Who Was The Best Wolves Rider During the 70's, 80's & 90's?

[steve roberts 9,244]

Personally I narrow it down to three...Ole Olsen, Hans Nielsen and Sam Ermolenko which can't surprise many considering their great achievements.

Both Olsen and Nielsen carried past Wolverhampton sides whereas Ermolenko enjoyed team success unknown before at Monmore Green as captain.

All three won World Championships although Nielsen's achievements were after he had left Wolves.

All three were great exponents of the lost art of team riding and achieved high avearges over many years.

Ole Olsen although winning two World Championships gained team success and influence after he left Wolves.

Nielsen achieved greater success after leaving Monmore Green when he became frustrated by the attitude of the Wolves promotion when success wasn't high on the agenda.

Ermolenko spent his best years at Monmore Green but by then the promotion had moved on and winning became all important so I guess that he must be classed as the best Wolves rider during that era but was he a better rider than the other two overal? If one is to take all three riders achievements over their entire careers I would place them as Nielsen, Olsen and Ermolenko in that order...what do others think?

Edited November 14, 2021 by steve roberts

[chunky 6,090]

Hans...

[iris123 20,972]

I don't know how well Ermolenko rode , but Ole is for me without comparison. Could it be that Sam's achievement was against stronger oppo ?

1970..Wolves..35..160..408..2..10.25..12F..1P
1971..Wolves..35..159..435..2..10.99..17F..2P
1972..Wolves..31..150..424..3..11.39..18F
1973..Wolves..29..136..361..7..10.82..12F.2P
1974..Wolves..27..119..335..4..11.39..15F..2P
1975..Wolves..22..99..267..0..10.79..7F

Compared to Nielsen

1977..Wolves..32..144..230..31..7.25
1978..Wolves..30..137..285..18..8.85..5F..1P
1979..Wolves..34..157..392..12..10.29..9F..1P
1980..Wolves..29..137..359..7..10.69..11F..2P

Sam

1986..Wolves..39..184..407..40..9.72..3F..8P
1987..Wolves..27..127..292..21..9.86..2F..2P
1988..Wolves..41..226..504..27..9.40..2F..3P
1989..Wolves..16..80..179..18..9.85..1F..3P
1990..Wolves..24..133..269..26..8.87..3P
1991..Wolves..27..143..364..20..10.74..5F..8P
1992..Wolves..28..151..368..19..10.25..5F..4P
1993..Wolves..43..237..627..32..11.12..8F..9P
1994..Wolves..31..166..388..20..9.83..6F..3P
1995..Wolves..41..243..564..66..10.37..13P

https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/2134/ole-olsen

Edited November 14, 2021 by iris123

[steve roberts 9,244]

9 minutes ago, iris123 said:

I don't know how well Ermolenko rode , but Ole is for me without comparison. Could it be that Sam's achievement was against stronger oppo ?

1970..Wolves..35..160..408..2..10.25..12F..1P
1971..Wolves..35..159..435..2..10.99..17F..2P
1972..Wolves..31..150..424..3..11.39..18F
1973..Wolves..29..136..361..7..10.82..12F.2P
1974..Wolves..27..119..335..4..11.39..15F..2P
1975..Wolves..22..99..267..0..10.79..7F

Compared to Nielsen

1977..Wolves..32..144..230..31..7.25
1978..Wolves..30..137..285..18..8.85..5F..1P
1979..Wolves..34..157..392..12..10.29..9F..1P
1980..Wolves..29..137..359..7..10.69..11F..2P

Sam

1986..Wolves..39..184..407..40..9.72..3F..8P
1987..Wolves..27..127..292..21..9.86..2F..2P
1988..Wolves..41..226..504..27..9.40..2F..3P
1989..Wolves..16..80..179..18..9.85..1F..3P
1990..Wolves..24..133..269..26..8.87..3P
1991..Wolves..27..143..364..20..10.74..5F..8P
1992..Wolves..28..151..368..19..10.25..5F..4P
1993..Wolves..43..237..627..32..11.12..8F..9P
1994..Wolves..31..166..388..20..9.83..6F..3P
1995..Wolves..41..243..564..66..10.37..13P

https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/2134/ole-olsen

Some good stats there.

Olsen joined Wolves from Newcastle as their number one so was already established.

Nielsen was a raw 17 year old when he joined Wolves but hit the ground running...remember seeing him the first time at White City in 1977 and one could tell then that he was going to be a bit special.

Ermolenko arrived after a year away from Britain (after a year spent at Poole in 1984 when he sometimes appeared unpredictable falling when unchallenged) on the back of a successful 1985 World Final appearance. He quickly became the undisputed number one at Monmore Green.

Difficult comparing eras but by time Ermolenko rode for Wolves the likes of Carter, Sanders, Sigalos, Penhall, Lee (effectively) amongst others had left the scene. Both Nielsen and Olsen rode during the era of Mauger, Collins and in Olsen's case, Michanek and Briggs to name a few.

[Guest]

IMO Olsen from Ermolenko then Nielsen.

Both Ole and Sam won World titles while racing for the Wolves, but Olsen virtually carried the rest of the team at times as they were very much a Cinderella team in the 70’s.

Hans would get my vote every time for Oxford though just to keep you happy Steve!

[chunky 6,090]

The reason I went for Hans is because both Ole and Sam were experienced British League riders when they joined Wolves. Hans was a raw 17-year who came straight to Monmore Green, and made an immediate impact.

