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Denmark Their Greatest Five Ever?


steve roberts

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Funny how four great speedway nations - Denmark, Sweden, USA and Australia - are all tied on five World Champions each.

 

I do think this one writes itself. I agree with a lot of the above...

 

1 Nielsen

2 Olsen

3 Gundersen

4 N Pedersen
5 J O Pedersen

 

and yet...if I had to put my life on a one-off race between Nielsen and Gundersen, I'd go for Gundersen. Though Hans undoubtedly achieved the most and I'd probably rank him as the most skilled speedway rider of all time. Technically, he was excellent.

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Morian Hansen I have heard of, but he never won the Danish championship (2nd once, third once) never mind doing anything in the world championship.

Never heard of Baltzar hansen, and he doesnt even appear in the top three in any Danish championship.

 

That's a bit unfair on Morian and Baltzar Hansen as there were no Danish Championships when they were at their peak in the mid to late 1930s. It's like saying Tom Farndon couldn't be included in the greatest ever riders because he never made a World final.
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Nielsen, Olsen, Gundersen, Nicki, Jan O.

 

Despite a whole host of other quality riders I agree with most posts that this list almost picks itself.

 

One other who would surely have broken into the list but for injuries and officialdom rules preventing him taking part in the World Campioship in some years was Arne Pander. When he was neither injured nor recovering from injury he was capable of matching anyone - even the big five.

 

Another great thread although more clear cut than some others.

 

:)

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Yes, I agree, thats why he didnt actually make it to my top five.

 

But he was one of the top riders in the era of the Big Five and averaged 10.15 in 1960, which placed him above Briggo in the averages. In 1961 he had an average of 10.12 until he fractured his skull which put him out for the rest of the season and 1962. It then took him a long time to return to form. It wasnt until 1965 that he returned to form, recording an average of 10.03.

 

Between 1959 and 1961, he was ranked in the Top 10 in the end of season Speedway Star Rankings, his highest being in 1960, when he was ranked at number four, above Barry Briggs and Bjorn Knutson. If he hadnt fractured his skull he would probably have made at least two or three World Finals and done well in them. But, of course, we will never know.

Realistically behind the top 5 and also Knudsen and puk? Rounding out the top 10 along with maybe hans Andersen and Bo peep?
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By 'popular' (!!!!) request here is my revised version of Denmark's top five riders:

(1) Hans Nielsen

(2) Erik Gundersen
(3) Ole Olsen

(4) Jan O. Pedersen

(5) Nikki Pedersen


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The Top Three pick themselves Gundersen, Nielsen, Olsen, Im biased i saw Eric ride for Cradley from when he was a raw 17 year old reserve to when his career was cruelly cut short with his life changing injuries received on that ill fated day in Bradford, Jan O we will never know how good he would have been again through career ending injuries, and Nikki P a different era so difficult to compare, Tommy Knudsen would be in some peoples Top 5 and justifiably so, I think all of them would more than hold there own against todays top riders, just take a line through Greg Hancock, this would prove my point.

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The Top Three pick themselves Gundersen, Nielsen, Olsen, Im biased i saw Eric ride for Cradley from when he was a raw 17 year old reserve to when his career was cruelly cut short with his life changing injuries received on that ill fated day in Bradford, Jan O we will never know how good he would have been again through career ending injuries, and Nikki P a different era so difficult to compare, Tommy Knudsen would be in some peoples Top 5 and justifiably so, I think all of them would more than hold there own against todays top riders, just take a line through Greg Hancock, this would prove my point.

Knudsen was top class and he was very unlucky in 1986 at his best he could compete with Hans/Erik so unlucky with injury.
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Knudsen was top class and he was very unlucky in 1986 at his best he could compete with Hans/Erik so unlucky with injury.

Saying that,apart from the top 5 who pick themselves i'd say only Puk and Hans have had a season where they are arguably the best rider of the year.Puk had a great league season about 3 seasons back and the year Hans was dropped for the GPs and came back in because of injury about half way through.

Not sure any other Dane could be named as the best rider of any given seasn.Certainly not Pander or M.Hansen or B.Hansen and probably not Knudsen.

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He's my completely unbiased, objective top five:

 

1. Hans Nielsen

2. Arne Pander

3. Jens Rasmussen

4. Per Sorensen

5. Brian Andersen

 

Oh, alight then:

 

1. Hans Nielsen

2. Erik Gundersen

3. Jan O Pedersen

4. Ole Olsen

5. Nicki Pedersen

 

All the best

Rob

Edited by lucifer sam
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He's my completely unbiased, objective top five:

 

1. Hans Nielsen

2. Arne Pander

3. Jens Rasmussen

4. Per Sorensen

5. Brian Andersen

 

Oh, alight then:

 

1. Hans Nielsen

2. Erik Gundersen

3. Jan O Pedersen

4. Ole Olsen

5. Nicki Pedersen

 

All the best

Rob

I hope you didn't set them on fire ls. :shock: :shock: :wink::D :D

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