PHILIPRISING

WHEN banning GP riders from the SEC was first being seriously mooted over 12 months ago BSI warned the FIM that they would be opening a can of worms. The horse had already bolted but, as mentioned so often, this is a power struggle at the FIM, about who controls what. However, like so many similar organisations, they work so slowly and instead of tackling the issues there and then they have allowed them to drag on to the point where we are now. I have to say that had the former General Secretary, Gut Maitre, still been at the FIM it would never have got this far. There is also a lot of truth in assertions that those involved in Polish speedway see themselves as all powerful and the tail is trying to wag the dog. It is also true that riders wishing to race in more than one country require an international licence which is where the FIM hold a trump card.

WITH regard to Riga ... the promoters at Daugavpils signed a two year (2013 and 2014) contract with BSI but there was a proviso that should they find a suitable stadium in Riga and build a permanent track consideration would be given to moving the event to the Latvian capital. That is where we are now. No doubt the Prime Minster of Latvia, who flew to Daugavpils by helicopter this year, would also much rather have the event in his own backyard. And anyone who has been to Riga will testify that it is a great, and relatively cheap, city to visit and a far more attractive proposition than Daugavpils.

THEN it would be up to the FIM to sort it out

WHICH is exactly what the FIM are trying to prevent

JUST about everything I have been told over the past 24 hours is, unfortunately, off the record but it would seem the core of the matter is that FIM Europe entered into a contract with OneSport that they were not empowered to do. To answer a couple of Humphrey's points: one, why would BSI reduce their asking price of promoters, which are variable anyway, when there is no apparent shortage of organisers wishing to stage rounds of the series? And would the FIM accept lower rights and inscription fees if they did so? I imagine that one of the things that grates in Geneva is that the SEC produces little revenue for the FIM. There are is no shortage of top rate lawyers at IMG (Rob Armstrong, Head of Motorsport there which includes BSI, falls into that category) and they have warned the FIM that any ban on GP riders competing in the SEC could be hard to implement. And, of course, riders still have a choice. Who out of the 2014 line-up might decide to forsake the SGP and opt for the SGP instead? Prize or appearance money isn't the only factor. TV exposure, which forms the basis of some much of the sponsorship acquired by the top riders these days, is a major factor and 12 rounds of the SGP adds up to a lot more than four of the SEC. I understand that GP riders will be allowed to compete in one round of the SEC as a wild card ... Sayfutdinov in Russia for example. And that the top three would indeed go through to the GP Challenge as a stepping stone to the SGP.

NO offence but you are wrong. But, hey, believe want you want...

ANDY ... read the posts in the International Section

WHILE in an ideal world BSI would probably be happy with no SGP riders also in the SEC I know for a fact that they did not instigate this and would much prefer the SGP and the SEC to operate on a level playing field as far as fees are concerned. They, like you and me, see speedway as being very different to other forms of motorcycle racing where riders are self-employed individuals rather than representatives of factory teams. But, to repeat myself, this is more about the FIM as a whole trying to bring FIM Europe into line and to stop them, as those in Geneva see it, over-stepping their lines of authority.

NO doubt there will be some anti-BSI/SGP feeling whipped up in Poland by those with a vested interest in the SEC but judging by the number of Polish tracks vying for a GP there it cannot be that bad. It was actually the Finnish promoters who made the original comment about attracting fans from Russia and cannot see how anyone can take offence at that. As for going to Togliatti, as stated before tracks staging SEC rounds pay only 1,500 Euros as against the 20,000 required from SGP venues and OneSport do not pay the FIM over a million dollars a year. If stories about the cost of admission in Togliatti (about £3) are to be believed it is hardily surprising that a SGP round there isn't considered viable, especially with a number of alternatives on hand. The FIM stance on the SEC is borne out by the fact that other disciplines keep World and European Championships apart and riders (and/or teams) do not compete in both and many in Geneva believe that should also apply to speedway.

ALL riders qualifying for the SGP are theoretically then "invited" to compete by the FIM, which effectively means that once they accept they agree to abide by the various regulations governing the competition. It could be the FIM's way of getting round the possible restraint of trade repercussions. One of the conditions of "accepting the invitation" would presumably be an agreement not to ride in the SEC. Many at the FIM (though presumably not FIM Europe) think the SEC should provide a route into the SGP via the Challenge. At least it would be a form of qualification on the track. Still nothing official from the FIM as far as I know (but am in the US so not exactly on top of things) but this one obviously still has some way to run.

WHAT I am hearing is that the FIM have decided the SEC should become a feeder series for the SGP and that a rider in the SEC will not be "invited" to compete in the SGP.

YET another dig at Speedway Star ... if you actually read it, and considering it is a weekly publication not a website, you would realise that most of the stuff has already appeared, at least as conjecture.

BSI won't release anything official to their own website until contracts have been signed and sealed and ratified by the FIM. It is not hard to piece together the 2014 calendar given the various tickets that are already on sale but, for example, the round scheduled for April 26 has yet to be agreed. If it is Bydgoszcz then the calendar will remain as it currently is but, if not, one or two rounds might be re-shuffled.

SAID before that I would imagine this would be difficult to enforce but it is very much to do with internal conflicts at the FIM and FIM Europe. As for the GP calendar (iris123) the original draft included both Lonigo and Daugavpils. The somewhat unexpected return of Copenhagen, at the express wish of the Danish Motor Union, resulted in Lonigo being jettisoned and while there are lots of rumours about Riga taking the place of Daugavpils in 2014 rather than 2015 that has still to be confirmed.

NEVER pretended to be right all the time ... just tell it as I know it at the time. Lonigo was actually on the draft 2014 SGP calendar at one time, as was or is Daugavpils, but once Copenhagen returned, rather unexpectedly, it was dropped.

NOT as good obviously as Cardiff for example but still much better than nothing. Rather freakish weather conditions there in 2012 left some water on the first and second bends but it was quickly cleared.

I AM currently out of the UK but rumours of Riga are gathering strength. Was certainly being lined up for 2015 but maybe things have moved on quicker than anticipated.

NO ... he is like a civil servant, appointed by the FIM permanent staff.

WOULDN'T bet on it...

IF the Germans actually knew what they were talking about they would have known that Armando Castagna wasn't involved either. It is the job of the CCP Secretary in Geneva to notify federations in cases such as these. Sounds like some sour grapes in there because they wanted their own candidate, Wolfgang Glas, to get the job that Armando has. But, even if the FIM cocked up, it still wasn't the fault of Harris and the fact remains that several others in front of him in the queue did turn it down.

GOOD point

NOT sure the Freedom of Information Act applies in Switzerland...

JURICA Pavlic was knocked out of the qualifying rounds for the 2012 GP Challenge and was then afforded the wild card for the Challenge on his home track in Croatia ... blame the system by all means but why be so hard on Harris? If my memory serves me correct Andy Smith was never given a wild card slot... he was around at the time when those in the GP who didn't automatically qualify for the following year went into the Challenge.

ALSO, signing on inducements in excess of £100,000 have been quite common

I MAYBE wrong (it happened once!) but have a feeling Elite League Ice Hockey were actually paying Sky rather than the other way round...