PHILIPRISING

I'M told less boring interviews between races (hoorah) and a more analytical round-up at the end of the meeting.

YES there are still people who care. I can tell you that the production guys handling TV coverage of the British Final on behalf on BT Sport were desperate not to have to explain how an Australian won the British Final to an audience in excess of 50,000, many of whom will have known little about speedway.

ACTUALLY I think it is very important and what other countries might or might not do is their business. British speedway has a big enough credibility crisis as it is without making it even worse. I think the situation was brought more into focus on Monday because of the wild card situation at Cardiff. For the record when I was actually a working speedway journalist as opposed to an old fart I did make a lot of noise at the FIM about Rune Holta racing for Poland in the SWC. As usual, it fell on deaf ears. As you say, there are no rules to stop it but there should be.

I HAVE nothing against Rory Schlein and he has been a good and loyal servant to British speedway, despite some serious injuries, but should he, or any non-British rider, be allowed to ride in our national championship? I know all about the days of Briggs and Mauger, etc, but that was very different given that neither Australia nor New Zealand had any representation at the FIM and all their affairs were handled by the British ACU. We have moved on from there. Personally, I think it would have been a mockery had he won on Monday and was immediately prompted to email the following the Armando Castagna... BRITISH speedway narrowly avoided a major controversy and embarrassment on Monday evening when thankfully Rory Schlein didn’t win the British Championship. What a nonsense that would have been. How can an Australian and one who has ridden for his country in international events become British Champion? It is too stupid for words. Surely the FIM should ensure that riders only compete in the the national championship of the country of their birth and not on a licence of convenience. His résponse ... I have no idea of this situation ... but I'm sure Rory must have double passport including British one? As FIM I can only say that if ACU allow riders from other countries to enter their National Individual Championship itis their decision and we can not interfere. Every country Federation can make their own rule regards their Individual National Championships. For sure, in Italy we only allow Italian passport holders to enter our National Individual Championship... perhaps in UK is different?

THERE will be similar features in the future TOO true

THERE is no money

PERHAPS they are employing Diane Abbott to calculate averages

MOST if not all have covered speedway before, working as freelances for Sky.

CONCUR with that

BT's operation is part funded by the BSPA. Viewing figures (which translates as more people paying for BT Sport and the internet) will determine what happens next year. Apparently the head of BT Sport (Simon Green) was at Belle Vue on Monday and was hopefully encouraged by what he saw. Pretty sure that his Sky equivalent, Barney Frances, never attended a speedway meeting, not even Cardiff. Viewing figures for the SGP are significantly up on BT Sport which suggest more people are taking the plunge now that both domestic and international speedway are available on the same channel.

CHRIS is not part of the BT team.

THE guys providing the coverage for BT are doing so on a very limited budget. A fraction of what Sky spent.

FULLY agree. Going to speedway needs to become habit, a weekly ritual. It's Monday, Tuesday, whatever... we go to speedway. Lose that continuity and you lose fans. Simples.

EMIL has done it before in Slovenia. Pretty sure Crumpie did it, perhaps more than once. At Cardiff?

PLENTY of time to re-arrange if there is a will (unlikely!) to do so

COST

EXACTLY ... or should that be exactly

UNDERSTAND that but not why the postman couldn't keep it dry. If that happens again call Dave on 020-83351113 and will send a replacement.

HEADLINE in the Daily Mail today ... BT (shares) slide after warnings that it pays too. much for sport ... that will amuse the BSPA

SIMPLE reason ... cost. BT take the world feed from BSI for the SGP and SWC (no production costs other than their studio) and they have out-sourced production of domestic speedway and are not paying the BSPA any money. Basically, they are just providing the air time.

BECAUSE II'm an idiot

WILL enquire WHY was it in the rain?

COULD you elaborate?

BARRY Briggs MBE

BT do cover the SWC ...