[iris123 20,972]

I just answered the title of best, not most improved or future talent. For me there was only one choice, at least head and shoulders ahead of Hans. But Ermolenko's career basically passed me by without me taking much notice. Although i was at Bradford and he did impress

[BL65 656]

Having watched all of them most weeks during their attachment to Wolverhampton, my view is that during their time with the club Olsen was by far the best rider of the three.  Spectators expected him to win every time he came to the tapes and he rarely lost to anyone other than a high ranking opponent, especially at Monmore Green.  Nielsen was on a steep learning curve for the first two of his four seasons with the club and although a high scorer in his last two seasons he was still well below the dominating level that he reached after moving to Oxford via Birmingham.  Hans was not as adept at the art of team riding in those early stages in his league career as he later became.  He left for Birmingham in 1981 when Wolverhampton dropped down for an ill-fated season in the National League.  Sam was phenomenal at times at Monmore but he was sometimes erratic and prone to on-track errors which were rarely seen from the other two.  I would still place Sam marginally ahead of Hans during their Wolverhampton years.  In addition to the seasons referred to in an earlier post by Iris, Ermolenko also rode for Wolverhampton in 1998, 2001, 2003 and 2004, by which time he was well past his peak.  My opinion only relates to their time spent with Wolverhampton and not their overall careers.

[25yearfan 476]

Sam Ermolenko because he rode for longer than Olsen and Nielsen did at Wolves!

 

Olsen had a massive impact at Wolves as did Nielsen!

[steve roberts 9,244]

7 hours ago, BL65 said:

Having watched all of them most weeks during their attachment to Wolverhampton, my view is that during their time with the club Olsen was by far the best rider of the three.  Spectators expected him to win every time he came to the tapes and he rarely lost to anyone other than a high ranking opponent, especially at Monmore Green.  Nielsen was on a steep learning curve for the first two of his four seasons with the club and although a high scorer in his last two seasons he was still well below the dominating level that he reached after moving to Oxford via Birmingham.  Hans was not as adept at the art of team riding in those early stages in his league career as he later became.  He left for Birmingham in 1981 when Wolverhampton dropped down for an ill-fated season in the National League.  Sam was phenomenal at times at Monmore but he was sometimes erratic and prone to on-track errors which were rarely seen from the other two.  I would still place Sam marginally ahead of Hans during their Wolverhampton years.  In addition to the seasons referred to in an earlier post by Iris, Ermolenko also rode for Wolverhampton in 1998, 2001, 2003 and 2004, by which time he was well past his peak.  My opinion only relates to their time spent with Wolverhampton and not their overall careers.

I would agree with that...great post as usual.

[847084 99]

Have only just seen this thread. As ever with all questions that include the subjective word 'best', I would start with a slightly evasive 'well, it depends'. Olsen spent six years at Wolves and was, in terms of heat wins, maximums and averages, clearly the best of the three. Readers who are not of my vintage might find it difficult to believe, but in Olsen's first three years he was an incredibly exciting rider to watch: he could not gate to save his life and very many wins were thrilling to watch. His defeat of Mauger in his first world title was such a race. As Ivan approached the fourth turn of lap 4 on his way to another win Olsen appears from seemingly nowhere to squeeze through a very small gap to take the win. There is grainy black and white film of it but it is not easy to find. By 73 he had become a much better gater and he had also tired of the experience of being a one man team for a promotion that had little or no ambition beyond listing O.Olsen at number one. 74 and 75 were unhappy times for him as he wanted to be a part of a successful team. 
Hans Nielsen was a rider clearly destined for great things from a very early stage. I remember being ridiculed at Coventry when I said he was a future world champion. Bees' fans reckoned Alf Busk a much better prospect. Ah well.....

By the time the current promotion team were in place Sam Ermolenko joined and the club began to enjoy great success. He was integral to most of it. A remarkably gifted motorcyclist he was both thrilling and selfless. The team came first and his team riding remains simply the best I have seen. 
Pointing to the exact line he wanted his race partner to take lap by lap, the team accrued many more heat wins than would otherwise have been the case. 
Ermolenko is the best rider that Wolves' teams have had, even if Olsen is the best rider to ride for Wolves.

Overall, I just feel privileged to have seen all three ride for my club. Happy days.

[steve roberts 9,244]

2 hours ago, 847084 said:

Have only just seen this thread. As ever with all questions that include the subjective word 'best', I would start with a slightly evasive 'well, it depends'. Olsen spent six years at Wolves and was, in terms of heat wins, maximums and averages, clearly the best of the three. Readers who are not of my vintage might find it difficult to believe, but in Olsen's first three years he was an incredibly exciting rider to watch: he could not gate to save his life and very many wins were thrilling to watch. His defeat of Mauger in his first world title was such a race. As Ivan approached the fourth turn of lap 4 on his way to another win Olsen appears from seemingly nowhere to squeeze through a very small gap to take the win. There is grainy black and white film of it but it is not easy to find. By 73 he had become a much better gater and he had also tired of the experience of being a one man team for a promotion that had little or no ambition beyond listing O.Olsen at number one. 74 and 75 were unhappy times for him as he wanted to be a part of a successful team. 
Hans Nielsen was a rider clearly destined for great things from a very early stage. I remember being ridiculed at Coventry when I said he was a future world champion. Bees' fans reckoned Alf Busk a much better prospect. Ah well.....

By the time the current promotion team were in place Sam Ermolenko joined and the club began to enjoy great success. He was integral to most of it. A remarkably gifted motorcyclist he was both thrilling and selfless. The team came first and his team riding remains simply the best I have seen. 
Pointing to the exact line he wanted his race partner to take lap by lap, the team accrued many more heat wins than would otherwise have been the case. 
Ermolenko is the best rider that Wolves' teams have had, even if Olsen is the best rider to ride for Wolves.

Overall, I just feel privileged to have seen all three ride for my club. Happy days.

Good post!