PHILIPRISING Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 (edited) Hancock and crowd puller in the same sentence?! Yikkes! Nice guy yeah but doesn't mean people want to pay to see him ride. I'd pick both Pawlickis, MJJ and both Lagutas over him. THINK you may be the exception to the rule but, no matter, each to his own. Personally, I get a thrill just watching Greg ride in practice. The master of his art.The perfect example to put in front of any aspiring speedway rider and tell them "that's the way to do it." Charisma isn't about what you do on the track but off it and, again, my belief is that Greg has it in spades. In all my time of interviewing sportsmen (not just in speedway) Greg was by far the easiest... fire one question and let him get on with it for an hour or so! Would also agree that the best riders aren't always the most charismatic and, conversely, those with huge personalities and ability to inter-act with the fans aren't always the best riders. From my own time in the sport riders like John Davis and Bert Harkins were prime examples of the latter. Edited May 11, 2014 by PHILIPRISING Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 Martin Smolinski is a crowd puller here in Germany. He certainly polarizies, some love him, some hate him. He certainly 'polarised' Darcy Ward!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phillipsr Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 Greg Hancock and excitement in the same sentence!!!!! Him and Bjerre are the most sinfully boring riders to watch in speedway. Greg seems a nice bloke but id rather watch a tin of emulsion dry on the wall 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 Greg Hancock and excitement in the same sentence!!!!! Him and Bjerre are the most sinfully boring riders to watch in speedway. Greg seems a nice bloke but id rather watch a tin of emulsion dry on the wall ONE man's meat is another man's poison... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluPanther Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 ONE man's meat is another man's poison... Greg is more like luke warm cabbage soup on the excitement menu ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falcon Hammer Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 Martin Smolinski is a crowd puller here in Germany. He certainly polarizies, some love him, some hate him. Personally I think the guy is great. Not one of the most gifted riders, but 100% trier on and off the track. After finishing each race, in the GP Challenge at Poole last year, he acknowledged his fans on the 2nd bend; and after the meeting, when everyone else was packing up, he was with them, chatting, posing for photos & hugging them - just love his enthusiasm Martin even dressed up in lederhosen for a clip during the Pairs meeting in Landshut. Good luck for the rest of the season Martin - a welcome addition to the SGP 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theknow 2 Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 BEEN over this before. The inclusion of Harris in the series was nothing to do with BSI. When Gollob withdrew the FIM's own rules came into play and Harris, like it or not, was next in line from the Challenge. Sadly, the reality is that there are a number of riders along with Harris in the series this year who, so far, have looked well below the desired standard which only goes to amplify the loss of Gollob and Sayfutdinov in my opinion. We all know this but maybe the rules should be changed so we dont have useless no hopers in what is meant to be the elite of riders in the elite series BUT who are they? That remains the 64,000 dollar question... Anyone but Harris !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 We all know this but maybe the rules should be changed so we dont have useless no hopers in what is meant to be the elite of riders in the elite series All that's needed is a rule excluding Harris forever... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 THINK you may be the exception to the rule but, no matter, each to his own. Personally, I get a thrill just watching Greg ride in practice. The master of his art.The perfect example to put in front of any aspiring speedway rider and tell them "that's the way to do it." Charisma isn't about what you do on the track but off it and, again, my belief is that Greg has it in spades. In all my time of interviewing sportsmen (not just in speedway) Greg was by far the easiest... fire one question and let him get on with it for an hour or so! Would also agree that the best riders aren't always the most charismatic and, conversely, those with huge personalities and ability to inter-act with the fans aren't always the best riders. From my own time in the sport riders like John Davis and Bert Harkins were prime examples of the latter. But I watch speedway for the speedway. Not there charisma off a bike. Maybe thats why I don't give two hoots about Smolinski and Hancock who may be nice guys but I find pretty boring. Give me a thick as rubbish, rubbish at PR rider who goes out and is exciting on track. Oh and there was a thread on here in the last 3 or 4 months. Most agreed, Greg was pants to watch and most were really not that fussed about it. As I said at the time, on that very thread, imagine you had a race with 4 Greg Hancocks and another race with 4 Nicki Pedersens - which would you watch? Now 4 Gregs vs 4 MJJs? or 4 Gregs and 4 Pawlickis? Or 4 Gregs and 4 Lagutas? Honestly, I'd not watch Greg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryW Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Give me a thick as rubbish, rubbish at PR rider who goes out and is exciting on track.So...Darcy then? