Who Do You Think Will Be World Champion In 2013? And Who Else Will Do Well.

[stratton]

Because people are quick to pick up on others mistakes but ohhhh when its the other way round... They dont like it!

Mistake i make them everyday of the week, so i have no problem with that.As for Steve Brum what gives you the right to belittle him?i certainly take more notice of him than you!! that is for sure you are a bit cock sure of yourself for me.

[Pinny]

So what? If i post something wrong ill be quick to have people on my back saying its wrong so im quite entitled to do so to others in return

 

The thing is ill admit i got something wrong . Not attempt a pathetic reason for that particular post.

 

You do seem to speak some sense sometimes which is more than can be said for stevebrum

[SCB]

Well i have humoured you, on you didn't see Penhall,? you didn't see Lee, NIelsen Gunder, sIgalos the Morans Carter, Sanders !Crump,get off your your big horse big time opinion. I knew who retained the GP title I was on about the history up until the start of the GpS my mistake not that you would know or would have experienced watching those riders take a deep breath and Ah Av a google mate Oh next Thursday the speedway star is out do your research Fool.

So Penhall was a recent back-to-back winner. So when Pinny points out that TRick has done ti twice and Pedersen once you say you meant in the one off World finals. Well I can tell you now that Erik Gundersen and Hans Nielsen have each won back to back titles since Penhall has done it and neither did it in the GP era. So if we're not counting TRick or Pedersen due to it being in the GP's (which incidently Holder will be riding in in 2013 and having won it in the GPs in 2012) so what is your excuse with Gundersen and Nielsen?

 

You have this obsession with people not having seen things, you allegedly know more than me as you have seen riders/meeting I didn't but I know that 1) if Holder wins back to back titles he will have done it in the GP series, making TRick and Pedersens wins more relevant and 2) I know that Erik and Hans have each won back to back titles because, despite having not seen most of them, I could, given a year, name you 95% of World Champions (weirdly, the ones I get most confused on are those I have seen!) and that 3) there have been more double World Champions AFTER Penhall than before (Young, Briggs, Mauger, Funding vs Hans, Erik, TRick, Trick and Nicki).

 

Well done Penhall was the one off finals, different not that you probably ever see him? Like SCB take a chill pill.

Incidentally, more personal attacks I see. Edited March 4, 2013 by SCB

[Pinny]

Well said.

 

Just highlights how thick Sidney seems to be.

[stratton]

Well said.

 

Just highlights how thick Sidney seems to be.

Thanks for that!

[The Know]

Why?

 

 

I'm going for Chris Holder again ....

 

Dont like aussies really, never liked crump or adams, dont like holder or ward. arrogant people who i have no time for. Davey watt on the other hand is a smashing bloke so there not all bad, just 98% of them.

[waiheke1]

I believe Holder will retain his title! It hasn't happened much in recent years, is Penhall the only1 to retain his title recently? and he was very lucky indeed very lucky.Holder is my favourite because I think he will take a lot of beating , still young learning all the time has the experience and mentally he is very tough.Forgot about Rickardsson can't remember if he retained the title? saying that Rickardsson is Just in my top 6 of all time laughable for a 6 times world champ.

 

Not your best post Sid - as others have pointed our hardly recent, and been done many times since. I'd also disagree that he was "very lucky" - you needed luck to go with you on the night to be World Champ under the old system and while luck did go with Penhall (Les Collins dropping points in his easiest ride, Carter falling off when Penhall was in second denied Les a run-off, and f course the ref getting the decision correct - always a chance he could hav emade the wrong call) - but no more so than many other world champs.

 

Wrong was i? sorry my fault but what i meant defending champions before the GP series no matter PInstripe you are correct.Is it harder to defend a one off final or a GP series? both need different qualities to do it!

 

i would have thought it would be more common under the gp system than the old system (don't know if either is an easier feat than the other), but that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

Also - look at this year. Holder is the rider - IMHO- the most likely to win the title. However, the chances are that he won't . IF that seems contradictory - Holder I would say has a 1 in 4 or 1 in5 chance of being the champion (if you were to set odds). So, there is a 75 or 80% chance that the winner will be someone else.

