as I have said on here somewhere that we should not pander to SGP or Polish/Swedish league, not worry about the so called top riders racing here and should race both leagues on weekends if we choose and give OUR riders the 6/7 spots rather than useless foreign riders and do all we can to provide a decent living for OUR riders and base the league system around riders who want to race in the British set up (UK or foreign) and let those who want to race in Poland or Sweden do just that.

 

But the fact still remains our riders don't deserve any consideration in the SGP and the sport here DOES need a world champion and a competetive SWC team. It's foolish to argue otherwise but then that won't stop people doing it

[DougieD]

We dont NEED a World Champion or a good SWC team, want yes NEED no

Edited August 25, 2012 by DougieD

[HasseHolmqvist]

and the sport here DOES need a world champion and a competetive SWC team. It's foolish to argue otherwise but then that won't stop people doing it

 

Okay educate me, why do we NEED a World Champion & good SWC team. Many many fans in this country do not give a fig about the World Championship or the SWC, they are league racing fans & would often support their number one in a GP over a British rider, and indeed most do as seen by the banners.

 

So why would other be foolish to disagree ? .. because they don't agree with you ? ... take it from me neither you or me are right about everything, only my wife is that good

[salty]

Unfortunately, the "many, many" fans you talk about are relatively few compared to what they used to be and the numbers following the sport on a weekly basis in the UK is dwindling. A World Champion and a better showing on the international front certainly couldn't harm the sport could it?

[A ORLOV]

When we last had a world champion, I cannot remember any acknowledgement of this on any tv sports programme, and very little in the press. If it happens, no matter how small the sport is get it mentioned everywhere. Certain radio stations are now putting out speedway and doing a very good job, the authorities need to do all they can to publicise any success we have. I wonder how many sports reps of the national press, radio and tv have been given tickets to Cardiff. If not Cardiff try the EL riders Championship at Swindon.

[keef]

When we last had a world champion, I cannot remember any acknowledgement of this on any tv sports programme, and very little in the press. If it happens, no matter how small the sport is get it mentioned everywhere. Certain radio stations are now putting out speedway and doing a very good job, the authorities need to do all they can to publicise any success we have. I wonder how many sports reps of the national press, radio and tv have been given tickets to Cardiff. If not Cardiff try the EL riders Championship at Swindon.

 

No mention of the GP amongst the many pages of sport in the Daily Wail yesterday. We know the Adver and Radio Wiltshire does a good job locally. I can only see falling crowds at British GPs in the future unless we have a decent Brit to cheer on. A new Havvy, Loramski, Lee, Collins, Craven, Williams, Price is needed to rekindle interest in World speedway events. Some fans dont give a toss about league racing, and vice-versa.

[Starman2006]

Scott rode very well last night, considering he was carrying an injury. He deserves the chance, but Tai who has the abillity has to PROVE, he's worth the chance.

[Coventry_Bee]

Tai wants it but isn't ready. It will mess with his head and Harris might not be good enough but it's not through the lack of trying. He has put 100% into speedway not jet ski's or moto bikes.

[Glenn]

Best wait a few years until Robert Lambert is ready as I dont see any of GB's current riders being on the pace for the GP.

Nonsence I agree but until the UK establishes a full junior racing programme we might as well settle for finding the occasional gem (ala'Robert)

 

Even league racing is in decline with UK riders disappearing from our teams.

My team Rye House have half the team made up of non UK riders now.

Edited August 26, 2012 by Glenn

[HasseHolmqvist]

Best wait a few years until Robert Lambert is ready as I dont see any of GB's current riders being on the pace for the GP.

 

A few of us will be dead by the time that happens

 

Tai wants it but isn't ready. It will mess with his head and Harris might not be good enough but it's not through the lack of trying. He has put 100% into speedway not jet ski's or moto bikes.

 

And yet Tai is still the better rider, maybe Chris should try "jet ski's or moto bikes"

 

Scott rode very well last night, considering he was carrying an injury. He deserves the chance, but Tai who has the abillity has to PROVE, he's worth the chance.

