davidncohen Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 (edited) Great post; very interesting discussion. I have often asked the question: What would the impact be on British Speedway if there was no GB rider starting every GP? And, what would the impact be on the British GP be, if there was only a wild card GB rider. I'm not sure I know the answers, but I'm just thinking of the 'bigger picture'. Actually, with many top riders no longer riding in the UK, I think this shows that the speedway world has shifted somewhat, and therefore, I think the overall impact on the GP would not be too great - but as far as that little meeting in Cardiff once a year goes, could be a different story - maybe? Right now, it certainly is looking like Chris Harris is at the last chance saloon with regard to justification for inclusion in the 15 next year. Also, GB riders success in the SGP qualification rounds hasn't been barn storming over the years, so it would be interesting if it was left to this avenue for a few years to see if Brits could qualify. It kinda reminds me we use to moan about how in the 60's and 70's the continentals always had 5-ish qualifiers through to the World Final, without having to meet the other top boys beforehand, and how their performance just wasn't up to it (bar one or two exceptions - Plech etc.) People in the UK said how unfair this was, given the continentals continued poorer performance at the top level (OK, eventually everyone was brought together in two semis). So, does the same now apply - the GB SGP riders are consistently failing to get to the top, but are still given a berth in the following season's event. Edited August 26, 2012 by davidncohen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasseHolmqvist Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 (edited) 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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah and stick Woffinden in 10 match races against each of them and he would win 9 out of 10 against each, the 2nd division is just that ... why is Ben Barker more deserving than Tai ..... Woffinden will finish the season as Wolverhamptons number one .... Ben will finish the season as Plymouths number one I also rate Adam Roynon above all of them Edited August 26, 2012 by HasseHolmqvist 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 GB will have only have one place so not like the old World final carve up of yesteryear. To think we started the whole thing in 1936 and are now nowhere on the current world stage. But do any of our wonderful promoters worry ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben91 Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Some of the comments here are laughable, something along the lines of giving Josh Auty a permanent GP wild card for next year from someone, I hope that was an attempt at humour. Auty would get destroyed in the GPs. The Wildcard system is flawed, it should all be decided by GP qualifying rounds. How someone decided who 'deserves' a wildcard place and the criteria which constitutes deserving that wildcard are a mystery, probably even to the person who makes the decision. Cardiff is the Speedway GP's biggest night, therefore there must be a Brit in the series full time as well as the meeting wildcard as a minimum. That means a wildcard to the series needs to be offered to Chris, Tai or Scott. Chris is showing at the moment he is struggling, Scott has had his time in the series but there is no doubt he could compete and in my opinion he is more geared up for the GP's than Chris. Tai is the future, he had one season which came too soon but he has shown in the SWC he can compete. Lets hope he gets the spot, I think it would be the right decision to make. As an aside, in the Formula One Grand Prix, you couldn't consider the drivers to be the best 24(?) in the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert72 Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Tai is simply not good enough for GP racing, he is a long way off that standard. Again, its bomber or scott for the one position if they choose to have one brit next season,this is how poor we have got in this country and the promotors bringing over riders to race at 6 & 7 is wrong. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasseHolmqvist Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Who is the top average Brit in the Elite League ????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben91 Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Tai Woffinden is the highest averaged Brit in the Elite League. He's just as good as Bomber and Scotty, therefore he is just as prepared for the series. Another lad on the way up and finally starting to show his true potential is Danny King, he could come into contention in the next year or so, he still has a long career ahead of him. Seems to be a forgotten man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comebackkings Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Nichols and unfortunately Harris, have shown that they cannot take the mental side of the GP's. Harris needs to go back to square 1 with his gating, you cannot give the best riders in the world a 2 meter head start out of the gate every time and expect to be competitive. Nichols last GP season was a shocker, he has the confidence to win in league meetings, or in the presently very weak GB championship, but I still think he would not want to splash out on a season of GP's. Woffinden has the mental strength and the hunger to prove himself, I'm not 100% sure but didn't his GP challenge suffer because of injury this season? However, this whole debate just shows how the short term thinking of the BSPA has crippled British speedway, the constant influx of young foreign riders, some good, some poor has really hindered the chances of young Brits. The GB team manager drooling over Pooles next import yesterday, to add to their foreign legion is just one reason, but Poole are not alone, how many Elite league and Premier league teams have no British riders? Would the Poles, Danes and Swedes allow that to happen? There should be a Brit full time in the GP's and the only one that could survive and possibly grow into the role is Tai Woffinden. But the Cardiff wild card should not go to Harris or Nichols either, how are the next generation of young Brits going to experience the step up they need to make to survive in the GP's. