Grand Central

1981

Yes. But first we must believe in miracles.

Keith Evans was a seventies and early eighties Speedway rider for Sheffield and Scunthorpe. I never caught his radio work. Terry Wogan was a whippersnapper. I always used to love the refined tones of Alvar Lidell. I am 127 years old.

Regardless of how many Poles qualify via the Challenge. If Tomasz Gollob really does want to continue in the SGP next year then BSI will sort him out a wild card. Won't they? Apparently even the economics of the World Cup Final in The Czech Republic were inextricably linked to Tomek's appearance.

No. We were spared that. .

Absolutely agree. In fact I always disliked the 4-3-2-0 option that gets used for pairs events. I just don't figure that finishing second and third in a race makes you the 'better' pair. It just means that in that race neither of you was good enough to win the race but at least you didn't come last. It's like getting a bonus for mediocrity.

The guy that finishes fourth in the final still gets his two or three points he earned in the semi final. So he is being rewarded already. Why complicate matters by gifting another extra point for just finishing last in the final? Lets stick to 3-2-1-0. It just works. Sorry, great minds think alike BW. I was tapping away whilst you were posting the same point.

Yup. In large part it is just that. I'm afraid it is called 'getting older'..

I think it is yet another sign of Tai's maturity - or at least just his willingness to listen to the good advice of those around him - that he understood that point so well. And then followed through with such a tactical ride. He realises that he only actually needs to be ahead come the last race at Torun in October. Anything more than that is just icing on the biggest cake ever.

If the guy finishing fifth does score more than the winner it is because he gained those points over the twenty qualifying races where each rider met all the others. I cannot see what is wrong with that.

Personally, I think this year it's just about right. If you do win the final you have to have added five or six points to your total after 20 heats. Second must have added another 4 or 5; third 3 or 4 and even fourth wil have gained an extra 2 or 3 points from his additonal two rides. As Tai showed on Saturday with the combination of more points in the qualifying races and two better finishes in theSemi/Finals he pulled back eight points. Riders can't get too far ahead and yet there is still scope to catch up. It all looks fine to me. .

I have just read this story and I am appalled. I had no idea that BSI held commentators captive in conditions that could be described as inhumane. Or that they refused to offer them payment for their work and that they had absolutely no way of saying 'No' to their terms and conditions. This sounds so much worse than those 'zero hours' contracts everyone is talking about. I was also unaware that it is an incontrovertible condition of providing a world TV feed that the same two men must work continuously, without anyone else being employed to offer relief at any time. I'm no expert but I think the use of headphones may be against the Geneva Convention. My sympathies are extended to both them and their families. Is there some sort of relief fund to which we can donate? FREE THE TERENZANO TWO! .

Yes, that is undeniable. But the impressive thing to me is the way in which he has become the complete package in such a short space of time. He is genuine world class in a way that British riders just usually never are. You don't have to look in the programme in the hope that he has any easy ride next. He can beat them all. You don't have to look through your fingers at the start because you fear he'll fluff the gate. Unlike all our recent best hopes he really can get out of the start consistently well. And he's doing this on every type of track, every week. This is pretty unprecedented for a Briitish rider. As I say I have gone from being a total pessimist regarding his chances to a born-again out-an-out fan.

I have owned up before to say that I was massively wrong about Tai's chances this year. Revelation is certainly the word to use. SCB has said it best; he is now the reason why I am watching the GP from start to finish. I think I would have given up on last night without Tai. But he is making a pretty poor GP into compulsive viewing and long may it continue. Just 5 points down and anything is possible.

Great to see Phil Rising still posting so close to the start. And making it plain how more than capable he is at 'holding his own' here.

No one. To my knowledge. I just asked a (rhetorical) question. Like you've just done, I suppose. .

Surely, it is just because they are only talking about points acored in the first 20 races. They are giving odds on scores that do NOT include semi and final points. In which case there are just 120 points in total to play for.

I agree entirely that they may have been doing that. In which case that would have been the simple answer to the question. That question was one I asked for the first time today. And Phil has told us that he has asked the same one 100 times before. So it's hardly me doing the interrogation, is it? .

Yes that's seems so simples that they would have made ever such a good answers to those 100 questions. But the simples point is. They weren't given.

I'm glad to hear that answer number 97, 98 or 99 wasn't convincing enough to stop you asking just that one more time. Reasonable points to offset the perceived benefit, I would have thought. It just seems strange for everyone to be getting excuses ready for a poor track and poor crowd when there are venues around the world that would offer so much more on both counts. But even so I'm primed and ready to have a good night watching. So here's hoping .

That's fair enough. We are all the in the dark. Perhaps one of your chaps could ask the question of BSI next time they do an interview.

Thanks. Good to get more info, as always. Just a little intrigued then. Many people seem to want to damn BSI for only following the money. Actually, not me as clearly no one makes any cash out of Terenzano. So if they perceive some other benefit, do you have any idea what that is? As it's a bit difficult to work out from here. And they are sticking to Italy with Lonigo next year too. Certainly better than Terenzano but it still,looks a little incongruous next to the other venues that are mooted.

Yes, I suppose 'they' must. But who are 'they'. We all know about the 'Tourist Information' deals that finance the SGP going to Gorzow, Torun and Cardiff because of the endless promotions. And we are well aware of promoters like Bill Buckley and Mr Pavlic who stand full square behind their bids. But can't remember any particular 'moneybags' from Terenzano.

Have we ever really had an answer to that question? In my cynical moments. I'd wondered if Mr Bellamy had a holiday retreat in Northern Italy, or perhaps over the border in Slovenia. And with the weather being so good at this time of year it 'just seemed a shame to waste it'. .

Clearly I seem to have upset you. Which seems a shame as your post (in combination with the previous two others) does not point out any inaccuracies in anything I wrote. Conversations with people in the sport reveal all sorts of information; often this comes from parties that are not directly involved. But it is totally understandable to assimilate this into our greater understanding of Speedway's current position; good or bad. And this you have certainly done with your riders costs of engine tuning etc. And whilst others seem to think that all discussion of riders finances is somehow off limits, I do not and have never said such. But wheras I feel that any such information about the finances of the sport that we come by, even indirectly, may be 'fair game' for discussion. You do not. You have limits. Limits that at the moment principally apply to sugary drinks companies It is OK to point out that you know Monster pay something rather than zero and go public with that But whether you do or do not know any more from off the record chats remains out of the public domain. And as I did point out before that is your prerogative, no doubt. But you ask what my problem is. Inconsistancy. I suppose. That is all. But anyway I will fly the white flag and say 'Truce'.