Speedway Q&A - Greg Hancock

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Our latest Speedway Q&A is here as we sat down with Amercian GP star Greg Hancock and went through the host of questions you sent in.

Please remember to send in your recommendations for anyone you would like us to feature.

Wolves boss Chris Van Straaten, Graham Brodie of the FIM, Ove Fundin and Sky Sports executive producer Rory Hopkins have all agreed to take part.

We can also confirm that Grand Prix star Niels-Kristian Iversen and British legends Gary Havelock and Sean Wilson have also agreed to field your questions.

Next up is BSPA chief Peter Toogood - so send in your questions.

And here are Greg's answers to your questions.

Ian Smith wrote: Greg, two questions. Why dont you ride in England anymore?

I decided that it was just too much racing and not a consistent schedule thus allowing me to be much more prepared for GP Events. I don't agree with racing the same teams so many times each year either. This is my opinion of course! I also believe that the riders who are pulling out of the Elite League for 2009 are not doing so because of the lower pay as most seem to claim. I believe that they are probably doing it for the same reasons that I have stated.

What do you do to help the USA younger riders who want to improve?

Unfortunately I don't get much of a chance to help some of the younger riders from the USA except during the winter. When I do get that chance, I just try to explain that its important to pay attention and learn all the time. Every race is a learning experience so use them wisely. I also want them to know that dedication means a lot!

Dave Hurders wrote: When can we expect to see a USA team challenging European teams and the Aussies in the World Cup? Billy Janniro and Ryan Fisher are triers and on their day are very entertaining but are there going to be new Herbies, Bullets, Sudden Sams any time soon?

This is a hard one to answer as there are not a lot of riders following us at this time. I continue to pledge my services as long as I can and assist my team partners and youngsters as well.

David Hurdman wrote: The guys from Sky make a great fuss about team riding in their matches but it comes a poor second best when compared to what I used to watch at Brandon with you and Billy Hamill at Coventry towards the end of the 90's. It looked like the 'Team Exide' bikes were joined at the footrests! Who have you found to be easiest to team ride with in your career so far?

Tough question because I have had the opportunity to team ride with so many great riders over the years. Riding with Billy Hamill for so long was nice because we had so much time to work together and learn from each other. That's hard to beat.

Jason Lewis wrote: As a former Cradley rider, if you were to ride in the Elite League again would you consider (as your friend Billy Hamill did) riding for the mighty Wolves. I think you would make a great partnership with Lindgren.

As you say it, if I were to return then of course I would consider riding for Wolves. I never had that chance anyway but sometimes felt like a home rider because the fans had a real love-hate relationship towards us Cradley guys even after Cradley closed.

Gillian Cartwright wrote: Greg what was your favourite set of fans when you rode in British/Elite League?

I will be honest! After the reception that I got at Cardiff GP in 2008, I can honestly say that I have not met a bad fan there yet. That was awesome for me and Thanks for that! No Joke.

Nina Aronsson wrote: I'm concerned about some of the decisions promotors are making in offering riders pay packages that are so insane and at the end of the season riders are complaining that they haven't been paid, but if meetings are only attracting 1000 to 1500 people on average a week how can the riders be paid what they have been offered prior to the start of the season? Is it the riders demanding high points money or is it the promotors offering the riders huge pay packets? Therefore putting the club in financial trouble.

Good question. As in everyday life, there always has to be a compromise. You can control your expenses but you cannot control your income so that is difficult and clubs should probably not pay the high demands if they cannot afford it. I believe that any rider would understand if a club said: Sorry I cannot afford to pay those demands and can we negotiate?

Jake Smith wrote: Would like to ask Greg are there any up and coming speedway riders in the USA that will hit the English shores soon?

The next rider to watch for and one who I really believe in is Ricky Wells. A very determined and skilled rider. It will be up to him to make a name for himself but I am confident that he will.

Robert Dean wrote: Hi Greg, If I can I would like to ask two questions. As one of the top riders with a lot of experience of racing in many countries, what do you think British promoters need to do to entice the world's best to ride in the Elite League and do you think that tracks with more (but not too much) dirt would produce better racing and benefit the more skilful riders?

I have been around the block a couple of times and raced in the British League for a number of years too. I have said before and still believe that for the top riders to continue in Britain, the promoters would need to move the race days to one or two specified days a week and cut the number of meeting in half. I really believe this would also entice more riders to come back to the league there. I also believe that it would entice more fans to support the sport knowing there might only be one chance to see their top home riders compete against the top away riders in a season. I do understand that this would be difficult as most of the stadiums are rented and not owned therefore making it virtually impossible. Having a little more dirt to race on would definitely make better racing and would also teach some of the younger riders how to ride in all conditions and make them better overall riders as it has done for us. Good question!

