PHILIPRISING

THEY did run them at London (Hackney) and Bradford before John Postlethwaite bought the FIM rights and after a one-off at Coventry had the balls to take the event to Cardiff ... many people at the time thought he was mad, not least building a speedway track in what is essentially a rugby stadium. Terry Russell was part of that vision but did't have the financial clout to undertake what was a massive gamble and the BSPA individually and collectively were in no position to do so either. JP certainly didn't get everything right and many of his ideas never even reached fruition but he raised the bar massively. I have been lucky enough in my own journalistic career to attend World and European Cup finals (soccer) tests matches at Lords, Wimbledon tennis and many other top class sporting events and in my opinion Cardiff is right up there and even now sends a tingle down my spine when I enter the Millennium each year and see a speedway track lay out in such a magnificent venue.

WHAT city centre please?

Along with a giggling Brian Johnson...

OF course they do...

EVER the cynic ...

ALTHOUGH BSI are heavily involved with all GPs and lay down the ground rules as it were, there is a distinct difference between, for example, Cardiff and Warsaw.

IT'S a PZM event ...

OVER 250 applications for media accreditation from Polish journalists alone ... think it is fair to say this one will get substantial, general coverage there rather than the somewhat localised attention SGPs receive even in Poland.

I AM quite capable of making up my own mind thanks and certainly don't agree with everything they do. But, in general, think the SGP has been a huge flag bearer for speedway, taking it an an audience that otherwise wouldn't care less, and if the rest of the sport went about their business as do BSI we would all be better off. But that's just my opinion... certainly don't expect everyone to agree.

YOU are correct ...

GOT short shrift from the office ... postcodes are on the maps!

GOOD point ... will pass on

TRUE (it's the FIM RACE Director who assumes control )but any rider will have told you that the biggest problem was the shape. Long straights and narrow corners never work well. Further to Tress comment about BSI just taking the money ... they are as keen as anyone to see an entertaining event, not just live but on TV. It's not in their interests to have a processional GP although in speedway there are no guarantees no matter what the track outside of probably Torun and Bydgoszcz (now a dead duck sadly).

THE track is the responsibility of the local promotion. As far as I can make out they were keen to reshape it this year but have been stymied by the placement of the drainage for the soccer pitch will will stage Finland's major soccer internationals this year. There will be a few changes but not as much as they desired. Oleoleole is right ... everything else about the Finnish GP was top notch and no doubt will be again.

SADLY because of the drainage and the soccer pitch requirement there won't be many changes to the track from last year.

WOULD you mind emailing the Asda and Tesco stores that you visited to star@pinegen.co.uk ... thank you

NOT for Fox Sports in Australia .... they deal direct with BSI.

THAT'S a strange remark SCB. Of course they need a test. Ward was charged with failing an alcohol test not being drunk. As someone who spoke to Ward several times in the morning of the meeting, prior to his test, I certainly wouldn't have guessed that he would fail a test whereas years before in Bydgoszcz it was obvious that Danno was under the influence, but it still required a test to establish the fact.

THERE will be an additional two-minute clock in the pits this year which will be used to speed up the time it takes for riders to come to the scoreboard for the draw for the semis and final. Once the Race Director or Referee hits the button riders will have two minutes to take their place or otherwise forfeit their place in the pecking order.

MORE like staggers ...

IN Speedway Star this week Neil Middleditch says quite emphatically that DW should take his punishment on the chin, service his ban and rebuild from there.

IT made great newspaper copy at the time, even in England. There was certainly no love lost between Erik and Hans for a long time which continued even after Nielsen won for the first time in 1986 in somewhat controversial circumstances, having given Tommy Knudsen a rough time when they met.

AGREE ... that's what I posted about a dozen pages back.

Just because we may have different opinions doesn't make one of us right or wrong. I agree that Peter Adams would be good for Ward but unless Ward would commit himself as did Tai it would be a pointless exercise ... hence my comment that Ward has to help himself first.

TAKING on the role of Ward's manager, mentor, call it what you will... ultimately the only person who can help Ward is himself.