Will Ward Win A World Title Within The Next Five Years A Simple Yes Or No.?

[waiheke1]

It is a fact that Hancock and Pedersen were better than Gollob the stats over a number of years prove that.

Fluke 1 off world titles happen, Jerzy, Muller spring to mind.

That's an opinion not a fact. It's an opinion strongly supported by facts, but its still an opinion.

Would also disagree that Muller's title was a fluke - he was a very very good rider. Of course he wouldn't have been world champ under a gp system, and quite clearly was not as good a rider as Adams - but you do him a disservice in your post.

[van wolfswinkel]

Don't see why Wardo cant be champion, superb natural talent on a bike, have been lucky enough to watch him ride for Swindon recently, same as Robins legends Briggo and Adams, stalks his prey and blasts past them with ease. has the audacity to do wheelies during a race, expert team-rider, and picks his lines well. The only thing that could stop him achieving success is him, attitude and behaviour, which seems to be improving. Likes chatting to the fans at Blunsdon, when permitted.

[Reviresco]

Muller's title may not have been a fluke and he may have been a (very very) good rider but, imo, he would not have won the 1983 title if it had been held in any other country than Germany.

 

Witnessing his performance in the World Pairs final that year against Sanders' and others, shows the home advantages he enjoyed that day in Norden, again imo, had a huge impact on the result.

 

One of the factors that, I think, is overlooked in Gollob's GP performances was the immense pressure he was under from his fellow countrymen to bring a World Championship back to Poland for the first time since 1973 - more so, imo, than any other rider in the series and, just maybe, having more than one GP per season in Poland was more of a hindrance than a help.

 

I feel very privileged to have watched Gollob ride on all sizes of tracks, be it in the GPs or during his spell with the Witches.

 

As for Darcy, if he gets back into the series within the next 5 years - probably he will win one, but another rider who may have had a better chance under the one off system than the GPs.

[sommelier]

Muller's title may not have been a fluke and he may have been a (very very) good rider but, imo, he would not have won the 1983 title if it had been held in any other country than Germany.

 

Witnessing his performance in the World Pairs final that year against Sanders' and others, shows the home advantages he enjoyed that day in Norden, again imo, had a huge impact on the result.

 

One of the factors that, I think, is overlooked in Gollob's GP performances was the immense pressure he was under from his fellow countrymen to bring a World Championship back to Poland for the first time since 1973 - more so, imo, than any other rider in the series and, just maybe, having more than one GP per season in Poland was more of a hindrance than a help.

 

I feel very privileged to have watched Gollob ride on all sizes of tracks, be it in the GPs or during his spell with the Witches.

 

As for Darcy, if he gets back into the series within the next 5 years - probably he will win one, but another rider who may have had a better chance under the one off system than the GPs.

Very good post, and you are spot on the amount of pressure that was put on Gollob

[Guest]

Muller's title may not have been a fluke and he may have been a (very very) good rider but, imo, he would not have won the 1983 title if it had been held in any other country than Germany.

 

Witnessing his performance in the World Pairs final that year against Sanders' and others, shows the home advantages he enjoyed that day in Norden, again imo, had a huge impact on the result.

 

One of the factors that, I think, is overlooked in Gollob's GP performances was the immense pressure he was under from his fellow countrymen to bring a World Championship back to Poland for the first time since 1973 - more so, imo, than any other rider in the series and, just maybe, having more than one GP per season in Poland was more of a hindrance than a help.

 

I feel very privileged to have watched Gollob ride on all sizes of tracks, be it in the GPs or during his spell with the Witches.

 

As for Darcy, if he gets back into the series within the next 5 years - probably he will win one, but another rider who may have had a better chance under the one off system than the GPs.

 

Like all those Wembley-staged world finals won by British-based rider for so many years? It cuts all ways doesn't it? Especially when one analyses how Wembley riders won the title - Lionel Van Praag, Tommy Price and Freddie Williams for example.

Edited August 22, 2015 by Guest

[Reviresco]

Just goes to show, imo, how much advantage Muller enjoyed on that day in Norden.

[sommelier]

Just goes to show, imo, how much advantage Muller enjoyed on that day in Norden.

Yes, while i do agree with your post, but Muller was flying that year!

[Reviresco]

Muller certainly flew at Norden that year.

 

Also remember seeing him scoring 6pts from 5 rides in the World Pairs Final at Ullevi that year. A score bettered by all but 2 other riders in that meeting.

 

I just feel that Muller would not have won in 1983 if the Final had been held in any other country that year, whether he was flying or not.

 

(On the old 3 year rota system, of course, the World Final would have been due to have been held in Ullevi in 1983.)

 

As regards all those British (and Wembley) riders who did not win at Wembley. They most likely wouldn't have won wherever the World Final was held.

 

Only my opinion of course.

 

History is history though and it will always tell us that Muller won a World Championship, Gollob won a GP series and, to date, Hancock and Pedersen have won more than one each.

[sommelier]

Muller certainly flew at Norden that year.

 

Also remember seeing him scoring 6pts from 5 rides in the World Pairs Final at Ullevi that year. A score bettered by all but 2 other riders in that meeting.

 

I just feel that Muller would not have won in 1983 if the Final had been held in any other country that year, whether he was flying or not.

 

(On the old 3 year rota system, of course, the World Final would have been due to have been held in Ullevi in 1983.)

