SGP wild cards 2024

[CB252]

22 minutes ago, Grachan said:

Ekstrliga is irrelevant. That's league form. Erik Gundersen failed spectacularly to show he was better than Hans Nielsen in the British League. When it came to World finals he had his number.

It's not irrelevant as it's the only yardstick by which we can currently measure them. That and all barring one GP season.

Erik didn't have Hans number at all. In all the finals Erik won, Hans picked up silver. 

Erik was clowning around halfway down the field in 86. And also failed to medal in 89.

[Wee Eck]

14 minutes ago, Grachan said:

Interesting you choose Sayfutdinov but not Laguta considering Laguta is an undefeated World Champion. I think if you have one you need both.

The murmuring is that FIM will hold firm on excluding the Russians but, if they don’t, then your logic is sound. Sayfutdinov is arguably better but you can’t have him in without Laguta. 
If these two are in then I expect Australia and GB to be reduced to 2 giving 3 poles, 3 Danes, 2 each for Australia, GB and Russia, and I each from Slovakia, Sweden and Czechia. In truth, that would be pretty close to the best 15 in the world right now. It’s pretty poor, isn’t it? The sport needs more riders like Crump, Pedersen, Hancock and Rickarddon but I don’t see any on the horizon. 

[CB252]

30 minutes ago, Grachan said:

Interesting you choose Sayfutdinov but not Laguta considering Laguta is an undefeated World Champion. I think if you have one you need both.

Yet most people consider Emil the far superior rider, which he is.

One fishy season from Laguta when he suddenly became super quick when in all other years he failed to qualify for the following years series. Very dubious, as are all Russian sports triumphs.

Laguta, of course, extremely lucky to be in the 2021 series after spectacularly failing to qualify in the 2020 series and relying on his umpteenth wild card.

Edited October 1, 2023 by CB252

[Gambo]

If any of the 'banned' riders are to be allowed to compete in the GP's, surely they should take the same qualifying route that others have to, and therefore not be in the actual GP series until 2025?

[2ndbendbeerhut]

Lebedevs,  Bewley , Woffinden  and Fricke. Last place will goto Janowski .

"It is quite possible that just after Saturday's Grand Prix round, series director Phil Morris  accidentally revealed the name of the first of the distinguished competitors. Right after the competition, the Briton allegedly approached Andrzej Lebedev  and, thanking him for this year's performances, smilingly advised him to answer the phone the next day." 

[IainB]

2 hours ago, CB252 said:

It's not irrelevant as it's the only yardstick by which we can currently measure them. That and all barring one GP season.

Erik didn't have Hans number at all. In all the finals Erik won, Hans picked up silver. 

Erik was clowning around halfway down the field in 86. And also failed to medal in 89.

While Ekstraliga should not be irrelevant when considering riders who should be gifted a place in the SGP. It shouldn't be the be all and end all.  It's been shown time and again that a good Ekstraliga rider does not always translate into being a good rider elsewhere, for whatever reason. 

Greg Hancock, bang average league rider while he was picking up his later championships. 

Per Jonsson, bang average in the league before he became World Champion

Agree with Hans vs Erik. Hans was undoubtedly a better league rider than Erik. They were pretty level imo when it came to World Championship racing

Edited October 1, 2023 by iainb

[szkocjasid]

5 hours ago, Grachan said:

Interesting you choose Sayfutdinov but not Laguta considering Laguta is an undefeated World Champion. I think if you have one you need both.

I agree if you pick one, you should pick both, it's just a personal choice based on Laguta's terrible attitude in his debut British season. Nothing to do with his ability.

[szkocjasid]

4 hours ago, Gambo said:

If any of the 'banned' riders are to be allowed to compete in the GP's, surely they should take the same qualifying route that others have to, and therefore not be in the actual GP series until 2025?

Others don't have to take the qualifying route, they can get seeded into the series.

Besides what nation would nominate Laguta & Sayfutdinov, doubt Poland would give up any of their spots?

[Toymaker]

Facts speak for themselves, 108 has had 2 previous picks at 12th he shouldn't get one,

Fricke

Bewley

Thomsen

Dimitri Berge

Timo Lahti

or

Ben Basso

Luke Becker

(Thomsen should get a pick due to being injured all year)

Janowski OUT

Dudek OUT 

There are 2 poles coming in if you don't drop them there will be around 1/2 the field containing poles, Nilsson should go finishing 13th clearly out of his depth.

[Gambo95]

6 hours ago, Gambo said:

If any of the 'banned' riders are to be allowed to compete in the GP's, surely they should take the same qualifying route that others have to, and therefore not be in the actual GP series until 2025?

Did Bewley and Holder qualify?

I thought they were given reserve spots and were added to the field when Laguta and Sayfutdinov were thrown out.

I must have my wires crossed.

[Paleco]

Biggest hypocrisy is that western companies still do business with the Russia.....

