Could Mike Bast Have Been A Force In World Speedway?

[waiheke1 4,295]

Speedy guy, where are you? Pehaps to make it easier, you could justify for starters why you think he was one of the top 20 riders of the 70s (and name the others)

[waiheke1 4,295]

On his form in both the USA and Australia I rate Mike Bast very highly. Certainly on a par with those American stars like Jack and Cordy Milne, Wilbur Lamoreaux and Bruce Penhall. Probably about 12th-14th in an overall rating list of a Top Twenty of speedway's greatest stars.

Given tbe recen t thread on greatest riders, and that I understa d speedyguy is now back posting under a different name, I wonder if we are going to get an answer on how this claim can be justified? Edited January 20, 2014 by waihekeaces1

[waiheke1 4,295]

Fwiw, if it was a list of greatest American riders 12-14th would probably be about right. That wasnt the claim though, was it gustix?

Edited January 21, 2014 by waihekeaces1

[Vince 9,458]

Ahem, back to Mike Bast. The following link makes interesting reading. It shows that on home turf, against the world's best, Mike Bast could more than hold his own and he was comfortably the best of the Yanks.

 

http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/usavrow.htm

 

It's pretty obvious he didn't have the desire to take his talents to the international stage - so there's little point discussing that. But had he made the decision to apply himself to British racing - based on this - I suspect he could've cut the mustard.

 

It also shows that on a very trick track where he was the specialist the top riders could more than give him a run for his money. If the then highly unfair one off World Championships had been held at Costa Mesa he'd have been a favourite, anywhere else and he wouldn't have been in the hunt for a podium in my opinion. Had he dedicated himself to riding in Europe it might have been a different story as he was clearly talented.

[pandorum 1,259]

Short answer NO!

Long answer NOO!

 

Scott Autrey was far better than him as far as I am concerned and his best was 3rd.

 

There were loads of Yanks who gave it a go at the top level and did not make the World Final so why was he better than them?

Not a shred of evidence to back up his case. Just because he was a master of tiny tracks and the final was never at Eastbourne is not a case in his favour.

As it said at the beginning he was not interested enough to try but that is not a case that he would have won if he had made the effort.

Not a chance in Hell!

[stratton 1,491]

Was talented no doubt ,always had good aquipment, and i believe he would of done well. I think if he had gone to say Wimbledon he would of done ok but he was not confident anough in his own ability to come out of his comfort zone.No comparison really between himself and Autrey and others who come over and proved themselves in World speedway.

Edited January 21, 2014 by sidney

[waiheke1 4,295]

Penhall, hancock, ermolenko, milne x 2, laveraux, moran x 2, hamill, autrey, sigalos, schwartz, king.

All americans I would rank higher.

[Parsloes 1928 nearly 495]

If the then highly unfair one off World Championships had been held at Costa Mesa he'd have been a favourite,

A throwaway comment with no basis in fact!

Look at the number of quality riders with multiple win and rostrum positions. Only TWO WCs in the whole post-war period about whom it could be argued that they would probably only have won in a one-off basis on the particular track staging that Final.

[waiheke1 4,295]

A throwaway comment with no basis in fact!Look at the number of quality riders with multiple win and rostrum positions. Only TWO WCs in the whole post-war period about whom it could be argued that they would probably only have won in a one-off basis on the particular track staging that Final.

True, but I can't think of any world final - including those where sckaziel and muller won - which were not conventional speedway tracks. Costa mesa is something else. Of course there is the matter of qualification - early 70s bast would likely have been seeded direct to the final, but late 70s would have been competing with autrey and penhall for the spot, so no guarantee he would have qualified.

If he had though, he would have had a genuine title chance imho.

[Parsloes 1928 nearly 495]

Im agree Costa Mesa would certainly have favoured Bast big time.

What I was pointing out was Vince's totally incorrect assertion that the whole World Final system was "highly unfair".

It patently was not.

[stratton 1,491]

Im agree Costa Mesa would certainly have favoured Bast big time.What I was pointing out was Vince's totally incorrect assertion that the whole World Final system was "highly unfair".It patently was not.

He never really beat a top field, top of there game when he won the USA national championships in the late seventies 79/1980? Autrey had his dispute i think it ruled him out until 1980 Autrey he qualified i believe for the Overseas Final at white city in 1980. I went to White city in 77 Penhall rode(was competetive) Bast looked totally out of his depth he said he did not get anough practice maybe he didnt but i did exspect him to qualify that day was disappointed with his performance.

[Parsloes 1928 nearly 495]

I went to White city in 77 Penhall rode(was competetive) Bast looked totally out of his depth

Wasn't THAT much difference.. Penhall scored three points; Mike Bast scored just the one!

Penhall's massive improvement from that to being World Champ 4 years later was born out of riding in the UK. Bast would certainly have improved as well if he'd ever chosen that route.

[waiheke1 4,295]

Im agree Costa Mesa would certainly have favoured Bast big time.What I was pointing out was Vince's totally incorrect assertion that the whole World Final system was "highly unfair".It patently was not.

I guess its relative - there are certainly arguments for it being less fair than the gp system, but lets not open that argument again!

[stratton 1,491]

Wasn't THAT much difference.. Penhall scored three points; Mike Bast scored just the one!Penhall's massive improvement from that to being World Champ 4 years later was born out of riding in the UK. Bast would certainly have improved as well if he'd ever chosen that route.

Penhall was the better rider end of, in this meeting mixed it well was competetive.Within three years he could of won the final i believe he was the bookies favourite in Lee's year Bast would of never been at that level i am convinced but he was a very good rider.

[waiheke1 4,295]

Penhall was the better rider end of, in this meeting mixed it well was competetive.Within three years he could of won the final i believe he was the bookies favourite in Lee's year Bast would of never been at that level i am convinced but he was a very good rider.

Penhall was the better rider end of, in this meeting mixed it well was competetive.Within three years he could of won the final i believe he was the bookies favourite in Lee's year Bast would of never been at that level i am convinced but he was a very good rider.

To be prdantic, jessup was the bookies favourite in 80, penhall was second favourite