I understand what you mean Sidney. The two forms of World championships are worlds apart. Totally different in all but one aspect, in that, the winner is the World Champion. I believe the formulation of the grand prix series allow riders to have the off night and still retain the chance of being the World champion. whereas in the past a bad night in the qualifier would have eliminated most riders. Holders performance in New Zealand last year would have eliminated from the competition and any World championship aspirations would have been over. So yes the current SGP series is more forgiving. harder? possibly, better? I don't know about that, but obviously appealing.. I have always felt it would be better if all the riders had to qualify instead of top 10, getting free entry plus wild cards, for next year....... Don't seem fair to me....

 

a bit simplistic to say holder would have been elminated. Firstly, there didn't used to be qualifiers in March, so he wouldn't have been racing the day his son was born. Secondly, the standard of the field for an early qualifying round would have been lower than the NZ GP, so a similar performance could easily have seen him secure enough points to qualify.

Dont like aussies really, never liked crump or adams, dont like holder or ward. arrogant people who i have no time for.

are you a kiwi in disguise

[Icescot]

Nicki P to win Hampel, Iversen and Lindgren to be in contention.

[PHILIPRISING]

Dont like aussies really, never liked crump or adams, dont like holder or ward. arrogant people who i have no time for. Davey watt on the other hand is a smashing bloke so there not all bad, just 98% of them.

 

THEY think the world of you Andy!

[SCOTLAND1314]

Are the new mufflers being used in the GP?

 

That may have a big influence on where the title goes.

 

For my money whoever beats Nicki Pedersen will win the title.

 

I think the rounds will be very competitive and I wouldn't be surprised to see lots of different individual GP winners, again.

 

Over half the field have already won a GP!!

 

Ward and Iversen could win a round or two also.

 

A high quality field.

[Ghostwalker]

Are the new mufflers being used in the GP?

 

 

I could be wrong but I think FIM ruled against allowing new silencers for at least two more seasons.

[SCOTLAND1314]

I could be wrong but I think FIM ruled against allowing new silencers for at least two more seasons.

 

Thanks.

[The Know]

THEY think the world of you Andy!

 

Lets put this into context Phil, Crump got the hump as we did not help him but Kris in team neilsen. Adams bust my nokia communictor i lent him didnt even say sorry, Holder and Ward treat you like crap until they know who you are then want to be your mate and help them. Yes indeed all very nice and genuine guys. Got your rose tints on again. I have the upmost respect for all these riders on TRACK, but afraid not off it.

[Blazeaway]

Nicki P to win Hampel, Iversen and Lindgren to be in contention.

 

 

In contention for what exactly?

[BritPete]

It looks very much as though the old guard are beginning to fade. Crump, of course has retired, and I would be very surprised if Gollob or Hancock win a GP series again. Surely age has caught up with them now? I think Nicki P. has a chance, but he will need faster bikes than he's had in the past couple of series.

 

Chris Holder, became the first of the new kids on the block to take the title and no doubt he will launch a big challenge to retain it this year.

 

Lindback and Hampel will no doubt be chasing a top eight spot at least, but I don't see either of them actually winning it.

 

Sayfutdinov, has a chance, but somehow, for some reason, he does not have the same speed as when he rode in his first series!

 

I'm expecting Vaculik to make a big impression at his first attempt, and he will no doubt add to the series.

 

Then we come to Darcy Ward, surely the most talked about rider in the world, unfortunately, usually for the wrong reasons.

 

My view is, that with his abundance of talent, he has as much chance as any of the others, providing he can cope with the obvious pressures, and he keeps out of mischief!

 

 

So, for what it's worth, I envisage a tremendous tussle between the defending champion and Darcy Ward, with Sayfutdinov, Nicki P, and Lindback, being their main dangers.

 

One thing for sure, the first GP may not be a barometer for the rest of the series, after all, Holder scored just four points there last season!

