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Post by benbulben on Feb 6, 2020 21:47:18 GMT 1
Should have added it is in this week's Speedway Star. Sorry.
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Post by dirtywhensecond on Feb 18, 2020 18:30:04 GMT 1
Jason Crump making a comeback with Ipswich at 44 years young.
Hasn't ridden competitively for 8 years and not in the UK for 11 years.
Apparently on an assessed 8.21 average. Eh?
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Post by md on Feb 18, 2020 19:45:37 GMT 1
Another rider it seems struggling to find a career after speedway. I've a feeling all he'll succeed in doing is ruining his legacy as a former world champion and legendary rider. Few comebacks ever go well, Todd Wiltshire the only one I can think of. At 44 I just dont see it.
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Post by benbulben on Feb 19, 2020 10:47:59 GMT 1
Well remember the Cup final against Swindon at Shawfield. He had some titanic races against the Magyar Maestro. Then i realise that was 16 years ago !. Wonder what possessed him to think it was a good idea to come back at 44. Best of luck to him. He might need it. To me there is nothing worse than seeing a top rider on the slide (no pun intended).
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Post by dirtywhensecond on Feb 19, 2020 11:15:48 GMT 1
I'm sure as speedway fans we all admire(d) Jason Crump greatly. In addition to his 3 world titles he was 2nd 5 times. If he had been the dominant rider during his prime, when it was potential GOAT Tony Rickardsson, he may have had the record for world titles, for any younger readers he really was that good. I remember one of his world titles he was riding an absolute rocket, it literally seemed like a 600cc bike against 500cc he was that fast and that dominant and also very fearless. I just feel he's only recently enjoyed the good bits about riding speedway: the thrill and the competition. What he's not endured recently is the travelling and falling off and hurting yourself, badly!
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Post by drosser on Feb 19, 2020 23:18:26 GMT 1
It does seem like a strange decision. However, winning is an addiction which is difficult to cure. I suppose that Jason has been looking at Greg Hancock and thinking that he retired too early and could have won more titles. He knows how good he used to be and has probably kept himself in good physical shape. The problem may be that the reality is not like the dream. Greg stayed at the top of his game because he was a lightening fast gater with a cool, calculating brain. Jason could hold his own from the tapes but his strengths were bravery and aggression, a bit like Nicki Pedersen. Nicki has been through the pain barrier many times in recent seasons with an understandable drop in form. In truth, looking at footage of his recent crashes, he is lucky to still be walking. Tomasz Gollob was a similar type of rider and ran out of luck (o.k. it was not speedway but he must regret not stopping earlier). I recall reading that Crump and Gollob were earning over half a million pounds per season from Polish home meetings alone (around ten years ago). I don't think it likely that he needs money but, if he is hoping to earn that type of money again, he will really have to put everything on the line. Hopefully, reality will kick in quickly and he gives it up to return to a more normal life.
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Post by dirtywhensecond on Feb 20, 2020 10:52:12 GMT 1
It does seem like a strange decision. However, winning is an addiction which is difficult to cure. I suppose that Jason has been looking at Greg Hancock and thinking that he retired too early and could have won more titles. He knows how good he used to be and has probably kept himself in good physical shape. The problem may be that the reality is not like the dream. Greg stayed at the top of his game because he was a lightening fast gater with a cool, calculating brain. Jason could hold his own from the tapes but his strengths were bravery and aggression, a bit like Nicki Pedersen. Nicki has been through the pain barrier many times in recent seasons with an understandable drop in form. In truth, looking at footage of his recent crashes, he is lucky to still be walking. Tomasz Gollob was a similar type of rider and ran out of luck (o.k. it was not speedway but he must regret not stopping earlier). I recall reading that Crump and Gollob were earning over half a million pounds per season from Polish home meetings alone (around ten years ago). I don't think it likely that he needs money but, if he is hoping to earn that type of money again, he will really have to put everything on the line. Hopefully, reality will kick in quickly and he gives it up to return to a more normal life. Wow! Was the money really that good? That's got to work out about £1000 per point.
