PHILIPRISING

I WAS opposed to the Grand Prix concept in the early 90s but much has changed since then ... not least realisation and acceptance that the one-off World Final was as dead as a dodo. In recent years I believe that the GP has become a shining beacon for how good speedway can be and the entertainment and spectacle it can provide. I am proud of speedway, not ashamed, when I arrive at a SGP venue and witness the organisation, the professionalism and indeed the enthusiasm of everyone involved, not least the riders. Few people actually know of or appreciate the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes but what is most enjoyable is that BSI/IMG set the bar very high and want what is best rather than what is the cheapest. I can attest to that with regard to the programmes that PInegen LImited (publishers of Speedway Star) produce on their behalf. Our remit isn't to cut corners and costs but to create a top class product and I like to think we achieve that. As for your pertinent questions: whether or not the authorities at the Veltins-Arena offered to re-stage the German GP a week later is academic and ultimately irrelevant. After lengthy consultations with a variety of people considered to have good knowledge of the materials laid at the track and conditions inside the stadium it was agreed that the the moisture inherent in the surface would barely dissipate within a period of days let alone hours. One analogy made at the time was if you put some washing on a line outside your house in a cold, damp atmosphere it wouldn't dry, certainly in comparison with a summer's day. The temperature inside the stadium, especially with the football pitch withdrawn and a concrete floor, was very low and the materials simply wouldn't dry. If there was one thing worse that having to abort the event it would be trying to re-stage it seven days later and going through the whole debacle again. BSI/IMG simply couldn't take that risk. It is true that advanced ticket sales weren't as good as the previous year but with no prospect of a sell-out the likelihood of people just turning up on the day is increased. However, as previously stated, turnstile revenue is only a small part of the equation. There was a extensive investigation into what went wrong and I can only repeat that the lessons have been learned, particularly with regard to the manner in which the track materials are stored and transported. As far as I know there wasn't an investigation into the Polish rumours because they weren't true so one wasn't necessary. Of course BSI were bemused aboujt the rumours. Why wouldn't they be as they were false. I was present when the Bydgoszcz promoter Leszek Tillinger, who was there as he had been at many GPs other than his own, was summoned to an emergency meeting to enquire whether the event could go there. He had all the facilities in place, it was a proven GP venue, and most important there was a Polish TV outside broadcast unit available. I hope this answers some of your pertinent questions.

LET'S face it, you don't like me, Speedway Star, BSI or the SGP so any conversation between us is pretty pointless.

I DON'T know who could provide you with that information other than Sky themselves. I can only tell you what I do know. I sat in on all the rider briefings and many of the attempts to resolve the situation. At one stage Scott Nicholls's sponsors (who have considerable expertise in road building) came up with a possible solution that involved a machine that lays and dries tarmac at the same time. But, while efforts were being made to locate such a machine, the stadium authorities had kittens fearing that such a heavy piece of equipment would severely damage the runners on which their pristine football pitch was brought in and out of the arena. We have been over all this before. Just as some people deny the Holocaust or that Neil Armstrong ever walked on the moon or that the Twin Towers were destroyed by terrorists piloting hijacked aircraft, there are those who remain convinced that the intent had always been to abandon the meeting. That simply isn't true. But, frankly, it is pointless trying to convince those who even at this stage refuse to accept what actually went on that weekend.

OFF the top of my head I don't have one but now it is being inferred that Sky were party to the conspiracy. Please!

HAVE said this until I am blue in the face and people can believe or not believe. There was no pre-meditated attempt not to run the Gelsenkirchen meeting. Does anyone seriously believe that a company of IMG's stature would be party to a complicity to defraud ... would the stadium have gone ahead with huge catering arrangements knowing that they wouldn't be required ... the cost of restaging in Bydgoszcz was huge, especially the requirement to televise at such short notice ... ticket refunds ...I could go on and on. As for the sustainability of meetings in NZ, with respect to The know and others, our opinion counts for nothing. The ones that matter are Rob Armstrong, who sees the SGP series as a global event, Paul Bellamy and (as far as NZ is concerned) Bill Buckley. As already stated, I spoke to Bill at length, he wants it but he wants his costs and promotions amortised over at least three and preferably five years. And with a fixed weekend every year. The cost of sourcing, mixing and transporting the materials to lay a suitable track will probably amount to around 250,000 NZ dollars. Obviously that is unsustainable for a one-off... spread over five meetings it immediately becomes more viable. IMG's vision for venues is not restricted to 'speedway countries' and their growing involvement in countries like China and India reflects where they believe new and emerging commercial and TV markets exist. That is not to say speedway will be going there any time soon but who knows in five or ten years time.

TWO actually whatever the outcome of the second attempt. Have already explained why both sides agreed to tear up the three-year deal. I appreciate there are some people (Poles and you amongst them) who believe in the conspiracy theory about the aborted German GP but I can put my hand on my heart, swear on my mother's grave and so on and state categorically that every effort, at huge expense, was made to get the track right. As the man charged with keeping the media informed that fateful weekend I was well aware of what was going on and anyone who believes that the event was deliberately sabotaged needs sectioning. It simply isn't true. Gate receipts are only one component of GP finances. And a huge number of lessons were learned which is why Rob Armstrong, IMG'S Global Head of Motor Sport, will not sanction an event in New Zealand until they are 100 per cent sure that they can provide a track not only suitable for GP racing but one that can also, if necessary, withstand poor weather in Auckland. These are facts and, of course, you are at liberty to believe or disbelieve them but if you select the latter your obviously substantial knowledge of speedway will be seriously flawed.

