PHILIPRISING

WILL enquire at BSI tomorrow ...

THE original plan was for a GP in either Australia or the USA immediately before or after the one in New Zealand. Obviously this would have enabled the huge cost of transporting riders and equipment halfway round the world to be shared between two or even three events. Various venues in Australia were looked at but none were suitable and since then only the Ethiad in Melbourne has come forward but it is only available in late October/November. Efforts to find a suitable venue in California or Florida (Daytona) also failed to materialise. The Home Depot stadium in LA (now re-named I believe) was far too expensive and the Veterans Stadium in Long Beach, which hosted World Team Cup Finals in 1985 and 1988, simply wasn't interested in even renting their facility. Logistically a GP in LA the week after NZ would be perfect ... there are direct 12 hour flights between the two cities and it would then only require a further flight back to Europe. But despite the best efforts of BSI and, indeed, Monster Energy (based in California) the various hurdles remain.

TWK ... BSI pay the FIM a considerable sum of money every year. Your argument really should be with the FIM and what they do with that money.

SENT by first class mail on Monday ...

SHOULD have been available from Dec 24 ... Christmas is a bad time for us as on sale dates get confusing for people who buy through a newsagent or supermarket.

BIT like those throwing millions at F1 events NOT in Auckland ... already know of some who had intended going to the speedway but have now switched to the Stones MIND you, looked online and tickets for the Stones start at £272! Might put a few off...

BUCKLEY wasn't throwing money in BSI's direction. He had a dream about staging a Speedway GP at his beloved Western Springs and was financially able to make it come true. He also bought his wife an Aston Martin which was probably not a financially sound idea either but it wasn't just throwing money at their Indian owners. He was to make her happy. CORRECT. Last year there was inconsistency in the starting positions, largely as a result of the way the water ran off the track after watering, and hopefully that will be tackled and rectified in April. But the shape and size of the track and the actual surface was highly praised by the riders on both previous occasions.

SPEEDWAY date was fixed first and not that easy to change after flights, etc, have been booked. Buckley isn't being set up for a fall. No one ever pretended that without him a SGP in NZ wouldn't have happened and he only ever had a three year contract. Having spent some time with him earlier this year, and gone on radio programmes to help garner support for his lease at Western Springs to be extended (which it has but only for a short period) I know how frustrated he gets with the local authorities and those trying to have motorsports banned at Western Springs in favour of the more tranquil cricket. Unfortunately Bill can also be his own worst enemy, he isn't getting any younger, his wife has a big influence on him and he may just feel that he has now "been there and done that." Humphrey, no one forces these promoters "with more money than sense" to stage SGP rounds, they do it of their own free will, and Bill went into it with his eyes wide open. But I know it is all run through his multi-million dollar business so I doubt whether his losses, large as they will be, are quite what is being suggested after his accountants have been at work.

SADLY the 2014 NZ GP will clash with an appearance by the Rolling Stones in Auckland on the same night. While genuine speedway or indeed motorcycling fans might still prefer the GP the visit of the Stones will undoubtedly impact on the GP. Last year the England cricket team were in town and the date clashed with several other motorcycle events across NZ. Also, it has to be said that Bill Buckley and those he appoints to run events at Western Springs don't go overboard in promoting the speedway, which might help cut his losses. I am told that over 40,000 motorsport fans attend the Springs over Christmas but offers from the likes of Jason Bunyan to attend with his bikes and to promote the speedway were met with total indifference. It is also true that Buckley hasn't had much support from the local authorities but he can be an abrasive character and his bull (or should that be Bill) in a China shop approach doesn't pay dividends. Bill is a very rich man and no doubt his accountants work their magic but there is no doubt much of his enthusiasm for bringing the speedway GP (which he loves) to Western Springs (which he loves even more) was ruled by his ego and that may be waning

THE first words about speedway that I was entrusted to write was 'ghosting' a gossip column by Alf Weedon ... most of the things he told me couldn't be used!

WELL said.

WE made a decision to cut down on the domestic news sections every other week and only include what was truly "news worthy" and to include more features during the winter months. Judging by sales figures that has been justified and the online editions have also proved popular. Thanks to those who continue to support SS.

WE felt it had run its course ... but hoping to get Bob Hoare to do something different on Tai. His tattoos might be a challenge!

WE actually had to produce three issues this week - with one key member of the production staff absent through illness - to meet print requirements over the Christmas period but Xtra will return and catch up with all the track review details shortly. Thanks gustix ... the features on British World Champions has proved very popular. But you cannot please all of the people all of the time.

NO

IT is something we are thinking about for next year but, in fact, the online edition goes to Exact Editions as soon as the printed version is at the printers.

INTERESTING scenario. FIM certainly haven't changed their tune, as I was told today. Riders cannot do both. However, Emil, unlike Tomasz Gollob, has submitted his entry form for the SGP. Are there sanctions the FIM can take if a rider refuses to ride? I can remember times when the likes of Briggs and Mauger were given three day bans for refusing to race in FIM meetings. Perhaps the FIM will withdraw Emil's licence over a GP weekend if he doesn't race, which would rule him out of Polish league matches. FIM being very non-committal on this question right now, playing their cards close to their chest.

BUT I didn't say that ... I wrote when asked the question the FIM said the correct procedure had been followed. And I certainly never said that the correct procedure was followed to get Harris into the meeting. Try putting two and two together and getting four.

FINE if that what's you want to believe... just so happens on this occasion at least you are absolutely wrong.

NOT as far as the Challenge and its qualification process is concerned. Why should they (BSI)?

IT wasn't a lackadaisical response. I was pointing out that the German Federation can legitimately ask the question about Dilger and expect the CCP Secretary at the FIM to be much more forthcoming to them than he would be to Speedway Star. It is not a question of siding with the establishment. I think you will find both the FIM and the BSPA for example don't see SS as instinctively towing the party line. Quite the opposite in fact.

YOU are doing it again ... I have no proof whether or not the FIM actually did or did not follow the correct procedures. The question was asked and the response was that they did. That was passed on to posters here. You can take their word for it or not, that's your prerogative. But they are certainly not going to reveal actual correspondence to the various federations to the likes of you and I. If the German federation are so exercised no doubt they can legitimately request the CCP Secretary (not Armando Castagna) to attest as to who was asked, when and how. But it doesn't change the fact that Harris, as he admits himself, was lucky to get an unexpected second bite at the cherry and he took it. And that there is no blame to attach to either Harris or for that matter the BSPA.

EXCUSE me, how does it contradict anything I have posted here? The FIM (not me) say they followed the usual procedure and contacted the federations of the riders concerned as and when they became eligible to ride in the Challenge. It was not up to the ACU or anyone at Poole to contact Dilger. If, as claimed, the German federation did not receive any call, email, whatever from the FIM that is a matter for them to take up in Geneva. It does not conflict with anything I have posted on this thread. It was only when the FIM asked the ACU to provide meeting reserves (effectively on stand-by should any programmed riders not appear for whatever reason or even get injured during practice on the morning of the event) to ensure that there were 16 riders participating did Harris come into the frame and only then after other British riders had declined. You (iris123) seem to be getting some pleasure in having digs at me of late and that's fine but try getting your facts right first.

AND how would that help?

SKY'S plan to make the announcement with 'a bit of a do' was scuppered by the premature leaking of the new deal and I believe they were not best pleased by that but expect confirmation before Christmas.