PHILIPRISING

NOT sure of the name of the stadium.. Nearer the airport than Western Springs. Haven't been there myself but have spoken to some who have who seem to think it would be suitable if Western Springs is ruled out for whatever reason.

JUST come back from a 'talk-in' with over 100 TravelPlus punters in Torun during which they were asked to raise their hands if they wished to see Ward get a wild card (if possible) and it was almost a unanimous yes vote. I would also point out that Pete Adams went against the grain and said he felt Ward needed a significant punishment before being allowed back into the SGP. Nothing scientific but it was interesting that those who pay to go and watch were far more forgiving.

WHY should it disrupt end of European season? Sweden and Poland will definitely have finished and if the BSPA have any sense they will ensure that British play-offs don't run until the end of October.

Don't think that's the case. MORE feasible if Buckley doesn't use Western Springs for various reasons. As I posted previously, he hasn't locked the door and there is the possibility of another stadium in Auckland which would fit the bill.

AGAIN asked a FIM high ranking official for a date for the Ward hearing and was told he didn't know and neither presumably does Ward, although he is here in Torun so will enquire. The length of time this has taken to resolve is utter ridiculous... an opinion echoed by that same FIM guy.

The calendar won't be confirmed until next week but I would be very surprised if it isn't Daugavpils with Riga back in the frame for 2016.

ANYONE who thinks that Monster will have or can have any influence on whatever decision the FIM eventually come to is barking up the wrong tree. I very much doubt that Ward is a big deal for Monster anyway.. Having (hope I'm not being too presumptuous here) had the last three World Champions in Holder, Woffinden and Hancock they are more than happy with that trio. Was actually very impressed at today's Press Conference at which Joe Parsons spoke eloquently about why Monster see speedway as the perfect fit for their products and their marketing strategy. And why they have renewed their contract for a further three years.

GOOD practice today, track in great shape. Should be a cracker tomorrow. GH could be World Champion after Heat 5 ... unlikely but it could happen. Great atmosphere around the stadium today. Like end of term at school. Weather forecast is excellent for Saturday, actually quite warm so won't need the thermals this year. Great to see Mark Loram here. How he would have loved this place...

And nothing to do with the Polish and Swedish leagues paying more money?

go to speedwaystar.net and the link to Xtra ... free online every week. But, no, it's not about busty ladies

YOU'RE entitled to your opinion but why resort to comments like that? What's Greg or Nigel done to rock your boat so much?

THINK Torun will be in ...

GOOD point. Something we should look into... and will.

DOES that make you a smart arse?

CARE to point out where I have ever said that? With regard to Tai, the answer is probably yes. He uses Peter Johns tuned engines everywhere. Some engines, while identical mechanically to others, sometimes perform differently. Chris Holder used only one engine throughout the 2012 SGP campaign and it carried him to victory. But do you not think that he wanted every engine to be the same? My point is that riders don't set out to have some bikes that are better than others. It just happens.

THANKS for the vote of confidence CARE to elaborate. Seriously, I would like to know why Xtra puts you off (and the few others you have spoken to) subscribing to Speedway Star.

Xtra, to which you are referring, isn't the online edition of Speedway Star.

AS this rate will be starting the 2015 season with the 2014 final.

YES but Buckley hasn't locked the door

SCB statement came after we had gone to press this week. As a weekly magazine we are always in danger of being overtaken by events. Sorry you were disappointed but anyone who thinks we toe the BSPA line should ask a few of their members what they think of us!

STILL 12

BELIEVE the stadium is booked. Might just as well toss a coin ... cannot be even more farcical than having two riders from one team already in the final racing for another trying to get there.

ETIHAD stadium not available in April... LOT more speedway in Oz than US though and Melbourne is Australia's sporting capital. Know a few people there who wouldn't normally cross the road fro watch speedway but attend just about everything that is on at the Etihad. IF anyone turns down a trip to Australia to ride in one of the world's greatest stadiums in a great city they shouldn't be riding anyway.

No one ever denied that had the drainage been MUCH better there would have been more chance of the meeting going ahead but as we have seen in the UK recently heavy persistent rain can always cause a meeting to be called off. PROBABLY have a choice of three ... and Bydgoszcz isn't one of them!

I VERY much doubt that any GP riders racing in the EL use their GP equipment here. Iversen, for example, as nine bikes. It always amuses me when people talk about "best equipment" which infers that they also have bad equipment. Why would they do that? Assuming that the time scale for flying equipment to Melbourne is the same as it has been for NZ, bikes etc will go out in the middle of the month.