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TYPICAL of the BSPA not to think through the consequences of a decision or new rule. Had they done so and realised that two British riders who have given long, loyal and distinguished service were going to be caught in the net they should at least have deferred it for a year.

No credibility to the BSPA statement at all. How can they have allowed the like of Bomber and even Cook (who could have continued to double up if he wanted to) when both have a higher top flight average than Scott and Eddie? Doesn't the B in the BSPA stand for British??? Look after your own first. Got it wrong yet again.

And to think you were all worrying about the prospect of ostergaard riding at 5 this season.......come March you could well be seeing him in heat 1!!

I was starting to be persuaded to support the "Bees" at Leicester. But this latest propaganda set of lies has hardened my resolve to not lend any measure of support to the venture. We are clearly being asked to support an explicit statement from BE in their planning application and thus justify their attempt to influence the planning authorities. They can appeal this until their blue in face. We haven't yet begun to fight. "Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Do not go gentle into that good night."

Conveniently missing out the salient part there Lucifer whereby it states: "The BSPA will consider applications for discretionary endorsements for riders who do not meet the above requirements on an individual discretionary basis. Decisions will be made by the BSPA Management Committee who will consider written applications from the club and/or rider concerned. The Management Committee will give written reasons for their decision. Factors to be taken into consideration will be: Whether the riders record in speedway has been at the highest level and they will contribute significantly to the development of the sport. Whether exceptional factors prevented the rider from meeting the aforementioned endorsement requirements" Luke Becker missed the 2nd round of a 4 round series in the US Championships due to injury. He would only have needed 5pts to have finished in the top 4 and meet the requirements so clearly was an exceptional factor. The UKVI have already stated he meets the criteria for a discretionary endorsement so the BSPA statement on the issue is quite simply an out and out lie.

This shows how you and others have misread the situation 6.36 In November 2017 it was announced in the Coventry Telegraph that the Coventry Bees had reached an agreement with the Leicester Lion speedway team to share facilities at the Leicester Speedway from 2018. As such the Coventry Bees are looking to turn their focus to the Leicester Speedway Stadium, a stadium located approximately 27 miles away of the site which is better suited to its use as a speedway stadium for a number of reasons including its accessibility and the character of surrounding uses. In light of its surroundings, its more active use and adjacent uses Leicester Speedway Stadium is relatively better located for it purpose. Support the NL venture, as you suggest, and it shows that Coventry Stadium isn't required

Stupid ruling by BSPA - if this rule is still in place for 2019 ( and this should be clarified now ) Nichols and Kennett will need to keep their averages below 6 this season to enable them to double up in 2019. Riders can not afford to ride just one UK league if only doing UK. Scotty is at the end of his career, I wonder if he may call it a day if this ruling is not overturned. This would be a big thank you from the BSPA to the multi British Champion. What a terrible way to bow out. But British speedway is hell bent on burying itself.

Surely that's the visa process, working out correctly isn't it?? i) he doesn't qualify ii) there are several British riders who could fill his position so unlikely to be issued for that reason.

Depends on exactly what he is prepared to do about it but it’s high time the BSPA were taken to task for some of the awful decisions they make. How on earth can it be right that riders like Morris, Cook, Masters, Schlein and Harris etc can ride Championship but Nicholls & Kennett cannot despite having Premiership Averages lower than the aforementioned. Either you stop riders with a Premiership Average in excess of 6.00 from riding Championship or scrap the rule entirely and allow all with the appropriate conversion.

But that's not what they did is it? Two of Britain's best supported and longest serving riders have effectively been singled out. Another case of unintended consequences i.e. rules that have not been thought through.

Absolutely. It's what many of us have been saying. Brandon Estates are paying off Horton to go to Leicester and then they can say... "Look. They're perfectly happy at Leicester now. Leicester is much better for speedway and Coventry are settled in there now. They don't need Brandon anymore. Let us knock it down and build houses" And look. There it is in Black & White from them, saying exactly that!! Allow Coventry to be shunted off to Leicester and it will never return to Coventry.

Can't you read the BSPA website, Blobby? Secondly, the application by Edinburgh to use American rider Luke Becker has been rejected. This is based on criteria set down by UKVI and not the British Speedway Promoters’ Association and, as such, the management committee had little choice but to follow the correct procedure. This also applies to Australian Ryan Douglas who is keen to race in the UK and clubs have registered their interest in signing him – but, like Becker, he doesn’t qualify for a visa. These procedures were clarified and implemented forcibly in recent years when British Speedway ran a serious risk of losing the use of all visa riders. I think that's pretty clear. There's a procedure to be followed. Abuse it, and all visa riders could be in trouble.

