PHILIPRISING

IT was an FIM decision

WELL said ...

ROSCO joins the debate ... http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/14616990.Rossiter_calling_for_changes/?ref=rss&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

CARDIFF not confirmed ...

WE could do with Nicki P and Peter K ...

NO way ... for all the reasons spouted on too numerous occasions and specifically the lack of a roof which ensures against the weather and also helps create the atmosphere so vital for a speedway event like the British GP.

THE roof just isn't about the weather. Being able to darken the stadium in the middle of a summer's ( ) day helps massively with the pre-meeting parade, fireworks, atmosphere, etc.

HAPPENS in Poland

WOULDN'T be the first time ... thanks.

DON'T forget a huge amount of the lower tier is covered and unused because of viewing constrictions due to the height of the fence. Not sure there was anywhere near 15,000 Poles and tourists there. BBC are interested in much sport these days, not even Open golf.

NOT sure of the actually figure but obviously a lot more than 40,000. However, to maintain a figure in excess of that when attendances generally are plummeting is highly commendable.

THIS was actually the first Cardiff GP I have watched as a spectator in the grandstand rather than being marooned in the pits viewing the racing on a TV monitor. Personally thought the racing, which isn't solely about passing but, in my view, about how close riders can actually engage at such high speeds, was fabulous. Can attest to the fact that all the riders thought the track was the best ever at Cardiff and one of the very best they have ridden on anywhere, temporary or otherwise. Why? Because they could trust the surface, not be fearful of hitting a rut and being thrown off course in danger of doing damage to themselves or others. And they could use several different lines, including the inside which by definition is the shortest way round. It also underlined to me how different live sport is to watching on TV, even when in the stadium. The noise in the final when Woffinden was challenging Lindback was breath-taking. Spoke to some guys at the hotel later who are Welsh rugby fans and said that they felt the atmosphere for the speedway, with the roof closed (not just because it insures against the weather) was better than for anything they had witnessed there.

DIDN'T get the final attendance figure before I left the stadium but do know it was over 40,000 and a few hundred up on last year.

HASN'T been charged apparently and the accusation withdrawn, dis-proven, whatever.

WHAT planet are you on because as sure as hell it isn't earth.

SPOKE to Rosco today and he is adamant that the stadium will be ready for 2017. Structure is of a module type so will not take very long to spring into life as it were.

If only ... phil@pinegen.co.uk will do.

NO doubt ...

LOOK what is being achieved at Glasgow to get people through the gate, lots of them kids, looking more like a football crowd than a speedway one. Even with a wonderful facility like Belle Vue more needs to be done along the lines of the Glasgow promoters to provide true entertainment on and off the track.

SEND me a PM with your name and address

GOOD piece on Tai here ... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/speedway/2016/07/07/british-speedway-grand-prix-tai-woffinden-plots-world-title-rout/

NOT sure you would have to ban the riders you mention. It's not as though they, unlike the Maugers and Nielsens of their day, are unbeatable. Didn't Adam Ellis beat Andreas Jonsson round Lakeside on Friday. Of course some teams might have a superior No. 1 to others. That is the case right now. These days it seems it is the Nos 6/7 who actually win meetings. Again, look at Paul Stark at Lakeside.

THINK I did somewhere in the deep and distant past. Of course he should ride. I wouldn't say that I have ever been close to Tai, we are generations apart, but I can testify that he is passionate about racing for Great Britain. He has, however, had some issues with the BSPA in the recent past and their timing of the British Final was short sighted to say the least. Personally, I would be in favour of seeding the defending champion anyway. Don't think his not racing in the EL comes into it. Gareth Bale doesn't play in Britain but Wales are hardly likely to leave him out.

DON'T know which is worse ... the fact that this has stretched to 81 pages or that I am still reading them. Must get out more.

BEAT me to it ...