Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2009 10:27:09 GMT
Speedway’s eyes will once again be on the Grand Prix Series this weekend as Prague hosts the opener in the midst of a low key build-up. The Grand Prix Series becoming increasingly wooden in it’s current guise and is at one of its lowest point in its short history since 1995. Back when it was touted by Olsen and chums around the FIM, did all of them really expect the same core of riders from those starting years to still be hanging around in the 2009 series? Not only hanging around but succeeding still. In recent years, the GP series has done little to create legend like the occasion of world final could and did bar Harris’ win at Cardiff in front of the home fans, Gollob’s continuing love affair with the Bydgoszcz track and the emergence of Nicki Pedersen as the world’s best rider. Interestingly with Speedway’s current climate, us guys here in the UK getting to see what we are missing out on. All the big boys will have just three competitive meetings for them to get ready (thanks to thanks to Poland and Sweden’s late starts). Will this provide the leg-up to those poor brothers riding in the UK?
Nicki Pedersen, thanks to a dispute over money, will only have one competitive meeting with Czestochowa before coming to tapes up on his chase for personal glory. Whilst this is not the best preparation, you’d seriously doubt whether such a competitive and perfectionist of a rider as Pedersen would leave himself in such a position without knowing his best set-up and that in comparison to his rivals. Maybe he thinks he could even afford a last place in the opener ensuring an interesting chase for the title as the tailgaters argue and fight between themselves and consistency in an effort to catch Pedersen. His attitude is probably correct, early season form suggests no-one is up to the challenge. Hans Andersen, my personal tip over the winter to make a serious challenge, has been poor for Gdansk whilst Gollob and Crump sporadic. Hancock much the same yet has only had two meetings to sort himself out. Even Adams has been rather dodgy at Swindon whilst his Polish commitments he’s been alright. If you go further through the line-up, the pattern remains bar a Russki kid.
Emil Satjudinow is the FIM’s answer to the Grand Prixs problems. A double world junior champion, 19, world at his feet and with the mystique of the Russian nationality. His style would be excellent if all Speedway tracks were square which in turns makes for exciting stuff. His Polish form has been superb, recently scoring 17 points from 18 in the local derby between Bydgoszcz and Torun. However, he faces the barrier this year of having to ride on many tracks for the first time and having to ride so many slick tracks. It remains to be seen how he will as the only track record of him is based on promise and the grippy tracks of the continent. Fingers crossed, he inserts a firework or two.
What other changes do we have to enhance the occasion? Well Tony Olsson’s appointment as assistant GP director is a positive. Olsen for too long has had a clouded judgement in track preparation, how things should be ran, how should run in them and who benefits from his decisions. To have another sent of eyes in this regard will hopefully accelerate Olsen’s residence to the retirement homes of Denmark. The advent of the draw being done on the day before the meeting seems silly. Is there really the appetite for this? Apart from pissing off the fans and annoying the riders in the bargain? The draw of the GP numbers doesn’t have the same the glamour as a FA Cup draw or NFL draft. Olsen did get his track of Vojens in as the ‘11th’ Grand Prix of the season. After the proposal of Australia backfired, Russia’s logistics and popularity debateable (and now unlikely due to the Togliatti club’s financial backer passing away), the mess-up at Gelsenkirchen; the IMG were struggling to find the 11th venue with the pressure on due to a budget based on eleven grand prix providing a boost in sponsorship and venue rights money (they expect everyone to jump board the Aussie dream for the second time).
IMG – ‘So Olly. Australia and Russian can’t happen.’
Olly – ‘Such a shame’
IMG – ‘You made an error on Germany. So that can’t be done too. Now we need a 11th GP venue, can’t have double helpings of a track like before either’
Olly – ‘Well I own a track in Denmark, Vojens…remember had the SWC final. We don’t have a second GP in Denmark. It’s popular there too. But we have a Scanidivian Grand Prix. What name could we give this one?’
IMG – ‘We will sort out some name. We did it last year with the ‘Final Grand Prix’. I have got one already Olly…..Nordic Grand Prix.’
Olly – ‘Job Done. Deposit the money to Vojens Speedway Club immediately. I need a holiday. Quietly whilst no-one notices.’
So we have Vojens as a Grand Prix – stadium in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by trees and notoriously boring as spectacle. The only other venue change is that of Italy moving from the symbolic track of Lonigo to less known Terenzano. Having never seen the track or stadium in picture…let alone video, who knows what to expect. Enlighten us anyone who’s visited.
As for the Brits, well Nicholls had the hump, so lost some weight, plies his trade out of the UK and remains average according to league form. The excuse is for this poor form though – a mystery virus has dragged him down. He’s a bit like the Wigan of the Grand Prixs, ain’t he? Mid-table but not without a wobble, occasionally good to watch but an ugly fella runs the show (Tatum/Steve Bruce). Harris in this analogy is Hull, plucky in his first season but poor in the second. He’s reached his peak, entertaining to watch when dialled up and generally a decent bloke. He lacks that winning appetite which means forever he’ll never progress from being that support heat leader. Another season of struggles for the pair, bit a like Newcastle United, it will all be under the false cloud of false hopes and unrealistic expectations.
