PHILIPRISING

CAN assure you that at this stage no one, not even Hampel, is assured of a wild card. Personally think MJJ's chances are slim, especially if as looks likely he doesn't do well tonight. Bit too soon for him probably and, as things stand after eight heats, two Danes could make it through tonight. Nothing against him personally - he's a nice young lad - but it would have been a travesty had Pavlic made it.

CRUMPIE has never been a record chaser and came out with one telling remark recently: "When I drop my kids off at school it doesn't matter whether I am a three times World Champion or a four times World Champion."

THIS says acres about Crumpie ... http://speedwaygp.com/news/article/1894/tips-for-the-top

ELDER sister to be precise

THINK Hancock will try and hang on for a GP in the States (possibly 2014) and judging by conversations with him shows no sign of wanting to pack up. Gollob? Who knows but what else would he do?

SPEEDWAY riders face a long retirement with no assured income. Of course it remains to be seen for how long Gollob can command match fees close to twenty grand.

GET it through your head ... the fourth placed rider won't replace Crump.

I AM not making anything up. I am just telling you what the FIM interpretation of their own rules is. By retiring and not entering the 2013 SGP series Crump will be deemed not to have qualified. I am not defending the way the rules are worded but the fact is that he will be replaced by the ninth placed rider. AND the fact that Jason will not ride in 2013 obviously doesn't mean his record and placing this year is expunged. No one has suggested that the final placings are changed.

HAVE just read it ... but believe that only applies if a rider WITHDRAWS having previously stated his intention to compete. Crump has not and will not enter the 2013 competition and, as the SGP series takes precedence over the Challenge, the rider placed ninth will move up in the official standings and therefore take his place. I do agree that it could be drafted with more clarity but the FIM are in no doubt and the ninth placed rider will get the slot.

SPOKE to both Tony Olsson and the secretary of the CCP at the FIM this morning and they both quoted me the regulations that determine who rides in the following year's SGP series in the event of (a) one of the top eight withdrawing and ( one of the top three from the Challenge doing likewise. According to both there is no ambiguity and the ninth placed rider will replace Crump.

THE ninth placed rider will get the call. Fact.

READ the previous part as well. What you have quoted above only applies AFTER the start of the new SGP season.

SEE above ...

FIRST response from an FIM official is that the fourth placed rider in Gorican will replace Crump but there remains some confusion about whether that is actually the case. On the case... CONFIRMED by FIM this morning ... Jason Crump will be replaced in the 2013 FIM SGP series by the rider whose is ninth on the official standings at the end of the 2012 season.

THAT may not be correct CONFIRMED by FIM this morning ... Jason Crump will be replaced in the 2013 FIM SGP series by the rider whose is ninth on the official standings at the end of the 2012 season.

HAVE emailed the FIM for clarification but we were led to believe over the weekend that prior to the start of a new SGP season a rider from the top eight withdrawing is replaced by the next in the final standings while a rider have qualified through the Challenge is replaced by the next in line from that event. Will post FIM replay asap...

MY understanding is that the ninth rider (currently Andreas Jonsson) in the overall standings will replace Jason in 2013. He certainly intends racing in domestic speedway next year but have no idea whether that might include the UK. Much might depend on where he intends to live. He still has his house near Milton Keynes.

OLE has been quite open about this. He is looking for financial assistance from the local authorities to help him upgrade a stadium that desperately needs a new, permanent grandstand along the home straight and some decent corporate facilities. The uncovered grandstand along the back straight is indeed temporary. And he also felt he needed a break from the strain of staging a GP (and other major events) at a location which is so often affected by inclement weather. With an alternative available, both BSI and Ole agreed that Vojens should drop off the calendar in 2013.

DON'T think the 17,000 mainly Danish fans there went away complaining. MJJ showed that passing was possible. Have said many, many times that track preparation isn't an exact science and sometimes weather conditions conspire to make them what they are. It wasn't Ole Olsen's fault, it wasn't Tony Olsson's fault, it wasn't anyone's fault. Vojens has never been a fantastic circuit in my opinion and many riders claim it is quite tricky to get right. But, then again, a 20-year-old found the best way round. Take the positives, just two points separate two riders going into the final round before a sell-out crowd on one of the best race-tracks anywhere.

HAVE to agree that the racing wasn't great, which was a shame given that the attendance was over 17,000. When the covers came off the track was very hard and required watering. Then came a shower but it was a bitterly cold evening and the surface became quite heavy. It just never developed into a good racing circuit, although MJJ proved that passing was possible. Nevertheless, a very fitting evening for Ole Olsen, Vojens and Danish speedway with the one and only Erik Gundersen there to witness one of "his boys" claiming victory, He was very proud and emotional. HOLDER would be a worthy and excellent World Champion... so don't subscribe to the view that Nicki is "the only hope." Only hope for what?

WHYY would it be different to had there been practice on Friday? The track would have been relaid anyway.

STADIUM availability in October (rugby season) would also be an issue ...

BLUE sky and sunny right now. Might be a shower early afternoon but then okay. Ole will have covers off asap and get some air to the track but riders wopn't be allowed on. All iof them know the track well and its the same for everybody. Saw Nigel Pearson at breakfast. He says UK forecast for Lakeside and Birmingham on Monday is for rain to clear by the afternoon. However, if one or both are rained off they will be restaged the following Monday with the finals going back a week.

DON'T think that's right...