Sidney the robin Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 (edited) There are certain riders over the years who did not get the credit and reconignition there racing ability deserved.I know these riders have there supporters and to be honest there are endless riders you could choose from five for me who personally spring to mind are 1./Phil Crump 2./ Martin Ashby 3./ John Boulger 4./ Bernie Persson 5./ Bobby Schwartz.All these riders within speedway circles were all known to be terrific riders but i feel when you look at what they actually achieved i just feel they were better than that. Edited May 1, 2020 by Sidney the robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 I'd also go with Martin Ashby plus Gordon Kennett, Bob Kilby (certainly at Exeter), Trevor Hedge and Terry Betts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.D Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Ron Preston Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 5 minutes ago, M.D said: Ron Preston I saw quite a bit of Ron at Arlington in 1982 and he was superb round there and made a formidable heat leader trio with Gordon Kennett and Kelly Moran. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nw42 Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Jim Airey, Soren Sjosten, Terry Betts, Dag Lovaas, whether or not underrated they are ones that don't often get recognition in these type of discussions. Peter Ravn could be unbeatable on his night but often gets overlooked, no surprise when you consider the list of Danes around in his time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 7 minutes ago, nw42 said: Jim Airey, Soren Sjosten, Terry Betts, Dag Lovaas, whether or not underrated they are ones that don't often get recognition in these type of discussions. Peter Ravn could be unbeatable on his night but often gets overlooked, no surprise when you consider the list of Danes around in his time. Absolutely agree with Dag Lovaas. A great Number One at Oxford in 1975 but sadly went wrong for him at Wood Lane. I always thought that Peter Ravn was somewhat erratic and remember an incident with Neil Evitts (another candidate?) during an important World Championship meeting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 49 minutes ago, M.D said: Ron Preston Good call. Guess he didn't ride in the UK that long and maybe was a little less extrovert that the other Americans around at that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC2 Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Troy Batchelor. He doesn’t seem to enjoy much of a fan base but he’s done pretty well as a rider, especially in the UK. On his day he’s as fast as anyone and with a different personality he could have been a GP regular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sommelier Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Norman Hunter & Ray Wilson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Seeing that my first choice - Ron Preston - has been taken, I'll go for Bob Kilby, Gordon Guasco, Alan Grahame, Bo Petersen, and Chris Morton. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ovalman Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Ashby, Kilby, Stonehewer, Les Collins, Michanek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Tom Farndon. I understand there are still a few people who don't consider him the greatest ever! 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Jim Airey, Martin Ashby, Chris Lofquist, Nigel Boocock, Mike Broadbank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 First that came to my mind was Martin Ashby-glad to see you gave Gordon Guasco a shout out Chunky- I agree , also Ron How, Dick Bradley, Trevor Hedge, George Hunter and Norman Hunter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wessex Wanderer Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Bengt Jansen, Ron How, Chris Morton, Trevor Hedge, Scott Autrey. with the usual caveat that if you asked the same question tomorrow I would probably come up with a completely different list. How and Jansen would definitely be there though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M.D Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 (edited) As I only picked one rider I will go with another four with my Eastbourne bias... Dean Barker, great team rider that had way to many injuries that held him back, but on his day could beat the best. David Norris, natural talent that only really showed it consistently away from Arlington for the odd season Adam Shields, underrated himself. Martin Dugard but only at World level. He went back to Eastbourne after Oxford to to fulfil his Grandfathers wish to see him back before he passed away and never seemed to have the desire to complete at world level until he thought he was facing a ban in 2000 and went out to prove a point in the British GP.. Sorry, I did say it was Eastbourne bias and based on my experience.. Edited May 1, 2020 by M.D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 40 minutes ago, Wessex Wanderer said: Bengt Jansen, Ron How, Chris Morton, Trevor Hedge, Scott Autrey. with the usual caveat that if you asked the same question tomorrow I would probably come up with a completely different list. How and Jansen would definitely be there though. Ron How definitely. Also Dave Younghusband, Reidar Eide, Jim Airey and Gote Nordin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Maybe the riders who had their careers hindered by serious injury such as Stefan Kwoczala or Arne Pander. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 1 hour ago, Split said: Maybe the riders who had their careers hindered by serious injury such as Stefan Kwoczala or Arne Pander. Good call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 I'd go with Ron Preston as mentioned before. Others I would add - John Boulger. When at his best was in the shadow of Ray Wilson at Leicester and when he was a true number 1, it was at (in those days unfashionable) Cradley. Soren Sjosten. Fantastic at Belle Vue in their glory years, but always second fiddle to Ivan. Alan and Andy Grahame. Superb club men and international class at their best, but never felt they got the kudos that more fashionable riders received. In more recent times - Rune Holta. Thought it was great how every year he seemed to stay in the GP's on merit despite being largely unheralded and knowing that his dual nationality was never going to help him get a nominated place in the series. 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.