My prediction:   Bewley, Woffinden, Fricke, Thomsen ,Janowski

[DazS]

i thought we find out today, or is it tomorrow.?

[OldHawk]

10 hours ago, CB252 said:

You can find a reason to invalidate most speedway world titles of you look hard enough.

Emil removed himself from the series for some of his prime years, invalidating what? A Woffinden title? One of Hancock's?

Woffinden was also the primary beneficiary of Ward's indiscretions and ultimate injury arguably. And Doyle.

See what I did there?

Laguta and Sayfutdinov had their chance to beat Bartosz over a full Ekstraliga season and failed spectacularly once again this year, just as they did last year.

Imagine thinking that Rosberg is better than Hamilton because he just about beat him once in one out of 5 seasons. It's the epitomy of stupidity.

7 medals in 8 years for Zmarzlik with or without the Russians.

Seriously, I get you all hate him, but you refute facts when making a weak argument and make yourselves look daft.

I don't dislike Zmarzlik at all but I do feel his titles are lessened and here is why....

What if Gundersen had not had Nielsen (or vice versa) because the other was banned for no good reason and won 6 world titles. Or Olsen/Mauger. For sure it would have lessened the victories.

Here two of the three best riders in the world have been excluded for no reason which is the first time in speedway history.

And why no good reason:

1. They both left Russia before the war and settled in Poland becoming citizens

2. There is no justification for letting them ride domestically but not internationally.

This is a classic case of PC overriding common sense. The lack of these two has made the GP a farce and boring and left Bartoz with no real decent opponent measured over 10 rounds.

I haven't watched and wont watch another GP until these two are restored to their rightful place.

Bartoz is a really brilliant rider but any decent opposition has simply been removed.

 

 

 

[OveFundinFan]

My shot as to who will get the jury's vote.......

Bewley, Doyle, Fricke, Woffy, Thomson.

of those not in my pick I can only see Dudek and Lebedev as of any worth. It was a tight choice between Fricke and Dudek, I picked Fricke because he scored more points even though both did a full 10 GPs.  Lebedevs has had a good number of meetings this year, but at his age is he going to get any better? I don't think so.  Woffy is one of those who can (still) beat Zmarzlik in an odd race or two. Thomson deserves a pick because he wasn't doing too bad when badly injured.          

I read some would rid of Doyle because he is dangerously too tough. Perhaps if he had received some sort of public warning they could leave him out, but as it is how can they just leave no 8 in the world out.

last night Kubera didn't impress me, 1 win, 2 thirds, 2 lasts not good enough.    One who did impress for the future was Luke Becker. He would have learned a lot last night, and he was in the mix more than Kubera was.

However, that would leave only one Pole in the 2024 GP series and I don't think that is going to happen. so...... I don't know all

Edited October 1, 2023 by OveFundinFan

[Ben91]

The Grand Prix series is used to decide who the best rider in the world is.

For me that means Sayfutdinov and Laguta should be involved. 

If they are however it won’t matter. Zmarzlik is the best rider in the world by a long stretch. Probably the best to ever throw a leg over a Speedway bike. And with it, he’s a very likeable bloke too. 

[HenryW]

29 minutes ago, OveFundinFan said:

My shot as to who will get the jury's vote.......

Bewley, Doyle, Fricke, Woffy, Thomson.

of those not in my pick I can only see Dudek and Lebedev as of any worth. It was a tight choice between Fricke and Dudek, I picked Fricke because he scored more points even though both did a full 10 GPs.  Lebedevs has had a good number of meetings this year, but at his age is he going to get any better? I don't think so.  Woffy is one of those who can (still) beat Zmarzlik in an odd race or two. Thomson deserves a pick because he wasn't doing too bad when badly injured.          

I read some would rid of Doyle because he is dangerously too tough. Perhaps if he had received some sort of public warning they could leave him out, but as it is how can they just leave no 8 in the world out.

last night Kubera didn't impress me, 1 win, 2 thirds, 2 lasts not good enough.    One who did impress for the future was Luke Becker. He would have learned a lot last night, and he was in the mix more than Kubera was.

However, that would leave only one Pole in the 2024 GP series and I don't think that is going to happen. so...... I don't know all

Doyle qualified through the GP challenge, so there is no question about his involvement.

Also coming from the GP Challenge is a 2nd Pole, Szymon Wozniak.

[OveFundinFan]

16 minutes ago, HenryW said:

Doyle qualified through the GP challenge, so there is no question about his involvement.

Also coming from the GP Challenge is a 2nd Pole, Szymon Wozniak.

Thanks, forgot about them.

[J-D]

Bewley 

Fricke

Dudek

Tai

Thomson

Probably same injury replacements as this year. 

[therefused]

No Fricke, Magic or Dudek apparently 

[WembleyLion]

5 minutes ago, therefused said:

No Fricke, Magic or Dudek apparently 

I didn’t expect Janowski to be honest.

Some new faces then?

Edited October 1, 2023 by WembleyLion