 

Woffinden has proven in the WTC that he can compete, he will be better prepared than last time and can gate a bit

[Fromafar]

Don't think any Brits deserve a wild card.Harris was pretty poor last night he cannot really expect another wild card ,always gives the impression that things are going OK and this will be the night,in reality he is earning plenty cash as a speedway rider and that will do him.He is a very entertaining rider when things are going right though.

[philfromcov]

i agree that he doesn't deserve to be there on his performances, but to be honest i wouldn't go if i didn't have a brit to cheer (no matter how embarrassing it was!)

easiest way out of this, because of the injuries etc, is reduce the places to 14 and have 2 wild cards.

 

i have a first time speedway person with me (from st Austell, funny enough) and he noted that the local was "not very good"

 

personally i think he needs to concentrate on his league form where he gets the £££££ from, because if he cant get better than a 7.70 average in the elite league over the last three years, then he needs to realise that's his level!

 

get your league form right and the rest will follow, he should be a 9+ riders in the elite league, until he becomes one he should forget the GP's

[screm]

Giving the other alternatives it would be just plain wrong if any Brit rider were to be giving a wildcard pick,pains me to say but theres none good enough at present,Woffinden is probably the best and most promising though to be fair.

[IainB]

Fans on the continent must laugh with dismay every time they see the token Brit, so mediocre in their own leagues

 

Like we all used to laugh in the days before the GP when a lot of places in the world final were taken by mediocre riders from the eastern bloc through the continental final?

[george.m]

Going by the standards we are seeing in GPs and SWCs nowadays, the new breed of world class riders coming through are in their teens. The UK just doesn't have anyone near good enough at present.

 

The Danes and Eastern Europeans seem to have a production line of talent. We're looking for one person to step up. Seems to me that we are going wrong somewhere.

[T.N.T.]

Depending on how Linback and Vaculik do in the GP Challenge, the 15 riders for next season are all but sorted.

 

The top 8 at present, Hancock, Holder, Pedersen, Crump, Sayfutdinov, Gollob, Lindgren and Jonsson.

 

Add to that Vaculik and Lindback and you have 10.

 

You then have the 3 qualifiers from the GP Challenge .... to make 13

 

Lindback*

Ljung

Walasek

Miedzinski

Kasprzak

Andersen

NKI

MJJ

Madsen

Smolinski

Zagar

Watt

Batchelor

A Dryml

Vaculik*

Pavlic

 

Jarek Hampel will be handed the next race jacket followed by Tai Woffinden

 

Should Vaculik and / or Lindback qualify, you will have 1 or 2 extra places available which would go in order to Darcy Ward, Jepsen Jensen as World U21 Champion elect (if he hasn't qualifield already) and most likely Kasprzak the final place if its available

 

 

They are really hoping MJJ, Vaculik and Lindback get the three qualifying places !!

Edited August 26, 2012 by T.N.T.

[LagutaRacingFan]

Kolodziej deserves a pick, One of the best in the Ekstraliga and Sweden.

 

No suprise that his 2 teams are both top of there leagues.

[TrueBee]

No British rider is good enough for the GPs yet. I'd like to see Hampel along with 3 from Pawlicki, Ward, Vaculik, Pavlic and MJJ.

[secsy1]

The reality is no British rider deserves a `Wild Card for the GP series`.

 

The best performing Brits this year are 1. Richie Worral-but one step beyond at the present, but a definite future prospect.

2. Josh Auty-suspect at gating but preverbial racer and trier, needs support to achieve it.

3. Ben Barker-more deserving than Tai at present and more reliable.

Only my opinions for what they are worth, but why must a British rider be in it if they are not up to standard required. We have many foriegn riders who have ridden or still ride in the GP`s who fans can relate to and would still follow the series.

 

In 2-3 years time the British riders in the system will have evolved and become more dedicated to their sports with the goal of winning far out weighing the need to be tarts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!