Joe Beevers

Hi Ian. I had the same thoughts as you on this matter a few months ago, so I created the Multiple World Pairs thread and if you look at page 2 on that thread it should show you even riders from Switzerland. I will also now add a Uzbekistan pairing. Thanks

Really interesting thread. Surprised Tommy Knudsen had over a 10 point average in 1981 because he must of been about 18.

Thank you for the names folks and Austria and Slovakia updated. Uhlenbrock was put in as he rode a World Pairs and I was unable to find an East German to replace him. As for Smolinski, I actually have Muller in and not Maier along with Riss and obviously I cannot drop Muller. Riss however maybe but he has won Longtrack and made more World Finals I am guessing not including the GP format but perhaps worth a debate. Thanks also to those who were brave enough to pick a winner out of that bunch.

More added. I was pondering if to put the only Brazilian star who we all know currently riding into the Rest of the World C or is that along the Loram/Crump line of thought

Thanks Macca. I thought the Prinsloos were South African but got Ferreira and Kent for Zimbabwe. Yes, Rybchik was the Belarusian. May have to start a Rest of the World A and B for one rider per country.

There is also one Belarusian rider. Great to see so many nations at least tried speedway and some you never hear from still going. I would suspect that would be like Great Britain trying to claim Jason Crump as one of their own.

And I think what needs to be accepted here is whether right or wrong 1) This topic should have been buried long gone just like the result and 2) Poole made the final and won it, finished top of the league regardless hence dread me saying it 'Are the best team in the league'. Can't see it happening again surely.

Never in a million years would I have guessed Switzerland put on the old leathers and steel shoe but they did. More nations added and a couple to fill in the blanks.

Nice shout Ozrik Surely there is a Slovak partner for Martin Vaculik? Any Lithuanians or Irish riders?

The mind is going as it is trying to keep up with recent speedway let alone nationalities of riders. I think I really needed this little refresher. I think Verner didn't get higher in a World Final or an SGP than the other two Czechs but I wait to be corrected by all. Eric Williams is a good shout. Sorry Mr Morris in case your reading this thread.

Thought Harrfeldt was Swedish. Holta is really Norwegian though. Could replace with Gunnestad. Edited the previous post now

Why do I keep forgetting Briggo...sorry Briggo. I think it was an earlier post on this thread where someone stated Mauger and Moore so that stayed with me but Mauger and Briggs would have to represent NZ. Ok so on countries, I will try and list as many as I can although my knowledge is more stat based but if anyone can add to this list it would be interesting. Sweden Fundin/Rickardsson Denmark Nielsen/Gundersen New Zealand Mauger/Briggs Australia J Crump/Wilkinson England Craven/Woffinden Poland Gollob/Hampel USA Penhall/Hancock Russia Plechanov/Sayfutdinov Germany Muller/Riss Italy Castagna/Furlanetto Hungary Adorjan/Tihanyi Czech Republic J Stancl Snr/L Dryml Norway Holta/Harrfeldt Wales F Williams/E Williams Scotland McMillan/Mckinlay Finland Niemi/I Teromaa Latvia Bogdanovs/Podzhuks South Africa Long/Davies France Berge/Tresarrieu Argentina Sanchez/Covatti Slovenia Zagar/Ferjan Canada Chitty/Gibb Austria Funk/Kilmeyer Ukraine Karpov/Loktaev Holland De Jong/Pipjer Croatia Pavlic/Stojs. Yugoslavia Kekec/Orsic East Germany Dinse/Uhlenbrock Bulgaria Manev/Jeftimov Switzerland Reutermann/Kaspar Romania Comanescu/Valeanu Estonia Aas/Raask Lithuania Rudokas/Stawinskas Slovakia Vaculik/Tomka Belgium Kennis/Kennis Zimbabwe Ferreira/Kent Belarus Sidorenko/Taranov Spain Arche/Sirvan Ireland Taylour/Perry Uzbekistan Kadirov/Darkin Rest of the World A Warren/Ogisu Rest of the World B Hayhow/Saunders Apologies if forgotten anyone or mispelt. Thanks to some small help from Wikipedia. As for the winner I am tempted to sitbon the fence but with 11 world titles from different eras it would be hard to ignore the Swedish duo.

Unfortunately the two Poles only have one world title each, so they wouldn't fit the multiple winner criteria. It would be interesting to see a best nations pairs of all time. Question is would Nielsen and Gundersen beaten teams of Fundin/Rickardsson and Mauger/Moore.

Yes of course, he went to Sweden and won it twice after his Wembley days. Bit embarrassing as had to check some of others. Thought Nielsen won same as Olsen for some reason.

I was actually going to decide on an era pairings such as Olsen, Mauger or Gundersen Nielsen etc for each early or late decade but felt people may have just picked the era they enjoyed speedway the moes, so I wanted a more balanced view on each riders from everyone. I like your other suggestion customhouseregular

So this is similar to the last two topics I did but I felt as people were picking a lot of their favourite riders to beat more recent world superstars and as the "Best of all time" has probably been done to death, I thought this may be a more interesting debate. So who would be the champions on the old World Pairs format. Tony Rickardsson (6) Freddie Williams (2) Ivan Mauger (6) Tai Woffinden (2) Ove Fundin (5) Nicki Pedersen (3) Hans Nielsen (4) Jack Young (2) Ole Olsen (3) Jason Crump (3) Eric Gundersen (3) Barry Briggs (4) Greg Hancock (3) Peter Craven (2) Bruce Penhall (2) Ronnie Moore (2) In my opinion 1) Olsen/Crump 2) Mauger/Woffinden 3) Penhall/Moore Who would be your top three folks.

Interesting topic. Would like to know all your eventual findings. Surprised Gundersen wasn't top and surprised Carter had dropped off so much in a year.

What about Quest or Motors Tv?

I see your points but you cannot compare league racing to GP racing. Leigh Adams is a great example as perhaps. Another stat you are missing is that Jonsson has far more accolades and experience. Former World No 2 and has been consistently a top 10 rider for years and has won the swc. Vaculik has nowhere near acheived this success nor has been getting though GP qualifications.In my opinion, I would be more likely to give a wildcard to Jensen or Pawel Przedpelski. Whilst I agree Jonsson has detiorated, it isn't enough to lower himself to Vaculiks performances at world level and looking at his last two performances and now has an experienced head in Jorgensen in his corner, I think it would be a shock if he wasn't back.

Just my opinion but Jonsson is better than Vaculik and I think he should get the spot. Agree with the majority but the selectors never pick the best riders available.

I really like your post Terry.

No it was more the most entertaining lineup you could put into a World Final however, having thought about it I won't do it as I cant see the demand being great enough.

The funny thing about all of this, is that if Sky wouldn't have covered this meeting, noone would have been none the wiser. Nobody would have cared about a rule like this in the old days. Wonder if Mauger would have brought up this rule in the 73 run off, if Scaziekiel had not put his goggles on to give him another title. Speedway is a great sport.

I worked it out by deducting Kennetts score from the aggregate total over 2 legs. If it had rained and the track conditions and less heats could have put the Bees through. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

An interesting view Oldracer. Although I disagree, I understand your reasoning and I wish we could have a GP filled with Chris Mortons, Mark Lorams and Peter Collins. Wouldn't it have been great to give Alan Mogridge a wild card just for the guts he used to show and there are hundreds oof others across nations and time who you would have wished that that one amazing ride that we all witnessed should have guarenteed them a spot in the World Final due to their entertainment capabilities. Still this gives me an idea for a topic.