Wild Cards 2014

[fullbore]

So not Nicki when he won his first title in 2003?

 

Nicki had been a GP rider for a few seasons prior though.

 

Nicki that year, last year and now Tai are proof that the wildcard system is better than 100% qualifiers. Probably others too.

 

It's true that the qualifiers have resulted in some very iffy riders getting a GP slot, but so have the picks and even the top eight.

 

Niamh

[salty]

A lot were saying that last year

True, but last year the pick was to ensure one Brit in the series. No way will a 2nd Brit get picked this year.

 

Will Tomasz's sponsorship from Monster help him get a pick if he requires/wants one?

Edited August 19, 2013 by salty

[pandorum]

Why should Laguta brothers receive wild cards?

 

They didn't even bother to participate in qualifications for next year GP

So what?

[Gavan]

Lindgren will probably get a pick as he will maybe be 9th/10th and hasnt really been 100% fit at certain times.

Jonasson isnt a gp rider at all.

Janowski is a possible.

MJJ doesnt deserve a gp slot.

 

A lot will depend on the challenge but Holder will obviously get 1.

 

Can see the other 3 being Lindgren, Laguta, Janowski/Dudek depending on the challenge result.

There isnt a Brit who deserves a full time wildcard.

 

If Ward stays on his bike he will make top 8 if not then he obviously will need a wildcard.

 

Gollobs heart isnt in it thats obvious and i would like to see this legend retire gracefully rather then not give a stuff

[Gavan]

Only TNT wants to see Lindgren in the GP series, He's a poor rider.

 

Jonasson deserves his chance for the Swedes as Lindgren flatters to deceive.

is this the same Lindgren that has been in the top of the elite league averages for a number of years?

A gp regular for years and a gp winner?

 

Jonasson is an elite league second string just come from reserve

[Gavan]

I'm not one for Ward getting a wild-card, He's failed to qualify automatically for the last 2 years and he's been relying on a wild-card rather than entering the GP qualifying series.

 

Only GP qualifier participants should get wild-card picks so also tough luck to Holder in my opinion.

Nope Bjerre and Hougaard maybe even North should be in instead of Holder and Ward!

[JT]

There is competition for that final WC though as despite 99% of us thinking a Harris wild card cant be viable I am certain he will be at least shortlisted (unless King qualifies) as Cardiff is the golden goose and they want bums on seats........... Vaculik no doubt has a longer career ahead but he isnt outscoring what Bomber usually scores and Chris means more to the organisers.......... tough on Vaculik but we have seen this before with the likes of Zagar

 

It doesn't bear thinking about....

 

Post 2010, I can't think of a single reason to justify even short-listing Chris Harris. It was bad enough they handed him a wild card for Cardiff on a plate, YET another series wild card would be completely farcical. I think it's safe to say his time at this level has passed now, and unless he sorts out his gating, his speed around the bends and his speed on the straights (and his machinery) and actually bothers to qualify by right, I can't see him ever being a full time rider in the series again.

 

JT.

[spook]

It doesn't bear thinking about....

 

Post 2010, I can't think of a single reason to justify even short-listing Chris Harris. It was bad enough they handed him a wild card for Cardiff on a plate, YET another series wild card would be completely farcical. I think it's safe to say his time at this level has passed now, and unless he sorts out his gating, his speed around the bends and his speed on the straights (and his machinery) and actually bothers to qualify by right, I can't see him ever being a full time rider in the series again.

 

JT.

 

but do you trust that IMG feel the same way? They have a history of square blocking a Brit in the wildcards........... and going back to the days when we had 2 or 3 of standard

 

I really wouldnt put it past them

[INCOGNITO]

Chris Holder is a guaranteed wild card for 2014 and with Iversen now winning the Challenge, 9th place will get in automatically and not Smolinski who finished fourth in the Challenge.

 

The top seven are pretty obvious so it looks like it's between Gollob and Lindgren who gets the last automatic place for next year.

 

Gollob or Lindgren will join Holder as wild cards and Bjerre and Kasprzak have qualified so there is three more wild cards to allocate with Dudek andJepsen Jensen most likely to be given a chance. That leaves just one place left and that will most likely go to another Swedish rider.