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 (edited) Also Tai top scored for GB in the World Cup race off, if he can handle the pressure of being in the GPs put him in, there is no point of continuing with riders who have had their chance and not done that well. As with the World Cup they should give the youngsters the experience and that includes the likes of Tai. The one proviso is that would the probable lack of success initially knock his confidence. Edited August 26, 2012 by A ORLOV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasseHolmqvist Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Its very very simple, if there is to be a Brit in next season NOBODY is better qualified than Woffinden ..... he would be British Champion if Kennett had not fallen, he is the top average Brit, he will finis as Wolves number 1, he has proven he can beat the best in the WTC, he has the confidence, he can gate, he will attract sponsors, he is still very young .. so all you Premier League dreamers keep doing just that, you have NOBODY to touch him ... NOBODY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stocks33 Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 chris harris is not good enough he might be ok has a club/national level but not good enough at world level time for younger riders to move up scott rode ok lastnight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert72 Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Its very very simple, if there is to be a Brit in next season NOBODY is better qualified than Woffinden ..... he would be British Champion if Kennett had not fallen, he is the top average Brit, he will finis as Wolves number 1, he has proven he can beat the best in the WTC, he has the confidence, he can gate, he will attract sponsors, he is still very young .. so all you Premier League dreamers keep doing just that, you have NOBODY to touch him ... NOBODY He is not ready, you say he would be british champion had kennett not fallen off, if he was that good he would of beat scott and bomber but didnt, cook is the one coming through and will overtake tai next season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasseHolmqvist Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 He is not ready, you say he would be british champion had kennett not fallen off, if he was that good he would of beat scott and bomber but didnt, cook is the one coming through and will overtake tai next season. I take it your mother dropped you on your head when you were a baby, Cook is 25 years old whilst Woffinden has just gone 22 .... Woffinden is already the better rider and will continue to improve .... Woffinden is ready, he may need 2 seasons in the GP to make the top 8 but thats all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coventry_Bee Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 It depends on who finishes in the top 8 this year to see who will get a wild card, there is no rule to say a Brit has to be in the gp's and there are much better riders out there who are better than Tai at the moment. The best way Tai can get in the gps is the qualifier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasseHolmqvist Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 It depends on who finishes in the top 8 this year to see who will get a wild card, there is no rule to say a Brit has to be in the gp's and there are much better riders out there who are better than Tai at the moment. The best way Tai can get in the gps is the qualifier. Woffinden is nailed on for a place next season, apart from Ward its debatable if there are any better, there are some in there now who are not as good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coventry_Bee Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 (edited) Woffinden is nailed on for a place next season, apart from Ward its debatable if there are any better, there are some in there now who are not as good Are you serious? Ward and Hampel are 2 then it's who misses out in top 8. Could be any from AJ, Hans, Lindback Vaculik. How would Tai warrant a place over these?? If Gollob or Hancock call it a day I don't know if they use the results from the GP qualifier? Edited August 26, 2012 by Coventry_Bee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasseHolmqvist Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Are you serious? Ward and Hampel are 2 then it's who misses out in top 8. Could be any from AJ, Hans, Lindback Vaculik. How would Tai warrant a place over these?? AJ no, Hans easy, Lindback yes, Vaculik yes, .... Woffinden will be in the GP next season IF he wants it. He is young and British, they will want him in the series to replace Bomber. Chris will have to sit at least a year out in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coventry_Bee Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Yes, ok !! Agree to disagree on this 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HasseHolmqvist Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Yes, ok !! Agree to disagree on this 1. No problem, I will remind you when its announced Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coventry_Bee Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Sure you will, but the question is should Woofy be in the GP's and the answer is no. If the powers that be want a Brit then I'd be ok for Woofy to have his chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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