PHILIPRISING

NEW BSPA Chairman Buster Chapman is in favour but his election rather stupidly came after the AGM rather than before.

TERRIFIC interview with Buster Chapman in SS this week. So refreshing but just a shame that his election couldn't have come before the AGM rather than after it. Typical of the old regime. Things including the MC might have been very different.

THERE is a process that involves the FIM and their Autumn Congress ...

And he did raise over £100,000 for an English hospital

I THINK he will be proud, and rightly so, that he competed in as many GPs as he did.

THERE'S another reason, of course, and that is that most riders, Emil being the notable exception, desperately want to compete at the highest level and for the most part in arenas that are beyond the scope of ordinary riders. I have yet to meet any rider who has ridden at Cardiff who wasn't totally knocked out by the experience and absolutely loved the occasion, atmosphere and sheer thrill of it all. Ambition is a key ingredient for so many when they start their careers and climb the ladder of success. Not all will get to the top rung, naturally, but it's still there for Chris Harris and when he finally retires and sits down reflecting on his career it will be Cardiff in 2007 and even the other SGPs that he didn't win that will live longer in the memory than what money he did or didn't make.

As I am sure you are aware I have never attempted to justify the prize money. However, it would wrong to ignore the fact that many riders, though certainly not all, benefit from some lucrative sponsorship on the back on their SGP appearances and the subsequent TV exposure.

BELIEVE the decision is made but not obviously not announced as yet. Won't be long ...

YOU'VE left sponsorship out of that equation

WHAT people say and how they vote isn't always the same thing in all walks of life but looks like it will be the EL promoters who might be decisive on Tuesday if it does actually go to a show of hands or however they conduct their polls at BSPA HQ.

THE Chapman/Godfrey combo are very keen to embrace the views of fans, to listen to their gripes and their suggestions. Not all can be implemented, of course, but the fact that they are not deaf to what the public want would be a massive step in the right direction. They appear to have an innovative agenda and would certainly not be afraid to make some of the changes that people on here and elsewhere have been clamouring for.

SOON I believe ... riders have to be notified and give their acceptance

PERSONALLY don't like the idea of ending the series in Australia but understand why given the availability of the Etihad in Melbourne. How many times do British F1 fans see Hamilton actually crowned World Champion?

THINK he really enjoyed his role at BV and with the new stadium would imagine that he is a shoe-in

BETTER to judge a rider over nine SGPs than one Challenge?

SO you wouldn't give a wild card place to a rider who but for a rerun semi in Melbourne would have achieved a top eight place in just nine SGPs?

TOUGH to see Lindback returning to the UK especially if he gets a SGP wild card. More and more riders, whether they are in the SGP or not, are finding that racing twice a week in Poland and Sweden suffices in terms of income and that commuting to the UK is actually not financially viable after expenses (travel, bikes, transport, mechanics, etc) is taken into account. It's not entirely new. Rune Holta never raced in the UK and neither has Martin Vaculik.

THEY will be announced shortly along with the 2016 calendar

THAT would be my guess but honestly that's all it is

JUST 11 SGPs is my info

THINK you can discount Latvia

GOOD point

DON'T really have any insight ... certainly the fact that the track was significantly bigger helped produce more racing lines. Obviously the material used wouldn't be identical in every respect but it was Olsen who went to Australia earlier in the year to source it. Incidentally, they do water the track at Cardiff but rarely before the semis and final. Riders don't like a freshly watered track.

HOLDER has the same engines as Hancock and Woffinden so his problems would appear to be with himself. Greg's diet and fitness regime has a lot do with it along with his utter passion for racing speedway. He just loves it.

Ole Olsen built the track