PHILIPRISING

PASSING, in my opinion, isn't the b-all and end-all of great speedway. What is your barometer of good racing? A heat where one rider passes another and then pulls away to win by 50 yards? Or close, wheel-to-wheel action where riders constantly jostle for position? The latter in my view. Jason Crump told the VIP Methanol club audience before the meeting that tracks at Cardiff and Copenhagen are now the best they race in ALL year. And, he added, you can include Gothenburg this year. Why? Because the riders trust them, know that they can race flat out without fear of hitting a big rut and being thrown off course and into another rider. Incidentally, Jason's crash on Saturday had nothing to do with the track. Chris Holder, who rode brilliantly and was exciting to watch even while ahead, said afterwards that the track was "awesome." Fifteen of the best riders in the world strutting their stuff on a decent track inside a fantastic stadium still works for me. There were certainly far less Poles there this year, hardly surprising given that they were due to have only Gollob there and even his star is beginning to wane. At least Poland have Janowski, the two Pawlicki brothers, Dudek and Zmarzlik on the fringes.n From where I was standing the noise was still deafening but better performances from British riders would undoubtedly raise the decibel levels. With regards to pre-meeting entertainment: when John Postlethwaite first took the GP to the Millennium Stadium he felt it necessary to have something going on while people were arriving at their seats and waiting for the speedway to start. A little aperitif but not a full blown hors d'oeuvre. And at no extra charge. Over the years the philosophy has remained the same, although for a while some quite high profile performers were booked until the fees demanded grew out of proportion. But they are really just time fillers and perform a function while the fans are coming in.

MARTIN Rogers (ex King's Lynn and Leicester promoter and long-time speedway journalist) emailed me this morning before fling back to Oz ... Unbelievable meeting, cannot remember a better one. Lots of people echoing that at breakfast tables at Mercure this morning. So, as usual, it's all in the eye of the beholder.

ACTUAL attendance, which was rounded by by a couple of hundred, is provided by the stadium. Believe it or believe it not, that's what it was.

Darren Fletcher was with Jan Staechmann MISSED the gate there ....

YOU are getting very tiresome. I know what countless riders (not all GP ones either as Mark Lemon had a rant this afternoon) are saying so excuse me if I don't put much store by your comments.

CROWD was just under 38,000 which was about 12 per cent down on last year. But BSI were happy in view of all the circumstances ... late August staging, Bank Holiday weekend, cricket in town, no hotels at a reasonable cost, people taking late holidays after Olympics. Date for 2013 will be announced on Sky on Monday.

IT may still not be the glittering gala event that Humphrey would like to see but members of the Australian paralympics rugby team will be making the draw in Cardiff tomorrow and coming to the GP on Saturday. Chris Holder will be there, too. Just wonder whether they will pass the balls to each other rather than draw them out of a bag!

HE'S not a wild card but the same rule applies. Does need looking at. As I read it a rider could theoretically come into the series, top the scorers, be crowned World Champion but not qualify for the following year. Planning to have a chat with the FIM bods over the weekend. Incidentally, our latest info is that Hampel plans to return in Malilla.

WHEN are the draws ever glittering gala events?

DRAW will take place 13.00/13.15 on FRIDAY in the Queens shopping arcade...

GRAHAM replied: OK. I answered your mail off the top of my head and it looks like I was wrong. Vaculik is a Qualified Substitute so will not automatically qualify.

HAVE emailed Graham quoting the regulation you posted ... will let you know when he responds

I ASKED Graham Brodie, FIM Speedway Grand Prix secretary, and he says it is his understanding that should Vaculik accumulate enough points to finish in the top eight he would qualify automatically for 2013.

TRUE but it also represents a logistical nightmare.

NOT that has reached my ears ...

NOT sure that opinion would have gathered much support amongst the pits viewing fraternity including most of the riders. But your view endorsed that of the only man that really mattered. At least Craig Ackroyd was prepared to tell Vaculik why and how he came to his decision but still think the majority felt that it was an innocent coming together (certainly no blame attached to Sayfutdinov) and that a rerun with all four would not have been contested.

ANOTHER very hot day here in Terenzano and will probably still be around the start at 20.00 local time. Sadly the track here is no different from previous years and is unlikely to produce racing of the quality we have become accustomed to this GP season. It only really worked two years ago when it rained all day and gave the track a proper and natural soaking. Watering from a truck has almost little or no effect. The fact is that the riders don't really like it and nor does the Race Director but last night the club president and the local mayor announced that the SGP would be returning in 2013. If they were anticipating a rousing round of applause from the gathered audience they would have been sadly disappointed! Somewhat surprisingly most riders, bar the absent Bjarne Pdersen, completed most of their practice runs. The exceptions were Antonio LIndback and Martin Vaculik who called a halt after three runs each. Even Emil Sayfutdinov did all six which is most unusual for him. Given how hot it was and how little the riders actually learn it was hard to comprehend why most did as much as they did. The very long straights at Terenzano mean riders build up a lot of speed but with no banking and little grip it is very easy to over-shoot the corners, even in practice and on their own.

6pm at every venue this year ... including Terenzano today when it was baking!

CANNOT see either Kolodziej or Laguta getting a place. The former had his chance and the latter may not have done enough at true international level to warrant a pick. There are always commercial considerations. Danish TV are an important component so if a Dane doesn't get through the Challenge can see either Iversen or Jepsen Jensen getting a chance. Looks like two Swedes will make top eight so no need for another as a wild card especially if Lindback continues to shine in the Challenge. At the end of the day so much is down to the Challenge. No offence but hopefully the likes of Dryml and Walasek don't have a blinder!

WHEN I was in Lendava last Saturday they talked about having Slovenia TV there but not sure when it was going to be shown.

EXACTLY what we have said in SS this week. GP Challenge doesn't and shouldn't require a wild card.

DON'T forget that Pavlic has already been knocked out of the qualifiers but gets a second chance as a wild card.

THINK it is very different situation re seeded riders with the Challenge and the GP itself. For starters, with the Challenge is the host country who gets a pick and that increases the chances of a fluke result that could see a rider totally unsuited to the GP getting a place. It would make life a lot easier if Iversen and/or Jepsen Jensen and Vaculik take two of the spot Challenge spots. And what about Lindback, who I have christened the 'new Andy Smith'? He has been very disappointing in the GPs since NZ but seems to reserve his best form for the Challenge as did dear old Andy.

WHAT if... Davey Watt gets through the Challenge. Ward would make it four Aussies. Too many? No Danes get through the Challenge ... that would leave just one (NP). Not enough? Vaculik does well again at Terenzano and (if he rides) Cardiff but doesn't get through the Challenge?

I THINK they are opening a creche especially for you JJR