After veteran Greg Hancock’s stunning World Championship last year, the 2012 Grand Prix campaign is set to be an intriguing spectacle. The younger generation are sure to be battling to end the dominance that the likes of Tomasz Gollob, Greg Hancock and Jason Crump have held on the World stage for so long. Riders such as Emil Sayfutdinov, Jaroslaw Hampel and Andreas Jonsson could well be challenging for the title, but the old guard will certainly not give up their medal places without a fight. In just over 50 days’ time, the series gets underway in Auckland, New Zealand as the Grand Prix heads to the Southern Hemisphere for the first time. After tackling the fast Western Springs track, these 15 riders will battle it out over a further 11 rounds, climaxing on the 6th October in Torun, Poland where the 2012 Speedway World Champion will be crowned. Here is my guide to the 15 men who will be battling it out for that elusive crown.
#15 Hans Andersen
After a 2 year absence from the GP series, Dane Hans Andersen returns as a wildcard after a series of riders declined invites to the series to allow them to ride in the big-money Polish Ekstraliga. After finishing in the top 6 for three seasons running between 2006 and 2008, Hans Andersen fell out of the Grand Prix’s after enduring a disappointing few years of form. However, Hans looked slightly improved in 2011, and now he has a second chance Hans will be keen to prove he is still able to compete with the best riders the world has to offer. However, although he may have a couple of good GP’s, in general Hans is likely to struggle to reach semi-finals, and as a result I fail to see him offering any real top 8 challenge that would secure him a place in next year’s series.PREDICTED FINISH: 12th
#14 Peter Ljung
Much like Hans Andersen, Swede Peter Ljung takes up a place in the series due to the many riders who turned down offers to race in the Grand Prix’s. I, like many, am shocked to see Ljung as a full-time GP rider, and believe he is set for a long and hard season. Ljung made it to the series based on a fifth place finish in the GP Challenge at his Swedish home track, a position which proved enough for qualification after three of the riders above him turned down their places in preference of Polish Ekstraliga racing. Nonetheless, I think Ljung simply lacks the ability to compete with the calibre of riders he will be up against in the Grand Prix’s, and any semi-final appearances will surely be seen as a success. Ljung will certainly find the going very tough indeed. PREDICTED FINISH: 15th
#13 Bjarne Pedersen
After finishing as runner-up in the GP Challenge, 33 year old Bjarne Pedersen returns for his 7th Grand Prix campaign after being absent from the series for 3 seasons. Despite spending six seasons in the Grand Prix previously, Pedersen has never really been convincing. Now, 3 years on I do not believe Bjarne Pedersen is be likely to do any better than he has previously. Against riders such as Gollob and Crump, Pedersen’s gate and go style is simply not enough to gain substantial points. As a consequence, Pedersen will struggle and although he should earn consistent points, he will not get enough semi-finals appearances to succeed.
PREDICTED FINISH: 14th
#12 Antonio Lindback
Lindback returns to the Grand Prix series via the GP Challenge hoping to improve upon a decent 2011 campaign which saw him finish in 12th place. As the season went on, Lindback looked more comfortable, and will be looking to be up to speed from the start this time. Also, we saw on many occasions Lindback winning his opening ride before struggling later on in meetings. If Lindback can correct this problem, then the Swede will be able to do well. However, the consistency for Lindback remains a problem that I don’t believe he will be able to conquer.
PREDICTED FINISH: 13th
#11 Chris Harris
Bomber endured an extremely disappointing 2011 season and will be desperate to improve this time around after being granted a wildcard. One thing that can be guaranteed is that Harris will give 110% every time he takes to the track, and I predict his poor form won’t continue this year. However, against a very strong set of riders I just do not think Chris has the natural talent to break back into the top 8, although he will certainly not be far off. Bomber is likely to make a couple of finals, although he is equally likely to endure 1 or 2 nightmare meetings of less than 4 points. Harris’ inconsistency will cost him a top 8 finish in my opinion.
PREDICTED FINISH: 10th
#10 Nicki Pedersen
Nicki Pedersen really is one of the true characters of the speedway world, and for that reason alone it is no shock he was handed a wildcard for the 2012 Grand Prix’s. Aside from that though, Nicki is a superb rider, and after a season of frustration last time out he will be sure to be fighting to prove he can get back to his best. Unfortunately, at 34 Nicki is not getting any younger and I fear his best days are behind him. After many big falls as a result of his pushing the limits style, Pedersen may not be able to return to the form that has won him 3 World Championships. Although I expect at least one GP win and some slight improvement on last year, I think Nicki’s crashes may be catching up with him and he will just miss out on a top 8 finish yet again. PREDICTED FINISH: 9th
#9 Fredrik Lindgren
Freddie Lindgren is perhaps lucky to be in the GP Series this year. After failing to finish in the top 8 in each of his 4 Grand Prix seasons, many felt Lindgren did not deserve another chance. However, Freddie’s natural talent has obviously been recognised by the BSI and he lines up again hoping to improve on his 2011 9th place finish. I think this may well be the year where Lindgren finally wins his first Grand Prix, and from there I expect him to go from strength to strength. Although challenging for the medals is probably out of his reach, I predict great improvement from Lindgren, leading to him breaking into the world’s top 8 for the first time.