As for Praha and the Marketa, it’s an okay track and definitely one of the best for a GP travelling fan due to the location. Crump and Pedersen both have a liking for this track, Gollob isn’t bad either and it normally rains too. Nicholls even had a good outing here before bottling it as per se. There’s a surprise in store I feel; not be surprised if it’s either Walasek or Ulamek; written off by the UK based fans, they both remain functional but point scorers. It won’t be enough though to stop Pedersen though.
Nicki Pedersen, thanks to a dispute over money, will only have one competitive meeting with Czestochowa before coming to tapes up on his chase for personal glory. Whilst this is not the best preparation, you’d seriously doubt whether such a competitive and perfectionist of a rider as Pedersen would leave himself in such a position without knowing his best set-up and that in comparison to his rivals. Maybe he thinks he could even afford a last place in the opener ensuring an interesting chase for the title as the tailgaters argue and fight between themselves and consistency in an effort to catch Pedersen. His attitude is probably correct, early season form suggests no-one is up to the challenge. Hans Andersen, my personal tip over the winter to make a serious challenge, has been poor for Gdansk whilst Gollob and Crump sporadic. Hancock much the same yet has only had two meetings to sort himself out. Even Adams has been rather dodgy at Swindon whilst his Polish commitments he’s been alright. If you go further through the line-up, the pattern remains bar a Russki kid.
Emil Satjudinow is the FIM’s answer to the Grand Prixs problems. A double world junior champion, 19, world at his feet and with the mystique of the Russian nationality. His style would be excellent if all Speedway tracks were square which in turns makes for exciting stuff. His Polish form has been superb, recently scoring 17 points from 18 in the local derby between Bydgoszcz and Torun. However, he faces the barrier this year of having to ride on many tracks for the first time and having to ride so many slick tracks. It remains to be seen how he will as the only track record of him is based on promise and the grippy tracks of the continent. Fingers crossed, he inserts a firework or two.
What other changes do we have to enhance the occasion? Well Tony Olsson’s appointment as assistant GP director is a positive. Olsen for too long has had a clouded judgement in track preparation, how things should be ran, how should run in them and who benefits from his decisions. To have another sent of eyes in this regard will hopefully accelerate Olsen’s residence to the retirement homes of Denmark. The advent of the draw being done on the day before the meeting seems silly. Is there really the appetite for this? Apart from pissing off the fans and annoying the riders in the bargain? The draw of the GP numbers doesn’t have the same the glamour as a FA Cup draw or NFL draft. Olsen did get his track of Vojens in as the ‘11th’ Grand Prix of the season. After the proposal of Australia backfired, Russia’s logistics and popularity debateable (and now unlikely due to the Togliatti club’s financial backer passing away), the mess-up at Gelsenkirchen; the IMG were struggling to find the 11th venue with the pressure on due to a budget based on eleven grand prix providing a boost in sponsorship and venue rights money (they expect everyone to jump board the Aussie dream for the second time).
IMG – ‘So Olly. Australia and Russian can’t happen.’
Olly – ‘Such a shame’
IMG – ‘You made an error on Germany. So that can’t be done too. Now we need a 11th GP venue, can’t have double helpings of a track like before either’
Olly – ‘Well I own a track in Denmark, Vojens…remember had the SWC final. We don’t have a second GP in Denmark. It’s popular there too. But we have a Scanidivian Grand Prix. What name could we give this one?’
IMG – ‘We will sort out some name. We did it last year with the ‘Final Grand Prix’. I have got one already Olly…..Nordic Grand Prix.’
Olly – ‘Job Done. Deposit the money to Vojens Speedway Club immediately. I need a holiday. Quietly whilst no-one notices.’
So we have Vojens as a Grand Prix – stadium in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by trees and notoriously boring as spectacle. The only other venue change is that of Italy moving from the symbolic track of Lonigo to less known Terenzano. Having never seen the track or stadium in picture…let alone video, who knows what to expect. Enlighten us anyone who’s visited.
As for the Brits, well Nicholls had the hump, so lost some weight, plies his trade out of the UK and remains average according to league form. The excuse is for this poor form though – a mystery virus has dragged him down. He’s a bit like the Wigan of the Grand Prixs, ain’t he? Mid-table but not without a wobble, occasionally good to watch but an ugly fella runs the show (Tatum/Steve Bruce). Harris in this analogy is Hull, plucky in his first season but poor in the second. He’s reached his peak, entertaining to watch when dialled up and generally a decent bloke. He lacks that winning appetite which means forever he’ll never progress from being that support heat leader. Another season of struggles for the pair, bit a like Newcastle United, it will all be under the false cloud of false hopes and unrealistic expectations.
As for Praha and the Marketa, it’s an okay track and definitely one of the best for a GP travelling fan due to the location. Crump and Pedersen both have a liking for this track, Gollob isn’t bad either and it normally rains too. Nicholls even had a good outing here before bottling it as per se. There’s a surprise in store I feel; not be surprised if it’s either Walasek or Ulamek; written off by the UK based fans, they both remain functional but point scorers. It won’t be enough though to stop Pedersen though.