PolarBjerre

Maybe you could fill us in? Must of been pretty bad, for Wolves fans to not want a triple world champion to ride for them? Seems utterly bizarre to think some wouldn’t like Pedersen but would like the likes of Scheiln and Masters leading the way?!

Then you can consider when he is riding at away tracks , it will bring fans in there too. In all fairness, if Nicki Pedersen cannot bring more fans through the gate then I am not quite sure what rider could? I do remember the last time he raced in the UK, for Peterborough, and he wasn’t the best but his form all over was dire then. He has had an upturn in form in the leagues abroad since then so it is hard to imagine he would not feature in the top 3 averages come the end of the season. Would be a good move all round for Sheffield and would show they mean business. Moving up a league with a triple world champ leading the way would surely put a load on the gate?

Do some research...

You wouldn’t sign him on 11 no. But that wasn’t the point I was making... Col made him out to be a second heatleader, he was more than that.

Bjarne Pedersen was a top number one for Poole for quite a few seasons during their dominance in the mid 2000’s. He is way past his best now, but was certainly a class act back in his day.

Can you honestly say if you put that group into the current second tier the likes of Howarth and Ricky Wells would still come out averaging more than most of them? Which is exactly the whole point of the argument. Their not fit to lace most of them riders boots.

You were the one who stated Klindt would average around 9.00 in that 2003 league. After doing some quick searchs, here are a few riders from the 2003 PL close to a 9.00 figure: Craig Watson (Newport) 9.17 Niels-Kristian Iversen (Newport) 9.13 Matej Zagar (Trelawny) 9.12 Peter Carr (Edinburgh) 9.00 Danny Bird (Isle of Wight) 8.95 Janusz kolodziel (Reading) 8.95 Jan Staechman (Stoke) 8.92 Oliver Allen (Swindon) 8.92 Ray Morton (Isle of Wight) 8.87 I wouldn’t put Nicolai Klindt, in present form, anywhere near the standard of any rider in that list. Another way of looking at it is the doubling up riders from the PL to EL. There were a hell of a lot of riders who done it and the EL was also much much much stronger in 2003 than it is now. I cannot find a list of 2003 EL averages but off the top of my head, the following riders doubled up in 03: B.Pedersen, Ruud, Kylmakorpi, Harris, Watson, Robson, Lanham, Bird, Gjedde, Shields, Bjerre, Parker, Madsen, Staechmann plus probably, but not definately, a few more. They were all either very good reserves or decent second strings, even heatleader in Gjeddes case as he was averaging over 8 for Oxford in a much stronger league. Now you look at, Howarth for example, who is 8.5-9 and considered one of the best PL riders, yet in the EL his average is about 6. In a league that is extremely weak. All of the above quoted riders done more than hold their own in a very strong Elite League in 2003 that, off memory, included all the top GP stars except Gollob. Stonehewer made regular appearences for team GB, in a time you had the likes of Loram, Screen, Louis, Richardson etc... and never disgraced. He made the Grand Prix series three or four times in a row, and never disgraced himself amongst the top dogs. Will Craig Cook do this, I don’t think so. But time will tell. Niels Kristian Iversen and Zagar came in on, I think it was assessed 9.00 figures in 2003 and both increased those figures. That was unheard of at the time. Iversen was also reigning Danish under 21 champion, again at the time a strong event. Zagar had impressed in the World Under 21 finals in 2001 and 2002. It would be extremely interesting to see a list of double up riders from 2003 with the Pl/El average difference. BOTH leagues, in my opinion and judging by the crowds too, are severely weaker now than they were 15 years ago.

You cannot seriously believe what you have written here. Iversen and Zagar were both extremely good riders in 2003... Iversen starred in Denmarks world cup squad that season and went on to produce a sensational performance as a wildcard the following season in the Danish GP... coupled with the fact he was banging in huge scores in the other leagues. The likes of Lawson and Howarth pushing 10.00 in 2003.... are you seriously trying to tell us that they are better riders than the likes of Wilson, Stonehewer, Watson, Carr etc? The league maybe stronger as in its tighter with less teams, the top end heatleaders were of a far higher standard in 03 though and that is for sure. If you put Klindt in that league he would of struggled to average 6.00...

The standard of PL riders back in 2003 was a much better standard than it is now for sure. There were quality performers in the old Premier League days, such as Stoney, Wilson, Stead, Watson, Cunningham, Schott... the list is endless. I cannot agree that the likes of Frank Smart and Danny Bird would be 7.5ish men now. Smart and Bird would wipe the floor with most riders in the second tier. Your example of Nicolai Klindt being a 7.5 man now would equate to 9ish in circa 2003 is nonsense... no way in hell would Klindt average 9 amongst the company of the top 15 or so in the league in 2003. You had the likes of Zagar and Iversen , probably not even top 10 in 2003, riding well throughout Europe on 9 point figures and they both were streets ahead of Klindts current standard back in 2003. The league in 2003 was much stronger, as was the top tier. Year after year we have seen the standard drop, crowds drop and prices go up.

But there are numerous examples of this not being the case last season...

I assume Ashworth hasn't signed a Plymouth contract then?

It is ironic that should Berwick sign Ashworth and Fisher signs for Plymouth, it strengthens both teams. Also would seem IF Ashworth is going to Berwick then he has been tapped up by them or they have spoken to him behind Plymouths back... didn't Bandit fans make huge noise when Newport signed Gjedde in an "apparant" situation, albeit during the season?

A race between Hans Andersen and Nicki Pedersen in an Italian GP when both were in their prime a few years back, passing and re-passing every lap.