RPNY Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Firstly I think it should only be the top 7 that qualify for the next year. Then 4 WC's and 4 qualifiers. Or go back to the 24 rider format. Personally thought it made for better viewing anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 (edited) Oh dear. And make it a closed shop? What a great idea, so nobody, apart from a select 15 would ever have a chance to win the world championship unless BSI decree that they are commercially viable. Although I understand your sentiment, it's somewhat ironic on a Grand Prix thread about Chris Harris, a rider who has benefited more than anyone from being 'commercially viable' in the eyes of BSI. I'd go as far and saying Harris owes his entire Grand Prix career to the fact he was British at a time when we had very little international talent. That's not an affront to Harris; I perfectly understand why he jumped at the opportunity to ride on the international stage, not just for the prestige, but also the unique (and almost certainly lucrative) sponsorship opportunities that arose out of this arrangement. In a relatively short career who would blame him for capitalising on the generosity of the organisers? I don't think anyone on this thread is questioning that Harris has (finally) qualified from the Grand Prix Challenge, in that sense he deserves to ride in the series next year. What's frustrating for those of us who want to see genuinely world class riders in the GP's, is that Harris has had one decent (brilliant in this instance, 13 points in Lonigo was a great achievement, but he wasn't exceptional in the previous rounds, although I acknowledge he just did enough) international level meeting on foreign soil this year, and he finds himself back in a series where he has been nothing short of woeful this season. The guy has effectively had a 'free ride' in the GP's for years thanks to Wild Cards, giving him time to do the following; suss out set ups for the various tracks, build up a sponsorship base thanks to unprecedented TV exposure invest in good machinery work on his back up team improve his starting technique by riding alongside the best Given the above, can anyone honestly say that Harris has taken full advantage of the golden opportunities he has been given? I'm sorry but, "he didn't have much time to prepare this season", doesn't wash when other riders (Batchelor in his rookie year and Jepsen Jensen) have coped relatively well at short notice. In 2007 he won a GP, and was just pipped to a place in the top 8. Great, that's what these Wild Cards are for, and it was hard to argue against his inclusion the following season. At the tail end of 2010 he was freakishly fast and qualified by right for 2011. In every other season however he has been a failure to one extent or the other, culminating in one of the worst full time Grand Prix seasons I've ever witnessed this year. It's up to Harris if he rides next season, he's qualified, and I wouldn't blame him for accepting his place; as SCB pointed out, it must be incredible to travel the world and be paid for the pleasure, but I can't help but think we'll witness the same sorry saga all over again. Whist I congratulate him on his achievement, I can't say I'm looking forward to the prospect of Harris in the 2015 GP series. JT. Edited October 2, 2014 by JT 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Although I understand your sentiment, it's somewhat ironic on a Grand Prix thread about Chris Harris, a rider who has benefited more than anyone from being 'commercially viable' in the eyes of BSI. I'd go as far and saying Harris owes his entire Grand Prix career to the fact he was British at a time when we had very little international talent. Lets look at his GP and GP qualifier history 2007 he finished 9th losing a run-off with the guys in 7th and 8th so without wildcards would have probably got a place. 2008 he finished 13. Yeah. I'll chose to ignore this season, it doesn't suit my argument 2009 he finished 5th in the challenge so 2nd reserve bur Freddie was 1st reserve and he finished 9th in the series. Without wildcards Bomber would have probably qualified. 2010 he finished joint 5th (technically 6th on count back - why no count back in 2007 though?) in the World. 2011 he finished 11th. Didn't do the qualifiers. Yeah. Not good BUT the following season the Poles limited GP riders and Hans Andersen who finished 14th in the qualifiers got in! Bombers 11th in the GP series trumps that 2012 he finished 12. Messed up the qualis but didnt get back in the year after. 2013 he finished 5th in the qualifier. Without wildcards that would probably be enough. As it was 2 riders quit and one rider qualified twice so he got in. 2014 he finished 3rd in the qualis and made it. So in all them season only twice would he have not qualified, 2009 (based on 2008 results) and 2012 (based on '11) but 2012 was a bit of a farce anyway. So by all means, discount his wildcards but then he qualified more times than he failed. Still not a great record but not as bad as some think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPNY Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Somehow there's logic in that SCB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 (edited) Chris considering a new engine engine for his 2015 campaign Edited October 13, 2014 by A ORLOV 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OveFundinFan Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 probably slow out of the gate, but once he got going there will be no stopping him. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 probably slow out of the gate, but once he got going there will be no stopping him.Certainly should have no problem getting some grip out of the track with that set up,he's slow out of the gate anyway so there is nothing to worry about there.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytsejam Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 Lets look at his GP and GP qualifier history 2007 he finished 9th losing a run-off with the guys in 7th and 8th so without wildcards would have probably got a place. 2008 he finished 13. Yeah. I'll chose to ignore this season, it doesn't suit my argument 2009 he finished 5th in the challenge so 2nd reserve bur Freddie was 1st reserve and he finished 9th in the series. Without wildcards Bomber would have probably qualified. 2010 he finished joint 5th (technically 6th on count back - why no count back in 2007 though?) in the World. 2011 he finished 11th. Didn't do the qualifiers. Yeah. Not good BUT the following season the Poles limited GP riders and Hans Andersen who finished 14th in the qualifiers got in! Bombers 11th in the GP series trumps that 2012 he finished 12. Messed up the qualis but didnt get back in the year after. 2013 he finished 5th in the qualifier. Without wildcards that would probably be enough. As it was 2 riders quit and one rider qualified twice so he got in. 2014 he finished 3rd in the qualis and made it. So in all them season only twice would he have not qualified, 2009 (based on 2008 results) and 2012 (based on '11) but 2012 was a bit of a farce anyway. So by all means, discount his wildcards but then he qualified more times than he failed. Still not a great record but not as bad as some think. Not to mention that in both 2013 AND 2014 he only even got into the "Qualifier final" through the back door!!...ALL you stats show is that he is arguably the LUCKIEST and most underserved rider to have been in the actual GP's on a regular basis, ever!! Another season of GP embarrassments lay ahead for him, but hey, he's not going to worry about that whilst he's making money from it (and to be fair, who can blame him!