PHILIPRISING

DON'T think Gollob will be riding next year after his current contract with Torun expires, Sayfutdinov told me he doesn't want a wild card for 2015 (great shame), Iversen will get one, THJ almost certainly unless both Lindgren and Jonsson qualify (highly unlikely), MJJ doubtful because so many Danes will already be there (could be as many as six if they fill the top three in Lonigo and Bjerre gets in the top eight), Hampel probably if he doesn't climb into the top eight, Ward if he isn't banned, Vaculik doesn't seem interested...

NOT entirely true... Horsens (we are told) will have a capacity of around 13,000 and in general has better spectator facilities, more covered grandstands, etc. The other side of the coin, of course, is that a temporary track will have to be laid. Lot of politics as well, with OO still battling with his local council who have continually thwarted his plans (no financial help) to put a roof over much of Vojens.

BEEN to Vojens more times than I can remember but cannot recall better weather than we are enjoying this weekend. Bet that's put a curse on it! Forecast is excellent, clear blue sky this morning and OO is hopeful of a 20,000 crowd. Over 16,000 tickets sold by end of play yesterday. Must say that the whole facility, including the track, was in prime condition yesterday. People genuinely gutted for Greg, not just because of the affect that it will have on his title hopes but the fact that he misses a GP for the first time. That was a remarkable record, a huge achievement on his part. With Woffinden also far from fit, the title race is suddenly wide open again. Of course we are going to miss Hancock and Iversen, and not see Tai at his best, but for some of the riders a golden opportunity beckons, not least for those currently outside the top eight.

MATEJ Zagar told me today that he will definitely compete in the GP Challenge and not withdraw as he did last year. The reason? If he did pull out Zagar would receive an automatic three day ban by the FIM and miss riding for his Polish club Gorzow in their championship play-off meeting the following day. Cannot say he is delighted at the prospect of a 1,300 kilometres drive after Lonigo.

THEY went on fact finding trips to GPs to educate themselves about several aspects of building a new speedway facility ... track drainage, preparation, pits, lighting and so much more. Not in order to run a GP but to stage speedway in general. Why (SCB) are you so hung up about having a GP there?

PERSONALLY don't envisage a GP at Belle Vue but plenty of other meetings could and should go there ... SWC Final, GP Challenge, World Under 21 rounds, British Final, list goes on and on. Still surprised how many on here haven't actually grasped what has happened since the original concept of a new speedway home for Belle Vue was formulated. The whole project is now much bigger than that, it will embrace other sports and activities, has enjoyed the backing of the local authorities, has had to jump through almost endless hoops and has still retained most of what was always intended ... a purpose built track, a splendid grandstand incorporating conference facilities, bars and a restaurant, and the potential to increase its basic capacity by several thousand as and when required.

STEFAN Andersson has resigned as Swedish team manager after receiving abuse from some fans in Sweden after including him in the Piraterna team two days after his failed alcohol test in Daugavpils... at which time, of course, Ward was still in possession of his racing licence.

I COULDN'T possibly comment! I would hazard a guess that if BSI had their way there might not be a Challenge at all... Harris the latter day Andy Smith who always seemed to reserve his best for the Challenge and ensure his continued participation.

FIM TV will be at Lonigo but have no idea (am asking) where or when it will be shown...

SMOLINSKI and Harris got in via a lucky break in the GP Challenge but that doesn't mean they are better riders than Janowski or a host of others in my view

AGREE although I think we still need to see more top class performances away from Gorzow. Great attitude, family backing, has the full package.

WOULD like to think that he will go on to scale the heights. Seems a nice young lad with bags of talent. Poland is desperate need of a new hero. No one can replace Gollob, of course, with his charisma as well as sublime skill but Piotr could serf the pulses racing.

STILL more questions than answers and I fully agree that putting in two Italians is a joke. Will Zagar actually ride or pull out as he did last year given that he has almost cemented his SGP place for 2015 and could do so on Saturday... will Pawlicki be fit, Woodward is already out.

HOCKEY pitch in the middle

WAS not including a SGP in that scenario... why would they want one anywhere other than Cardiff? Sorry, let's not resurrect that old chestnut again. I would imagine that a SWC Final at the new BV in 2016 might well attract a crowd in excess of 10,000 and as you can see from the pictorials @speedwaystarmag there is plenty of scope to adjust the usual capacity accordingly and get in well over that number.

WILL be posting some pictorials on @speedwaystarmag shortly

MARIN Cilic, winner of the US Open tennis championship this week, last year tested positive for the stimulant Nikethamide contained in some glucose tablets bought by his mother. He denied any wrongdoing and was given a nine month ban, reduced to four, as the Court of Aribration for sport accepted its digestion was an accident. His semi final opponent Roger Federer said he believed Cilic was not guilty of being anything more than naive.

STILL no word on the wild card although I am told unofficially that it won't be an Italian... ... also that if the wild card fails to finishing in the top three he won't then be considered for a wild card in the 2015 series unless there are extenuating circumstances ... getting injured early on, missing out through an engine failure, something like that.

TO the best of my current knowledge that is still an option but what speedway event would draw a crowd in excess of 10,000? The new stadium has always been envisaged as a venue for the Speedway World Cup but even that would be unlikely to draw a crowd of that nature.

NO... training and mentoring the best young talent in the country requires more than track availability

LARRY Ross went to have a look at Plough Lane, his original stomping ground in the UK of course, where he was here recently and said it is now "a dump." Very sad.

SORRY, missed the bit about Gorican which overall is better because it has seating all the way round but let's not forget that it was built by the Pavlic family as a labour of love, no planning issues and at relatively little cost. My main point is that the actual grandstand facility at the new BV will have far more facilities than either Gorican or Vojens and will provide a first class viewing experience along with the opportunity to dine and watch. It will also be available throughout the week and not simply for the speedway. I'm going for a draw...

REF, that was harsh!

THERE are no toilets or refreshment facilities in the actual stand. No restaurant or bar either, which in Belle Vue's case will be open during the week. Not belittling Vojens, where I am heading again later this week, but there is no real comparison between the grandsrtand there and the one which will be built in Manchester.

HAVE you been to Vojens? There is a permanent grandstand on home straight (everything else is temporary) but it has no bar, restaurant or corporate facilities which is something BV will have.