Best Of 2016

[waiheke1]

That time of year to look at the highs and lows of 2016

 

Rider of the Year: Jason Doyle

Young Rider of the year: Bartosz Zmarzlik

British Rider of the Year: Tai Woffinden

Young British Rider of the Year: Robert Lambert

Most improved rider: Tempting to go with KK, who was absolutely awful in 2015 but world class in 2016, but will plump for Krystian Pieszczek, ahead of riders such as Max Fricke and Vaclav Milik.

Most Improved Brit: I'll go S Worrall, edging out Adam Ellis.

Biggest Surprise of the year: Greg Hancock, not for winding back the year to win a 4th world title, but by producing the year's most controversial moements

Biggest Debacle: Opening night at the NSS

Best Track: The NSS, finally a track worth of the Aces and the memory of Hyde Rd

Best Meeting: SEC Euro champs, round 2 at Daugvapils. Has there been a better meeting ever?

Best meeting (Britain): 2nd leg play off final at the NSS, wrong result but demonstrated everything speedway is about, and what British speedway can be (honourable mention to the SC final).

 

[arnieg]

Can we add best promotion/promoters?

 

And can I nominate Isle if Wight (Martin Widman/Barry Bishop et al).

[Mark]

Rider of the Year: N.K.Iversen great servant to the UK and showed in 2nd half of the season when under pressure what a top class GP rider he can be.

Young Rider of the year: B.Zmarzlik

British Rider of the Year: Tai Woffinden as he was tremendous in the SWC and hopefully a compromise can be made so he rides in 2017

Young British Rider of the Year: Robert Lambert will keep on improving, have to remember how young he is and not expect too much

Most improved Brit: Danny King for winning the British Championship and for doing so well at Cardiff / SWC

Biggest Surprise of the year: Greg Hancock cheating in the GP. Never thought I would see that happen and, more importantly, punished promptly.

Biggest Debacle: Belle Vue's opening meeting as it probably did more damage than we imagined at the time.

Best Track Promotion - Glasgow. Not been to the track but all reports very positive.

Best Meeting: Euro championship at Daugvapils. Never seen such great racing over a whole meeting

Best meeting (Britain): SWC Final. Some great racing and Tai was immense for Team GB

Most Tapes Broken : James "the start marshall nightmare" Sargeant

Best Twitter Account : Rory Scheiln is always moaning but entertaining with Gary Havelock running a close 2nd

Best Celebration : Danny Ayres after a rare Race 2 win. IF he doesn't win race 2 he's cooked for the rest of the meeting

[Dave the Mic]

Rider of the Year: Jason Doyle. Don't like him that much, but robbed of the World Title through injury. Stunning season.

Young Rider of the year: Bartosz Zmarzlik - has World Champion written all over him.

British Rider of the Year: Tai Woffinden because there is no-one else. Was immense at the SWC.

Young British Rider of the Year: Robert Lambert. Huge talent.

Most improved rider: Jason Doyle. From also ran to world championship contender.

Most improved Brit: Robert Lambert. Not in scoring terms, but experience.

Biggest Surprise of the year: Greg Hancock. Not the cheating so much, but the unbelievable crassness of lying about it afterwards.

Biggest Debacle: Belle Vue's opening meeting. Nuff said.

Best Track Promotion - Somerset. Very forward thinking.

Best Meeting: SEC round at Daugvapils. By a mile.

Best meeting (Britain): SWC Final. Great atmosphere, great racing, huge surprise that England did so well. Incredible leadership & performance by Tai Woffinden.

Most Tapes Broken : James Sargeant

Best Twitter Account : Havvy. Hilarious.

Best Celebration : Danny King after winning his last ride at Cardiff. So pleased for him, lovely guy.

Edited December 28, 2016 by Dave the Mic