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BRITISH Speedway is delighted to announce the appointment of Phil Morris as its Premiership Chief Executive Officer. Former rider and manager Morris, who will continue as FIM Race Director at Grand Prix and World Cup events, takes on the newly created position with the responsibility of overseeing all aspects of Premiership business. 47-year-old Morris will be a major decision-maker at the top of the Premiership, both in terms of rulebook interpretation and race-night operations, and the specifics of his role also include an active involvement in the running of televised meetings. BSP Ltd Director and Ipswich promoter Chris Louis said: “The Premiership CEO is a new role which we all agreed was very much needed and I think the timing is right, especially with what’s going on in the world of speedway. “We want to enhance the professionalism and integrity of the league, as well as making it simple, transparent and fun for the fans to view and understand, and to improve the product and put British Speedway back at the top of the tree, where it did sit for many years. “Phil is unquestionably the right man for the job. His grounding is in British Speedway, he loves British Speedway, and he also has one of the top positions in World Speedway, which made him the perfect candidate. “He will be tasked with making sure the rulebook is as simple and easy to follow as possible, both for those involved within the sport and also for the fans, and that it is absolutely understood and adhered to. “Phil will also take an active role in televised meetings. He will be on-site and assist with the presentation of those meetings to make sure they are as fluid as possible and that the format is rigidly stuck to. “The appointment has the full backing of the Board of the BSPL, and we’d also like to thank the other people who showed an interest in the position and were part of the process. “We see this as an evolving role which will develop as the year goes on, but fundamentally we’ve brought in a top man to lead the Premiership and I think it’s a hugely positive move. “Phil has seen all sides of the sport as a rider and a manager, he’s never stopped following British Speedway and he has the experience of what is probably for this sort of role, the top position in World Speedway. “We couldn’t have a better guy on board, and as a league we are delighted with the appointment.” Morris enjoyed a long and successful racing career over nearly 20 years, the majority of which were spent with Reading, and as a youngster he was part of the Racers’ British League Division One title-winning side in 1992. After retirement, he team-managed Birmingham to top spot in the Elite League in 2013 before missing out in the Grand Final, and he also took joint charge of the flourishing British Youth set-up alongside current boss Neil Vatcher. Since 2015 he has held the position of FIM Race Director and has officiated at over 80 GPs along with the World Cup, Speedway of Nations and GP Challenge. Morris said: “There are three words associated with this role that stand out for me: integrity, transparency and perception, and all of those are big things for me which I feel need to be improved. “I’m not here to lie to anyone and I’ve already made it clear that I’ve seen some events and incidents over the last few years that I believe we can improve on a lot – and I’m saying ‘we’ here because I’m now going to be part of it. “I want to do my very best to try and lift levels across many different facets of the Premiership, from club officials and regulations to the visuality of the events we’re staging. “Hopefully that will then filter down to all levels of speedway, so even though my job is Premiership CEO, it’s something which can benefit British Speedway as a whole. “I’ve been very lucky to work at the highest level of the sport, so my eyes are probably quite focused on good quality levels of the product, and I’ve always said that speedway is a good product. “We’ve just got to package it right and make sure other things are acceptable along the way, and I’m very much looking forward to getting started.”

I don't mind either league tbh. Do what Poole say?

A much needed step in the right direction and an ideal choice for the appointment at this time IMO Let's hope that all involved emmbrace the move and that we don't see Phil undermined or hampered when something doesn't go the way desired for certain quarters

His first major decision should be to retrospectively remove all tactical joker points from the 2006 play- off final scores.

"Integrity, Transparency and Perception"... Does Phil come on here? Great news... Just as long as his remit isn't influenced by the self interest of others it could be a major move forward for the sport in the UK... Chris Louis seems to be a voice that can see the UK version of Speedway's major fundamental issues that hold it back from being taken seriously, (which impacts crowd levels negatively and also major sponsor involvement), but can also see the huge potential that the sport has if ever done "properly" in the UK... A very positive move, and with the "major names" starting to come back, let's hope the "custodians" see the bigger picture rather than just their own team being "successful" in such a small minority sport, which currently resonates little.... A good year to launch some major marketing of the sport given the quality of riders on offer, and hopefully with his contacts, Phil Morris can help facilitate this... Just hide the water truck from him on TV race nights...

Guessing you’re new around here ;-)

Car park fills up about 75-90 mins before start. You can park in Beaumont Leys shopping centre, however there is a STRICT 4 hour time limit

Translation I held out for a few more quid , they got desperate and blinked so I'm here

Darts is the forums favourite sport also

What if there is?? Do you want some!

