Lee Richardson « Thread Started on Aug 29, 2008, 12:35pm »
I'm at odds with myself. Let's get the negatives out of the way first. I've made no secret of the fact I didn't agree with the way Lee "motivated" Simon Gustafsson, and he does have the tendancy to pull out of meetings and guest appearances. But something's happening. Lee Richardson has done what no other Brit has managed this year - and that's made it through to the final of the GP qualifiers. And let's face it, he has a realisitic chance of making it. But what's more, I actually WANT him to get there. Okay, so I guess everyone remembers the last time he was in the series, trailing around at the back and looking totally deflated. However, is it possible that this time could be different? Lee has been quietly racking up points for Eastbourne. He's hardly been noticed, but he's doing it. His average is lower than Scott's, but Lee somehow seems more consistent of the two, and impressed me early on in the season, which I commented on at the time. And don't forget, everyone thought another qualifier, Niels Kristian Iversen, stood no chance in this years' GP series, but he's currently 10th in the standings - above both Nicholls and Harris. Now I'm asking myself: is it just possible that Lee Richardson could be "the one" to restore a bit of national pride?
New Track, same crap again!!!! we could do with those superwitches again
Joined: Jul 2007 Gender: Female Posts: 3,107
Re: Lee Richardson « Reply #2 on Aug 29, 2008, 12:56pm »
Quite a dilemma really isn't it, Lee doesn't seem to endear himself to the neutral fans, but as you say, this season he is quietly getting on with his own thing.
I think most people will agree that Scott possibly needs to be left out of the GP's, if he doesn't somehow manage to qualify on merit, to re-group and "find himself again", and should Lee manage to qualify then he will be there because he deserves to be.
He obviously has the set up to be in the GP's and I agree Niels has proved, as has Hans of course, that a year or two out is good motivation.
Within the same parameters but a slightly different topic, I do think it is somewhat daft to push for Chris Holder to be wild carded, by his own admission, he hasn't the funds or the set up to compete in them yet, and although he has been a sensation this season, no disputing that, one season does not make a World Champion, and the added pressure in one so young might have a detrimental effect on his undoubted talent. Let him qualify next year, I've no doubt if his form continues that he will, and he will be there on merit.
On his day Lee can be a fine talent, but I don't think he's got it to compete with the top riders in the world. Good league rider.
There's one in there at the moment that this could also be said about and he has been gifted 'special invites' for years - if Lee qualifies then he has earned the right to take part in the series next year, regardless of what he may or may not achieve.
Re: Lee Richardson « Reply #4 on Aug 29, 2008, 5:48pm »
That's exactly my point, MH, and I agree. Even if he doesn't do anything in the series, even if he doesn't make it through the final, at least he tried, and he made it this far. He's not relied on anyone else failing, and that's something to be proud of.
But I do think he stands a good chance with the final being at Zielona Gora. Finally I have someone to cheer for. And he's British!
That's exactly my point, MH, and I agree. Even if he doesn't do anything in the series, even if he doesn't make it through the final, at least he tried, and he made it this far. He's not relied on anyone else failing, and that's something to be proud of.
But I do think he stands a good chance with the final being at Zielona Gora. Finally I have someone to cheer for. And he's British!
LEE Richardson believes the time is right to be making his return to the Grand Prix series. The British rider has been out of the competition for two years but is one of the fancied competitors ahead of Sunday's qualifying Grand Final at Zielona Gora - with three places in the 2009 GP up for grabs. Richardson spent four years as a regular member of the series between 2003 and 2006, enjoying major highlights with third place at Cardiff in 2004 and second at Bydgoszcz the following year. His best overall finish was eleventh in 2004, but he dropped out after finishing fifteenth two years later - and admitted that he wasn't sorry at that stage. Richardson said: "I did say I needed some time out, and that last year I didn't want to be in it, and I made that clear to people. "I wasn't interested in qualifying, but now I have had time to think and regroup, and I definitely want to have another go. "When you go out of it, you don't appreciate what you have got at the time."
Re: Lee Richardson « Reply #8 on Oct 8, 2008, 3:12pm »
Turns out Lee had actually broken his fingers. The problems with his back have led to difficulty breathing and he's been getting headaches, which means his season is over.
Turns out Lee had actually broken his fingers. The problems with his back have led to difficulty breathing and he's been getting headaches, which means his season is over.
Oh bummer!! What little chance we had at winning the Cup have now gone.
Where did you get that from Schumi, as amazingly enough there has been nothing from the management.
Re: Lee Richardson « Reply #11 on Oct 10, 2008, 2:37pm »
According to the Eagles forum, as far as they know there aren't any broken bones and he is going to Poland this weekend to practice. Maybe he is not expected to race in Poland again this season, but eastbourne are expecting him to race in the cup final.
![[Search This Thread]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/search2.gif "[Search This Thread]")
![[Send Topic To Friend]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/buttons/sendtopic.gif "[Send Topic To Friend]")
![[Print]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/buttons/print.gif "[Print]")
Author
Logged
![[avatar]](http://img1.jurko.net/avatar_6574.gif "[avatar]"){kind=avatar}
![[avatar]](http://thumb5.webshots.net/t/72/72/0/71/68/2935071680088421885VdDyAW_th.jpg "[avatar]")
![[avatar]](http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg74/crookshanks_2008/hoochavatar.jpg "[avatar]"){kind=avatar}
![[homepage]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/buttons/www_sm.gif "[homepage]")
![[avatar]](http://www.sb2005.co.uk/bulldog.gif "[avatar]")
![[msn]](http://s2.images.proboards.com/msn.gif "[msn]")
![[avatar]](http://www.espeedway.pl/img/eastbourne.gif "[avatar]")