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Post by admin on Jan 16, 2009 19:34:52 GMT
Greg, think, although he can still mix it with the best, and is still amongst the best, his best days are over and he will continue the downward trend of last season. The thing is, young badge, Hancock enjoyed an upswing in performance last season, not a downward trend. In 2007 he finished sixth with 108 points, while in 2008 he was fourth with 144 points.
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Post by schumi on Jan 16, 2009 19:53:25 GMT
This is unusual - most of us seem to be in agreement. Is there no dissention in the ranks?
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Post by admin on Jan 16, 2009 20:08:56 GMT
This is unusual - most of us seem to be in agreement. Is there no dissention in the ranks? The terminally deluded don't seem to visit us these days, or like genghis (No 6) they've seen the light.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2009 23:37:25 GMT
Greg, think, although he can still mix it with the best, and is still amongst the best, his best days are over and he will continue the downward trend of last season. The thing is, young badge, Hancock enjoyed an upswing in performance last season, not a downward trend. In 2007 he finished sixth with 108 points, while in 2008 he was fourth with 144 points. Oh ...silly me , not a fan you see, so that passed me by TBH
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Post by admin on Feb 20, 2009 20:56:59 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2009 11:36:11 GMT
I'd like to know more about Subedei's thoughts regarding his conviction that "dumping" Britain will do nothing for Crump, and even if Crump does win the title in 2009 - "dumping" Britain will have played no part, please
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Post by admin on Feb 21, 2009 18:02:18 GMT
I'd like to know more about Subedei's thoughts regarding his conviction that "dumping" Britain will do nothing for Crump, and even if Crump does win the title in 2009 - "dumping" Britain will have played no part, please Good questions, young fellow. But do I have good answers for you? I don't know, but I'll have a stab at it and give it my best shot. I just believe that for the last two seasons Crump has had bigger issues than the wear and tear of a season racing in Britain. He didn't seem to be able to match Nicki P in terms of desire and preparation. Take, for example, Lonigo last season. Crump had the GP at his mercy (after a shocking decision from the referee in the semi-final, when Crump took a dive and the great man was excluded) and then his engine failed. His engine also slowed in the re-run of the semi-final. Did he use the same bike in the final, or did he switch to a second bike that couldn't last the pace either? Either way, how many times did Nicki P's bikes let him down last season? How many times did Gollob's (bearing in mind Gollob's reputation for "tactical engine failures" when he's at the back)? Then let's look at Crump's second world title. What did he achive in the GPs after he'd claimed the title. Nothing. He trundled around in the remaining GPs. He'd lost his hunger. I still don't think he's regained it, yet. All this twaddle about abandoning Britain in order to stand a better chance in the GPs doesn't wash with me, I'm afraid. It sounds like he's descending into meaningless waffle, rather like the global superstar does.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2009 11:19:33 GMT
Thank you Subedei for your answers. But isn't it plausible that desire and preparation with Crump have suffered because of the wear and tear of the British league? Carrying a poor side like Belle Vue on your shoulders, virtually on your own through maybe 50-60 fixtures must take it's toll, surely? Maybe the old fire will be rekindled with alot more time for preparation (both mentally and mechanically) between meetings in 2009?
And there's also this. With just Poland and Sweden this year, Crump will line up against top-notch opposition in every meeting he rides in. Which could help keep him sharp.
I'm not saying it will be so, but I do feel that if we see the "old" Crump in 2009 - "dumping" Britain will have played a part.
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Post by admin on Feb 22, 2009 12:20:44 GMT
But he wasn't carrying a poor Belle Vue side in 2007, yet he was carrying a poor Belle Vue side in 2004.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2009 16:43:35 GMT
But he wasn't carrying a poor Belle Vue side in 2007, yet he was carrying a poor Belle Vue side in 2004. But in 2004 most GP-riders were still doing Britain, because it had not yet detoriarated to the level of today. At present it must feel rather meaningless for the likes of Crump to easily score maximum or close to maxium week in week out - and yet still often lose with his team. I think that will make a rider question if it's worth the wear and tear of it all much more than the sheer number of meetings. Perhaps resting, focussing and looking over your machinery between a much lesser number of meetings will bring sharpness and determination. This is all speculation though
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Post by admin on Feb 22, 2009 20:52:20 GMT
It's plausible, but I'm not buying it. To me, Crump has lost what Apollo Creed termed "the eye of the tiger". Going back to 2004, it could be argued that the restrictions on foreign riders meant the Ekstraliga was weak, but that didn't stop Crump sweeping the board. I believe there is a weakness in the Crump make up. He did his level best to lose the crown in 2004, but he just held on. He did manage to chuck it away a year earlier. And after the 2006 championship was won, he was a shadow for the rest of the GPs.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2009 21:02:49 GMT
It's plausible, but I'm not buying it. To me, Crump has lost what Apollo Creed termed "the eye of the tiger". Going back to 2004, it could be argued that the restrictions on foreign riders meant the Ekstraliga was weak, but that didn't stop Crump sweeping the board. I believe there is a weakness in the Crump make up. He did his level best to lose the crown in 2004, but he just held on. He did manage to chuck it away a year earlier. And after the 2006 championship was won, he was a shadow for the rest of the GPs. Well I'm not disagreeing that Crump has lost the eye of the tiger I'm just saying, that should he rediscover it in 2009, leaving Britain will most likely have played a beneficial part. No matter what was true in 2004 or any other year.
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Post by Genghis on Feb 22, 2009 21:48:28 GMT
Crump actually finished the 2008 GP series quite strongly. From Round 3 onwards, he only failed to reach two finals - in the two rounds at Bydgoszcz.
He lost the battle to Nicki in 2008 in the opening two rounds, which included that dodgy refereeing decision that went Nicki's way in Round 2.
Crump is my tip for 2009 World Champion.
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Post by admin on Feb 22, 2009 21:52:00 GMT
Crump actually finished the 2008 GP series quite strongly. From Round 3 onwards, he only failed to reach two finals - in the two rounds at Bydgoszcz. So, he finished strongly by failing to make two out of the last three finals. I admire your logic, young fellow. And you can forget any excuses about the Bydgoszcz track - Crump had the second best Bydgoszcz Grand Prix record in the field. He's won a Grand Prix at Bydgoszcz. That excuse won't wash.
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Post by admin on Feb 27, 2009 12:58:17 GMT
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