PHILIPRISING

TAKE your point but it is also about hanging on to the ones we have and nostalgic features always seem to go down well.

THANKS for those comments ... and I speak as someone who had no input into this week's edition. And, yes, there will be more in-depth features in the weeks ahead and throughout the winter and probably going on through the summer

NO you are not. Even BSI cannot see it there!

THANKS ... our potential market has diminished significantly in recent years and especially over the past 12 months. And, of course, we have to live alongside the internet. It's not easy and you will find over the next few months that the balance in content between news and features will favour the latter more strongly.

NO I don't. Some of Emil's affairs were sadly brought into the public domain but otherwise it is all conjecture. But there is no doubt Polish clubs are reining in payments even when there are sponsors and benefactors willing to splash the cash.... as appears to be the case with Emil at Leszno.

He probably wants a load of dosh as you put it to compensate for the three hundred grand he didn't get from Czestochowa

SUSI first appeared on the scene as a mechanic, and a good one, for Tony Rickardsson and was in his crew for most if not all of his six World Championship wins. Was recommended to Emil by Tony and has graduated to chief mechanic and manager of the young Russian. Was invaluable for us Press guys early doors because Emil spoke no English but could converse in Polish for Susi to translate. Seems to have gained in influence over Emil in recent seasons to such an extent that he is invariably pulling the strings. Personally don't think Emil, having had a one-to-one with him this year, is so much coerced as brain-washed into going along a route prescribed by Susi. I remain convinced that it is Susi, for whatever reason, who is responsible for Emil shunning the SGP. I do know for a fact that his astronomic demands of Torun, rumoured to be around 400,000 euros, were based on his Euro win but was told that that meant nothing.

More details here http://speedwaygp.com/news/article/3795/emil-exits-torun

WOULDN'T be surprised at the leaving Torun part as allegedly his signing-on fee demands on the back of his winning the European Championship were too much for the new Torun owners to swallow.

UNLESS something has changed BSPA contracts expire on October 31st. In Sweden and Poland, for example, riders often sign one, two or even three year contracts but once they expire they are free to move elsewhere.

SCRAPPING the 'assets' in Britain might be a bitter pill to swallow at first but I'm sure it would prove beneficial in the long run and help spread whatever riders are available amongst the member tracks.

KEEP your hair on ... was just curious as to whether BSI had heard something during their many conversations with the FIM. And, of course, they want to know the outcome, just as we do.

CONTACTED BSI to see whether they had any Ward update and reply was "not a dicky bird."

NOT often (ever?) I say this Humphrey but cannot argue with any of the above

GOOD question ...

CARE to explain the last two lines of above ... I'm confused, sadly not that unusual these days!

I'M not defending Ward at all but even high ranking members of the FIM will admit privately that his case has been badly handled. It could and should have been resolved by now. Those clubs he rides for in Britain, Poland and Sweden are the innocent parties in this (yes, even Poole!) and quite rightly want to know whether or not he will be available next season.

IF he said it he was kidding but I very much doubt that he touched a drop on the eve of a World Final

WOULDN'T argue with any of that either but it doesn't excuse the FIM who have taken so long to resolve this issue, Whatever his transgressions Ward had a right to a swift hearing as did his potential employers.

AND at that time we also had a powerful and independent Speedway Control Board who held sway over the BSPA with an iron fist.

THINK there was a Track Racing Commission meeting over the weekend.

SORRY but you are still missing the point ... which is that when, for example, Ipswich change temporarily for just one night many of the Thursday regulars don't attend.

CHRIS wasn't saying that Wednesday was a bad speedway night per se but that Ipswich fans see Thursday as their night. On Wednesdays they might be doing something else.

IVERSEN stays with Gorzow in 2015

DIDN'T say that at all. Can only speak from personal experience ... Thursday night was speedway night at Wimbledon for me and many friends. That's where we went just about every Thursday from March until October. We didn't even think about it. Thursday = speedway. Chris Louis told me recently that if Ipswich ran on a Wednesday rather than a Thursday their usual crowd was decimated. That's my point. Once fans get out of the habit, routine, call it what you will many simply drift away.