PHILIPRISING

THE dirt used at all the temporary tracks, including New Zealand, is as near as possible the same type of material and mixed to the same specifications. Over the years Ole has found what works best and along with countless experiments at a Danish laboratory now knows exactly what is required to achieve the right texture. There are separate supplies stored for Cardiff, Copenhagen, Gothenburg and, of course, Auckland, which is kept undercover and on site at Western Springs. The material used at Gelenkirchen was, in fact, transported for much of the way by barges to and from Denmark. I would imagine that the dirt used at Parken last week will now be used in Stockholm later this year and there will be new material at Cardiff next year too. Incidentally, I have a friend (who rode on the grass for many years) who has been involved in soil examination for over 50 years and was, in fact, at Cardiff. He says storing material in a pyramid shape is not an unusual practice. Subsequent investigation has determined that mistakes were made at the storage facility in Wales and despite the constant monitoring and information supplied on a regular basis to BSI the moisture content was far too high when it arrived at the Millennium Stadium. As I say, new material will be used next year and the method in which it will be stored for future use has been changed significantly.

THE reason is simple ... Wonderful Copenhagen, who have supported the event there for several years, pulled out. PARKEN were not prepared to hand over their stadium for six weeks in order to stage the Eurovision Song Contest but we were told over the weekend that the city officials in Copenhagen were still hoping to host it elsewhere in the capital.

YOU are right about Terenzano... everybody hates the track. Heard good reports about GP qualifier at Lonigo. Pretty sure SGP will return there in 2014.

FULLY agree but, as I have said countless times, track preparation isn't an exact science whether temporary or permanent. If it was, and all speedway tracks produced the sort of racing we see at places like Bydgoszcz, Torun, Malilla and a few others the sport would not be suffering in the manner that it is. That is what is so frustrating. At its best speedway knocks other motorsports into a cocked hat ... at its worst like watching paint dry. And have to agree about Bradford Ace with regard to Ward. Some good stuff from Kelvin Tatum in his SS column this week...

THEY will also be promoting Stockholm this year and pretty well run the Italian GP as well.

I bow to your superior knowledge...

HEARD it will be Holsted on August 8...

IT'S not that unusual. Some broadcasters like to have their interviewer in shot, others not. On the other hand, perhaps he is wanted by interpol!

IF only it were that easy ... trying to get any information out of the BSPA these days is like getting blood out of a stone let alone anything that involves finances.

OUT of interest ... opinion on the Zagar/Safutdinov incident at PARKEN was, pretty much as on this thread, split about 50/50. Had to chuckle privately when Zagar suggested that Craig Ackroyd should go to specsavers. Referees for the Australia/British Lions series are actually sponsored by specsavers.

NOT quite sure what resources you are referring to. The finances of speedway tracks in the UK are difficult to ascertain. Attendance figures are not published, nor riders' wages or stadium agreements. What we do know for sure is that at present no tracks are in profit. I am certainly not suggesting that any of my comments are particular new or carry any more weight than those of others or that there is any immediate, miracle cure.

HAVE written a piece for speedwayXtra this week (which will also go in Speedway Star next week) ... have never been as concerned about the future of British speedway as I am right now. Lack of real leadership at times of crisis is a major worry as is the fact that league speedway in the UK is becoming or is already an anachronism. Even those of us who love the sport must surely admit that in its current form (league matches between unbalanced teams, no continuity of race-nights and team members, continual bending of rules, of which there are far too many that are destructive rather than constructive, no independent ruling panel, no real value for money week in, week out, no real effort to attract youngsters either to ride or watch and too many promoters who seem to think it will all turn out right in the end) it can and will survive. That should read doubt it can survive...

BSI also have nothing to do with whoever gets wild card pick for GP Challenge. For all I know, or you, just as many if not more people agreed with Harris getting Cardiff wild card than not. He certainly got a huge reception at the Milllennium. Chris is a frustrating enigma because there is no doubt he has huge ability, although not from the gate which is the root cause of many of his problems. But whatever he might be accused of, not caring about riding for GB is not one of them. As far as I know he has never actually informed Neil Middleditch (or Rob Lyon previously) that he wasn't prepared to race for his country. He may have said something in the heat of the moment but I am sure it was just that. One thing you always get from Chris is 100 per cent effort even if that doesn't always translate into the points he or we would like to see.

BSI have nothing to do with any country's team selection. All this talk about him being their favourite rider is pathetic nonsense.

UK Speedway (whatever you think that was) never had the rights to the World Championship, which have always been in the domain of the FIM. What Great Britain did have as a trump card for many years was Wembley Stadium, for so long a global icon and an historic home for speedway, both domestic and international.

HARRIS, to be fair, has been GB's outstanding performer in recent SWC events, especially at KL, and is hardly a veteran.

THINK Monster (based in California) might have a bigger influence than Red Bull sponsored riders... plus, as stated, relatively easy journey from Auckland. Direct flight around 11 hours.

NEGOTIATIONS about a SGP in the USA (California) have been on-going for some time but the preferred venue, the Home Depot stadium in Los Angeles, is proving difficult to acquire for the required dates, either a week before or a week after the NZ SGP. Talks continue but time is running out if they are to add on another event outside of Europe although logistically flying to LA from Auckland would be quite easy.

THERE will be practice for the race-off on Thursday morning ... will get the exact time and post later. Practice for the final will be on Friday. PS: Have to tell you that practice for SWC events is even more boring than for SGP meetings!

WILL be live on one of the Fox channels

ONE of the attractions of speedway (for me at least) is that it isn't always about raw speed, unlike long track. Someone said to me many moons ago that the quickest way round a speedway track should also be the shortest.

KRSKO much easier to get to as well. Only about half an hour from Zagreb (it is almost on the Croatia/Slovenia border) or 100 ks from Ljubljana. Lake Bled is delightful, countryside very much like Italy. Nice country, nice people. Not much in Krsko itself. Daugavpils is a three to four hour drive from Riga, almost on the Russian border. Quite isolated but cheap. Racing wise would also go for Slovenia.

PLENTY of passing round the inside ... which is what makes speedway so special.

YOU obviously slept through the opening heats ... age does that to you. Track was a bit tricky but what's wrong with that? Makes the riders think about how and where they race.

ECHO that...