PREDICTED FINISH: 7th
#8 Chris HolderAt just 24 years of age and already embarking on his 3rd Grand Prix series, Aussie Chris Holder really is one of the rising stars of world speedway. After reaching the top 8 at just the second attempt in 2011, this is now a big year for Chris. Last year, Holder’s consistency really did stand out. Not once did Chris scores less than 6 points, and as he now improves Holder is more and more capable of big scores. If this consistency remains, it will be an excellent base to allow improvement on last season, should the Australian Champion make the 5 finals I predict he will.
PREDICTED FINISH 6th
#7 Kenneth Bjerre
In the last couple of years, Kenneth Bjerre has proved he can compete with the very best the world has to offer. However, with his gate and go style I do not feel this success will last. Sooner or later, Bjerre’s inability to win points from behind will cost him, and I think this may be the year it happens. I predict a very tough year for Bjerre that will see him slip out of the top 8. I can’t help but feel Bjerre is overachieving at the moment, and this will be the year Bjerre slips back to a position which I feel suits his ability.
PREDICTED FINISH: 11th
#6 Emil SayfutdinovSince bursting onto the Grand Prix scene in 2009, young Russian Emil Sayfutdinov has certainly experienced an eventful couple of years. However, after an injury ravaged 2010 Sayfutdinov showed signs of a return to his 2009 form last year. Sayfutdinov was very consistent last year, and the only thing really lacking was a few big scores. Yet with his sublime natural talent, Emil should be able to hit some big scores. This year, Emil will really show us his capabilities, and I think after at least 2 GP wins the Russian will be challenging for the World title right into the last meeting in Torun on the 6th October.
PREDICTED FINISH: 2nd
#5 Tomasz Gollob
2010 World Champion and speedway great Tomasz Gollob had a disappointing 2011 by his high standards. Now, at the age of 40 I cannot see the legendary Pole returning to his title-challenging best. Age is certainly not on his side, and Gollob may well be fighting just to secure a top 8 finish this time around, in my opinion. I think Gollob will start the season well, but as the meetings tally up and his age catches up with him, Tomasz will slip back and fade more and more as the season goes on.
PREDICTED FINISH: 8rd
#4 Jason Crump
Aussie Jason Crump was up there challenging for the title yet again last year as he has been for so long, and I expect this year to be no different. Nonetheless, with riders such as Sayfutdinov, Hampel and Jonsson now having one year more experience, I do not think Crump quite has what it takes to win a 4th World Title. Although Crump will win a Grand Prix and make a few finals, I think he will fall just short of a medal position, but finishing in the top 8 and qualifying for 2013 will be no problem at all for Crump.
PREDICTED FINISH 4th
#3 Jaroslaw Hampel
After returning to the Grand Prix stage in 2009, Pole Jarek Hampel has appeared a completely different rider than the one which looked off the pace back in the 2007 series. After proving he has the consistency to do well in the Grand Prix’s I believe this could be the year that Hampel really leaves his mark on the speedway world. With rivals Gollob, Crump and Hancock now a year older and Hampel a year more experienced, I think Hampel will just about take his first ever World Championship. It certainly will not be easy though, and riders like Sayfutdinov and Jonsson will push him hard, but in home country Poland in October, I think Hampel will be crowned World Champion by a very slim margin.PREDICTED FINISH: 1st
#2 Andreas Jonsson
Last year was a massive year for Swedish Champion Andreas Jonsson. After a disappointing 2010, Jonsson, started 2011 equally badly. However, by winning 3 of the final 6 Grand Prix’s AJ earned himself the Silver Medal and proved he really is one of the best riders in the world. Now, AJ needs to prove he can stay there, and I do not think the Swede will have any problems in doing so. Jonsson will be in the hunt for the title right until the end, and although I think he will just lose out, a second consecutive medal would certainly be a success for AJ.
PREDICTED FINISH: 3rd
#1 Greg Hancock
After his incredible World title last season, American Greg Hancock will be desperate to do it again, but at 41 years of age surely this is where the backwards slide begins. Although Hancock will definitely be up there, I don’t think Hancock will be anywhere near as dominant as last year. Hancock will win at least on Grand Prix, and should break the 100 points mark for an incredible 11th year running. A top 5 finish would surely be a major achievement for a 41 year old, and I think Herbie will definitely achieve that in 2012.
PREDICTED FINISH: 5th
Interesting stuff. I deduce that you support Wolverhampton ... only a Wolverhampton supporter would be blinkered enough to put "he's a better rider than that" Lindgren at seventh.
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