So how’s this work they stop Brits from earning a living but Panthers employ 3 Danes in there side - there is no wonder the sports on its knees .

Would be great if they rode it round the track before the meeting.

I agree the reasons for rejecting his inclusion should be made public . As MikeBV says , we were supposed to get transparency . If certain Monarchs fans console themselves by automatically blaming Stewart and Glasgow , then that's up to them , but the BSPA or whomever is responsible should explain themselves so that the facts are out in the open .

Criteria not met - simple as.

Usually these threads are full of Berwick fans arguing wi eachover... this winter we just have this gadgey slavvering twaddle

Agree, great opportunity to make a stance and create much needed publicity. The Monster models are very much part of the GP roadshow and add professional glamour to the event. They are not half naked, sleazy or forced into it. It’s a job they appear to enjoy. As Dean states, the media opportunity is there for the taking. Use it, don’t follow the BS PC Brigade.

He could put a point or two on his average i hope so a nice bloke very exciting to watch he has impressed me.

Absolutely and i don't think anyone is suggesting that should be the case. The BSPA should however give more clarity on why the appeal was unsuccessful.

Where have they stated that? Someone on the end of the phone saying it "seems like" a valid case isn't really a ringing endorsement is it? And to the Edinburgh fans, the fact that the regulations allow for the right of appeal doesn't mean that one is automatically successful.

Even if the BSPA done 'Common Sense ' because of the numbers involved, Premiership clubs are of secondary importance. Our sport is now ruled by the Second division and they wont imply any rules that are detriment to their operation. What a Joke......

It started off o/k but trying to understand the last bit looks like you've knocked over you're scrabble board.

I'm not so shy.... Scott says: Thank you @SpeedwayGB ,I’m honoured to have made an “Outstanding contribution to British Speedway” & to be a “fine servant to British Speedway” for over 20 years. Great of you to now restrict me from earn a living. I will be releasing a statement soon, this is not the end of it.

No it doesn't show that. The Leicester situation is a temporary solution, a ONE year deal has been agreed. This is just Brandon Estates just spinning a situation to their favour which they would've done if we wasn't running too. Doesn't mention Stox at all in that section and Leicester can't run stox. Conveniently missed stox out there as it doesn't suit their argument. This also shows they are scared that the council could insist on a new facility. Edited to add that in the next paragraph it does say that CoventryStox are not running in 2018 but the point is they would run if a local venue was suitable.

Absolutely. Knowing Buster he won't care that he's getting slated, water off a ducks back. You are never going to please everybody but at least they are starting to be consistent.

He's not eligible. That's obvious. Appendix 1 – Eligibility for endorsement FIM Speedway Grand Prix – All series competitors excluding reserves and wildcards Argentinian International Championships – Winner Australian Individual Championships – Top 4 New South Wales Championships – Top 4 Queensland Championships – Top 4 South Australia Championships – Top 4 Victoria State Championships – Top 4 Western Australia Championships – Top 4 Canadian Individual Championships – Winner New Zealand Individual Championships – Winner Russian Individual Championships – Top 4 South African National Championships – Winner Ukrainian Individual Championships – Winner United States Individual AMA Championships – Top 4 Read the bottom one, Blobby. Fifth is not in the top 4. Not when I went to school!

Newcastle will now have difficulty getting a no 1 as will Peterborough. BSPA....swallow your pride if you have any...change the decision

UKVI's own rules are crystal clear. Becker had to finish in the top four of the US Nationals. He finished fifth. Tough luck on the lad, but he's not eligible for a visa. What do you want to do? Bring him over, then like Ty Proctor, suddenly find out he's got to leave the country in the next 24 hours, when UKVI remember their own rules? Just sign an eligible rider. They are plenty about. Max Clegg for starters.

Surely the joke was last season when they relaxed the rule for a free for all

But it is transparent...for this season no one over 6 allowed to double down unless already have a championship average....What's not transparent about that

Hopefully Wilko starts at reserve with Ash which would mean we would have 2 decent reserves all seasons. If one scores well and moves up then Aarnio or one of the others would drop down. We were told at the Supporters Club Christmas party that there wasn't a lot of money so it's a thumbs up from me.

Terms agreed with Wolves and (with Wolves permission) Poole!! But as has been stated the 8 point rule scuppered any initial team-building plans.

He hasn't met the criteria so why appeal... especially when there are others out there (Perks, Greaves, Clegg) that are available and do meet the requirements.

All clubs ought to have an old bike being warmed up in the pits with the old type oil in before meetings just for the smell mmmmmm mm Or doesn't it exist anymore?