Tom Wright wrote: How did you get into speedway?

My father took me to Costa Mesa Speedway in California when I was about five-years-old and when I saw the junior speedway riders come out for the first time, that was it. I was sold on it. We used to go and watch every Friday night and then my father got involved with helping Bobby Schwartz who has become a close family friend and mentor of mine.

Daniel Stevens wrote: How much do you enjoy your speedway now, than you did when you first started out?

Exactly the same and that's why I maintain the attitude that I have today. I only wish that we could see some improvements in the sport and its governing bodies in order to continue moving forward and give the riders more of a say in some decisions.

Mark Taylor wrote: Would Greg consider a return to the Heathens if they were to ever reform in the borough?

Absolutely!

Peter Hopkins wrote: Do you think there will be a Grand Prix in America in the future? If there is, what stadiums would you like it to be held at?

I would really hope so but I am not too confident about that at this stage. It still seems like a long way away. I would like to see it held somewhere on the west coast but it might be better to mix it with some events such as Bike week in Florida as has been discussed already.

Suzan Hill wrote: What is your opinion on the British speedway scene and how do you think it could be improved? And my second question is are you going to be taking part in next years Grand Prix?

I think I have answered that question above improving the sport so please look there. I do plan to ride in the GP for 2009 although we riders are still waiting for some answers back regarding some plans for the future. That is why I mentioned that I was considering my future there. You have probably already read my comments for what happened to all of us in Germany that was pretty upsetting. I think we are on the road to resolving those issues however.

Grahame Darlington wrote: If England raced on one fixed day (Monday) like they do in Sweden and Poland, would you and other top riders be more likely to return for an 16-20 match season ?

For sure!

Theresa Carman wrote: Greg, you must be disappointed with the lack of young Americans coming over to Europe to race in the leagues, is anything being done behind the scenes to encourage them over? Would the Swedish league take any young americans on? Your son is becoming involved in your career, will you encourage him to race speedway in the future?

It's sad that we don't have more riders coming over, however the sport in the USA is not what it was when I was young and nowadays there is so much to do in the USA that makes it tough. I do my best to encourage more riders to come to Europe and I know that Billy Hamill is working hard with that too. We don't get a chance to go back and compete in the USA these days due to all the racing commitments so many of the younger riders don't see us or learn by watching us either. That's hard as it was different when I was a kid. Swedish clubs will take on new riders but it's a tough league to get into as well these days. I don't push speedway on my son and never will. I will do as my dad did and let him decide what he wants to do and support him all the way as long as he dedicates himself to it!

Mike Tidmarsh wrote: Greg, I know from your decision to stop racing in England that the schedule was too demanding. Can you give me an overview of what your average weekly schedule would be. Hope to see you back racing in England one day! Thanks.

These days, I ride in Sweden on a Tuesday and Poland on a Sunday. When the GP starts then I have a GP virtually every other Saturday except during the World Cup. Throw in some open or individual meetings on various days but not more than 10 during a season. That gives me approximately 60 meetings a season as opposed to approximately 100 meetings when I also ride in the UK.

Nicky Tanner wrote: Hi Greg, you're a fabulous rider and seem like a great guy. Any thoughts on the current lack of top Americans in the sport (apart from yourself) and will there be any change in the future. Also, any emerging nations that might seriously compete in future maybe somewhere in the Far East?

As I said above, it is sad that there are not more Americans on the way over but that's not easy to fix. I hope to assist the future of American speedway if I can. It looks like the Russian League is slowly coming up but as far as other countries, I don't know about that.

Charlie Sharp wrote: Greg, In your opinion, would Tony Rickardsson have won as many GP titles in the '90's and 00's and been as dominant if Per Jonsson not had his tragic accident in 1994?

I cant say! Per was a big hero for me and I am sure that he would have had a much longer and successful career without his injury. You can never take anything away from Tony either as he was damn awesome during his reign. Don't forget what might have been had Eric Gundersen had not had his injury either.

Andy Johnson wrote: You are known worldwide as the people's champion, often the last one to leave a meeting after every last punter has begged your autograph or taken your picture. You have been in the sport for so long, how do you maintain such dedication?

Interesting question Andy. Maybe I just love myself too?! Ha Ha. I, maybe like yourself was a kid or fan once and remember how cool it was to get that autograph or photo so I guess that thought always stands out in my mind when I am at a speedway race. Thanks for the comment of being the people's champion too. I like that and will try to use it in my CV in future.