PHILIPRISING

UNLESS he rides like he did at your place!

THE big factor, along with cost, when Sky make up their minds will be scheduling. That was the reason they dumped the GPs... too many other Saturday live events going on which, in their minds, came first. This year they are experimenting with Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Perhaps they will see an advantage in having a sport that can be flexible and slotted into schedules on different nights. Just a thought.

THEY have had massive feedback ... twitter, facebook, emails, etc. And their viewing figures are pretty good, too. Also, to your dismay, they are delighted with their commentating duo!

JUST a phrase don't get too uptight...

EARLY days to talk of PARKEN dropping out ... last year's attendance suffered because Denmark were playing a live European Championship match at the same time. Much bigger cross-over between soccer and speedway fans in Denmark than England probably. I hear ticket sales are much better this year but BSI would probably like to see the Swedes upping their game and attracting a few.

I THINK you will find Armando Castagna (FIM) knows who the riders are. Perhaps it's time for you to change your forum name Andy ... how about I Don't Know?

NOT sure that either of us can truly judge the mood of the public...

PAWEL wrote ... I guess he wants to race in next GP people are pissed at Rzeszow thou it just shows you where his priorities are. Seems like an unnecessary dig at Nicki to me. I had a first hand look at his hand at the post GP Press Conference last night and it was a mess.

THAT took place on the first bend ... completely different

CARE to explain how he could have ridden today?

THE incident at Scunthorpe didn't occur on the first corner and once the race had been stopped the referee had to exclude someone "as the prime cause of the stoppage."

THERE isn't any ...

HE (Craig Ackroyd) didn't have that option

THE BSPA were informed last October that the wild card for Cardiff would no longer be given to the highest placed rider in the BF who wasn't already in the SGP series. Believe me or believe me not, there is no bias towards Chris Harris. He was awarded the place because BSI and the FIM believe he is the right and most suitable choice. I have yet to hear a convincing argument for anyone else...

THE studio guy is there for continuity as Eurosport dip out of the coverage for their ad breaks and then back in again... Sky did it when reverting to their studio. I am sure they will tighten that up.

WINNING the British title should be their prime consideration (as it was with riders of generations gone by) but sadly that doesn't seem to be the case.

EXACTLY that and still a bit shaken after his crash

DON'T rule out Holder ... thought he was superb tonight. Got out ridden twice by a rider (Emil) who was simply faster but he made some terrific starts and was close to his best.

IT was the FIM. But the BSPA did have the chance to be involved with the British GP when John Postlethwaite first wanted to go to Cardiff but, against the wishes of Terry Russell, they declined. Just as well really. The BSPA are not the body affiliated to the FIM, that is the ACU, and BSI can stage the British GP in the UK without any co-operation from the BSPA.

EMIL'S father died this evening ... apparently just about the same time as he was winning in Gothenburg. Very emotional for such a young lad, who incidentally is a smashing kid. Our thoughts go out to him and his family.

THE start is at the top on the hour as the TV companies come on stream... parade starts four minutes later, riders for Heat 1 ready at start grid in pits at 12 minutes past, first race starts three minutes later. Works like clockwork and isn't difficult.

FRIDAY'S practice went well under a clear blue sky although out of the sun it was quite chilly. The track, laid over three weeks ago, had some early issues with it starting to break up a little due to frost still in the ground. The back straight at Ullevi actually gets no sun throughout the day at this time of the year. But as practice wore on, and the surface was churned over, it got better and better. "It's good," said Chris Holder. "Should be fine tomorrow." And what a start... Heat 1 includes the two winners this year, Jarek Hampel and Emil Sayfutdinov, last year's victor at Ullevi, Freddie Lindgren, and the championship leader, Tomasz Gollob. Emil was very subdued yesterday. His father is terminally ill with cancer, aged just 52. Poor lad.

THE choice of wild cards is a consultation process but with whom they consult can vary from country to country and who is actually organising the event. In NZ, for example, it was Bill Buckley who had the major input, in Bydgoszcz it would have been the local club plus the PZM, in Sweden it would have been in consultation with SVEMO, in Denmark it will be through the DMU. In all cases the choices have to be verified by the FIM. SORRY but I don't understand that comment... UNTRUE ... the decision to stop British riders participating in the European Championship was taken by the BSPA.

IT will be forthcoming, certainly in SS next week after we have caught up with BSI boss Paul Bellamy in Gothenburg. My information is that the BSPA were informed that the British Final would no longer be a stepping stone to Cardiff some time ago. It was originally brought in as a concession to Sky and their coverage of the British Final but no other wild cards are determined this way and I imagine BSI and the FIM felt the time was right to end it.

WE would all love to see a British youngster going out and beating the best ... but who might that be? Apart from ability and experience, current SGP riders have equipment that is far superior to youngsters like Craig Cook. We need to be looking at the bigger picture and planing long term rather than contemplating throwing a kid in at the deep end in the hope that he can swim.