I think the main issue here is in the decision making committees make up. whether there should be an ‘discretionary appeal’ process or not is by the by as currently there is one but the fact that team managers from 2 of Edinburgh’s direct rivals are involved in the decision is what leads to an accusation of bias. can you imagine if Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte could veto a Man City signing that is the equivalent really. As has been said if the management committee come out with a statement as to why the appeal was rejected with valid reasoning on each point then we can see the validity of it then but I would be surprised to see that from the same cloak and dagger committee that has a vice chairman who told another promoter to break the rules last year and yet wasn’t punished.

I think the Halifax championship winning team of 1966 may all still be alive - Boocock, Younghusband, Boothroyd, Roper, Gavros, Jameson and Kingston.

Should never be any discretionary anything....who ever wants it. like you I hope rules are also not changed for other riders and teams.

Obviously different when it's your own team In Lakeside's case though they should have been told immediately that their reserves averages were incorrect.

Didn't Edinburgh used to have the 'main man' in the BSPA? Presume he made some decisions then that upset other Promoters..? Without an independent person(s) at the helm, you do naturally feel that there will always be some 'carry over' when power shifts.... Maybe by a bit of 'getting your own back' or simply (quite understandably) just covering your own teams interests now you have the opportunity to do so.. That independent body would certainly take away any thoughts of any special 'agenda' on the decisions reached.. Maybe those who make these decisions should be made to go public on how the decision was reached with every part of the appeal rejection explained in detail as to why it failed....? Edinburgh have explained publicly why they thought the appeal was valid, those 'in charge' should explain publicly why each of their points wasn't... Fans of the clubs feeling disadvantaged would still be brassed off I am sure but at least it would stop any conjecture and feelings of being hard done to... After all. Transparency was one of those key missions to be brought in to the sport wasn't it..?

Appears you can appeal according to what John Campbell posted on the Edinburgh website:- "As we attempted to leave no stone unturned in trying to get the endorsement, my co-promoter Alex even phoned UK Visa and Immigration and their official confirmed that Luke's situation seemed to fall exactly in line with the BSPA procedure, fulfilling both of the criteria for a discretionary endorsement." Personally, I do not favour any discretionary changes being made once the rules are established, and I can understand that if Monarchs were successful, then it might be seen as favouritism, whilst the likes of Lakeside were denied their initially submitted Championship GSAs for Wajtknecht & Morley. Likewise for the MC/BSPA to remain consistent, I would expect them to maintain their bar on Premier riders who do not already have a 2017 Championship GSA and whose 2017 Premier GSA is above 6.00. In essence the likes of Nicholls & Kennett should not suddenly become eligible to sign for any Championship side now, including Newcastle & Peterborough of course

Even with the backing of the UK visa and immigration that he has a case to be eligible to ride due to missing a round through injury that basically stopped him automatically getting his visa the BSPA committee still rejected it. Doesn’t come as a surprise with who’s on the committee, Godfrey the worst of the lot. This is where an independent panel is needed so there is no self interest.

Instead of wanting special treatment and a bend of the set rules...how about signing someone that fits within the rules. Do promoters think they are special.

No they haven't. Please explain how you apply for a discretionary endorsement if you already fit the rules. It is there for that purpose, where someone does not fit them. The BSPA have shown themselves to be utterly incompetent (again) and have a severe lack of understanding of their very own rules. Again, I re-iterate, the BSPA have the right not to give him the endorsement. However, as per THEIR OWN RULES, they are required to give full written reasons why. Saying he didn't fit the automatic criteria is not a reason, that is something that is already known and why the discretionary endorsement appeal system is there.

Like you and Redcar, cos every village has to have one.

As an aside Manzares has been granted a new visa on the basis of his 4th place Accepting that Becker MAY have finished 3rd would push Manzares down to 5th in the notional standings and not qualifying for a visa To grant Becker may then lead to having to rescind the already granted Manzares visa to still be within the guidelines

So easy to criticise the make up of the Heathens' team....The fact is that this is a minor competition that gives fixtures to the clubs that join....more rides for their riders, more meetings for the fans. Does it really matter that the Cradley team is at a slight advantage ? I do not think so and, like others on here, I am very pleased to see Cradley still operating.

Whilst not disagreeing with what you say, it's hardly good for business to keep saying they have no new sponsor. Everyone knows there is a lot going on, and there will still be a lot of frantic work to keep everyone busy, but being expected to report 'bad news' (no sponsor) doesn't really seem to be the right thing to do. Whatever happened to 'in George we trust' and the goodwill that has been built up from previous years. As I outlined in a previous post, despite a lot of difficulties over the years, we managed to do a lot of good things and brought success, so with the recent changes in the management structure surely everyone can see there is lots to do privately, and will want to announce things when they have something to announce.

All the best to you Ian enjoy your free time. Top Man