PHILIPRISING

WE only do the production ... have nothing to do with price, paper or actual printing BUT BSI, understandably in my opinion, want to put all their eggs, and a massive outlay, into one basket as far as Britain is concerned. Cardiff is (as the riders like to call it) their Monaco and staging a second would just not be in the same league. Sweden is now in the position occupied by GB for so long in not having genuine title contenders but at least in Malilla you are almost assured of a viable crowd as long as the weather is okay. Denmark have only had two because Ole Olsen is prepared to promote one of his own in Vojens but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he doesn't do that in 2015. Slovenia would like the SGP back having had a good crowd last year and Croatia are talking again. With Warsaw and Melbourne looking strong perhaps only Poland and Sweden will have two in 2015.

YOU are still ignoring the critical factor that given the massive outlay in staging a GP in Britain in a big stadium with a temporary track a roof is essential. Personally don't see a case for two in Britain ... many, and especially those who splash out on a whole weekend, would probably be torn between the two.

WHY would there be more at a Wembley GP? And as for two, no way. Some Polish tracks get more fans for one meeting than the Elite does for 10.

WHAT'S so great about Oxford Circus anyway? You might just as well be a million miles away. Cardiff is buzzing speedway the whole weekend, and fully embraces the event. You wouldn't get that in London or even the immediate area surrounding Wembley. Just think of Saturday's brilliantly choreographed opening ceremony. That would have been impossible at Wembley on a July afternoon. Cardiff the city and the Millennium the stadium win hands down.

NATIONAL newspapers by and large have no interest in speedway or motor sports generally, F1 being the exception. Staging a GP at Wembley would have no impact on that.

THE fanzine will have to move next year as this year's location will not be available. I am certainly not defending the cost of hotel rooms, etc, but genuinely do not believe that any other stadium in the UK is comparable to the Millennium as far as staging a speedway event of this magnitude is concerned. YET another unnecessary comment Humphrey. Not every GP can be held in a Millennium stadium. There has to be a balance, a mix of stadia and venues, and while the stadium in Riga may not (initially) be the best the city has plenty to offer.

I NEVER suggested the referee should act in a corrupt manner. There were many who believed that it wasn't a clear cut decision and that all four back was an option and might have brought what was, by all accounts, a good meeting to a more satisfactory conclusion.

EFFORTS to find a suitable and viable venue in the USA continue but, so far, no joy.

RERUN with all four riders...

YOU call it cheating others might suggest common sense. Don't think you lbw analogy stacks up but, as said, we see it differently.

HAVEN'T done that for some time after the riders requested no grading after the semi-finals other than in exceptional circumstances. Yet another GP not won by the rider having first choice of gate positions. Less than 50 per cent go that way. Greg had third choice of course.

AFTER chatting with TO this weekend, the most likely scenario would appear to be giving the clubs autonomy while still within the framework of SVEMO and affiliated to the FIM. As rusky points out, any breakaway without the blessing of both SVEMO and the FIM would result in complete isolation.

IT'S not just sport ... like it or not it's in the entertainment business. No doubt many, maybe even the majority, agree with you but I just happen to believe that we need to look at the bigger picture.

HANCOCK would have picked gate 1 had Ward not beaten him to it... And Eric Boocock's? LEGEND is a word like brave and tragic bandied too loosely at times around but, frankly, a speedway rider who has competed in all 175 GPs and can still win one, in addition to all his other achievements, is a legend in my book. In my humble opinion if there is any criticism due it should be aimed at those riders unable to pass a 44-year-old rather than Greg for using all his skill and experience to make great starts. Catch me if you can springs to mind. Woffinden and Hancock both praised the Cardiff track - "the best I have ridden" said Tai - but there are undoubtedly some weak links in the GP field this year with Bjerre seemingly without confidence and Batchelor unable to find his Danish form. On track entertainment would undoubtedly have been enhanced with the likes a fit Holder and Sayfutdinov but it is the whole Cardiff package that resinates with me. Popped back to the Millennium this morning at 10am to collect my car and all signs of a speedway track had already gone. Quite an achievement.

MARKY: have tried to reply to your post without any joy. But, re letting the public in for practice. Health and Safety, police, and stadium security are all involved which is why ultimately only those with tickets can gain access. I would have thought rider recognition would have been easy given the audio there plus the info on the two giant screens.

WILL be shown in the USA as well... perfect timing

I WASN'T at Somerset and only managed to catch the Final via a TV set at the Cardiff hotel. According to the letter of the law the referee probably made the right decision but what about the bigger picture? In a nutshell so many of speedway's problems were there for all to see. Some friends who did go say there was a mass exodus before the rerun, which in a Pairs event of that format became virtually a non-event. How many more TV viewers would have turned off. It was the final of a major event but became a massive anti-climax. And how many more fans were lost to the sport?

DARCY was excellent at the pre-meeting Press Conference. Much more at home with the media now. It's a process...

JUDGING by the reception Greg received at the Millennium before and even after he had pipped Tai to the victory I would suggest that we could do with a few more Hancocks to bring in the fans.

THERE have been many crash and stupid comment posted on the bsf since I first took an interest but this one takes the biscuit. Greg Hancock to blame for falling attendances? What planet are you on... And just as an aside ... when Greg met people from Great Ormond Street Hospital at the post-meeting Press Conference within seconds he promised to come over from Sweden especially to visit the hospital and to see the extremely poorly kids that are treated there. Top rider and a top bloke as well. He also gave away some items of his racing gear including a signed steel shoe to the couple who donated £10,000 to Tai's GOSH charity ride during the course of the meeting.

NOT tongue in cheek at all... Millennium far better suited to a speedway event of this nature than either Wembley or the Olympic stadium., neither of which have a roof (protection against the weather and able to turn the stadium from day to night and back again). Also Cardiff has so much more to offer than the area around Wembley for example and for so many is more accessible geographically.

YOU'RE just hoping ... 2015 date to be announced Monday around 13.00 hrs

WASN'T at Somerset ...

I HAVE been lucky enough and privileged to have attended many major sporting events from a soccer World Cup Final down but the show put on at the Millennium tonight was as good as any. The big star is the stadium itself and the atmosphere that can be created under a roof and with the lights out. I cannot tell you how much time and effort was put into just the parade which was a spectacular success enjoyed not least by the riders themselves. Try doing that on a sunny afternoon at Wembley or the Olympic Stadium. BSI have their knockers but anyone who left tonight and didn't have a fantastic evening will need their heads examined. Proud to be have been involved with the show and a great and very talented bunch.

DID I say everything timed to the minute ... make that the second. For example: 16.54.49 seconds ... cue big screen black out, cue lighting state change. Or 17.12.40 seconds British National Anthem. Better get the stopwatch out ...