JT

But it isn't quite that simple is it? If they had out scored Harris yesterday, they still wouldn't have had the opportunity, because BSI had already given the place away. Same with Jepsen Jensen last season, he won a Grand Prix and they still gave a full time place to a Brit instead. Thankfully Woffinden has exceeded my (admittedly low) expectations. The difference between Woffinden and Harris though? Woffinden has clearly worked hard on his fitness, machinery and psychological approach to the sport. Instead of taking it for granted, he has appreciated the chance afforded to him. Harris on the other hand, expected to plod through season after season, dining off one GP win and a freakish spell at the end of the 2010 season. No matter how poorly he did, he then expected BSI to grant him a Wildcard at the end of every season. Only once has Harris qualified for the GP by right, is that the right message to send out? No matter how crap you are on track, we'll keep giving you Wildcard slots... JT.

I wouldn't have a problem with Harris riding at Cardiff if he actually qualified for it, like riders have done in the recent past. What I do have a problem with is the amount of charity afforded to one rider. Changing the boundaries to suit one man isn't only unfair, it's farcical. I also think it's held Harris back as a rider. He hasn't had to improve himself as a rider because he's always expected to be picked the next year. The sooner he realises he isn't World Class anymore, and sets out to improve himself accordingly, the better. (See my Iversen reference above). JT.

The only ambition Harris has shown is to get another charity gift from the organisers. Is banking on yet another free ride really 'showing ambition'? Look at Iversen last year for a rider really showing ambition. His career wasn't really going anywhere, but he reassessed his whole outlook on the sport and through hard work, transformed his fortunes. Qualifying for the GP series by right, winning his National Championships and becoming one of the worlds top league riders. I sat watching Sky's coverage in disbelief last night, not once did they think of questioning Harris' Wild Card for Cardiff or any of his picks in the past. All they had was a long drawn out talk about Harris getting back in the series full time. Personally I can't think of anything worse. It's beyond a farce the number of opportunities Harris has had and I'm surprised riders have taken this long to be more vocal about it. Sadly the consequence of this constant charity is a rider who now has delusions of grandeur. Sad really as he used to be quite likeable... JT.

Fair point. I think my bugbear is with the constant charity afforded to one rider, not just in this instance, but on many other occasions, too. I do find it preposterous that BSI would favour one rider who, one GP win and a freakish season apart, has often been mediocre at best and seemingly ungrateful for his chances, constantly moaning in the press. It's unfair on other riders, but from other nationalities, who are more deserving than the great whiner. Surely it's a far better dig if you take banners for the rider who would be at Cardiff, if they'd kept the old format? A few hundred British fans with Scott Nicholls masks for example would be an excellent, if brilliantly immature, dig at BSI. Watch Harris go and win the British Final now! JT.

Mature response. If the organisers, along with the FIM (and Oldace) want it, I guess we should all stop discussing this topic. You may not agree, but I also find it preposterous that one rider, who has already had so many chances (and has been mediocre at best for a while now), has been given yet another opportunity on a plate, all because he threatened to veto BSI events going forward. Frankly I would have told him to piss off, he's not exactly Tomasz Gollob on the track and he's certainly no Bruce Penhall off it. In the Star I noticed BSI said Harris deserved his place "because of his six years in the GP series". Didn't the interviewer think of pointing out the majority of those six years were because of Wild Cards? Or is that too controversial? JT.

So what? This is the SGP and we haven't forgotten he was absolute sh*te in the series last season (and the majority before that). Nor have we forgotten his constant whinging and the unprecedented number of chances he's had over the years. What you've used as an example is a team event that Harris publicly stated he didn't want to be a part of anymore (unless he got his own way AGAIN). In a way, I suppose he has got what he wanted with this sympathy pick for Cardiff, so I guess he'll be back in the World Cup side now. Like I said before, if Harris qualified via the British Final like every rider has had to in the past few years, I wouldn't have a problem. What does annoy me (and it seems a lot of other people) is the preferential treatment afforded to Harris, not just now, but over about 5 or 6 years. Is fairness too much to ask? What really worries me is if Harris fails to qualify for the GP Challenge at Poole, he'll be given a Wild Card for that. Then if he fails to qualify from that meeting, they'll seriously consider giving him back his full time spot for 2014, citing a half decent performance somewhere down the line. GIVE SOMEONE ELSE A CHANCE! JT.

