PHILIPRISING

NOT at all. If he seriously wants to make it in the Grand Prix then he will have to change some of his ways. If not, then he seriously risks blowing his career before it has even got started.

BSI covered this in their Press Release and when asked really had nothing further to offer. Yes, a British presence is preferable but only if they think the candidate is of the required standard. They believe - as do some of the people they asked - that Woffinden has a much better chance of holding his own and even to do far better than he did two years ago, which in hindsight was too soon for him. I do think that if not Woffinden then they might well have gone without a Brit. But, as they say, many feel that Woffinden has the talent, will have much better engines in 2013 than he did last time out, and could develop into an authentic GP rider. The view of many on here about Woffinden isn't universally shared although personally I do feel that he, like Ward, will find next season a make or break year for their GP and World Championship aspirations. Woffinden doesn't possess the sublime natural talent of Ward but both will need to come of age off the track, take a leaf (quite a few actually) out of Holder's book and realise what can be achieved but only if they knuckle down. Some will obviously disagree but, as they say, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating.

I HAVE always thought of you as an intelligent man Humphrey, although I disagree you with a lot of the time, but I am sure you would appreciate the time and effort that goes into staging events like the British GP at Cardiff and many of the other aspects of the GPs. Ask any of the riders what they feel about the behind-the-scenes organisation ... tickets, passes, facilities at tracks, security, etc. Or all the aspects of ensuring the smooth running of these events, especially when you compare them to everyday league matches, not just in the UK, which are often a shambles by comparison.

YOU keep saying that but have to disagree. Great bunch there now doing a fantastic job, 99 per cent of which is never seen by the general public.

HATE to see this debate reignited but ... I did ask three different international referees strictly in confidence what they would have done. All three, unbeknown to each other, replied exactly as stated above but without Pedersen excluded, although one did say that if he had no choice but to exclude one it would have been NP. Doesn't change a thing of course ...

CERTAIN people at the FIM much more likely to stick their oar in these days... incidentally, you are posting everywhere. Having a quiet day or just bored?

THERE were some improvements made to the track at the Marketa this year and BSI have been assured that more including new material on the surface will be there in 2013. The son of Petr Ondrasik who now has much more say in the stadium is keen for these to go ahead.

THE actual CCP Bureau members are: Roy Otto, Ikka Teromaa, Armando Castagna, Tony Steele and Christian Bouin. There are also a number of officials who act as Jury Presidents, etc, at various levels. These include Christer Bergstrom, Wolfgang Glas and a few more.

MIGHT have confused you a bit. Tony Olsson isn't a member of the CCP but is consulted on things that involve the SGP and SWC. Ole Olsen isn't on the CCP either. There are other members (can probably find the complete list on FIM website) with representation from Poland, Germany and other speedway nations.

THERTE was a suggestion that the host nation wild card in the GP Challenge would be abolished. Not sure whether it has or not. Will enquire...

BSI only do SGP dates and latter stages of SWC ... rest is down to FIM.

THE FIM have the final say but these decisions are made after consultation with BSI/IMG as the commercial rights holders and the company responsible for staging both competitions. The CCP (Track Racing Commission) still exists although in a slightly different format these days. Those on the CCP are now appointed and work under a Director (currently Roy Otto). Ilka Teromaa and Armando Castagna are senior members along with Tony Steele. Ole Olsen (FIM Speedway Director of Sport) and Tony Olsson (SGP AND SWC RAce Director) would also be consulted.

WOULDN'T have been interesting but could have been worth a bet!

I HONESTLY don't know the exact procedure yet. Your suggestion would be the easiest and most sensible but that's not always the way these things work! I imagine each manager will list his four names for Heat 17, 18, 19 and 20 without any reference to what the others are doing

QUITE easy I believe .. each team manager will nominate one of his riders for each of the final heats. How they scored in the preceding heats will be irrelevant. Could make for some interesting line-ups and tactics.

THE use of the beloved Joker will not be allowed in the final four heats of SWC meetings next year. Tactical substitutes will be allowed. Team managers will have a free choice of which riders they want to use in each of the final four heats.

IF my memory serves me correct - which it doesn't always these days - other than wrestling WoS didn't show any 'live' sport. Their speedway coverage, which included the Daily Express Spring Classic from Wimbledon, was always edited and shown as a highlights package. WoS was broadcast by London Weekend Television (LTW) from the Southbank. Head of sport was legendary Fleet Street scribe John Bromley - one of the funniest men I ever met - with Dicky Davies as presenter and Dave Lanning as commentator. They were regular diners at Plough Lane. Happy days.

THE winner of each GP is the rider who wins the final. The points scored on the night eventually determine who wins the World Championship. Simples

THE CCP members at the FIM felt that the differential between first (six points) and last (zero) in the final was too great

NEED to check but I think it is scheduled for Great Britain...

IN SS this week ... 3, 2, 1, 0 in the final, no double points.

WAS told by the FIM this morning that all the freight (bikes, etc) left Frankfurt today and that everything seems to be okay and that it will be a great experience for the young riders. Make of that what you will...

SAW him win a couple. Briggo rates those six successive wins, usually against a line-up stronger than the World Final that preceded it, has possibly his greatest achievement. Never saw Peter Craven at Hyde Road but Peter Collins, Chris Morton and, of course, Ivan Mauger were magic there. But possibly Briggo had the edge.

WELL you would say that wouldn't you but Crumpie will continue with Red Bull, probably even after he stops racing speedway altogether. He is to help at least one young Aussie lad - not a speedway rider incidentally - also backed by Red Bull this winter.