THE first GP in Gelsenkirchen was actually successful thanks in no small part to the co-operation of the stadium authorities ... also a key factor at the Millennium. However, a change of personnel there brought in a regime that actually didn't like the idea of speedway there and made life very difficult. This had absolutely no impact on the fiasco that took place that fateful weekend but did mean that neither side was keen to continue. Wroclaw may well have doubts about the viability of staging a Grand Prix but as well as the three Polish tracks staging rounds this year others are desperate to get on the bandwagon. A key factor in promoting and hosting GPs these days is the support of the towns/cities/districts in which they take place, and that applies to Cardiff, Copenhagen and Gothenburg as much as Terenzano and Malilla. There are similarities with the FI model though obviously on a much smaller scale. And I still think you should try a day with the glass half full rather than half empty.

WHAT has that got to do with NZ? Why are you so negative?

PROBABLY says more about you than him ... NZ, if it happens, will be a five year deal ...

VERY unlikely. Speedway riders (a) have to earn money from league racing and ( need more racing than GPs will ever provide. Kelvin Tatum was one who tried to run a team (Niklas Klingberg) but the financial backing wasn't forthcoming.

HAVE absolutely no idea what that means ...

HAVE tried to speak to Ole today (as yet without any joy) but can only think something might have got lost in translation. Apart from anything else, where would they find 18 weekends? I know Bernie Eccelstone appears to be trying to stage an F1 event every other week (at least) but speedway riders have to earn their corn outside of the SGP series. Personally I would have thought we are at the max in Europe right now and it will be a long time before there is much expansion elsewhere other than NZ (looking good) and perhaps Oz. Suitable venues remain a significant problem.

No worries, mate...

THERE was never a Wellington GP ... who ever put out that was way off the mark. Tauranga was very, very close as was confirmed to me when I went there last month. Western Springs is entirely different ... IMG know what they have to do and contribute, as does Bill Buckley, the promoter, who will be featured in Speedway Star shortly. An extraordinary man. He says he is convinced the city will come on board and having met him you get the feeling that he isn't used to anyone saying no to him. Hopefully all the pieces of the jigsaw will fall into place. The prospects of events at Togliatti haven't been helped by a succession of promoters/owners there being bumped off by the Russian mafia. Three at the last count. Hardly surprising that there is an absent of candidates looking to take over. At one stage they appeared to have lots of money and have a magnificent stadium with terrific facilities. Now it has gone pear-shaped but BSI/IMG have no shortage of people knocking on their door looking to stage an SGP. The reason the FIM sold on a long-term basis is quite simple: any prospective bidder for the commercial rights would require a significant length of time to build the product and reap the rewards.That is the big difference between IMG and the previous regime at BSI who had relatively limited resources. Rob Armstrong, a Kiwi and the Global Head of Motor Sport, was instrumental in acquiring BSI and always views things in the long rather than short term. Theoretically, of course, the BSPA have no claim on the World Championship. It is the ACU who are affiliated to the FIM and I would suggest that clubs in Sweden and Poland are quite happy with the current set-up. Anyone who has been going to Malilla for the past few years will witness the huge benefits there which can be directly attributed to the SGP. The number of new speedway stadiums being built in Poland also owe much to the success of the SGP there ... not just gate revenue but because of the prestige (perceived or otherwise) that it brings to the various cities. The 2010 mayor of Bydgoszcz has lost his job ... no prizes for guessing why!

RE NZ ... totally different with current regime. And Tauranga was just a signature away from reality. Russia? Difficult to deal with, currency, visas ... lots of problems but if they keep producing riders then maybe a SWC will be the first step. Once again, just an opinion.

GIVEN the mess the British speedway is in and some of the decisions being made by the FIM I would say that the SGP is the shining beacon at present. No doubt you will say that I would say that. And I would... But it's only an opinion, nothing more. GIVEN the mess the British speedway is in and some of the decisions being made by the FIM I would say that the SGP is the shining beacon at present. No doubt you will say that I would say that. And I would... But it's only an opinion, nothing more.

IF you read Speedway Star you would know that we have consistently challenged the FIM about what they do with their income from speedway, much of which is derived from BSI/IMG.

FORCE of habit when writing for newspapers, mags, etc ... sorry if it offends

THAT'S their business, not mine nor yours. And who is to say your variety of sources are reliable. Every deal is different, I'm sure, but having been in Auckland a week ago I can assure you every effort is being made to get this off the ground.

HAVE mentioned here before, your idea of what MIG/BSI require is no more than guesswork and usually way off target.

AUCKLAND doesn't have to support a speedway team just a one-off Grand Prix. There is no doubt that people from the south island, and especially Christchurch, will happily make the journey north. And who says they need 30,000? Your grasp of what IMG/BSI require is quite often wide of the mark as it is on this occasion. It will be a partnership between IMG/BSI and the local promoter Bill Buckley but the key will be a long term, at least three probably five years, commitment. The cost of materials for the track and various other items can be amortised and plans to transport riders, their mechanics and equipment were already in place had Tauranga gone ahead in March. Motor sport in general, including bikes, is very popular in New Zealand and the current tour there by Briggo has illustrated the level of interest in speedway that has laid dormant but is now coming back to life. The support of the city of Auckland is important but the key remains Buckley, a remarkable man and a speedway fan and his imagination has been captured by the prospect of staging such a prestigious event at his beloved Western Springs. Try being optimistic for a change.

I VERY much doubt that they expect much of an influx of fans from outside NZ and Oz. That would just be a bonus. Auckland is a well-populated city and from my recent visit to both the north and south islands, there would be a tremendous surge of interest from Kiwis to a SGP event there. And places like Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are only three hours by plane. That will be their fan base not Europe.

PERHAPS he isn't worried about making money ...