Motorbikes 2011

[Mirage]

Got my first Motorsport bet of the year in the F1 thread so thought there may aswell be a bikes thread for MotoGP etc. :\ I usually have a keen interest in different Motorcycle racing throughout the year.

[Mirage]

Re: Motorbikes 2011 Speedway World Championship 2011 - Outright The domestic season is due to start here in a couple of weeks so, even though the start of the GP's isn't until next month, i thought i would get a couple of nice prices before they have the chance to go. Firstly i would rule out Lindgren, Harris, Laguta and Lindback. Lindgren is probably the best of the 4. He scores solid points consistently but doesn't make it to the semi's and finals enough for my liking to compete with the proven GP riders. Harris is an enigma. He will have the pressure of being GB's only representative and still needs to prove his bike set-up can match the bigger named riders. Laguta is too inexperienced on this stage so i can't be having money on him for the outright. Lindback is interesting, a massive talent but he is far too unreliable, lets his head drop when times get tough and his bike set-up can be way below average at times. I am also going to rule out a top 3 position for Rune Holta. Yes, he finished in 4th overall last year but i don't think the standard was that great. The likes of Woffinden, Zetterstrom, Andersen last season were all nowhere near good enough to be in this regularly and added to the fact Sayfutdinov was injured and Nicki Pedersen had a stinker, Holta was able to pick up points quite cheaply. I think this season the standard is a lot higher. Jonsson scores points well enough to be competing in the GP's but he has had years to prove himself good enough to go for a Championship but has not looked clinical enough so far. Greg Hancock is reluctantly dismissed too along with Kenneth Bjerre. The latter has too many nightmare one-offs for me to consider him a serious contender and Hancock is great from the tapes but he is alot older than most his rivals and, i think, on a downward slope. Would want about 33s for me to consider him but 25s is the best available. Sayfutdinov has had a full year out so i am reluctant to put money on him at the price on offer and Pedersen's form last year baffles me so i may get involved with him if he shows up well in the first GP. So, there is 10 of the 15 ruled out. Now onto the ones i think are in with a solid chance. Gollob deserves his favourite tag. He was outstanding last year when he won the Championship and with 3 home GP's out of the 11 on the calendar there is no doubt he can do it again. However, 5/2 is too short for me when looking at the calibre of opposition he is against this year. Hampel did well last year too but, like Holta, i am unsure about to whether it was his ability that shone through to get him to 2nd or whether the lack of consistent opposition played a big part. Like Gollob though, he does have 3 home GP's so that works in his favour. Kolodziej is a brilliant performer on the domestic scene and is the 3rd Pole to be in with a chance in my opinion. However, he needs to prove himself amongst this company more often in one off events. My main outright fancy then is Jason Crump. This bloke has won this title 3 times previously and even at 4/1 i think there is still value in the price. He is fully fit going into the series and i think he is alot better when trying to win back a title rather than defending it. He is the complete rider. He has mental strength, is quick from the gates and rides as aggressively as the likes of Nicki Pedersen......but without the hatred most crowds show towards the controversial Dane (who i personally find brilliant)! This Aussie has experience at just about every track in the world and has a settled pit team so his bikes are no problem, he is the ultimate professional. I would have him around the 5/2 mark with Gollob. The next bet is on another Aussie - Chris Holder. I think this guy is a World Champion in waiting. He had a great debut season when finishing in 8th position and has a calm enough head on his young shoulders. He is electric from the gate whilst domestically he beats others in the competition regularly. He may need another year before he breaks into the top 3 but i feel he will improve and finish in the top 5 this year. Therefore, i feel the 33/1 won't be around next season and since i give him a good chance of finishing in the top 3 i am more than happy to snap it up. 3/5pts Jason Crump to win 2011 World Championship - 4/1 with Paddy Power 1pt E/W Chris Holder to win 2011 World Championship - 33/1 with Paddy Power