PHILIPRISING

MY understanding is that the ninth rider (currently Andreas Jonsson) in the overall standings will replace Jason in 2013. He certainly intends racing in domestic speedway next year but have no idea whether that might include the UK. Much might depend on where he intends to live. He still has his house near Milton Keynes.

OLE has been quite open about this. He is looking for financial assistance from the local authorities to help him upgrade a stadium that desperately needs a new, permanent grandstand along the home straight and some decent corporate facilities. The uncovered grandstand along the back straight is indeed temporary. And he also felt he needed a break from the strain of staging a GP (and other major events) at a location which is so often affected by inclement weather. With an alternative available, both BSI and Ole agreed that Vojens should drop off the calendar in 2013.

DON'T think the 17,000 mainly Danish fans there went away complaining. MJJ showed that passing was possible. Have said many, many times that track preparation isn't an exact science and sometimes weather conditions conspire to make them what they are. It wasn't Ole Olsen's fault, it wasn't Tony Olsson's fault, it wasn't anyone's fault. Vojens has never been a fantastic circuit in my opinion and many riders claim it is quite tricky to get right. But, then again, a 20-year-old found the best way round. Take the positives, just two points separate two riders going into the final round before a sell-out crowd on one of the best race-tracks anywhere.

HAVE to agree that the racing wasn't great, which was a shame given that the attendance was over 17,000. When the covers came off the track was very hard and required watering. Then came a shower but it was a bitterly cold evening and the surface became quite heavy. It just never developed into a good racing circuit, although MJJ proved that passing was possible. Nevertheless, a very fitting evening for Ole Olsen, Vojens and Danish speedway with the one and only Erik Gundersen there to witness one of "his boys" claiming victory, He was very proud and emotional. HOLDER would be a worthy and excellent World Champion... so don't subscribe to the view that Nicki is "the only hope." Only hope for what?

WHYY would it be different to had there been practice on Friday? The track would have been relaid anyway.

STADIUM availability in October (rugby season) would also be an issue ...

BLUE sky and sunny right now. Might be a shower early afternoon but then okay. Ole will have covers off asap and get some air to the track but riders wopn't be allowed on. All iof them know the track well and its the same for everybody. Saw Nigel Pearson at breakfast. He says UK forecast for Lakeside and Birmingham on Monday is for rain to clear by the afternoon. However, if one or both are rained off they will be restaged the following Monday with the finals going back a week.

DON'T think that's right...

SORRY but I haven't got a clue! Just going to breakfast at our hotel in Kolding and it is a dry morning. The covers will have done their job hopefully.

OLDER Pawlicki now sidelined with a badly broken leg ... won't be many left when it's time to leave for Argentina

16.30 local time here and it has stopped raining. But it has been lashing it down. Thanks heavens for the covers. Should be okay tomorrow. Lots of people, including riders, sitting around twiddling their thumbs. Not much to do here at the best of times but under a grey sky and rain it's pretty dismal. No indication from Bjarne Pedersen that he won't be riding.

THE stadium would be primarily for soccer but with more general usage as well. But, as you say, money is tight in Riga as well as the whole of Latvia.

PEEING down here in Kolding this morning and at Vojens about 25 miles away. The covers are down and it is forecast to rain all day. Will be very surprised if practice goes ahead. Should be a break in the rain tomorrow, especially the evening. Imagine covers will stay on for as long as possible.

THINK they have tried just about every month at one time or another but it ALWAYS rains in Vojens...

THERE was some talk about a new national stadium but that was put on back boiler when their economy headed south. Perhaps it is back on the cards.

DRAW will take place in Haderslev at 14.00 local time. This is the one GP when the programme will include the riders in draw order as it is printed just down the road! Mind you, the weather forecast (surprise, surprise) is particularly poor for Friday. The covers will down and practice must be in doubt ... not that any of the riders should need reminding of the way round Vojens.

UNLESS he gets through the Challenge...

I WOULDN"T have thought they had done too bad this year especially with Monster Energy on board and, judging by their reaction, that can only get bigger. Stockholm will be interesting. Think BSI will throw a lot at it knowing that the weather cannot intervene and should be on a par with Copenhagen and Denmark. But one problem that remains is that none of the Swedish riders are true superstars like Rickardsson was. If he was still in his pomp Stockholm would be rocking. Cardiff is a much more cosmopolitan speedway audience. The Danes and Swedes like to see their own at the top, as do the Poles of course. Probably the Brits as well judging by the Olympics and Paralympics but we have long become accustomed in speedway to not having that luxury.

THE date is definitely right

JUST one or two 'minor' items to be sorted out. One, I believe, is final approval for the temporary grandstand which caused some problems this year. Booked my flights today... flights for riders have been reserved. But it's your call

POSITIVE as ever ... good to have you back! AGREE on both counts. No worries about the weather is a huge bonus anywhere and particularly Sweden.

I ASKED Paul Bellamy this morning and his answer was that he hasn't signed any contract as yet. No doubt it is in the cards but one thing I have learned over the years is that nothing is certain until the ink is dry. If it happens it will be the replacement for Vojens and IF the series eventually goes to Riga I wouldn't see that as a step backwards. There is already one new (an old one really) big city next year and that's Stockholm with one of the most advanced stadiums in the world.

NO contract signed as yet ...

THE very same! In actual fact, various people including yours truly are encouraged to provide an opinion but, at the end of the day, it comes down to a consultation process between BSI (Paul Bellamy) and the FIM (Roy Otto, head of the CCP, and Tony Olsson).

HAD a long conversation with the man who does make the decision over the weekend and I do know for a fact that NO decisions have been made.