Animal Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 How many riders would have taken part in the Semi Finals IF they had known beforehand that there was no opportunity for them to have a chance of qualifying for Cardiff? How many riders will even bother with the British Final next year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grachan Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 How many riders will even bother with the British Final next year? Â My guess is 16. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 WINNING the British title should be their prime consideration (as it was with riders of generations gone by) but sadly that doesn't seem to be the case. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin man 76 Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 The gradual downgrading of the British Final over the years has simply reduced the level of interest for both fan and rider alike. Unfortunately, no rider can really hope to gain much by way of sponsorship for the title of British Champion, so prestige alone is all the riders are riding for. For most, that is simply not enough. At least the offer of the GP wildcard offered some form of short-term incentive, but at best now a good performance might get a place in the GP qualifiers for the following season, from which you cannot qualify for the GP's until the season after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinny Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 The authorities were clearly worried top riders wouldnt take part until the final line up was confirmed hence the news of harris' wild card being announced after the final line up was sorted  Shocking decision... Since the wild card place has been a prize we have seen superb british finals with all top riders going for it  Now harris is out of the gp lineup fulltime they stop the highest finisher out of gps from getting the wildcard... Coincidence? I dont think so  Hope harris gets five fat zeros and proves what a joke this decision is 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 THE BSPA were informed last October that the wild card for Cardiff would no longer be given to the highest placed rider in the BF who wasn't already in the SGP series. Â Believe me or believe me not, there is no bias towards Chris Harris. He was awarded the place because BSI and the FIM believe he is the right and most suitable choice. I have yet to hear a convincing argument for anyone else... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 You surely do well in the British Championship so you can enter the GP qualifiers. Then not only do you get Cardiff but about 10 other GPs aswell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin man 76 Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 THE BSPA were informed last October that the wild card for Cardiff would no longer be given to the highest placed rider in the BF who wasn't already in the SGP series. Â Believe me or believe me not, there is no bias towards Chris Harris. He was awarded the place because BSI and the FIM believe he is the right and most suitable choice. I have yet to hear a convincing argument for anyone else... Â If that is case Philip and I have no reason to dispute the validity of your statement, then BSI and the FIM are poor judges, not only of rider ability/potential, but of the mood of the public. Chris Harris never convinced in all the years he was in the GPs and as I type, he doesn't even have an average sufficiently high enough to be in the Top 15 of the watered down 'Elite' League. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 (edited) Craig Cook should get the chance for me,it would be great experience for the lad.The main thing going for him with his great attitude is that he is a very good gater he wouldn't be disgraced. Edited May 5, 2013 by sidney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george.m Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 Craig Cook should get the chance for me,it would be great experience for the lad.The main thing going for him with his great attitude is that he is a very good gater he wouldn't be disgraced. Good call! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 If that is case Philip and I have no reason to dispute the validity of your statement, then BSI and the FIM are poor judges, not only of rider ability/potential, but of the mood of the public. Chris Harris never convinced in all the years he was in the GPs and as I type, he doesn't even have an average sufficiently high enough to be in the Top 15 of the watered down 'Elite' League. Â NOT sure that either of us can truly judge the mood of the public... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Science Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 (edited) THE choice of wild cards is a consultation process but with whom they consult can vary from country to country and who is actually organising the event. Â In NZ, for example, it was Bill Buckley who had the major input, in Bydgoszcz it would have been the local club plus the PZM, in Sweden it would have been in consultation with SVEMO, in Denmark it will be through the DMU. In all cases the choices have to be verified by the FIM. Â Â Â SORRY but I don't understand that comment... Â Â Â UNTRUE ... the decision to stop British riders participating in the European Championship was taken by the BSPA. Seems only in Britain there is no need to consult anybody,Bsi will just pick the wild card they want.Don't know anybody who didn't think the Cardiff carrot didn't add something to the British final. If Chris Harris deserves the wild card he should race for it like everyone else,Don't know how anyone can defend this decision ! Edited May 5, 2013 by New Science Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pantherman Posted May 5, 2013 Report Share Posted May 5, 2013 Â Â NOT sure that either of us can truly judge the mood of the public... Â Quite true. Â Well as a member of the public,my mood is in tune with BSI and the FIM,as I'm quite happy to see Chris