SGP (Read 598 times)

[Parrot]

With todays results its now confirmed that Maciej Janowski or magic, will be racing in the SGP next season. The only question left is who will he replace with 9 riders still fighting for a top 8 place to guarantee their appearance next season.

[hmac]

Torun going to be fascinating for sure. Hancock racing for Tarnow this morning...fingers crossed no drama for him...should have it sown up. (no puns int.)Hampel showed that you can come from almost anywhere...14th to 7th...with a great performance. Top 5 look locked in, but yeah, super close after that. Just as fascinating is gonna be the wildcard allocations for next year. From what i read, Emil, Laguta not interested. Darcy a bit the same....and probably blotted his copybook one time too many. NKI must have one spot, and they usually give whoever just misses out one, only leaves 2 or 3 places, and there's a dozen or more who could readily step in and do well.
1st leg of Polish League finals this morning. Gonna be a long night.

[knownotmuch]

Bet even hmac would not have predicted that performance from Hampel. With the top 8 going through to next seasons GP and the Challenge riders as well, how are the rest decided and by whom?

[hmac]

Yup...had me stumped, but gladly. And yep, it's top 8, top 3 from GP challenge, then 4 wilcards selected by the organisers (BSL), which are then ratified by FIM. That makes up the field, with of course one local wildcard and local reserves per meeting. As Parrot eluded to, because Matej Zagar is now a top 8 certainty, (and also he won the GP challenge), then the 4th place in the challenge...Magic Janowski... will move up to grab the last qualifier spot. Next in line from the challenge will be the permanent reserve, to cover for injuries etc....thats how Jepsen-Jensen has raced in a few GPs this year.

[Parrot]

I'd say Smolinski will definitely get a wild card just to keep the German fans happy and get on tv there, also because he won at WS this season. Probably Andreas will get one again going on past glories.Then whoever misses the 8 out of Hampel,Iversen and Holder. The last spot I have no idea but would like to see Jepsen get a crack at the series full time.

[hmac]

NKI is defintely going to miss out on the top 8 now, but i think Holder (home rider for Torun), AJ and Jarek (found there mojo again) could well qualify anyway. Freddie Lindgren and Batchelor might struggle. I'd like to see Jepson-Jensen in there too, Zmarzlik (won't happen unfortunately) and Thomas H Jonasson perhaps.

[knownotmuch]

I guess one of the considerations for wild cards is the fan base that might not be attracted if the rider wasn't there. With another Aussie coming though the Challenge it may count against Troy Batchelor. There have been German supporters in the crowd everywhere so Smolinski would be a good bet. Wonder why Emil Sayfutdinov is not keen on returning to the GP, last season only injury stopped him from winning.

[hmac]

Troy in 11th, but only 2pts behing Hampel in 7th, with NKI,Freddie, AJ in between, so could still qualify outright if he has a good one. That battle is the highlight for me.
Emil? Probably same reason he, Artem and Grigory Laguta and Lotkaev weren't in the World Cup. Money....Laguta(s) could been injured as well come to think of it. Aparrently riders in the GP and SGP don't get paid directly. Winnings got to their governing body, which in turn is supposed to pass it on. its also hell of a costly excerise to race in the Gps, riders gotta pay their own expenses etc. Some governing bodies help their riders out, some don't. If he aint getting the money, ...just could't afford to do it..considering also all the money owed from his Polish club of last year. That's the gist I get from overseas sites.
Swedish Elitserien Final 1 on tommorrow morning too, decent hour around 6-ish. Lotta top riders in both teams...be a goody.