PHILIPRISING

THE first words about speedway that I was entrusted to write was 'ghosting' a gossip column by Alf Weedon ... most of the things he told me couldn't be used!

WELL said.

WE made a decision to cut down on the domestic news sections every other week and only include what was truly "news worthy" and to include more features during the winter months. Judging by sales figures that has been justified and the online editions have also proved popular. Thanks to those who continue to support SS.

WE felt it had run its course ... but hoping to get Bob Hoare to do something different on Tai. His tattoos might be a challenge!

WE actually had to produce three issues this week - with one key member of the production staff absent through illness - to meet print requirements over the Christmas period but Xtra will return and catch up with all the track review details shortly. Thanks gustix ... the features on British World Champions has proved very popular. But you cannot please all of the people all of the time.

NO

IT is something we are thinking about for next year but, in fact, the online edition goes to Exact Editions as soon as the printed version is at the printers.

INTERESTING scenario. FIM certainly haven't changed their tune, as I was told today. Riders cannot do both. However, Emil, unlike Tomasz Gollob, has submitted his entry form for the SGP. Are there sanctions the FIM can take if a rider refuses to ride? I can remember times when the likes of Briggs and Mauger were given three day bans for refusing to race in FIM meetings. Perhaps the FIM will withdraw Emil's licence over a GP weekend if he doesn't race, which would rule him out of Polish league matches. FIM being very non-committal on this question right now, playing their cards close to their chest.

BUT I didn't say that ... I wrote when asked the question the FIM said the correct procedure had been followed. And I certainly never said that the correct procedure was followed to get Harris into the meeting. Try putting two and two together and getting four.

FINE if that what's you want to believe... just so happens on this occasion at least you are absolutely wrong.

NOT as far as the Challenge and its qualification process is concerned. Why should they (BSI)?

I CAN still remember Michael Lee riding round Saddlebow Road after a meeting when he was just 15. Can you? And, if so, how does Lambert compare?

IT wasn't a lackadaisical response. I was pointing out that the German Federation can legitimately ask the question about Dilger and expect the CCP Secretary at the FIM to be much more forthcoming to them than he would be to Speedway Star. It is not a question of siding with the establishment. I think you will find both the FIM and the BSPA for example don't see SS as instinctively towing the party line. Quite the opposite in fact.

YOU are doing it again ... I have no proof whether or not the FIM actually did or did not follow the correct procedures. The question was asked and the response was that they did. That was passed on to posters here. You can take their word for it or not, that's your prerogative. But they are certainly not going to reveal actual correspondence to the various federations to the likes of you and I. If the German federation are so exercised no doubt they can legitimately request the CCP Secretary (not Armando Castagna) to attest as to who was asked, when and how. But it doesn't change the fact that Harris, as he admits himself, was lucky to get an unexpected second bite at the cherry and he took it. And that there is no blame to attach to either Harris or for that matter the BSPA.

EXCUSE me, how does it contradict anything I have posted here? The FIM (not me) say they followed the usual procedure and contacted the federations of the riders concerned as and when they became eligible to ride in the Challenge. It was not up to the ACU or anyone at Poole to contact Dilger. If, as claimed, the German federation did not receive any call, email, whatever from the FIM that is a matter for them to take up in Geneva. It does not conflict with anything I have posted on this thread. It was only when the FIM asked the ACU to provide meeting reserves (effectively on stand-by should any programmed riders not appear for whatever reason or even get injured during practice on the morning of the event) to ensure that there were 16 riders participating did Harris come into the frame and only then after other British riders had declined. You (iris123) seem to be getting some pleasure in having digs at me of late and that's fine but try getting your facts right first.

AND how would that help?

SKY'S plan to make the announcement with 'a bit of a do' was scuppered by the premature leaking of the new deal and I believe they were not best pleased by that but expect confirmation before Christmas.

DESPITE some web chatter on here and elsewhere that the FIM have backed down over SGP riders in the SEC there is nothing to support that coming out of Geneva.

HARRIS is in SGP ...

BUT did Gollob know?

BECAUSE he accepted his wild card invitation... once the wild cards have been chosen, the riders notified and their acceptance received the FIM add their names to those who have qualified either via the top eight or the Challenge and publish the official line-up for the following year. That's their procedure, whether you or I like it or not. Now, in the light of what has happened this year apropo Gollob, they might wish to change that procedure but as of this year the published line-up was official.

THE FIM have been getting tough with FIM Europe over their deal with OneSport for over 12 months. You are trying to establish a link that simply isn't there. Quite clearly BSI and the FIM wanted Gollob in the SGP otherwise they wouldn't have offered him a wild card in the first place. Therefore, if they were trying to influence Monster in any way (and they weren't) it would be to continue with Gollob to ensure that he chose the SGP over the SEC. My own view (that word again) is that Monster first started to lose a little patience with Gollob during the SWC.

NOT really. I don't think Gollob knew of Monster's decision when he was campaigning for a wild card. How could he? The specific reason he has given for withdrawing from the SGP after originally accepting the invitation is that he couldn't afford to compete having lost such a big deal. So, if he knew that Monster weren't renewing, why would he ask for a wild card? I also don't think that Monster's decision to sponsor Tai automatically meant them not renewing with Gollob. But these are just opinions. I never pretend otherwise even when they might be based on some solid information, which can also change.

APPLE only offer two options and the advice we had is that a six months re-occurring sub proves more popular than a 12 month one.

WAY off target. Don't think Monster's decision was taken as early as markw40 suggests above but no influence from BSI or FIM.