 

As regards all those British (and Wembley) riders who did not win at Wembley. They most likely wouldn't have won wherever the World Final was held.

 

Only my opinion of course.

 

History is history though and it will always tell us that Muller won a World Championship, Gollob won a GP series and, to date, Hancock and Pedersen have won more than one each.

I was at Norden & that was the first time i ever saw the GM engine

[Reviresco]

Indeed, the GM was to prove to be the engine to be on from then on.

 

(Some of us tried to persuade a certain Australian rider to switch to GMs for the 1984 World Championships, but he went with his special, trusted 'out of the box' Weslake which was shown to be outdated by then. It would have been good to have seen him on one at the Overseas Final at Bradford in 1985, but it was not meant to be.)

 

By the by, in my previous post I didn't mean to denigrate any of the British (or Wembley) riders who qualified for, but failed to win, any Wembley World Final. All speedway riders hold my utmost respect and qualifying for a Final was a fantastic achievement.

[customhouseregular]

 

Like all those Wembley-staged world finals won by British-based rider for so many years? It cuts all ways doesn't it? Especially when one analyses how Wembley riders won the title - Lionel Van Praag, Tommy Price and Freddie Williams for example.

Don't forget gustix that pre 1981 just about anyone who was anyone rode for British teams, so it was practically certain Wembley finals would be won by British based riders. Pre 1961 all finals were held at Wembley so riders could not win anywhere else. In the early years Wembley staged league speedway so home advantage played a big part. What we will never know of course is if the rotation system had been in place from 1936, would LVP, TP and FW still have won.

[stratton]

Just goes to show, imo, how much advantage Muller enjoyed on that day in Norden.

I went Macca and i was really confident Lee would go close he had whipped Carter in the helmet and for about a month things were going great for him?We got to Norden at about 6 in the morning it was p....g down we all thought it has to be off Muller on the day was superb i still think Billy Sanders could of been more tougher on him in there race a great day out though.

It is a fact that Hancock and Pedersen were better than Gollob the stats over a number of years prove that.

Fluke 1 off world titles happen, Jerzy, Muller spring to mind. No way was either of them better than Leigh Adams they just had a lucky night or a good night. The difference is Hancock and Nicki have 3 each which quite clearly marks them down as better than Gollob.

Gollob definatly more exciting to watch but you seem to have trouble understanding that natural talent and exciting to watch doesnt make them a better rider.

Only your opinion which you find hard to separate from FACT my take on it for me Gollob his BEST EVER was better than Pedersen/Hancock.He did things on a motorcycle that not many could do beat a peak Rickardsson in 2002 a great meeting in Bydgoszcz and if i am honest Gollob underachieved bigtime often the pressure got to him.It would be great to know from Norbold,Gustix, iris/ Custom (ect) how they define greatness? Roll of Honour Longevity whatever but Gollob at his BEST was every bit as good as Pedersen/Hancock. Edited August 23, 2015 by sidney

[Gavan]

Sorry Sidney but you can't back up Gollob was better than the other 2. You seem transfixed about ability on a bike rather than actual achievement. As I said Gollob great to watch but as good as the other 2 not in my mind. Reminds me of how brilliant Jimmy White was to watch at snooker but yet he was never as good as Steve Davis just check the record books

[orion]

Pretty Simple ....Hancock ,Gollob and Pedersen rode in the same era in the same fair format and Hancock and Pedersen have better records and that was even with more Gp's being ridden in Poland . Being able to handle pressure is part of being a great sportsman so it's Gollob failed on that then so be it . the bottom line is Hancock and Pedersen were overall better .

[sommelier]

Pretty Simple ....Hancock ,Gollob and Pedersen rode in the same era in the same fair format and Hancock and Pedersen have better records and that was even with more Gp's being ridden in Poland . Being able to handle pressure is part of being a great sportsman so it's Gollob failed on that then so be it . the bottom line is Hancock and Pedersen were overall better .

Statistics don't lie, yes Hancock & Pedersen have achieved far more than Gollob. But Gollob in his prime & me as a paying spectator, i know who i would rather watch!

[The White Knight]

Statistics don't lie, yes Hancock & Pedersen have achieved far more than Gollob. But Gollob in his prime & me as a paying spectator, i know who i would rather watch!

Me too.

 

Jack Millen.

[orion]

Statistics don't lie, yes Hancock & Pedersen have achieved far more than Gollob. But Gollob in his prime & me as a paying spectator, i know who i would rather watch!

I Would rather have watched Jimmy White than Steve Davis at Snooker but Davis was by far the overall better player .

[sommelier]

I Would rather have watched Jimmy White than Steve Davis at Snooker but Davis was by far the overall better player .

True

[Gavan]

Statistics don't lie, yes Hancock & Pedersen have achieved far more than Gollob. But Gollob in his prime & me as a paying spectator, i know who i would rather watch!

I Would rather have watched Jimmy White than Steve Davis at Snooker but Davis was by far the overall better player .

I would rather watch Gollob all day long then Pedersen or Hancock but he wasnt the better rider.

 

I would rather have watched Mark Loram or Joe Screen in their heyday then most riders

[customhouseregular]

Kenny Carter, Christer Lofqvist and Sverre Harrfeldt never reached the absolute pinnacle and Emil Sayfutdinov has yet to get there, but I can't think of four more exciting riders.