BWitcher 12,453 Posted September 8, 2019 9 hours ago, HenryW said: I forgot about Sam being out that year too... There were a few years there in the late 80's and early 90's where properly serious injuries cut the depth of the challengers in the World Championships. Some serious "what if" chat could be had around those years! Erik, Sam, Tommy, JanO, Per and Todd...and there are probably others that I am forgetting. Wasn't Jan O another who missed the 90 World Final with injury? Was that the year he broke his arm go karting, or am I getting muddled. Knudsen obvs was missing that year too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Doctor... 1,478 Posted September 8, 2019 4 hours ago, BWitcher said: Wasn't Jan O another who missed the 90 World Final with injury? Was that the year he broke his arm go karting, or am I getting muddled. Knudsen obvs was missing that year too. Yeh Jan o defo missed it cos of that. A week or two before the final iirc. Seem to remember it was the reason Henka was upgraded from reserve to main riding order aswell. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted September 8, 2019 5 hours ago, Crumpet77 said: Tony Rickardsson the greatest rider ever, and a lovely man to boot. In the top 6 certainly but Ivan was the man with Ove second. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baldyman 6,243 Posted September 8, 2019 John Cook, proper entertainer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,246 Posted September 8, 2019 46 minutes ago, Baldyman said: John Cook, proper entertainer. A real enigma...but a great entertaimer as you say. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Baldyman 6,243 Posted September 8, 2019 Apart from a few girls, he was the only other reason I went to speedway for a few years whilst a teenager. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve roberts 9,246 Posted September 8, 2019 2 hours ago, Sidney the robin said: In the top 6 certainly but Ivan was the man with Ove second. Ivan no question...not sure where I would place Rickardsson personally? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billywamill 32 Posted September 9, 2019 It’s hard to pick riders when you follow the sport for so long, but Jan O for me. Perfect balance and unbelievable from the back at any track. The Danes were so professional at the time. I think he would have won the title in 1990. He was ready to emerge from Hans and Erik’s shadows but re-broke his wrist the week before. He showed that a year later when he dominated the world titles. So many great riders though. And characters too ! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robinh88 571 Posted September 10, 2019 (edited) Tomasz Gollob - Domestically he was nye on untouchable, pulled his nation out of the brown on numerous occasions, and you often wanted him to MISS the gate. Arguably should have won more world titles, and his Swedish form was 'patchy' to say the least, but will go down as one of the greats. An honourable mention goes to Mr Leigh Adams. A tremendous servant to Unia Leszno, and his myriad of British employers. Like Gollob, should have won more at GP level, but domestically pristine over his legendary career. Edited September 10, 2019 by Robinh88 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sidney the robin 4,735 Posted September 10, 2019 On 9/8/2019 at 8:05 PM, steve roberts said: Ivan no question...not sure where I would place Rickardsson personally? Mauger, Fundin, Nielsen, Briggs, for me would be in front of him Steve. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tigerblade 221 Posted September 10, 2019 Shawn Moran. If you were a teenager/20 something supporting Sheffield in the early 80s, you wouldn't say anyone else. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hodgy 976 Posted September 10, 2019 On 9/8/2019 at 12:07 PM, Hodgy said: Don’t remind me - I drew Zoltán Adorján in the sweepstake. Per was a class act. Although it’s Hans Nielsen for me. Apologies misread the the thread title. Nielsen was the best but my favourite was watching Ian Barney fly round the Showground. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
horneymikh 86 Posted September 16, 2019 Buzz Burrows Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billywamill 32 Posted October 6, 2019 Shawn was fantastic. I was a student in Sheffield at the time and lived watching him. I do remember one night though Simon Wigg making Shawn look half pace. He came from behind in one race and beat him by nearly half a lap. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waiheke1 4,295 Posted October 7, 2019 As a kiwi lad who grew up watching the Aces at Hyde Rd in the 80s, there can be only one choice: Larry Ross if expanding to ten favourites, I'd add Mort , Smudger, PC, the Moran brothers, Tai, Emil, Darcy, Bewley. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites