PHILIPRISING

HOW right you were!

AND still only looks about 15-years-old

CLASSY riding from Emil. Not sure who is doing his engines but it isn't Ashley Holloway.

NOT the brightest questions but who cares!

WHO is Dingle (just trying to convince brandonmole that I don't watch it!)

WELL said ... but bet first thing fans at Cardiff look for is the heat involving NP and GH.

WHO mentioned serious assault? "Fencing" is just speedway terminology, not leaving room for an opponent to go through but still leaving him with the option to shut the throttle, giving as good as they get. If you choose to interpret it in a different way that is up to you. As I said, no rider would go out of his way to deliberately maim a rider or even worse. But impeeding their progress, running them wide into a corner for example, is a different matter. I would bet money that of all the SGP riders Nicki suffers the most from first corners when opponents endeavour to put him out of contention as soon as possible. Posters have previously expressed the view that Greg Hancock gets "an easy ride" from his opponents. Perhaps he does but the opposite is true of Nicki. He is afforded no quarter and that is simply because unlike Greg most have issues with him. For a long while in the early days of the SGP it was Tomasz Gollob who was the villain. Remember Craig Boyce at the London Arena? The petition by riders to Tony Olsson as Race Director and the FIM was an effort to calm things down. If riders tell me something in confidence then it stays that way but when several are publicly expressing their views that is quite different. It was only a undertaking by the FIM to remind referees that they had the power to exclude riders deemed guilty of dangerous riding and to forfeit valuable points that some of the more vociferous riders did, in fact, calm down.

EXACTLY and it was talked about quite openly and was in the public domain. It all came to a head in Malilla when NP clashed with Zagar and some riders were basically saying that two could play at that game. It's not a question of deliberately trying to hurt someone because I'm sure no rider and certainly not NP would want to do that. But a 'win at all costs attitude' with little regard to your opponent or his equipment is quite different. I think that what upsets opponents most is that Nicki rarely shows any remorse and while he is often sinned against the list of riders in the SGP that he has caused to come to grief is very long.

EXCUSE me but that's not what I wrote.

I'M told by her indoors that during an episode of Emmerdale this week a young couple talking about where they would most like to go on a date suggested speedway. How romantic...

DO you honestly think that PL riders scoring five points a meeting can afford a PJR rocket ship? The aim of the GTR, obviously, is to be as competitive as a GM but with far less on-going costs.

THERE was never a plan to have all riders on a standard GTR... riders will just have a wider choice of engines including one that could prove far more economical to run over the course of a season than what they are currently using.

Would GMs be illegal?

PRESUMABLY the former as far as referees are concerned but has he or any rider been deemed to warrant such action although it is definitely in the power of the referee. And as far as the organisers are concerned, of course he is box office. Looking forward to the pre-meeting parade at Cardiff. First in line current WC leader (Woffinden, not exactly NP's biggest fan), followed by Pedersen and Hancock (no Hampel). Perhaps they should put them in a boxing ring...

SHORTLY after the Zagar/Pedersen flare-up the SGP riders collectively spoke to Race Director Tony Olsson and the FIM about what they perceived to be Pedersen's dubious and dangerous tactics at times and that they would no longer tolerate them. At subsequent riders' briefings the referee of the day would point out that riders should respect one another, race fairly, leave each other room and that just because a rider was in front was no defence if he was deemed to be the cause of a stoppage or unfair riding. I would imagine that Tuesday's incident brought back memories for Greg not just of Prague a few years back but Gorzow last season when although no blame could be attached to NKI it was a sharp reminder of what can occur at high speed on the straights with no air fence. I have a lot of time and respect for Nicki. No one works harder, he is passionate about his speedway and has a thirst for success and I really don't believe that he goes out to hurt anyone. But there is no question that on occasions he oversteps the acceptable limit.

AND if I'm riding down the road and get knocked off and break my leg but still manage to hit out at the guy causing the accident who is the one that's get punished? Me probably. Is that right?

THE lesser of two evils ... not condoning it but I understand it. Quite often when I see a rash and dangerous tackle on a soccer pitch and the victim is the one sent off for retaliation I know where my sympathies lay. There would be no need for retaliation if the 'crime' wasn't committed in the first place.

BUT they haven't chosen to do it and no, I wouldn't name them

SO you would rather see riders try to fence Pedersen? And believe me it has been talked about. That was my point.

I DIDN'T say that and agree with your last comment

THIS is being discussed but the fear remains that a low scoring rider will pull out with a 'headache' or worse to allow better riders to take his place.

BETTER to take retribution off the track than on it. Plenty of riders 30/40 years ago would have dealt with a similar situation very differently. A speedway bike can be a lethal weapon when seeking revenge. Like it or not, Hancock's views are echoed around the SGP pits and it was only a matter of time before something like this happened again. Matej Zagar had a confrontation with NP in Manilla a few years back. Of course, Pedersen is box office, the pantomime villain if you like, but safety is paramount and there are undoubtably times when Nicki oversteps the mark and risks injuring his fellow competitors.

NOT always possible to have a stadium like the Millennium for this amount of time but it underlines the co-operation provided by those in Cardiff. SPONSORS of the British SGP ... and King's Lynn stadium

FROM BSI ... The Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix will take place at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on July 4. Working with our partners at the Millennium Stadium, BSI Speedway has gained access to the stadium earlier (15 June) than previous years, and, as a direct result, the track building process has commenced. In order to maximise this opportunity, BSI Speedway, will put on a practise event that will be open to selected British (non SGP) riders on Tuesday June 23. This will give BSI Speedway and the Millennium Stadium the opportunity, not previously available, to run through many elements of the event. This will not be open to the public. Full practice for the event will take place, as normal, on Friday July 3 which will be open to ticketholders. CANNOT be too many worries about the pitch if they are happy to have a speedway track down for almost three weeks.

WELL I'm sure the Millennium people will have thought about it!