PHILIPRISING

IT'S not in the Star ... I do know but have to accept the confidentiality under which I was told.

FRUSTRATING I know but I am sure there is no reason that the GPs wont be shown live and on a channel easily accessible to most.

IT'S not ...

NO doubt BSI are just as frustrated as everyone else not being able to reveal all but once lawyers are involved it is a process that runs at its own pace.

MY mistake ... should have been Capt Mainwaring Announcement was anticipated today but not cast in stone. Fear not, confident all will be revealed (if it hasn't already) tomorrow.

NOPE ...but, as posted elsewhere, don't panic Mr Mannering

IT will be live

IF there are four rounds ... my info is that they only have two venues at present

EARLY next week

NOT long now ...

PRESUME someone knows what you are talking about but it certainly isn't me...

BUT we (Speedway Star) produce about 20 64 page issues a year and one 128 page issue ...

NO... CORRECT DON'T waste your time

THE riders will still have to pick their gate positions. Not sure what the TV stations will do while that is going on.

THAT'S the trouble with lawyers ... they love a ticking clock.

WHY would I say that BSI/IMG have run out of ideas when they plainly haven't. I have criticised Sky's SGP studio setup before and that had nothing to do with BSI/IMG... they supplied the pictures but Sky were responsible for that part of the show. Sky could have done so much more had they actually bothered to have a 'team' on site far more often than they did. But they clearly showed what could be achieved at the SWC meetings when they supplemented the world feed with cameras and interviewers of their own. Obviously Sky had a budget and stuck by it but I doubt it would have cost much more than their studio presentation with guests who, let's face it, were only watching the same pictures as the TV viewers. Quite obviously if they had been on site they would have had a much better grasp of what was actually going on, been able to see the pits throughout, and that in itself would have enhanced their opinions and output. When you look at how far Sky's coverage of footy has progressed, admittedly with far more resources and money, you can get an idea of what can be achieved.

HOPEFULLY quite soon. Have been working on it for a while now. Had one already to go, everything worked perfectly but was then informed that subs could only be paid for in US dollars. It is still our main goal right now but we are also revamping SS in the weeks ahead.

HERE'S a challenge for you ... in this week's SS we have interviews with Armando Castagna, Mervyn Stewkesbury, Freddie Lindgren, Tomas Topinka, Ronnie Moore, features with Jack Knight and Louis Carr. Please show me where you can find that on the internet? And, incidentally, much more that is in Speedway Star. If you don't like SS that's okay and your prerogative. But please do not suggest that SS simply publishes what is already available on the internet when we do not.

YOU obviously don't know me very well. Never had a gagging order in my life and a bit late to start now.

THEY think the world of you Andy!

ALL the riders' bikes and sundry equipment was packed and ready to leave Amsterdam for Auckland last night. Ole Olsen and his track building team leave tomorrow, Torben Olsen (IMG) and Tony Briggs already on their way. Riders depart Heathrow on Sunday, March 17th. Media breakfast and unofficial practice on the 21st, official practice the 22nd, SGP on the 23rd. VERY true but Dunedin is a long way south of Auckland. Third cricket test in Auckland same time as speedway.

HOPE so ... but not until the lawyers press the green button.

NO, it isn't. I do find the silence from Rugby deafening but it has been that way for a long time now.

THAT has been a particular bone of contention with BSI especially as ever effort has been made - successfully I might add - to conclude the GPs within the allotted time frame. I am a fan of Sky and the manner in which they present sport but their coverage of the SGP series, from the perspective of their Isleworth studio, has not kept pace with the times and has been very stale for some time. Hopefully the new broadcaster will take the opportunity of bringing a new slant to add to the high quality HD pictures that they will be receiving from the BSI production team at each event.

MY opinion hasn't changed at all. A European Cup or league, call it what you will, is great in theory but not in practice for all the reasons stated here.