norbold 7,167 Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) As I know we all love lists, here's one I made earlier.... I thought I would make a list of the dominant rider of their time. Of course, it doesn't mean they won everything going during the period in question but they were the rider to beat. I'm sure no-one will actually agree with the list as it stands, so any comments are welcome. - 1928: Frank Arthur 29-32: Vic Huxley 33-35: Tom Farndon 36-39: Bluey Wilkinson 46-50: Vic Duggan 51-53: Jack Young 54-55: Ronnie Moore 56-63: Ove Fundin 64-67: Barry Briggs 68-79: Ivan Mauger 80-82: Bruce Penhall 83-95: Hans Nielsen 96-2006: Tony Rickardsson 07-12: Jason Crump 13- : Greg Hancock Edited January 7, 2016 by norbold 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,247 Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) As I know we all love lists, here's one I made earlier.... I thought I would make a list of the dominant rider of their time. Of course, it doesn't mean they won everything going during the period in question but they were the rider to beat. I'm sure no-one will actually agree with the list as it stands, so any comments are welcome. - 1928: Frank Arthur 28-32: Vic Huxley 33-35: Tom Farndon 36-39: Bluey Wilkinson 46-50: Vic Duggan 51-53: Jack Young 54-55: Ronnie Moore 56-63: Ove Fundin 64-67: Barry Briggs 68-79: Ivan Mauger 80-82: Bruce Penhall 83-95: Hans Nielsen 96-2006: Tony Rickardsson 07-12: Jason Crump 13- : Greg Hancock Great list! I wouldn't disagree with your choices (certainly during the period that I attended speedway 1972-2003) Interesting that there is no Olsen or Gundersen but I felt that both Mauger and Nielsen were the more dominate during those eras chosen as the statistics suggest (not only on the world stage but also domestically)...my thoughts anyway. Edited January 7, 2016 by steve roberts Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 21,079 Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) I would say I don't agree with the last one Imo Tai is the dominant rider of the last period Tai in the GPs has 163-121-151pts=435pts Greg has 147-140-129pts=416 So even though it is my gut feeling,the stats back it up at the highest level.In the leagues it might be slightly different Edited January 7, 2016 by iris123 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arnieg 3,689 Posted January 7, 2016 I would say I don't agree with the last one Imo Tai is the dominant rider of the last period Tai in the GPs has 163-121-151pts=435pts Greg has 147-140-129pts=416 So even though it is my gut feeling,the stats back it up at the highest level.In the leagues it might be slightly different There is also a claim for sayfutdinov over this period. i'd suggest the list stops with Crump and the last couple of years can't be determined until we have a bit more hindsight. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iris123 21,079 Posted January 7, 2016 There is also a claim for sayfutdinov over this period. i'd suggest the list stops with Crump and the last couple of years can't be determined until we have a bit more hindsight. I was just going to edit my post again to say I am not a fan of either Greg or Tai.More a Nicki and Emil fan and I would love it to be Emil,but it is just my gut feeling over the past few years that Tai is the man Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucifer sam 3,960 Posted January 7, 2016 (edited) As I know we all love lists, here's one I made earlier.... I thought I would make a list of the dominant rider of their time. Of course, it doesn't mean they won everything going during the period in question but they were the rider to beat. I'm sure no-one will actually agree with the list as it stands, so any comments are welcome. - 1928: Frank Arthur 28-32: Vic Huxley 33-35: Tom Farndon 36-39: Bluey Wilkinson 46-50: Vic Duggan 51-53: Jack Young 54-55: Ronnie Moore 56-63: Ove Fundin 64-67: Barry Briggs 68-79: Ivan Mauger 80-82: Bruce Penhall 83-95: Hans Nielsen 96-2006: Tony Rickardsson 07-12: Jason Crump 13- : Greg Hancock Norbold, almost entirely agree except: Bluey Wilkinson had completely retired in 1939. Need a different rider for that year. Not entirely sure who. Unless we knock that season on the head, as almost every result was void thanks to A Hitler. Duggan lost a lot of sparkle in 1950, after the death of his brother in Australia. Graham Warren was dominant that season. Alternatively extend Jack Young to 50-53, as he was already on fire in 1950. Rickardsson's last dominant year was 2005, and he retired after less than half a season in 2006 (I think he ended up 13th in the GP standings). Plus it was Crump's best year. So I would go for: Crump 06-10 Hancock 11-12 Woffinden 13- But, as already mentioned, it's really tricky doing the last few seasons without the power of hindsight.... All the best Rob EDIT: Also pondering on Olsen 77-79 vs Mauger 77-79. Very tricky. Edited January 7, 2016 by lucifer sam Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arnieg 3,689 Posted January 7, 2016 I've just found an old bit of paper (21 years old) on which I worked out who wpuld be World Champion if you took the last 3 years world final scores and added them up. (i think Amsterdam has been halved to make it comparable with other years. 