[racers and royals]

Chris Holder is a guaranteed wild card for 2014 and with Iversen now winning the Challenge, 9th place will get in automatically and not Smolinski who finished fourth in the Challenge.

 

The top seven are pretty obvious so it looks like it's between Gollob and Lindgren who gets the last automatic place for next year.

 

Gollob or Lindgren will join Holder as wild cards and Bjerre and Kasprzak have qualified so there is three more wild cards to allocate with Dudek andJepsen Jensen most likely to be given a chance. That leaves just one place left and that will most likely go to another Swedish rider.

Why are you writing such rubbish-it has already been established in the FIM rules that if someone who finishes in the top 8 of the GP also finishes in the top 3 of the challenge-then 4th in the challenge will be promoted into the GP series. Edited August 25, 2013 by racers and royals

[waiheke1]

So after the GP Challenge, and with the top 8 looking reasonably settled (barring injuries or a late surge by Gollob), I reckon the wildcards are looking like this:

1. Holder
   

2. A Pole. I think Gollob has to be the first option here, he's still one of the top dozen riders in the world, capable of winning any GP on his day, World Cahmp only three seasons ago, and having been a top 8 finisher for the last countless seasons. Yes, he's looked dis-interested at times, but I think once you've been World Champ, it must be hard to motivate yourself to really scrap it out for 8th place. If not Gollob, then one of the young Poles will get the spot, my choice would be Dudek (best of the yonug Poles in both Poland and Sweden this seasons) or Janowski (strong SC perfomances and previously under 21 world champion).

3. A swede (probably Freddie, but possibly AJ, THJ or Lindback). You can make arguments for each of these, to me Freddie is the choice having been the top Swede in the GPs for the last two seasons, and top Sweded in the Swedish aveerages. AJ would be my second pick, Swedish Cahmpion again, top Swede in Poland, and of course runner-up a couple of seasons back, even though that is now looking very much like a "one off." After the seaon he's had this year, Lindback would really only get back in for commercial reasosn one would think. THJ is a possibility, but I'm not convinced he will actually progress much beyond the level AJ and Freddie are out now.

 

4. The final place is the question mark. On merit, you;'d surely have to give it to G Laguta, ho for the past to seasons has been the best rider outside of the GPs. However, his withdrwal from the SWC, failure to compete in the qualifiers, and hiostory of having been ignored for WC picks, suggests that he may well miss out again. The same would probably also then apply to Artem, who seems a much better rider than he was in his GP series a couple of seasons back.

If not a Russian, then one of the young Poles would be my pick. But it's hard to see BSI giving two WC slots to the same country, especially when that would take them to four places.

MJJ would be my next pick, freed from the shackles of his stalker I hoped he'd qualify from the Challenge, as it is he may well miss out due to the fact that there are three Danes in the series allready.

A second Swede could be an option, as both Freddie and AJ would rank in the top 20 riders in the world, but as above I can't see one bnation getting to picks.

Troy Batchelor would be my next pick, another ho would probably rank in the top 20 in the world, good seasons in domestic leagues, not far outside the qualifying spots in the Challenge and a decent SWC. But again, I can't see one country getting two wild card picks.

Vaculik could be an option, based more on potential and his 2012 GP efforts than this year, where asrguably the pressure of being a full time GP rider, and the increased quality fo field this year, have seen him finish ahead of Lindback and an injury affected AJ. So, he's a possibility, but no real compelling argument s in his favour.

The Latvian's were the surprise packets of the SWC, but no individual has really stood out enough for a pick.

So, that really leaves one likely candidate, a rider who narrowly missed out in GP qualifying, has famously won a GP previously, performed creditably enough in the SWC, and who comes from a proud speedway nation which has the biggest attendance of any of the GPs, and which has only one rider already in the series....

[Mark]

So after the GP Challenge, and with the top 8 looking reasonably settled (barring injuries or a late surge by Gollob), I reckon the wildcards are looking like this:

 

The top 8 settled ? Cant agree.

 

Holder has 82pts and lies currently in 8th

 

below Holder are

 

Gollob 73

Ward 68

Lindgren 65

KK 62

 

Holder will remain on 82 so will drop out the top 8. Zagar on 84 so he isn't safe yet and will need 3 decent GPs.

