PHILIPRISING

IT is not BSI who are trying to impose the ban. Far from it. No question that they would rather the FIM at the very least suspended the proposed ban for at least 12 months and to try and resolve the matter in the meantime.

IS that the Poole team of 2013 (Holder, Ward, et al) or 2014?

SKY Italia showed the GPs from there ... those from Latvia, Croatia and Slovenia were shown on a variety of channels, and the one from Finland will be on Neolan.

BIG feature in Speedway Star this week. FIM still insisting ban applies...

BEING on Eurosport is a major factor for the SEC going to Togliatti. Of course, if BSI didn't have to pay the inscription fees that they do and the huge sums they dish out to the FIM for the commercial rights their fees would be a whole lot different, as would the money paid to riders.

NUMBER of reasons not least of which is a complete lack of interest by Russian TV stations. Speedway even at the highest level doesn't seem to register on their radar.

EMIL actually denies saying anything like that ... so there you go

EVEN by your standards that is a ludicrous statement. Riders are fully insured (it is a legal requirement) and BSI were in regular contact with Tomasz Gazinski (Gollob's manager) throughout his ordeal. I very much doubt that the Swedish doctors needed anyone to ask them to care for Gollob. Also, Gazinski was constantly enquiring whether Gollob would get a wild card place in the SGP having failed to secure a top eight place because of his crash in Stockholm. With regards to Emil's statement: it actually came from his manager who as other recent events in Poland have proved is prone to taking it upon himself to make decisions that are not actually in the rider's best interests. Of course, it is up to Emil to resolve that but I think it is time the FIM had a face-to-face discussion with Sayfutdinov about the possible consequences of any withdrawal from the SGP after having signed a contract to compete. I have stated countless times that I think the FIM are wrong to try and impose a ban on riders competing in both the SGP and the SEC having already allowed them to do so. I understand their objective that the Euros should in effect also be a feeder route to the World Championship but speedway isn't quite like other disciplines. However, if FIM decisions, whether we like them or not, are to be adhered to then they presumably have some recourse to punish riders who do not. The question has been asked but they are refusing to publicly state what action they could or will take against any rider who, having signed a contract to ride in the SGP, subsequently pulls out for no reason other than to compete elsewhere.

I NEVER said it was only that when a late substitute was required Bydgoszcz would prove to be a popular choice. And so it has.

IT'S the PZM who are pushing Warsaw

HAD a reply ... printing of the tickets is being delayed while the i's are dotted on a media contract. Shouldn't be much longer!

I HAVE emailed bsi again ... waiting for a reply

FRUSTRATING I know ... will email bsi again

WRONG...

SEVERAL including Krsko, Lonigo and another Polish venue but that would have meant changing other dates on the calendar. Bydgoszcz was a perfect fit for the opening round in Europe.

CAN you point me in the direction of where Emil actually said what you claim?

YOU are putting the wrong spin on it. The time frame was against Warsaw, nothing to do with the SEC. They weren't forced, as you put it, into staging a GP in Bydgoszcz - had other options - but wanted to fill the gap for a year leaving Warsaw as an alternative in 2015. THAT'S not quite what I said but I am sure speedway fans inside and outside of Poland will enjoy having a SGP at one of the world's greatest tracks.

MANCHESTERPAUL ... have no real idea how this will pan out. The FIM executive seem determined to stand their ground but, frankly, have only succeeded in backing everyone into a corner. As previously stated, the major flaw in their argument would appear to be that they allowed riders to compete in both last year so why not this? Some of the statements made on here by PolskiZuzel are pure fiction ... as evidenced by his claim that BSI are demanding 200,000 from Bydgoszcz this year when, in fact, they are promoting the event themselves. The original plan was for the PZM to promote a SGP in Warsaw but when that was put on the back burner, possibly for only a year, they stepped in to ensure a meeting at fans favourite Bydgoszcz could go ahead despite the club and city being broke. The Polish federation see Denmark, Sweden and even Great Britain holding their prime SGP in a major national stadium and appear determined to follow suit. SCB has a significant point re Nicki Pedersen ... two Danish meetings in Copenhagen and Vojens as against one in Holstedt. Of course, the riders shouldn't be put between a rock and a hard place and as repeated ad nausea this whole sorry episode is doing BSI and the SGP no favours either which is why they have kept out of it in the hope that the FIM would sort out their own mess. It would, in my opinion, be a major tragedy for Emil Sayfutdinov if those advising him force him out of the SGP if this ban does go ahead. Whatever the rights and wrongs, few are blessed with the talent to reach the very pinnacle of their chosen profession and Emil undoubtedly has the ability to be World Champion, which is the only title that really matters. Easy for me to say that ambition should over-ride financial gain but, believe me, nothing would have got in the way of riders like Briggs, Mauger, Olsen, Collins, Hancock and many more from achieving that first and looking to reap the rewards subsequently.

RIDERS still need FIM international licences to race in more than one country so not sure that the analogy with darts is a valid one. Hypothetically ... if OneSport were to operate a championship outside of the FIM where would the riders find sufficient employment if they were banned from Denmark, GB and Sweden for example? NO great fan of the FIM per say but not sure calling them the Mafia is valid. They are the global governing body of motorcycle racing and the custodians of the various championships. Would, however, agree with your last comment...

PROBABLY only speedway that they are having trouble with!

GHOSTWALKER... as much as BSI resent the way a European Championship was allowed to come into being and are annoyed (furious is probably a better word) with the FIM for not acting at the outset, they realise this is a matter for the FIM and will not do anything that could have legal repercussions for themselves. How successful was last year's SEC? That is also open to debate. Various individuals and organisations in Poland are desperate to flex their muscles but for how long? I actually think BSI would prefer, given where we are, to let the SEC take its course and see where they are in a year or two.

THAT'S the problem ... the FIM are as bad as the BSPA in making official statements when they come to decisions that should be placed in the public domain. It is well known that sportowefakty are the mouthpiece of OneSport and that there are Polish members of the FIM who are believed to leak information to them. It is no surprise if the FIM have gone down this route, which was sparked by an internal battle with their European cousins who, it is alleged, were acting beyond their brief. However, as stated here before, the horse has already bolted. Riders took part in both competitions last year so some sort of legal battle will surely follow. Who will fund that remains to be seen. BSI, who have played no part in this, have continually warned the FIM of the possible consequences of a costly legal battle. They don't want to see the riders put in such an invidious position and realise that they could be some who will opt out of the SGP. What is still not clear is what sanctions the FIM believe they have in their locker should any rider make that decision having already entered the SGP. That could be the key. The fact remains that the FIM should have acted as soon as FIM Europe and OneSport struck their original deal. They weren't on the ball then and this can only end in tears. In answer to A ORLOV ... BSI do not give money to individual federations but pay the FIM direct. Inscription fees for SGP meetings are almost 20,000 euros as against the 1,500 paid by One Sport for SEC rounds. The FIM also glean money from riders' licence fees, etc.

JUST called BSI ... told its a "saga" but should have a definitive answer this week...

ESPECIALLY at Plough Lane (Wimbledon) which was always worth a few yards...

BOTH Ivan and Ole were very meticulous about adjusting their own clutches. Ivan was always bemused that Mark Loram never really did. Coincidence that one was a master starter, the other not?