PHILIPRISING

WRONG ... I was at the Jury Meeting. Both riders fined...

CORRECT ... both Zagar and Pedersen fined 600 euros for "ungentlemanly conduct" by the FIM Jury.

HAVE been given an update by BSI but must wait until Monday until everything is sorted. Seems as though UK Eurosport's masters in France have insisted they carry equestrian and Le Mans events but alternative arrangements being made. Will post here as soon as given the green light...

CURRENTLY enjoying Florida sunshine before heading back to the UK and Malilla ... will try and get an answer from BSI asap...

IF I was actually "reporting news" as you put it then I would do so in Speedway Star... I was just giving a heads up to the fact that Manchester City council were putting out their own Press Release which underlined their intent of pushing ahead asap (positive news?) and going for planning permission (concrete news?) now that more bricks (metaphorically speaking) were in place. Still surprised that appears to rub you and a few of the other usual suspects up the wrong way. But, hey ho, I've developed a thick skin over the years. ABSOLUTELY correct ... just like established speedway tracks such as in Malilla and Vojens. However, the grandstand facilities including bars and restaurants will be open during the week and I believe that conference facilities will also be available. Whatever shortcomings some may believe David Gordon possesses as a speedway promoter, he is in fact a successful and experienced businessman who will use his considerable acumen to ensure that the stadium is used to its fullest extent.

NOT sure that I ever said it was a 'major' story or that it was 'over-hyped.' The news was indeed both positive and concrete which ever way you look at it. Do not really see why my journalistic credentials have to come into this but, remarkably, I have managed to scratch a living with them for over 50 years. However, as I always maintain, my posts on the bsf are as a speedway fan rather than a journalist, even one with frighteningly low skills levels.

NO I don't ... but presumably any facilities for basketball would have to be covered.

SORRY if it wasn't, in your eyes. "positive and concrete" news but it was to me. The fact that this was put out by the Council underlines how strongly they are supporting the concept and are determined to speed up the process which, as we can all agree, has been moving at the pace of a snail.

SOME people on here still do not appreciate that what started out as plans for a new speedway stadium across the road from the present one became part and parcel of a much bigger regeneration project envisaged by Manchester City (the council) which subsequently also indirectly involved Manchester City (the football club). As for messrs Gordon and Morton visiting Torun ... of course the new Belle Vue was never going to mirror Torun in terms of grandstands but what they hoped to learn from one of speedway's newest purpose-built stadiums was more to do with the actual track, drainage, media and rider facilities, etc. Starting from scratch with the track they have the chance to do as much as possible to counter the great British weather which, as we are seeing so often this season, can play havoc with speedway in this country.

THEY were definitely there...

EXPECT some positive and concrete news about the Belle Vue National Stadium later this week... Mod Note - Please remember topic headings should be clear and understandable and not in code. 19 missing letters added to title

SHOULD always remember that in the early days of his career Zenon had to ride some pretty poor equipment.

THE City of Prague, and especially the Mayor, are very keen to have the SGP there and while the actual track still leaves a lot to be desired the Marketa stadium has been greatly improved for spectators and media on the back of having the series there. Pavel Ondrasik in particular has tried to improve the racing... lowering the inside of the corners, using fresh material, etc., but in the evidence of Saturday it obviously isn't ideal. However, the problem is compounded by the fact that any one of the 15 permanent SGP riders, and I would even include Chris Harris, is more than capable of winning a race if he makes the gate. This is nothing new, of course. Next up is Malilla where we all know the track can provide fantastic entertainment. They have been a little unlucky with the weather in recent years and, of course, that is always an issue.

THEY are at the Marketa

THERE are many (including my family) who like having some sort of entertainment inside the stadium before the actual meeting but they certainly don't expect headline acts...

UNBEKNOWN to each other, Tony McDonald, Martin Rogers and I all used the phrase 'silky smooth' in our tributes to Simmo in SS this week. And that's exactly what he was...

THE FanZone has proved tremendously popular and is in reality a form of pre-meeting entertainment. But it doesn't come cheap, especially this year when BSI have to pay for the road closures in the City. In answer to SCB... I know many friends of mine that aren't fans who wouldn't normally go to speedway but love the GP at the Millennium because of the comfort and facilities provided by the stadium itself. They enjoy whatever aperitif is served before the main course because that isn't what they are actually paying to see. However, having some form of entertainment going on as they sit and wait is enjoyable whoever provides it. I asked BSI about the pre-meeting entertainment and the answer was that nothing can be announced until final details have been completed but right now the FanZone is their immediate priority.

WHATEVER the entertainment, it is a free bonus.

NO idea but something else I can enquire of BSI. Do know that the FansZone will be located in a different area (nearer the station) with the roads closed to traffic which should make it much easier for people to move around. Understand that Monster will have a much bigger presence this year.

BUT the ticket arrangements in Poland were handled by the club, their co-promoters. Not everything was under the BSI umbrella although they would have borne the brunt of the financial shortfall.

BSI's reply... We are not the promoters of this event and as such have no input into the ticket agency. That said and after what happened at the GP getting overseas visitors to the SWC must be a main objective so will put them under pressure to make this easier for overseas visitors

BARRY doesn't need any publicity and probably the answer to most of the questions above is yes YOU have no evidence, and nor do I, as to whether or not the introduction of dirt deflectors has added to or detracted from attendance numbers. As to your second point about safety, there are plenty, including riders, who beg to differ. As in most things in life, there are two sides to an argument so let's leave it at that.

IT is up to the various authorities and their appointed representatives to ensure that all the rules, including those governing the fitting of dirt deflectors, are adhered to. The accusations made by Briggo in SS were echoed by a number of machine examiners up and down the country. And also passed on to the SCB. The ball is in their court. Certainly at SGP events the dd examinations that take place are more stringent but I very much doubt, as does Barry, that that is the case at every meeting in the UK let alone across the whole speedway spectrum.

HAVE forwarded this to BSI...

JUST had a call from Briggo to say that Simmo has passed away ... very sad news.