PHILIPRISING

BUT in speedway, unlike F1, track conditions can vary from lap to lap.

ROB left about two years ago. Now has his own consultancy business and has recently been joined by Nicola Sands, former Media Manager at BSI.

PAUL Bellamy replaced Rob Armstrong (who initiated the purchase of the SGP/SWC commercial rights from John Postlethwaite) as Senior Vice President of motorsports at IMG when Rob left some time ago. Torben then took over as Managing Director of BSI Speedway. Paul remained as Torben's boss while holding the reins of the World Rallycross series.

SPECIAL feature on the 'Tiger' in Speedway Star next week...

GO where?

WHAT assets? Does that include riders?

IT is very easy to lay the blame at the door of Chapman or Godfrey alone. They are part of an organisation and do not have autonomy. Other promoters have an equal vote at the AGM or other meetings so what we have now is a collective decision not what either Chapman or Godfrey decided on their own.

I DOUBT whether there is a promoter who wouldn't tell you that individual meetings are financial suicide. Team racing is the lifeblood of speedway in the UK which is why all the efforts of those in the BSPA must focus on getting that right. But, no matter what people on here might think, there isn't an easy solution that will work an overnight miracle. My own view, for what it's worth, is that regular and continuity of fixtures, overhauling the averages system and adding to the entertainment value during a meeting would at least be a start.

OF course, a good track alone doesn't guarantee great racing. Ultimately that is down to the riders once they have been given a stage on which to perform.

BECAUSE riders feel that it helps them determine the performance of various bikes.

WHAT did you think of the racing?

BECAUSE the riders want it. Maybe of no interest or value to fans (including the likes of me) but riders will take note of who is doing what. It is in their nature. They are speed merchants. Who is the fastest matters to them, not in terms of the actual meeting, but almost as a matter of pride. It's in their dna. Once had a heated discussion with Tony Rickardsson at the only FIM Gala Dinner I have attended. He was an ardent fan of transponders. Believed that everyone was interested in times. Tried to argue that fans don't care whether a race lasts 59.0, 59.2 or 59.8 seconds. It is the entertainment provided in the race no matter its duration that matters. He wasn't convinced... by a long way! And, of course, transponders will have a value on race-day.

THERE isn't exactly a queue of people lining up take the places of the "rank amateurs and enthusiasts" and even if there was who would pay them? I seriously doubt that any promoter in the country would not seriously consider selling if a suitable offer came along. Bit it ain't going to happen. Not even the most successful track in the country (Poole) can attract a buyer.

NOT saying whether I agree or disagree with Rob's comments and am certainly not generally a fan of decisions made by the BSPA, but ... without people like Rob, funding speedway tracks that for the most part are not even profitable, there would be no speedway. And with regards to Scunthorpe... he created one of the best tracks in the country and if racing was good elsewhere the sport might not have some of the problems it does today. Just saying ...

THE transponders are also to be used during the meeting and will determine any close finishes. It is the riders who were pressing for transponders. They are interested in times, etc. Will it make any difference to crowds and entertainment. No it won't but it will make practice sessions more interesting for those who are there.

AS I understand it the track will be graded after each flying lap... may be wrong but it would be unfair if that wasn't the case.

HOW does that work? I'm confused... surely the best way to get the starting number you want is to be the fastest? If you are the slowest you get what is left after 15 others have made there pick.

WHY? Riders can still skip practice.

THE former ...

TICKETS for this have officially sold out

PERSONALLY think this is something that will appeal to the riders more than the general public, most of whom won't see the time trials anyway.

No need to apologise

YES

SHE wasn't...

BELIEVE it is a new three year deal for SGP/SON ... still a year to run on domestic speedway.