No they don't. By this logic, the Wild Cards for the two Danish GP's last season should have gone to Niels-Kristian Iversen, a rider who fits both the above credentials, and at the time was also one of the worlds top league riders (and still is). Instead the Wild Cards went to two youngsters; Bech Jensen who didn't disgrace himself at Parken and Jepsen-Jensen who won the bloody thing in Vojens. Instead of giving our Wild Cards to an ungrateful whinge bag who has had so many chances and largely wasted them, why not give one of our younger riders a chance? Riders like... You said it. JT.

Here's four (well 3 when you exclude Woffinden) for you, Phil. The top 4 British riders in the EL this season so far; 1. Tai Woffinden 10.49 from 9 meetings 2. Edward Kennett 9.49 from 8 meetings. 3. Daniel King 8.60 from 4 meetings. 4. Scott Nicholls 8.00 from 8 meetings. Admittedly Harris has only had 4 meetings to prove himself this season, but then so has Craig Cook, and... 5. Craig Cook 7.25 from 4 meetings. 6. CHRIS HARRIS 6.84 from 4 meetings. If that's not blatant bias towards Harris, then I don't know what is. I just don't get it. Does he really pull in fans anymore? Would people seriously have reconsidered going to Cardiff if he hadn't been given the Wild Card on a plate for the umpteenth time? It's not as if he's been chosen for his amazing off track personality or suaveness. If Harris had qualified through the British Final, I would have no qualms about him taking his place in Cardiff. It's just a shame BSI's obsession with him means we miss the chance to see someone new representing us in the GP's. JT.

This is probably the most comical statement I've read on this forum. Surely you don't believe this, Phil? If anything, Harris is getting worse. After all the charity he has received (and largely wasted) over the years, surely you can see why we want someone else to get a chance to prove themselves? What will giving Harris yet another chance tell us? JT.

Judging by his constant (and very public) whining about his bikes last season, I'd be willing to bet they have far superior equipment to Harris, too. While you're at the Gothenburg GP, Phil, can you ask Paul Bellamy why BSI are far more obsessed with Harris than the British public are? Here we have a rider who threatened to ditch his country if he didn't get his own way. A now mediocre rider who has wasted his constant charity. In fact the only thing he hasn't wasted is the opportunity to blame everyone bar himself. Spoilt essentially, and totally underserving of yet another pick. Sadly I fear BSI are trying everything to get him back in the series full time next year. But why? JT.

Oh you can guarantee if Harris buggers up the qualifying rounds, they'll happily give him a free ride into the GP Challenge. Then if he cocks that up, they'll probably give him a series wild card again in 2014. BSI are being made to look a laughing stock with their Harris obsession, it's actually quite comical. I can't think of single rider who gets close to the amount of charity Harris has had over the years. Yet even with all of the benefits of unparalleled TV exposure (sponsorship) since his spell in the GP series began, he was still absolutely crap last season. Why reward such a serial failure? I can only imagine one of Harris' sponsors is important to BSI, because as a rider, there's no way he deserves yet another opportunity. The sad consequence of this constant charity is Harris appears to be totally delusional. He still can't understand why they didn't give him a full time spot this year. JT.

Nail. On. Head. The incredible sulk has got his own way again. I admit I didn't think Woffinden particularly deserved his place pre-season, but he has more than made the effort to warrant his inclusion on track. Harris had all those chances, and aside from just ONE season, he needed charity every time. Farcical to give him yet another opportunity. JT.

Chances are Harris will come second to Woffinden (or even win) anyway. But at least then he would have gained a GP place by merit, instead of the endless handouts he's received in the past few years. JT.

See below. There must be a reason why someone as average as Harris keeps getting these picks? Has he got something on a senior BSI representative? Did he whinge his way to a place again? He hasn't exactly set the world alight this season. For reasons unknown, the powers that be see something in Harris that nobody else does. So much so they've downgraded the importance of the British Final to ensure Harris can free load again. There was a time when he was genuinely good, but that time has long passed. JT.

Maybe Phil Rising can explain this one? Why are those who make these decisions so obsessed with Harris? JT.

Well after begrudgingly giving his spot away before the season, they had to find a way to get him in the series… Farcical really. Woffinden looks like a genuine challenger, so this was an opportunity to give a Wild Card to one of our few genuinely up and coming riders (ala Denmark), not an also ran who has wasted so many chances. JT.

