Nicki "The Fence" Pedersen

[Deleted]

More hints that Nicki might not do EL next year in an interview with the Jyllands Posten.50 meetings per season is too much to stay in top form and defend his World title,he says.It is the place he does most meetings and earns the least amount of money.

www.slangerupspeedway.dk/

[Deleted]

maccattack said:

More hints that Nicki might not do EL next year in an interview with the Jyllands Posten.50 meetings per season is too much to stay in top form and defend his World title,he says.It is the place he does most meetings and earns the least amount of money.

www.slangerupspeedway.dk/

:'(Oh well, I have already started persuading my parents that I will be in need of lots of mini-breaks to Poland and Sweden next season. Have suggested we go to the world cup and a few grand prix's, but as much as I imagine it I can't see it happening, I mean I can't even persuade my dad to take me to Cardiff!

As for Nicki, he has been nominated for BBC South East Sports Personality of the Year.

And from Nicki's website an interview with his Polish team:

28-11-2007 Nicki in long TV-interview
When Nicki ten days ago was presented in his new Polish club Czestochowa, he gave a long TV-interview.In the interview, which is ten minutes long, Nicki among other things talks about his fantastic 2007-season. He also reveals some of his thoughts about the 2008-season.

See the TV-interview with Nicki from Czestochowa:
tvntl.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=173&Itemid=1

[Deleted]

When you look at that sort of reception,the stadium they have and the crowds and atmosphere(not to mention the wages )Elite League clubs have little chance to compete for the top riders when it comes down to a choice.

[schumi]

But then if you look at the Danish league they only have a handful of top riders, and the rest are relatively unknown. Okay, so Nicki is Danish, but there must be something that's making them jump ship.

Think I might have to come and stay with you if I have any chance of seeing Nicki next year. I'll look into getting a sidecar.

[Deleted]

The thing with the Danish league is the sponsors.Most if not all the riders have Danish sponsors,so they need to be seen.Plus it is i guess national pride.I think they all got a shock last winter when it looked like there wouldn't be a league.Nicki has already gone on record to say he earns nothing from the league

[Deleted]

maccattack said:

When you look at that sort of reception,the stadium they have and the crowds and atmosphere(not to mention the wages )Elite League clubs have little chance to compete for the top riders when it comes down to a choice.

I wish we'd stop worrying about what other leagues do or don't do, and just focus on how to run a league that suits the circumstances under which British tracks must run. If Nicki Pedersen can earn more money by doing less meetings elsewhere, that's great for him, but we in this country must cut our cloth according to what we can afford. If that also means teams riding 40 meetings per season to amortise their fixed costs, then so be it.

[schumi]

Okay, so the debate about the points limit, cost cutting, GP riders aside, I'm still feeling down about the prospect of no Nicki Pedersen. I also think that no matter whether you love him or hate him he's good for the sport. Someone on the BSF asked what happened to all the characters, and here we are effectively pushing out not only the world champion, but one of the biggest characters in the sport.

When Schumacher left F1, Genghis, rather caringly for him, told me I'd find a new hero. That never happened, but, what's more, even old Genghis himself found he "missed the Geman." Why? Because there's nothing to talk about any more - no interest, no controversy (cheating apart, but how boring did that get?)

I present my case:

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ksKhai2FZR8

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7iCEY4cVbA4

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=feD1SSWHINE

uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qXj-5Z-Q7Ro&feature=related

I didn't have to look far, and have just picked a few from a huge selection. Now tell me you didn't have an opinion about at least one of those clips? Whether it be: "he should never have gone for that gap", "what a gater", "where did he get that speed from?" or "dirty bastard" I bet every single person reading this would have something to say.

In fact, not one of the clips I looked at didn't have something to behold - whether it be him overtaking an opponent inches from the fence, crashing in spectacular style, gating poorly then making it to the front in the space of two corners, or throwing his toys out of his pram at a poor refereeing decision (of course, all refereeing decisions to exclude Nicki are wrong.)

If I'd posted a clip on the BSF and asked the question "whose fault was this?" I bet there'd be pages by the end of the day. Why? Because people love to talk about Nicki Pedersen. Now tell me you're not going to miss that?

[Deleted]

In all honesty i really won't miss Nicki.

[Deleted]

Schumi, you have made & indeed shown a good case as to why the 'Elite league' will be a lot poorer if Nicki P does not ride here.
All sports need a controversial character, a little bit of noteriety always adds to the prospect of an extra bit of spice to the competition.
It a sorry state if the World Champion (whoever it is) finds himself out of British speedway either by his design or the rule makers.
I, like many others have always seen a meeting with the World Champion in it just a little bit special.
Nicki P has that potential to make a meeting a bit different imo.
fog

[Genghis]

schumi said:

When Schumacher left F1, Genghis, rather caringly for him, told me I'd find a new hero. That never happened, but, what's more, even old Genghis himself found he "missed the Geman." Why? Because there's nothing to talk about any more - no interest, no controversy (cheating apart, but how boring did that get?)

Schumi,

But I did take the latter statement back, when the Spanish flapperjack replaced Schumacher as my new F1 public enemy number 1. It all led to a fascinating end-of-season, where although I wanted Lewis to win, I was mighty relieved when King Kimi ended on top and not the Spanish wanker. Next season, looks nicely poised, with drivers for me to support (Lewis & Kimi) and a driver to hate (Al***o).

And I got the distinct impression you were backing Kimi by the end of the season, were you not?

I still think you're possibly jumping the gun - Belle Vue or another team may still accommodate Nicki in their 2008 team?

[schumi]

Just added an interview with Nicki to the interview section.

[Deleted]

Thanks for another fantastic interview Schumi, unfortunately I come with the news we were dreading from Nicki's website:

03-12-2007 Nicki out of Elite League

Nicki might have raced for the last time in the Elite League.

Due to the new regulations in the Elite League with an average of 38.5 points, Eastbourne has decided to disemploy Nicki for the coming 2008 season. A decision Nicki has mixed feelings about.

"We have not yet dicussed economy, so that's not the reason why I won't race for Eastbourne, or in the Elite League next year. Speedway today is much more demanding, at all levels than in earlier times, and English speedway has to adapt to that fact, like the leagues in Poland and Sweden have done long time ago, but I'm not sure this is the right decision on the long row. I mean, if the topdrivers quit the Elite League, I think there will be problems keeping the investors, the fans and the medias in the sport, Nicki says.

Nicki now looks ahead of the 2008 season and plans to upgrade racing in Poland and Sweden.

"I still have quite a busy calendar, without the Elite League, so I'll still be in very good shape when the GP-series, and the leagues in Poland, Sweden, Russia and Denmark begins. But of course I'll be missing the fantastic English fans, who have stood behind me since I started racing in England a long time ago - for sure I'll miss them, Nicki says.

[Deleted]

Oh no but like you say i think we were expecting it, So we're resigned to watching him on tele and at Cardiff, what a shame

Edit: I can't believe I wasn't picked up on the fact I spelt his surname wrong in my first post all those months ago I didn't realise, anyway now rectified..

[schumi]

I'm gutted. Completely gutted. What a fantastic guy though.

[schumi]

Nicki's coming "home" with a series of practise events with the Danish national team. Starts on the 3rd March at Arlington, then Kings Lynn on the 4th, and finally he'll be at Stoke on the 6th. Good practise for the Golden Jubilee at Poole, but why don't our mob do that?