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 So...Darcy then? Can't stand him, think he's an arse, he's lose a popularity contest in my World against pretty much anyone. But as a speedway rider, he's exactly what I want to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Can't stand him, think he's an arse, he's lose a popularity contest in my World against pretty much anyone. But as a speedway rider, he's exactly what I want to see. AND exactly how long have you spent in his company? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markw40 Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Darcy is a total tool. no doubt about it. If you spend 10 mins within 100 yards of him especially when drink is involved whether it be in cardiff or especially Torun where he walks on water then you would come to this conclusion. Damn fine speedway rider though and about the most exciting there is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 AND exactly how long have you spent in his company? Surely this is what SCB is saying, he doesn't care what sort of blokes they are socially, it's how they race that he cares about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 AND exactly how long have you spent in his company? Erm, as much as I have with Greg. Who apparently I should love because he's a nice guy. You may want to put that gun down and see a doctor about that huge hole in your foot. Thank you and Good night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Surely this is what SCB is saying, he doesn't care what sort of blokes they are socially, it's how they race that he cares about? NOT quite. I fully agree that it is what riders do on the track that puts bums on seats, which was my original point. Who is there to replace crowd-pullers like Rickardsson and Gollob for Sweden and Poland? I would actually pay money to watch a craftsman like Hancock at work but we beg to differ on that one. Each to his own. But he and markw40 have also made personal attacks on Darcy Ward. I truly believe that the Darcy of today is very different to the Darcy of a year or two back. I very much doubt that he is an angel 24 hours a day but having spent some time with him in the restaurant at the Tampere hotel over the weekend, found him much more articulate, well-balanced and sensible. Speak as you find... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theknow 2 Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 NOT quite. I fully agree that it is what riders do on the track that puts bums on seats, which was my original point. Who is there to replace crowd-pullers like Rickardsson and Gollob for Sweden and Poland? I would actually pay money to watch a craftsman like Hancock at work but we beg to differ on that one. Each to his own. But he and markw40 have also made personal attacks on Darcy Ward. I truly believe that the Darcy of today is very different to the Darcy of a year or two back. I very much doubt that he is an angel 24 hours a day but having spent some time with him in the restaurant at the Tampere hotel over the weekend, found him much more articulate, well-balanced and sensible. Speak as you find... Comes with age 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 Can't stand him, think he's an arse, he's lose a popularity contest in my World against pretty much anyone. But as a speedway rider, he's exactly what I want to see. So if you're only interested in his on-track exploits, why continue to post opinions as to his off-track demeanour - its clearly not relevant to your argument!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwalker Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 (edited) NOT quite. I fully agree that it is what riders do on the track that puts bums on seats, which was my original point. Who is there to replace crowd-pullers like Rickardsson and Gollob for Sweden and Poland? I would actually pay money to watch a craftsman like Hancock at work but we beg to differ on that one. Each to his own. But he and markw40 have also made personal attacks on Darcy Ward. I truly believe that the Darcy of today is very different to the Darcy of a year or two back. I very much doubt that he is an angel 24 hours a day but having spent some time with him in the restaurant at the Tampere hotel over the weekend, found him much more articulate, well-balanced and sensible. Speak as you find... I speaks for itself that you cannot compare someone like Darcy or Emil or Tai or Premyslaw Pawlicki who are at the beginning of their (GP-)careers with riders who have spent 15-20-25 years in the SGP and just as much time as one of the worlds top riders. Comeback 10 years from now and ask the same queation. Edited May 19, 2014 by Ghostwalker 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILIPRISING Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 I speaks for itself that you cannot compare someone like Darcy or Emil or Tai or Premyslaw Pawlicki who are at the beginning of their (GP-)careers with riders who have spent 15-20-25 years in the SGP and just as much time as one of the worlds top riders. Comeback 10 years from now and ask the same queation. OF course you can ... not talking about achievement but how thrilling they are to watch. Saw Rickardsson in his first World Final and Gollob in his first GP ... as entertaining then as they were years and years later. You've either got it or you haven't. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.