Harris as the wildcard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT Posted May 6, 2013 Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 (edited) Believe me or believe me not, there is no bias towards Chris Harris. Â This is probably the most comical statement I've read on this forum. Surely you don't believe this, Phil? Â If anything, Harris is getting worse. After all the charity he has received (and largely wasted) over the years, surely you can see why we want someone else to get a chance to prove themselves? Â What will giving Harris yet another chance tell us? Â JT. Edited May 6, 2013 by JT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eduds1 Posted May 6, 2013 Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 (edited) Why can the Czechs give there wildcard to the winner of the Marketa Open, but we can't use the winner / best placed in the British Final. IF franc is unable to take his place for whatever reason then it is likely they will use the next in line, which would'nt be any different from giving our wild card to the best placed rider if Tai was to win it. Â As for not being able to guage public opinion on Chris Harris, I think you would get a fair insight by ading up the for and against on this topic alone. Edited May 6, 2013 by Steve E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Science Posted May 6, 2013 Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 IT will be forthcoming, certainly in SS next week after we have caught up with BSI boss Paul Bellamy in Gothenburg. My information is that the BSPA were informed that the British Final would no longer be a stepping stone to Cardiff some time ago. Â It was originally brought in as a concession to Sky and their coverage of the British Final but no other wild cards are determined this way and I imagine BSI and the FIM felt the time was right to end it. Or SKY are getting a bit of payback for dropping the GP coverage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eduds1 Posted May 6, 2013 Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 IT will be forthcoming, certainly in SS next week after we have caught up with BSI boss Paul Bellamy in Gothenburg. My information is that the BSPA were informed that the British Final would no longer be a stepping stone to Cardiff some time ago. Â It was originally brought in as a concession to Sky and their coverage of the British Final but no other wild cards are determined this way and I imagine BSI and the FIM felt the time was right to end it. Marketa Open put the kaibosh on that arguement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
500cc Posted May 6, 2013 Report Share Posted May 6, 2013 THE BSPA were informed last October that the wild card for Cardiff would no longer be given to the highest placed rider in the BF who wasn't already in the SGP series. Â Believe me or believe me not, there is no bias towards Chris Harris. He was awarded the place because BSI and the FIM believe he is the right and most suitable choice. I have yet to hear a convincing argument for anyone else... Was that the same October that BSI decided that Harris would no longer a permanent wild card? I love watching Harris, but there is no question that he has been the biggest benefactor of the commercial aspect of the Grand Prix series. If I remember rightly wasn't Nicholls a semi finalist last year if it weren't for a re-run? Personally I believe the decision to award Harris the wild card was a done decision last October, with the likelihood the nobody was going to be good enough to make this a seriously unfair decision. Â It worries me more what BSI's strategy going forward is. If you are going to hand pick a wild card, then for the sake of the future, priority must go to an up and coming youngster. I accept there is nobody who is probably ready yet. But there comes a point when a progressing youngster should get the chance even whilst Harris remains the better rider. Sadly I suspect commercial decisions will override that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhead Posted May 7, 2013 Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 A Wildcard is exactly that,we had the chance to see a different face,weather through qualification or not  BSI might have bought the series but anyone would've thought they'd have done what would go down best with the public??  I can't really see any complete logic,you could easily have put ED or Scottie in afterall,or indeed see any alterior motive for the descision or even a big sponsor pushing or backing the move..   Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted May 7, 2013 Report Share Posted May 7, 2013 Was that the same October that BSI decided that Harris would no longer a permanent wild card? I love watching Harris, but there is no question that he has been the biggest benefactor of the commercial aspect of the Grand Prix series. If I remember rightly wasn't Nicholls a semi finalist last year if it weren't for a re-run? Personally I believe the decision to award Harris the wild card was a done decision last October, with the likelihood the nobody was going to be good enough to make this a seriously unfair decision. Â It worries me more what BSI's strategy going forward is. If you are going to hand pick a wild card, then for the sake of the future, priority must go to an up and coming youngster. I accept there is nobody who is probably ready yet. But there comes a point when a progressing youngster should get the chance even whilst Harris remains the better rider. Sadly I suspect commercial decisions will override that. Â The wild card is not there to develop a nations riding talent, it is simply a means by which the organiser can seek to maximise his crowd potential. Â In the case of Cardiff, Gothenburg and Copenhagen BSI, as promoters, in conjunction with the FIM (in truth simply BSI) get to pick that rider. Â That is how it should be, those with there money on the line make that choice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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