PHILIPRISING

EUROSPORT (but not the UK version) have had the rights for some time. Obviously, allowing Eurosport UK to show the GPs is one option open to BSI/IMG.

DON'T bother... hasn't much going for it TORUN on the other hand has just about everything

THINK that is most probably the case ...

IN the short term the Cardiff crowd might grow. Those who already plan to attend presumably wont change their minds because it's not on Sky while others, who would otherwise sit at home, might go instead. BSI already pay to advertise on Sky so that wont change either but its the long term that a lack of TV coverage would prove harmful. However, the Sky door isn't shut and other options remain, especially in 2014.

YOU are being very simplistic just suggesting that dirt on a track will produce better racing. It won't, it is a myth. Riders want tracks that provide grip, are consistent and predictable but at the highest level any rider worth his salt is capable of winning a race. I saw EVERY World Final between 1963 and 1994 and there wasn't that much passing in any of them. Talk to any current GP rider and he will tell you that the temporary tracks at Copenhagen and Cardiff, along with Gothenburg this year (no rain) and even Auckland were fantastic. You cannot just blame the stage on which they perform if you don't like the show. I have said and written this many, many times: there is no perfect formula to producing the perfect speedway track. It is not an exact science or like baking a cake. What works one day doesn't necessarily work on another and simply throwing dirt on a track achieves nothing and more often than not results in races that have riders very strung out. Where is the entertainment in that? Ole did favour slick tracks because they are easier to handle if the weather intervenes but Tony Olsson has a different objective but you cannot just rustle up a great surface at the click of your fingers, especially at some of the stadiums where the track staff don't always listen (intentionally or otherwise) to what he proposes. I may be in a minority (wouldn't be the first time) but I enjoy the spectacle of riders, in close combat, elbow-to-elbow, having faith in each other and the track surface and wouldn't swap that for the odd pass or two. One thing Ole is working on is an all-weather track. He firmly believes that it is possible to manufacture the perfect racing circuit that will not be susceptible to the weather. What a legacy that would be. I SHOULD add that what really makes a speedway track is having more than one racing line, giving riders the option to go inside or out, often on the same lap. That was a major reason why the old Hyde Road track was so good and why, in recent times, the tracks at Bydgoszcz, Gorzow, Torun and Malilla have produced so many great GPs.

I WOULD be the first to admit that not all of Ole Olsen's suggestions are worthy but at least he is always trying to think of ways to make the product more entertaining and not to standstill. The work manual that he produced for the GP, which is still the benchmark today, set the bar very high for those organising and staging SGP rounds and is referred to constantly.

AND quite a sensible thought, too...

THERE are some other plans for the Monster girls, who will still be present at the draw for gate positions in the final. You are right that often riders have different views on the best gates but sometimes choices are fairly predictable.

WOULD you like to put money on that...

NO one has said they are being done out of sight. The theory is that it will be quicker to go to the riders in their pit bays rather than for them to come to the scoreboard. I happen to be sceptical that much if any time will be saved especially as it will be me going to the riders. If anyone thinks Tomasz Gollob (for example) will stop cleaning his goggles and/or adjusting his clutch to instantly choose his gate position as soon as I ask him they might be living in cloud cuckoo land. But we will see...

I VERY much doubt that a challenge would come from any promoter - rocking the boat and all that - but I can see the day when a rider will take issue with the whole asset farce. It is one thing trying to prevent an out-of-contract rider going elsewhere if the club claiming him as an asset wants to use him. But trying to prevent a rider from earning a living when the parent club don't even want him is even more outrageous and, surely, illegal. Personally, I doubt that it would even get to court given that the system is basically indefensible.

THE crux of all this is whether the rules are legitimate. Cannot reveal names but a few years (not too many) ago when a new promoter was coming into speedway he enquired of his lawyer, an expert on European law, what she thought of the BSPA rulebook and specifically riders with no contracts being classified as assets. Apparently he had to pick her up off the floor because she was laughing so much.

COULD be worth a try!

THE door still isn't fully closed although it is not looking good as far as Sky and the GPs are concerned, nor for domestic speedway in 2014. However, other irons remain in the SGP fire although no one would deny that Sky is the preferred option.

OLE has suffered some serious losses at Vojens over the years as well as some handsome pay days and I would doubt that he has lined his family's pockets. Jacob, after a brief and largely unsuccessful flirtation with riding, is now involved with two partners in six cycle shops and hoping to open another in Copenhagen. Torben, who has always trod his own path, is now second in command to Paul Bellamy at BSI/IMG and, trust me, has had some strong disagreements with his father. He is his own man, a really lovely guy, and provides a meticulous attention to detail which has considerably enhanced the SGP product off the track. I know Ole has his detractors, and over the years I have had some major disagreements with him. But no one can accuse him of not putting anything back into speedway, a sport he remains passionate about and still believes is the best there is.

A CHEAP shot and a comment not worthy of you Dick. Ole still makes many valuable contributions to speedway as a whole, not just the SGP, and I can think of many aspects of the sport that would be enhanced if some of Ole's ideas (including academies, track drainage and covers, rider costs to name but a few) were adopted. His knowledge, experience and passion for speedway is second to none. I attended the wedding of his youngest son (Torben) in Denmark over the weekend and was reminded of how much his family (including elder son Jacob) have contributed to speedway and how much poorer it would be without it.

WATCHING from the centre green isn't possible. You will receive a complete itinerary well before the event with a timetable that includes early entry to the stadium, lunch, various goodies, prime seats and quite a lot more.

ACTUALLY Ole isn't in charge. He has a voice, even a vote at times, but so do others. I actually think he misinterpreted the minutes of the meeting where the draw method was discussed.

HE isn't ... read earlier post

OLE is wrong ... draw for semi-finals will be as before other than riders will choose their gate positions from their pit bay rather than at the scoreboard, Draw for final gate positions will, however, take place at the scoreboard.

WILL check with Tony Olsson today but have a feeling Ole may be wrong. I do know that the TV companies were unhappy with the time it was taking to do the semi-final draws and that an alternative was being considered but that still required riders to draw in the order in which they finished in the qualifying heats.

ACTUALLY agree with you on this one Humphrey. I knew this was on the table but still not sure that it has been ratified as several people were against it.

PRESUME oldace meant that the winner of the World Championship was the rider with the most points at the end of the series... as it should be.

BUT at the moment messrs Crump, Hancock and Ward are amongst unemployed...

DID you get it?