g13webb Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Thoroughly enjoyed the first SGP . If all speedway was like this we wouldn't have any issues with the lack of support. Unpredictable, Exciting, Fast, the meeting had it all. I don't agree with comments aimed at Nicky Pederson. He was consistently the best rider today, coming from the back and from the gate, and in the end was unfortunate to finish second. You cant knock Smolinski though, waited while the others were fighting between themselves, then took his chance for a brilliant win.. Although a bad nights for NKI, If all the SGP are like this I won't complain.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Really enjoyed the coverage-thought Tapp and Crumpy were excellent-although more than Happy to have Nigel Pearson and Kelvin Tatum in the remaining 11 rounds.Also thought Scott and his sidekick were good(and funny !) Eurosport it seems will be pushing the boat out when the series returns to Europe with Sophie,joining Scott and sidekick at the track. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mothorsen Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 What a final! Gratulations to Smolinski. Who would have guessed? IMO, Pedersen cutting of Holder was tough but fair. You ride to win, and if anyone but NP had done the same move, it would have been "brilliant" and what not. Best NZ GP, but far, far from a favourite track. Good start to the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 (edited) Well that was a very enjoyable evening. Gutted that kk blew the final as my bet on him would have covered my evening. Good racing much improved on last year. Crowd if I had to estimate maybe 10k. Certainly well down on tge first one. Speedway so nuch better under lights. And bunyan didnt come last. I must be a lucky charm for germans, i was there in 83 for mullers victory also. Sat by tais gf plus a bunch of heavily intoxicated darcy mates from 4300. Would love it to come back next year but chances must be very slim indeed. Good to meet briggo pre meeting. Hope darcy ok, smoli just hit the rut which has been there every year - remember emil cleaning out nicki in the same way in 2012. Care to explain how he could have been better prepared? Im pretty sure he didnt intentionally injure himsrlf last weekend! This may be your most ludicrous comment yet! I concede all that you say in regard to the rider's injury of which I was unaware. Thanks for the comment about 'ludicrous' I have been making them professionally about speedway since late 1952 - and earned quite a 'few bob' and praise over the years. Have a nice day! Edited April 5, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Hard men to the fore in this one, hope it doesn't last ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 and the award for the most ridiculous comment on this thread goes to?????????????????????? As I said before...many thanks indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigcatdiary Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Excellent GP, thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done Martin Smolinski I certainly didn't see that coming. Bloody light years ahead of the EL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedy17 Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Just brilliant isn't it, the man completely wrote off, a lot like Tai lasts season, comes out and wins the opening GP! By the way I'd go as far as saying that's booked his place for next season too, when was the last time a rider who won a GP wasn't back in them the season after, by not qualifying for the top 8? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 (edited) Just to put the GP into REAL perspective, here's the scorers. There's been a lot of banter on here so far but in the end these details are what created the real interest. The Grand Final was won by Martin Smolinski, who headed home Nicki Pedersen, Krzysztof Kasprzak and Freddie Lindgren in a thrilling race. Defending World Champion and former Rocket Tai Woffinden failed to make the cut for the Semi-Finals with 7 points. FIM New Zealand Grand Prix, Auckland: Martin Smolinski 15 (1st), Nicki Pedersen 19 (2nd), Krzysztof Kasprzak 17 (3rd), Fredrik Lindgren 13 (4th), Kenneth Bjerre 11, Chris Holder 11, Jaroslaw Hampel 8, Andreas Jonsson 7, Tai Woffinden 7, Greg Hancock 6, Matej Zagar 6, Niels K Iversen 6, Darcy Ward 5, Troy Batchelor 4, Jason Bunyan 2, Chris Harris 0, Andrew Aldridge 0. Edited April 5, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavan Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 After all the guff and bluster about certain riders should or shouldnt be in look at the NZ GP as proof that we have the best riders. Would anyone have predicted that none of last years top 3 wouldnt make the final? 3 much maligned riders, Smolinski, Lindgren and Bjerre all scored heavily proving they are entitled to be there. Darcy Ward failing to be on the pace. People moan about the likes Lindgren Bjerre and Jonsson being there as they will never be world champion which is a crap argument. Before the start the majority of people would say that the World Champion will come from Tai, NKI, Hampel Holder and Ward so you will always get riders making up the numbers. This Gp has proved our sport is still as great and unpredictable as ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pedaler Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Any newcomer watching the sport for the first time would of enjoyed this meeting and would watch again.It just shows what a great sport and product that we have such a shame that everybody cannot work together. And really push the whole speedway scene forward criminal really can it happen in my lifetime i very much doubt it. I hope lots of people would have been impressed, and it will do the sport a lot of good in Germany. Good thing that Smoli won't have much league racing to get in the way as the German TV stations love their heros and will have just found a new one to gush over. Bloody light years ahead of the EL Totally agree, but it I'd have been the one to say that, "old agendas" would have been the accusation... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiamondsRock Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Great to see Chris Harris pick up where he left off, on his much anticipated return to the GP series Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 I hope lots of people would have been impressed, and it will do the sport a lot of good in Germany. Good thing that Smoli won't have much league racing to get in the way as the German TV stations love their heros and will have just found a new one to gush over. Totally agree, but it I'd have been the one to say that, "old agendas" would have been the accusation... However unless there were late negotiations,the German fans wouldn`t have seen it http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=75962 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nw42 Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 <post removed due to abuse personal remarks> Take a chill pill, we're all entitled to our opinions, no need for the insults. It's not about being British & blinkered, if you read my post properly I said he's not going to be World Champion, never in a month of Sundays, he was left behind on that score a good few years ago. I stand by my statement that I'd rather see 2 British riders in the series, you carry on spluttering your bile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g13webb Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 It was a brilliant SGP that can only restore some much needed enthusiasm that has been lost over recent years. Since when was there a GP when 10 out of the 16 riders actually won a race, such was the openness and competition on the night. There was no follow the leader, and all gates were used to win . Most of the predicted name fell way short of expectations and the finalists were not on everyone favourite list. Last years top 3 of Woffy, Hampel and Niels languished in the lower regions, but have no doubts they will be back, near the top, come the next rounds. Darcy Ward can be added into that equation as well. This could result in 2014 being a real showstopper this year, with a dozen or so riders in with a shout of winning a round. What was impressive about this one, was that everyone was able to race on a fair track that favoured no one. Cant wait for the next.......... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bagpuss Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Mon the underdog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 Great to see Chris Harris pick up where he left off, on his much anticipated return to the GP series Sadly I think Harris is not going to make the comeback that he talks about,his gating practice failed him again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 I concede all that you say in regard to the rider's injury of which I was unaware. Thanks for the comment about 'ludicrous' I have been making them professionally about speedway since late 1952 - and earned quite a 'few bob' and praise over they years. Have a nice day! A ring of Arrogance there! sad really "gustix" i have enjoyed your posts generally but you have to remember there are alot of people on this forum who maybe are not in a professional capacity but they know there speedway. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 SURELY the biggest shock win in the history of the SGP ... even more so than Martin Vaculik two years ago in Gorzow. Sadly I think Harris is not going to make the comeback that he talks about,his gating practice failed him again. PROBABLY true but, whatever you think, how gutted must he be to go halfway round the world and not score a point? Going to be a long flight home... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 SURELY the biggest shock win in the history of the SGP ... even more so than Martin Vaculik two years ago in Gorzow. Hi Philip , a point for BSI to improve-the TV graphics were showing Tai ahead of AJ after they had completed their 5 rides-surely this could be sorted out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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