 

Have a good day.

[Man in black]

Nice to see this back on thread after the bickering. Here's my views:

 

 

Main contenders - Holder & Pedersen

 

Holder has progressed year on year and I see no reason why that won't continue in 2013. There's no chinks in his armour, I don't think he's yet reached his peak and he won't give up the title easily.

 

Niki P is no longer quite the same force he was in 2007 & 2008, but he found his "mojo" again in 2012 and came very close to taking title no.4. With strong machinery and pit crew he could finish 2013 at the top of the pile.

 

Best of the rest – Lindback, Sayfutdinov, Hampel

 

Lindback seems to be getting his career back on track and won two GP's in a strong finish to 2012. One of the few riders in the field with potential for big improvement – already has speed & talent, just needs to find consistency. Maybe not (yet) world champion, but certainly a rostrum contender

 

After a meteoric start to his SGP career and an injury-wrecked 2010 Sayfutdinov seems to have got stuck as a top 5 contender without looking like challenging for the title. If he can re-discover his 2009 form, there'll be no stopping him. Rostrum?

 

Hampel is a classy and consistent rider who should finish well up the field, but I don't see him as a world champion. Seems to lack a little determination - when it really matters he'll be the rider who is passed, rather than the rider who does the passing. Top five.

 

Improvers & Unpredictables – Ward, Vaculik, Iversen

 

How good is Darcy Ward? I guess we'll find out this year. I expect him to make a big impact on the SGP, but likely to lose out by trying to win every race instead of taking the safe points. One thing for sure – he'll be good to watch! Top 8 for sure, probably better. World Champ 2013? For speedway and Darcy's sake, I hope not...

 

Vaculik did well in his 6 GP's last year and should continue where he left off. The SGP series needs the newcomers to be challengers, not also-rans. Top 10.

 

Iversen is difficult to predict. Had a great 2012, question is whether he can bring that form into the SGP. Previous history suggests not. Outside the top 8.

 

On the wane – Hancock, Gollob

 

Hancock started 2012 looking like he'd keep his title with ease but his will to win seemed to fade towards the end of the year. I expect him to make a few finals in 2013 and finish in the top 8, but how much longer can he stay motivated?

 

There's no better sight than Gollob in full flight, but his best days are now behind him. He'll still win races in breathtaking style and quite possibly a GP, but not often enough to finish higher than midfield in 2013.

 

Also-rans – Jonsson, Lindgren, Kasprzak, Woffinden, Zagar

 

Jonsson & Lindgren should be in the top 10, but Kasprzak & Zagar I doubt will make much impact. Woffinden has potential to improve, but he may be out of his depth in this field.

Edited March 8, 2013 by Man in black

[lucifer sam]

Sayfutdinov will never be better than Pedersen

 

... at tiddlywinks. However, he is a much better Speedway rider.

 

Is that how your sentence ended June?

 

All the best

Rob

[Bonzo]

I think Pedersen will be the 2013 champ after another good battle with Holder. Ward could easily win a GP or two but I'm not sure he can be champ yet, think he may be eating dirt a few times through getting over excited.

 

Lindback looked good last year and looks a good outside bet for a podium place.

[Mackhammer]

Love how so many people are writing Tai off before he's even got going. I'm not suggesting he'll challenge for the honours but if Chris Harris can make the top 8 then i believe Tai can easily. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[waiheke1]

Love how so many people are writing Tai off before he's even got going. I'm not suggesting he'll challenge for the honours but if Chris Harris can make the top 8 then i believe Tai can easily. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

harris finished top 8 once in how many attempts? the chances of him doing it in this years line up would be minimal.

Im sure tai will be top 8, maybe even top 3 , one day, i just cant see it being this season (though can see him making a couple of semis and maybe a final). if you do see him making top 8- which 7 riders do u see him finishing above?

dont get me wrong, i would love to see him finish top 8 this year - but i'd also like to take maria sharapova and angelina jolie home for a cup of tea and a lie down...