PHILIPRISING

6pm at every venue this year ... including Terenzano today when it was baking!

CANNOT see either Kolodziej or Laguta getting a place. The former had his chance and the latter may not have done enough at true international level to warrant a pick. There are always commercial considerations. Danish TV are an important component so if a Dane doesn't get through the Challenge can see either Iversen or Jepsen Jensen getting a chance. Looks like two Swedes will make top eight so no need for another as a wild card especially if Lindback continues to shine in the Challenge. At the end of the day so much is down to the Challenge. No offence but hopefully the likes of Dryml and Walasek don't have a blinder!

WHEN I was in Lendava last Saturday they talked about having Slovenia TV there but not sure when it was going to be shown.

EXACTLY what we have said in SS this week. GP Challenge doesn't and shouldn't require a wild card.

DON'T forget that Pavlic has already been knocked out of the qualifiers but gets a second chance as a wild card.

THINK it is very different situation re seeded riders with the Challenge and the GP itself. For starters, with the Challenge is the host country who gets a pick and that increases the chances of a fluke result that could see a rider totally unsuited to the GP getting a place. It would make life a lot easier if Iversen and/or Jepsen Jensen and Vaculik take two of the spot Challenge spots. And what about Lindback, who I have christened the 'new Andy Smith'? He has been very disappointing in the GPs since NZ but seems to reserve his best form for the Challenge as did dear old Andy.

WHAT if... Davey Watt gets through the Challenge. Ward would make it four Aussies. Too many? No Danes get through the Challenge ... that would leave just one (NP). Not enough? Vaculik does well again at Terenzano and (if he rides) Cardiff but doesn't get through the Challenge?

I THINK they are opening a creche especially for you JJR

FOR those who care (and many do) the pre-meeting entertainment line-up will be announced on Thursday.

OVER 90f here in Gorican today and not a cloud in the sky. Will still be baking this evening.

THE cost of mounting an outside broadcast, rigging all the cameras, miles of cables, building a studio, etc is huge. This is speedway we are talking about, not the Olympics or football. The money isn't there. It's a nice idea but, as I say, simply not practical.

JASON has announced today that he will be riding in Gorican on Saturday. These riders are unreal!

NOT practical ... TV wouldn't want to set up at two venues, stadium branding, ticketing, etc.

A FEW final details have yet to be finalised but there will be a Fanzone in Cardiff again ... bigger than ever. There will be a Monster Rig, complete with girls and noise, lots of the usual attractions and a few new additions. I understand that Titan is due to return. Whether we can persuade the Monster girls to wrestle with the grid girls remains to be seen!

DOES your source live on the moon? Or cloud cuckoo land?

JASON has flown to Switzerland for an operation by Red Bull doctor and hopes to ride in Gorican.

WOULDN'T necessarily argue with any of that White Knight but as unsavoury as commercial interests might be the TV audiences are vital and the Joker is seen as a means of sustaining interest in a meeting that might otherwise become a foregone conclusion long before the end. Personally I would do away with it and just allow tactical substitutes (no double points) for teams six or more in arrears but then I am not charged with convincing various TV companies, including Sky, that speedway is worthy of their money and air-time. But then I still enjoy test cricket although would not argue that it is generally more exciting that 20-20.

IF I heard right over the weekend Crump and Sayfutdinov are off to Vladivostok this week

USE your own shovel

I DID and there appeared to be little or no ill-effects but perhaps in the heat of battle the actual process of releasing the clutch caused him some discomfort. I also think he was just race rusty. With regard to the Joker. On the first count of race manipulation, of course both BSI and the FIM (particularly Race Director Tony Olsson and referee Craig Ackroyd) were unhappy and were discussing various options immediately after the meeting. It soured the Final (although not the result in my opinion) and obviously needs to be tackled. As to the Joker itself, I think it is fair to say, although I have no firm evidence to support it, that the displeasure with the whole Joker scenario is more prevalent in the UK than abroad. That could have much to do with the actual title (slightly different connotation in other languages) and because for us it tends to be synonymous with It's A Knockout. And, of course, it does help to create some excitement and closer finishes however false and unsavoury that may be to some British fans and, it would seem, several BSF posters. Speedway is in the entertainment business and TV audiences are an essential component and these days the tail often wags the dog. If I had to lay money now I doubt whether the Joker is going away anytime soon but to ensure it has any credibility the ability of teams to manoeuvre the score to suit either themselves or to disadvantage the opposition by illegal means must be removed.

YOU are so wrong and especially your last sentence. Just goes to show that you know little about the riders I spend time with, including Chris Harris and Chris Holder, Greg Hancock, Nicki Pedersen, etc.They are quite capable of knowing when we are just chatting (quite often in a hotel or airport or on a plane) or conducting an actual interview.

CHRIS Harris wasn't talking to me as a 'journalist' but in general conversation and it was he who suggested that had the track not been greasy after the rain shower Holder wouldn't have hit him. With respect dornier I think it is riders who are the best judges of what is dirty and what is not, who is dirty and who is not. Harris had no problem with the move as you call it pulled by Holder, either in that race or the subsequent Heat 19 which was brilliant to watch and, according to both, to compete in. No one said Darcy was in perfect shape only that he was deemed fit to ride, which he was. And, let's face it, gating is not Darcy's greatest asset at the best of times.

THE attendance was significantly hit by the weather, as bad if not worse in Sweden than the UK. Malilla traditional draws its crowd from quite a wide area but people weren't prepared to travel fearing either a postponement nor getting drenched ... there is no cover at the G&B Arena. Had it been a nice, warm, dry day there is no doubt the stadium would have been packed. The adjoining camp site was empty. Usually (for a GP) is is very busy.

SO presumably the suggestion is: Hosts seeded to race-off Winners of two qualifiers direct to final Runners-up in qualifiers to race-off Highest scoring team in qualifiers to race-off Top two in race-off to final Has merit