The commentary in Semi Final 1 summed it up for me, something like; "Ward going for that wide run again, but the line is no longer there after the pre-race track grade". Having witnessed the only genuinely exciting race of the meeting in Heat 20, what possessed them to get rid of the racing line? I usually love the GP's, but this was probably the most boring international meetings I've ever seen. As the track was so heavily favourable to the inside gates, it's hard to really make any great judgement on the riders, who all looked capable of winning races. I have to admit Woffinden was much better than I expected and a huge improvement on Harris. I don't know if Iversen laid it down or was just distracted by Ward (who did miraculously well to stay on) and slid off. I think his time will come when the series hits Europe though, where he is one of the top riders. JT.

I remember when Sheffield were THE team to fear, their '99 team with Wilson at No.1 was one of the best ever PL teams in my opinion. What's gone wrong? This side is shaping up to be woeful, no offence to Haines but he's no senior second string and the two newcomers are unlikely to match their starting figures. It reminds me of the kind of team Plymouth have put out in the past two years. Although I can understand wanting to rebuild, in Newport's last season, signing a 5 point newcomer (Mark Jones) probably cost us a genuine challenge for the league title. Aside from doing things on the cheap, why not sign someone proven like Schramm, who will at least maintain his starting figure and knows all the tracks? JT.

There are three Elite League Swedes who could fit the bill as new Rye No.1. Kim Nilsson (average - 9.08, age at the start of 2013 season - 23), Daniel Nermark (average - 8.95, age - 35) and Thomas H Jonasson (average - 8.83, age 24). Nilsson is one of those riders who seems to up his game against top riders and always looked a better rider in the Elite League for Lakeside, than in the PL for Newport. Whether that was a lack of interest in the PL, I don't know, but the Lakeside/Rye connection and his friendship with Mellgren could make him the ideal candidate. I also think he's a much more savvy rider now, than he was for Newport in 2011. The following side would be pretty potent in my opinion; 1. Kim Nilsson 9.08 2. Jason Bunyan 5.14 3. Anders Mellgren 6.47 4. Tyson Nelson 5.33 5. Kevin Doolan 7.29 6. Kasper Nielsen 4.28 7. Jason Garrity 4.79 Total; 42.38 JT.

Doesn't bode well for Woffinden either, whose woeful effort in 2010 must go down as one of the worst GP campaigns ever. Let's hope he hits double figures at some point next season.

Any updates, Philip? It's been a few weeks since the anouncement now and the only excuse for Woffinden's inclusion has been the feeble, 'solid scores in the league and his World Cup performance'. Given the journalistic nature of the Speedway Star and lets face it the sorry state of British Speedway at this level, wouldn't the simple question, 'why do Britain keep getting GP nominations' be a pertinent one to ask BSI? As much as some of your readers may enjoy reading interviews with National League second strings in the close season, I would be far more inclined to pick up a copy of the Star if you threw away the generic BSI press releases and pressed them on this significant matter. I'm not even a Jepsen-Jensen fan, but if I was in his team, I'd be pretty peeved by the explanation for Woffindens wild card given the far superior season the Dane has just had. Otherwise, unless one of our riders actually qualifies by right next year (and I hope they do), we'll be sat here in 12 months having the same argument. JT.

If NKI can carry this years form in to next (i.e way ahead of the likes of Lindback, Lindgren and even Gollob in the Polish and Swedish leagues) I can see him winning a couple of rounds next season. The 2012 Iversen is miles ahead of the one we last saw in the GP's. Woffinden aside, this is by far the most solid GP line up I've ever seen. JT.

Let's not forget holding the meeting in Britain means a guaranteed British rider in the final. So not content with giving out totally undeserved British wildcards in the series proper, the organisers can now hand Harris a wildcard for the qualifying meeting. Will he even bother with the earlier qualifying meetings?

Sorry didn't mean to like that comment, as I pretty much disagree with everything in it. I think you'll find Dave Minall was referring to one of Harris' last strops before he was finally thrown out of the series, the one where he threatened to quit Team GB if he wasn't given another nomination. Pretty much sums up Harris in my opinion. JT.

I look forward to their response, Phil. BSI's press release highlighting his World Cup performance and 'solid scores' in the league is predictable, but frankly pathetic when you compare his achievements to MJJ. So another year, yet another piece of charity for British riders. Other than the comical Woffinden selection, this is probably the strongest line up ever. JT.