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Post by ragdoll64 on Feb 20, 2020 20:50:27 GMT 1
Maybe just the desire to ride and be a part of it again.....it never really leaves you.....I wish him all the best along with some success.
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Post by coombes on Feb 22, 2020 17:41:20 GMT 1
Good that we are again staging a Brit Junior round and while staging the final round has a lot of attraction the date could have been better - either Sat 19 Sept or Sun 20 Sept which presumably blanks out Friday 18 at a time when hopefully we are in the playoffs and possibly KO Cup too. www.speedwaygb.co.uk/news.php?extend.37931
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Post by drosser on Feb 22, 2020 21:10:33 GMT 1
It does seem like a strange decision. However, winning is an addiction which is difficult to cure. I suppose that Jason has been looking at Greg Hancock and thinking that he retired too early and could have won more titles. He knows how good he used to be and has probably kept himself in good physical shape. The problem may be that the reality is not like the dream. Greg stayed at the top of his game because he was a lightening fast gater with a cool, calculating brain. Jason could hold his own from the tapes but his strengths were bravery and aggression, a bit like Nicki Pedersen. Nicki has been through the pain barrier many times in recent seasons with an understandable drop in form. In truth, looking at footage of his recent crashes, he is lucky to still be walking. Tomasz Gollob was a similar type of rider and ran out of luck (o.k. it was not speedway but he must regret not stopping earlier). I recall reading that Crump and Gollob were earning over half a million pounds per season from Polish home meetings alone (around ten years ago). I don't think it likely that he needs money but, if he is hoping to earn that type of money again, he will really have to put everything on the line. Hopefully, reality will kick in quickly and he gives it up to return to a more normal life. Wow! Was the money really that good? That's got to work out about £1000 per point. I can't find the article that stated that but this link indicates that Gollob earned over £1 million in 2010 (according to Peter Oakes with Rune Holta earning half a million - no wonder everyone wants to race in Poland! www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/52750-tomasz-gollob/
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Post by dirtywhensecond on Feb 23, 2020 14:19:50 GMT 1
Thanks for searching for the link drosser. Wow that's proper money. Clearly club sponsorship in Poland must be on a whole different level. Are admission prices comparable?
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Post by drosser on Feb 25, 2020 1:24:19 GMT 1
Thanks for searching for the link drosser. Wow that's proper money. Clearly club sponsorship in Poland must be on a whole different level. Are admission prices comparable? Absolutely not. They are much cheaper. I was caught out this year when trying to purchase tickets for the Warsaw GP for myself and 5 friends. This is held at the Polish National Football Stadium which holds 58,000+ fans - reduced to 54,000 for the speedway as some of the front rows are not available. I took my eye off the ball and did not notice tickets went on sale on 1st Jan. When I noticed on 5th Jan, the tickets were virtually sold out (there were only odd single seats here and there). I managed to get one of the better seats left at £18 plus £4.50 for a programme). I think there were 3 cheaper areas in the stadium. Try to get tickets for the Cardiff GP for that kind of money!! I don't know where all the money comes from but there seems to be plenty of it. My friends are not regular fans and are happy enough to go for the beer (not as cheap as it used to be but still around 30 bob a pint).
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Post by benbulben on Feb 27, 2020 12:19:04 GMT 1
Brilliant to see pics of young Sam Norris back on a bike again. Peter Oakes in Star and Sam's facebook site. I found it most uplifting.Also will we see Fraser Bowes at Ashfield this season ?
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Post by tyretrax on Feb 27, 2020 12:26:43 GMT 1
As you say great news on Sam, Fraser is coming to Europe this season and is intending coming to Glasgow.
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Post by jim on Feb 28, 2020 16:08:53 GMT 1
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