PHILIPRISING

A few grand ...

WE also paid the BSPA a (for us) reasonable sum of money...

ACTUALLY it was at Peterborough. Nowhere were we better looked after than at Cradley Heath ... yes, it was a portacabin but dear old Colin Pratt always ensured we had a fine buffet and beers on hand. Plus pork scratchings ... what a treat!

WHEN Speedway Star was sponsoring it we had some great Finals, big crowds but then, as you say, the promoters effectively wrecked it. Some years we didn't have time to preview the event let alone three weeks. The final straw for SS was when we turned up for the second leg of the Final with medals and the trophy only to find that without any notice we had been usurped as sponsors, no mention in the programme and not even access to the hospitality suite.

JP massively raised the bar of the World Championship when he (BSI) bought the commercial rights. Sure, he wanted to make money and why not? But he was also prepared to spend considerable sums to improve the profile of the sport and always wanted things done to exacting standards. He was also an enigma and could be tough on himself and those around him. I always told him that I would work with him but not for him. Lander was also very strong willed and, of course, it was his money that was on the table and he lost a bundle. It is 13 years ago now so my recollection of some events has faded but JP and Lander just didn't hit it off, think John felt that going to what was Australia's biggest stadium from the outset was a mistake and might have been better to start with something a little smaller and build from there. Although I wasn't party to what was going on between the two it was easy to sense that some things weren't right. I certainly wouldn't fault Lander for the effort he made. The pre-meeting Press Conference, at which the riders were introduced to the media, was held at the Sydney Opera House. On the Friday night there was a dinner cruise round Sydney Harbour for riders, officials, media, etc. Everything was on a grand scale but, of course, also very costly and the return on the night simply didn't add up.

NOT sure any stadium anywhere can attract five figures crowds for the events you mention. But BV's business plan isn't dependent on that happening anyway.

KRSKO did quite nicely this year apparently... SEEDING for hosts will remain

WOULD a SWC Final in England attract a crowd of 15,000 no matter where it is held? If it does go to the new Belle Vue stadium next year, which is very much on the cards, then what sort of team could GB field. Woffinden, Harris, Cook, Nicholls and Lambert might be decent squad. Perhaps with a new team manager set-up. At our talk-in in Torun last Saturday a combo of Rob Lyon (Manager) and Mark Loram (coach) was suggested. Views?

IT is the Etihad themselves so that makes a massive difference and cost of transporting riders (15 not 20) and a deal with Etihad (the airline) helps significantly as well. There were undoubtedly many potential punters in Sydney who might have gone but for the weather and the fact that it was on TV. But, of course, you will challenge that.

DON'T think David Lander was in the business of giving too many tickets away. Costs for that meeting were astronomical ... hiring of the Olympic Stadium (as it was originally known), flying 20 riders plus equipment from Europe, hotels, etc, etc. I didn't realise until I got there that (like Wembley/London) the stadium was a long way out of town, it was an unseasonably cold night and the meeting was live on TV. Lander did a lot right but unfortunately rapidly fell out with John Postlethwaite and insead of being able to build on the first one, and perhaps take it to a smaller stadium in Sydney the following year, he pulled the plug.

DOES anyone actually know what these 'demands' are?

BELIEVE an announcement may be forthcoming quite soon ...

AND it is about the riders, without whom there would be no SGPs in stadiums big or small. I know I am in a somewhat privileged position talking to riders but, believe me, they dream about racing in these big stadiums rather than ones that they go to week in and week out. It is what most (not Emil sadly) aspire to... There was a time when every footballer wanted to play at Wembley. That probably isn't as true now because the stadard of football stadia in this country has risen dramatically but Wembley still has a special aura. Cardiff is a speedway rider's Wembley.

WONDER whether Torun crowd was affected by it not being the last round of the series. Certainly couldn't blame the weather. To answer Trees point about tracks ... had Chris Holder as a guest at a TravelPlus form on Saturday morning which, by the way, raised £1,300 for Darcy Ward. Chris reiterated the view of many if not all of his SGP colleagues that they love going to the big stadiums in the big cities. These are the real major events for them, he said, and that a mix with traditional speedway venues like Torun, Gorzow and Malilla was perfect. He also praised the temporary tracks this year, apart from Warsaw of course, and cannot wait to race at the Etihad in Melbourne. But even he doubted whether it would top Cardiff which, he said, was the biggest night of a rider's career.

GORZOW was pretty special too

IVAN Mauger had serious discussions with Malaysian sporting authorities but sadly to no avail.

HE has been advised by the Torun doctor not to ride, which is why he skipped practice, but is desperate to compete tonight. If he pulls out his place will be taken by Piotr Pawlicki. Przedpelski is very highly rated here, not just in Torun where he is a local hero, but throughout Polish speedway and is seen as a future SGP star. But, having watched Pawlicki and Zmarzlik in practice yesterday, these kids could shake up the SGP next year as well.

IT has been held over for a week ...

ONLY permanent riders not to make the journey were Carl Stonehewer,who had missed the previous two runs through injury, and Grzegorz Walasek ,who had missed three previous rounds. Of course, 24 riders competed in those days (one of the reasons David Lander found the costs so high) and from memory think there was two wild cards ... Steve Johnston was certainly one. Jason Lyons and Mick Poole also rode. October is the only time of the year when the Etihad stadium is available.

BECAUSE he is deemed to be based in Australia just as Jason Bunyan was in New Zealand

I AM not their spokesperson and have never been paid by BSI and don't see what Pinegen producing some of their programmes has to do with it. I have never tried to justify what the riders are paid. Actually agree that it is on the low side. But from the first time BSI (then under control of John Postlethwaite) secured the commerce rights it was made clear to riders that while prize money would be decided by the FIM, the TV exposure provided by the series would open doors to sponsorship deals that might otherwise be closed. That has certainly worked better for some riders (Rickardsson, Pedersen would be top of the pile) than others. No doubt if the FIM demanded less money for the commercial rights or, indeed, the subscription fees more could go to the riders. With regard to Masters: not sure what he was offered but as the 'local wild card' he would obviously not be eligible for the same as the permanent riders as far as air fares are concerned.

BUT the other side of the coin could be that a rider like, for argument's sake, Brady Kurtz would be available for other teams if Poole stuck with their championship winning side.

ALWAYS believed, and this will go against the grain with many, that any team wishing to keep their 1-7 from one season to another should be allowed to do so and only be affected by any points limit should they want to make changes. Teams should aspire to being the best not waiting for others to be watered down to their level. Would provide continuity for the fans as well as the riders but no doubt will be shot down in flames. Extinguisher at the ready ...

WE'RE talking about motorcycle racing surely?

NO not as far as I know.