1948-51 Jack Parker 1952 Freddie Williams 1953-4 Jack Young 1955-56 Ronnie Moore 1957-63 Ove Fundin 1964-67 Barry Briggs 1968-79 Ivan Mauger 1980-81 Michael Lee 1982 Bruce Penhall 1983 Kenny Carter 1984 Hans Nielsen !985 Erik Gundersen 1986-91 Hans Nielsen 1992 Per Jonsson 1993 Sam Ermolenko there were 4 ties (highest position in that year's final was the tiebreaker) 1959 Briggs tied with Fundin In 1973/77/79 Mauger tied with Olsen, Peter Collins and Olsen again Collins was runner-up three years in a row (76-78) Plechanov, Michanek, Jessup and Tatum all had two seasons in a row as number 2 without ever being number one. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucifer sam 3,960 Posted January 7, 2016 Thinking about it again, Michael Lee (1979-1980) has a very strong claim. All the best Rob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,167 Posted January 7, 2016 Thanks everyone for your comments. And, yes, of course, you are right about Bluey Wilkinson, Rob, Also I agree with your point about the year for the changeover from Rickardsson to Crump. It should be a year earlier. And, indeed, Michael Lee does have a strong claim to 1979-80.I was in two minds over the recent past. It maybe that looking back on this in another ten years if Tai continues the way he is going we will write Hancock out of the Dominant Rider History Books and be able to give a ten year dominance to Woffy to match the other greats like Fundin, Mauger, Nielsen and Rickardsson. It probably is too near in time to be certain. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BL65 658 Posted January 7, 2016 Anders Michanek had an impressive run of success and was very hard to beat from 1973 to 1975. He had a higher British League average than Ivan Mauger and Ole Olsen in 1973, was World Champion in 1974 and 2nd in the World Final in 1975. He was also a World Pairs winner in 1973-74-75. In Britain in 1973 he won the Spring Classic, Superama, Brandonapolis, Blue Riband, Pride of the East and Golden Gauntlets. Probably worthy of being described as the man to beat at least in 1973. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wessex Wanderer 148 Posted January 8, 2016 Great list Norbold. Wouldn't disagree with anything although it is all debatable (which is what is so fascinating about these lists). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Split 181 Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) Imo Tai is the dominant rider of the last period. I must admit that I hadn't heard of Imo Tai and my first reaction was to welcome an Asian to the elite riders of world speedway. A little internet research however revealed that this is a New Zealand name so the young man is simply following in the footsteps of Moore, Briggs and Mauger. Seriously though it would be good to see another British rider in the list although Parker, Lee, and others might have a claim. Edited January 8, 2016 by Split 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
norbold 7,167 Posted January 8, 2016 (edited) Seriously though it would be good to see another British rider in the list although Parker, Lee, and others might have a claim. Actually it hadn't really occurred to me before that the only British rider I had in my list was Tom Farndon. Edited January 8, 2016 by norbold Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted January 8, 2016 Actually it hadn't really occurred to me before that the only British rider I had in my list was Tom Farndon.Great thread enjoy the different opinions Michanek is one that is often forgotten a class act tough as well. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E I Addio 15,856 Posted January 9, 2016 As I know we all love lists, here's one I made earlier.... I thought I would make a list of the dominant rider of their time. Of course, it doesn't mean they won everything going during the period in question but they were the rider to beat. I'm sure no-one will actually agree with the list as it stands, so any comments are welcome. - 1928: Frank Arthur 29-32: Vic Huxley 33-35: Tom Farndon 36-39: Bluey Wilkinson 46-50: Vic Duggan 51-53: Jack Young 54-55: Ronnie Moore 56-63: Ove Fundin 64-67: Barry Briggs 68-79: Ivan Mauger 80-82: Bruce Penhall 83-95: Hans Nielsen 96-2006: Tony Rickardsson 07-12: Jason Crump 13- : Greg Hancock Very difficult to disagree with any of that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