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted November 18, 2014 Report Share Posted November 18, 2014 (edited) Not to mention that in both 2013 AND 2014 he only even got into the "Qualifier final" through the back door!!...ALL you stats show is that he is arguably the LUCKIEST and most underserved rider to have been in the actual GP's on a regular basis, ever!! Another season of GP embarrassments lay ahead for him, but hey, he's not going to worry about that whilst he's making money from it (and to be fair, who can blame him!) In 2014 there was no back door. He qualified by rights. I accept 2013 was a bit (ahem!) dodgy. And its not a "season of GP embarrassments". He qualified, whats embarrassing is none of the other riders int he World (aside from the 10 who qualified) could do anything about it. If he was so bad they would have done, right? What my stats show is he often finished 6-9th in a GP series or as one of the two reserves. So if there was no such thing as a wildcard and instead the top 10 GP riders qualified and the top 5 from the qualifiers then he'd have qualified more times than not. The wildcards were given to him as it would have been unfair to give someone who had not performed as well as him in the GPs or the qualifiers a place. Edited November 18, 2014 by SCB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SPEEDY69 Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 (edited) In 2014 there was no back door. He qualified by rights. I accept 2013 was a bit (ahem!) dodgy. And its not a "season of GP embarrassments". He qualified, whats embarrassing is none of the other riders int he World (aside from the 10 who qualified) could do anything about it. If he was so bad they would have done, right? What my stats show is he often finished 6-9th in a GP series or as one of the two reserves. So if there was no such thing as a wildcard and instead the top 10 GP riders qualified and the top 5 from the qualifiers then he'd have qualified more times than not. The wildcards were given to him as it would have been unfair to give someone who had not performed as well as him in the GPs or the qualifiers a place. 1st bold section: Not quite true though is it - he was only a reserve for the challenge final and only by luck did one of the qualifiers not take their place which then promoted him in to the final. 2nd bold section: Again not true though. Not all riders get the opportunity as those in the qualifiers are there only due to being selected by their country in the first place. No issues with him being in the series next year though because he took advantage of that chance and I wish him the best of luck - the more Brits in there the better. Edited November 20, 2014 by SPEEDY69 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwalker Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 (edited) 2013 he finished 5th in the qualifier. Without wildcards that would probably be enough. As it was 2 riders quit and one rider qualified twice so he got in. Nope. He was knocked out in the first round of the qualifiers, finished among the last and then got a charity pick since Zagar conveniently had pulled out. Edited November 20, 2014 by Ghostwalker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucifer sam Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 (edited) Nope. He was knocked out in the first round of the qualifiers, finished among the last and then got a charity pick since Zagar conveniently had pulled out. He agreed to be second reserve at Poole, something that several other riders had already turned down. More fool them! Bomber's route back into the GP was a little through the backdoor, although to be fair, he did put in a very good performance at Wimborne Road. But, for the 2015 series he is a bona fide qualifier and I can't see how anyone can have a problem with that. All the best Rob Edited November 20, 2014 by lucifer sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostwalker Posted November 20, 2014 Report Share Posted November 20, 2014 Sam, which riders turned it down? Pavlic and? Most other riders ahead of Harris was not asked so he did not qualify on merit for 2014. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 (edited) It doesn't matter what Chris Harris has done or may do. When "the BSF knives" are out there is no respite - as is also being seen here in the thread about Darcy Ward. And in the past for Michael Lee. Edited December 2, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theknow 2 Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 Iy doesn't matter what Chris Harris has done or may do. When "the BSF knives" are out there is no respite - as is also being seen here in the thread about Darcy Ward. And in the past for Michael Lee. Dont know about Knives. Ward failed Test. Bomber serial failure. Both the truth !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted December 1, 2014 Report Share Posted December 1, 2014 Dont know about Knives. Ward failed Test. Bomber serial failure. Both the truth !!!! How is he a serial failure?he has won a GP hasn't he god whenever i have seen Chris he always gives his best and is a real racer.For the life of me i cannot believe the s... Bomber gets on this forum unreal to be honest. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 2, 2014 Report Share Posted December 2, 2014 It doesn't matter what Chris Harris has done or may do. When "the BSF knives" are out there is no respite - as is also being seen here in the thread about Darcy Ward. And in the past for Michael Lee. Dont know about Knives. Ward failed Test. Bomber serial failure. Both the truth !!!! How is he a serial failure?he has won a GP hasn't he god whenever i have seen Chris he always gives his best and is a real racer.For the life of me i cannot believe the s... Bomber gets on this forum unreal to be honest. Sidney - always bear in mind - "This is the BSF...!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theknow 2 Posted December 3, 2014 Report Share Posted December 3, 2014 How is he a serial failure?he has won a GP hasn't he god whenever i have seen Chris he always gives his best and is a real racer.For the life of me i cannot believe the s... Bomber gets on this forum unreal to be honest. Look at his record, no need to say anymore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted December 6, 2014 Report Share Posted December 6, 2014 Look at his record, no need to say anymore He has won a GP not that bad eh! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sommelier Posted December 6, 2014 Report Share Posted December 6, 2014 How is he a serial failure?he has won a GP hasn't he god whenever i have seen Chris he always gives his best and is a real racer.For the life of me i cannot believe the s... Bomber gets on this forum unreal to be honest. Totally agree with you Sidney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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