 

Anyone from Gollob to KK could overtake Holder and maybe Zagar if he has a poor last month

 

Ward is getting about 11 points a GP on average so he'll be top 8 bar a calamity. Gollob has Torun to come. Plenty to ride for in 3 GPs.

[waiheke1]

To clarify, i assumed the only movement to current top 8 is holder being replaced by ward. barring injuries, the only way i can service this changing is a surge in form by gollob and zagar or hancock having a major drop in form.

Can't see kk being motivated enough now his place next year is secure.

Of course, if gollob did make top 8, then i think the wild card picks would be more straight forward, with whoever dropped out of the 8 getting the final pick. though there may be a reluctance to give a fourth spot to a pole and therefore there still be a spot up for grabs.

And of course if kk did make top 8, then bomber would be in the series next year anyway.

[The White Knight]

To clarify, i assumed the only movement to current top 8 is holder being replaced by ward. barring injuries, the only way i can service this changing is a surge in form by gollob and zagar or hancock having a major drop in form.

Can't see kk being motivated enough now his place next year is secure.

Of course, if gollob did make top 8, then i think the wild card picks would be more straight forward, with whoever dropped out of the 8 getting the final pick. though there may be a reluctance to give a fourth spot to a pole and therefore there still be a spot up for grabs.

And of course if kk did make top 8, then bomber would be in the series next year anyway.

 

I just LOVE this GIVE a spot to a Pole.

 

They should bl**dy QUALIFY!!! :angry:

 

No matter what nationality they are.

[waiheke1]

 

 

I just LOVE this GIVE a spot to a Pole.

 

They should bl**dy QUALIFY!!! :angry:

 

No matter what nationality they are.

i know you have strong views on this, but in essence they are qualifying on the basis of their performances over a whole season (its just that the qualifying criteria are somewhat vague).

but its a system which undoubtedly ensures a higher standard of field than knock out qualification - in both the last two seasons we have had a wild card battling for the title

and the wild card picks consistently out perform those who qualify via the qualifying meetings.

Edited September 2, 2013 by waihekeaces1

[The White Knight]

i know you have strong views on this, but in essence they are qualifying on the basis of their performances over a whole season (its just that the qualifying criteria are somewhat vague).

but its a system which undoubtedly ensures a higher standard of field than knock out qualification - in both the last two seasons we have had a wild card battling for the title

and the wild card picks consistently out perform those who qualify via the qualifying meetings.

 

YOU may well be right - BUT - it still does not make the arbitrary gifting of a place MORALLY RIGHT - or - for that matter FAIR.

 

I know that I do go on about this - but - it really does bug me.

 

Sorry.

[SCB]

 

 

I just LOVE this GIVE a spot to a Pole.

 

They should bl**dy QUALIFY!!! :angry:

 

No matter what nationality they are.

But then Tai would not be heading towards a likely World Title now and Nicki would have 1 less World Title (and be missing a silver medal). Emil got a 3rd from a nomination too. Ok there been some crud get wildcards too but generally they do better than the qualifiers. Last season Bomber, the worst of the 4 wildcards beat 2 of the 3 qualifiers.

 

That said, I would prefer that unless there was good reason too (injury basically) that the wildcard slots generally went to 9th/10th in the GPs and 4th/5th in the qualifier. If that was the case Bomber would have qualified an extra 2 times.

[Mark]

Lots of easy points available with Emil & Holder out the series due to injury. Top men could get big scores due to lack of quality opposition.

 

Dryml for Emil hardly a fair swap.

[SCB]

Lots of easy points available with Emil & Holder out the series due to injury. Top men could get big scores due to lack of quality opposition.

 

Dryml for Emil hardly a fair swap.

Dryml if fit will replace Holder if he's fit. If he's still out, then Leon Madsen and Troy Batchelor will replace Holder and Sayfutdinov. Let hope Ales' collar bone stay broken for a few more days.

[racers and royals]

The more I see him race the more I think Grigori Laguta would be a welcome addition to the GP scene. Have either of the brothers ridden in the UK ? and if not does anyone know if their absence is due to visa timing or something else (they have no problem getting into Sweden and Denmark ). It surely is imperative that someone picked as a wildcard is available to do every round.

Edited September 4, 2013 by racers and royals