PHILIPRISING

AT a pre SGP riders briefing those randomly chosen by ballot are told they are required to "take an alcohol test."

FAILING an alcohol test ...

TWO very entertaining meetings ... don't think the title winners in Britain, Denmark and even Poland will fancy facing Vetlanda in the 2015 Champions League ... should it ever happen of course.

BELIEVE young Riss is quite keen on speedway... great talent and already a great showman apparently.

THE appeal was against the suspension but does not rule out him challenging the actual procedure in Daugavpils when he appears before the disciplinary committee. One interesting and undoubtedly controversial thought was thrown into the mix last weekend (and I am not saying it is one I agree with). Ward did not ride under the influence of alcohol. Had he ridden and failed a test after the meeting would that be a different offence to the one he is currently charged with? All professional sportsmen including speedway riders are at all times subject to random drug tests, whether at a racetrack or not or even on their days off but that does not apply to alcohol. I can sense another 100 pages looming ... BECAUSE like it or not there are commercial considerations...

CZESTOCHOWA alleged still owe him over two hundred grand ... not much chance of getting it though.

AGREE ... the blunt truth is that there is actually a paucity of top class contenders at present although hopefully that may change. But as of now, is Jonasson better than Jonsson or Lindgren, which British rider is better than Harris, is there a Pole better than Hampel?

WHOSE chances? Assuming that Hampel stays in top eight, three riders (Batchelor, Jonsson and Lindgren) chasing one place. Iversen will get one wild card, most likely one or two Swedes depending on who gets that eighth place.

VERY much doubt that ... still loves his racing and from recent conversations has no intention of hanging up his leathers just yet

BIT of both but more of the latter...

HAD a chat with the Finland promoters in Stockholm. There are changes being made to the soccer pitch at the stadium in Tampere because Finland will play their home Euro championship qualifiers there. Once that has been done they will set about laying the speedway track ... wider corners, shorter straights. Don't shoot me... I'm just the messenger!

AND who makes the top eight ...

ALL hypothetical at the moment. If, for example, Ward gets six months, backdated to when his suspension starts, he could conceivable get a wild card but his chances would be greatly reduced if Batchelor and Holder both finish in the top eight. Four Aussies in the series? Unlikely, Ward could be the wild card Down Under with a view to getting back in 2016.

NO ... goes before FIM disciplinary board but WADA can still intervene if they disapprove of the decision

SKIDDER is correct ... hearing in November

YOU are right New Science but the injury to Iversen and the suspension of Ward have dramatically changed the landscape and thrown a lifeline to Jonsson and Lindgren in particular.

IF Hampel, and one or both of Jonsson and Lindgren finish in the top eight it will allow BSI/FIM more wiggle room in their wild card selections. Tomas H Jonassson didn't exactly enhance his prospects either in Lonigo or Stockholm. If Batchelor gets back into the top eight would probably rule Ward out for a wild card whether he is banned or not. Right now the only sure fire bet is Iversen. So much can still happen in Torun where almost every race will have something literally riding on it. HAMPEL may not be the most exciting rider to watch but he is a really, really nice guy who has been through the ringer off the track recently. Kaspzrak paid a lovely and touching tribute to his Polish colleague at the post GP press conference and Hampel admitted that in recent weeks he has found out who his true friends are. Apparently some sections of the Polish media have been less than kind...

THINK Hampel needs to put in a strong performance tonight or in Torun. Deserves a wild card on his record but not if the Hampel we have seen in the second half of the year is the one who will ride in 2015. That would be a waste in my opinion and I am a big fan of the guy.

HE wasn't breathalyser because anyone smelt drink on him ... his number was randomly chosen at the Jury meeting prior to the event.

Mr Burbidge's knuckles will be duly rapped...

Yes he is...

THE finishing order in the 2013 Challenge was used down to Michael Jepsen Jensen with Smolinski, Harris and Batchelor having already gaining SGP places despite not finishing in the top three. For the final three SGP meetings this year the FIM decided to nominate a rider ... Beck in Vojens, Nilsson in Stockholm and who knows who in Torun. Re SGP reserves... once a rider has signed on (either before practice or before 4pm on race day) he can only be replaced by a reserve (as was the case with Woffinden in Gorzow). Hancock did not sign on but didn't officially withdraw until Saturday when it was deemed too late to find a rider other than one of the reserves,

AS the Russian federation are members of the FIM, maybe that question should be aimed at Geneva A few?

WHEN compiling the programme for Stockholm was told that as Ward was only suspended and could conceivably still ride if his ban was lifted, MJJ was in fact replacing the injured Iversen. When the programme went to press we still weren't able to include Kim Nilsson as the replacement for Ward although we knew it would be him. MJJ will continue to replace Iversen in Torun and a substitute for Ward, should one be required, will be named later and most likely be a Polish rider.