Grand Central

What is the Internet equivalent of asking 'Are you deaf?'

It would have been 'a bit daft' to have done such a thing. But it didn't actually happen. The SGP fixtures for 2012 were finalised and published by the FIM in October 2011. The draw for the Finals of Euro 2012 was made two months later in December 2011. It was Denmarks opening match that was played on June 9, the night of the GP in Parken. Not the decisive third match at all. I am all for beating up on BSI at every opportunity. But we need to get the facts right.

They could dream of such a thing

Thank god that's all sorted, then. I understand there is a certain lack of communication going on between Syria and Israel at the moment. Let's hope for a happy resolution of the misunderstanding in time for next week's Speedway Star.

It is also interesting to see how this has all come about and the manner in which has been handled. Philip Rising had told us here that the BSPA had been informed of the change back in October 2012 and today's article quotes Paul Bellamy to confirm that. No one else involved, outside the BSI umbrella, says whether they agree with that timing or not. Both the BSPA and BSI confirm a letter from the BSPA requesting a continuation of the 2007-2012 arrangement; but neither say when this was finally formally declined. It is a matter of public record, however, that SCB chief Graham Reeve published the supplementary regulations for the British Semi Finals on April 15, 2013. These contained the paragraph that stated that the SGP wildcard place at Cardiff would be given to the highest placed rider, other than Tai, at the British Final. This is what 31 of the 32 riders believed at the Semis. The decision to give the wild card to Chris Harris was announced on Television last week; after the running of the Semi Finals. All riders, except Chris Harris, heard it for the first time here. Mr Reeve has subsequently issued amended details of the Supplementary regs for the British final. It's a funny old way to run a Sport at National level. It's just as odd to run an international Sport this way, too.

I agree entirely that the wildcard could have been there to maximise the gate. But it was BSI who chose to have a different idea. No one else. When Harris was a permanent starter I just wonder why BSI didn't choose the wildcard to maximise the gate then. Instead we had Kennett, Woffinden and Nicholls depending on random outcome of the British Final. I don't think any of them added much to the attendance at the time. Surely Darcy Ward would have been better 'Box Office' last year than bothering with with the British Final giving them Nicholls. Of course, when Jason Crump got the go ahead BSI didn't have anything to do with things back then did they?

No one would add on thousands that's certain. It's impossible to know how many Harris would add ... A dozen or so? How big is his immediate family? If BSI are now choosing the GB Wildcard solely on the 'gate' they bring I just wonder why this year and not the last few when they left it to the 'chance' of the British Final? As it is just about 'bums on seats' ... Who do we think would bring the most extra people? I don't suppose they even need to be Briitish if they bring in more cash to BSI, do they?

I thought it was just that Sky have plenty of Live action in the bag for Saturday nights, so an out of contract SGP had little bargaining power with them. Whilst Summer Mondays need a bit of Live stuff to be bought in and that EL contract still had a year to run. If they still need something to fill those spots in 2014, I presume they would still consider a new contract ... At the right price.

Yes, I just thought there may have been some cost-benefit in equipment hire and staff for having them used for two consecutive nights. I'm sure Flagrag will tell us.

The minor points being made in favour of this change to picking the WC could have been made any year. But I don't remember that being the case. I think there was just about unanimity in welcoming BSIs use of the British Final for the wildcard place. So why is 2013 deemed different? A small part of me does think it a little unfair for us to all pick on Chris Harris for eagerly accepting the place. After all he could not possibly have the ability to say 'Thank you very much BSI. but I would prefer to earn the WC place at the British Final by racing against and beating my fellow countryman on an equal footing'. That would be ridiculous Why don't we have similar sympathy for, say, Danny King. If he had won the BF last year he would have been in the GP. This year he didn't even go to Edinburgh for the semi with that being a possibility. But no one told him. Or anyone else.

Well, he's scored six points in 2012, six points in 2011 and six points in 2010. So, I'm not sure if that tallys with your memory, or not. But hey, ho ... let's all look forward to another six points for the GB star.

Let's hope that come June 1st Chris can be relied upon to come up with just the right type of performance that will maximise any possible discomfort to BSI. Now, which would that be? a] Win the meeting or do well enough to scream in their face 'see, you should have seeded me again', or, b] Do so badly that he embarasses both himself and those people that picked him, or, c] Declare that he can live the lie no longer and own up to being Paul Bellamy's love child answers on a postcard to Speedway Star.

No apology needed, but I do think that most contrubutors here understood the qualification method. Just to clarify. If the old method of giving the wildcard place to the highest placed non GP rider was in place this year then any of the following riders could earn it Danny King, Craig Cook, Edward Kennett, Richie Worrall, Stuart Robson, James Wright, Josh Auty, Olly Allen, Richard Hall, Ashley Birks, Chris Schramm, Scott Nicholls, Simon Stead, Ben Barker AND CHRIS HARRIS Under this years system one rider is getting the place without earning it CHRIS HARRIS Not really an improved system is it?

I wonder if Chris ever suffers any pangs of personal embarrasment at the 'special treatment' he is given by BSI. At best, he looks like the Teacher's Pet. At worst he is being labelled like the 'special needs' kid who gets the remedial help.

Er, the one who won his place via the British Final? Just a thought. Or is 2013 different for a reason I don't understand.

Bull Shit Initiative

Yes they coped well ... so much better than being taken back to the sterile atmosphere of Isleworth to listen to Heuwen/Ermolenko. Does anyone know if Europsort do have intentions to have studio coverage .. and if so their address to canvas against any such move. The world feed works on it's own.

Unfortunately the weather spoilt it ... You just about see the back straight through the fog, but only just!

Fair enough ... But ... A Rugby League pitch was mentioned in the original MEN report on the go-ahead, so it is hardly surprising that it's possibilities would be discussed. Do you know anything more?

I'm a little unsure where the figure of £75,000 a year has come from. It sounds like the maths of the infants class. A £4.5 loan to be repaid over 60 years ... isn't that the same as a mortgage? Is there to be no interest over the full term?

Not really true that theory though, is it? It also means that is just a little more difficult for riders further back to make up a few extra points in one GP; therefore not aiding them put in a challenge. One extra query. What happened to the winter decision not to have the Semi-Final gate picks done at the "desk" but instead at the rider's pit bay. Quietly shelved?

You're absolutely right. Keeping the feed going just worked better. The package that BSI create for the world feed is a complete one that lasts 3 hours it does not need to be "added to". The extra money Sky paid for Studio, Huewen and, worst of all, Ermolenko actually seemed to detract from the presentation overall. I just hope that Eurosport don't change that approach for the European stagings.

Great coverage of the GP. Reallly liked the commentary team. The Aussie guy could get on your nerves if we had him more often but Johnno is streets ahead of any other co-commentator we have. Don't know who did the not-in-vision voiceover links for British Eurosport but that was so much better than having the studio rubbish that Sky have given us for the past 15 years.

Drier in February, maybe. But you wouldn't get me out of the warmth to go freeze my wotsits off at Speedway, just because the track was usable.

Oh, dear. That sounds as if the 'official' word from Eurosport is going to be unreliable. I do not think Pearson and Tatum are actually doing the world feed this time. Can someone email them.