Whether or not this change is successful will depend on the rule being properly enforced. I notice that Wolverhampton had a two minute clock all last season but referees and riders paid scant attention to it and riders were regularly continuing to "garden" after the time had expired and I can recall only one instance when a rider was excluded for exceeding the time limit. Referees need to put their foot down and rigidly stick to the letter of the rule. There might be a brief time of chaos and howls of protest from riders, but they would soon get the message. Personally, I'd be strongly in favour of NO RESERVE replacement for excluded riders too!

I guess it depends how many were just picking and choosing meetings and who generally had other plans on Thursday. I am giving Thursday as an example as crowds on Mondays were even worse

Had a face like a slapped Arse when he rode for Kings Lynn in the pits on warm up before the meeting.

Can safely donate via PayPal so proof of payment can be uploaded on here at the end of the season. Either way Ben Fund gets an extra 50 quid donation so all good.

Does this mean Lambert won't get his end-of-year outing as BV's ringer for the play-offs?

And don't forget Bradley Wilson-Dean

Kasprzak

Every action has a reaction and an end aim. IMHO this is step 1 on the road to the PL breaking away from BSPL (but still aligning to SCB and therefore ACU) to create a separate entity to optimise TV money and Commercial opportunities and to do effectively what PL has done in soccer, and in similar way to the way Cricket is also redefining on Franchise type basis. I think they will want an 8 Team League (more riders coming in from Poland will help that) and possibly ultimately 9 or 10. Poole and Glasgow are the obvious targets.

Who gives a toss about SGP?

If he has any sense he will have signed a contract with at least three years on it, if not it could be a short appointment.

Think this is getting overplayed a bit here. Definitely Bewley, and possibly Pedersen (it’s a wait and see with him) will provide Doyle with a stiffer test, who else has come in to the league that I’ve missed? Doyle will again comfortably top the averages of that there is no doubt.

You’re right, and exactly as it should be. The only reason they originally tried to bring the leagues closer together was to introduce promotion/relegation which let’s be honest, was never going to work.

Ipswich have too long a tail and reliance will be on JD again

Possibly not just the opposition.......

Straight back round to the start no need for any time allowance,keep pit gate closed and no helpers on centre green allowed,and no getting of bike to kick dirt around ,simples!

A bold claim indeed.

I think the Foxhole is quite different to Monmore (or Kirky Lane or Arena Essex), they are/were all very tight tracks whereas Ipswich is smallish without having to turn really hard to get round the corners. Sayfutdinov won't take long to master it IMO.

There are more prickly people,,,, but I think that has a lot to do with that there are more clueless morons on here. Oh and don't mess with Taps,,,, just one look at his boat race and you can tell he has been in many a street brawl

Bewley won't finish with a higher average,,, Bewley won't come to Ipswich and take points off Doyle,, but Doyle,, Fricke,, Pedersen and Holder could all take points off Bewley at the NSS

Think I’ve added more to the ignore list last few months than I ever have. Is it me or does there seem to be a lot more short tempered and prickly people around this winter than usual? Season can’t come quick enough!

I think that’s what’s so appealing about the coming season. A lot of question marks, no clear favourite, big names returning. Excitement is building!

except for double headers

I’m personally happy with those line ups. Pleased Batch is in as well. Will be making the trip.

With all that he has been through in his personal life, hopefully the role will in a strange way provide some sort of therapy and help him and the rest of the family cope with the loss last year. Cannot be easy but wish him much success in the role and that he can take the sport to another level without undue influence or interference.

You never know but I would be surprised if Poole did without the guarantee of Weds nights. Which I don't see how you can work it with Denmark riding. Crowd levels are literally half on Thursday nights.

Doyle is a class act in this league...No better rider to have in heats 13 and 15 ...Ipswich did well last year and will do even better this year with Emil in....

This argument has been trotted out time and again over the last year or two. The GP’s, Poland, Timbuktu are all completely irrelevant to what happens here. He was more dominant here last season than he’s ever been hence his 10 And a half point average! He was literally head and shoulders above everybody. Bewley out performed him in the GP’s last season and will be the closest to him here no doubt, but I’ll wager he won’t topple Doyle in the averages here at the end of the season. This time last year there were people on here who like you’re doing now, were saying Doyle would be demoted to 4th best Aussie as Fricke, Kurtz and Holder would all overtake him. They all finished miles off!

Most of the riders 'double up' these days so why shouldn't the Race Director do it as well !!!!

No. The boards are there to stop the track falling away. Its to keep the integrity of the outside edge of the track.

This is going to be the big test. Phil always comes across as somebody who doesn't suffer fools gladly. If he decides something needs changing and the promoters all close ranks again he won't stay in the job long. It's a a role so many of us have called for over a long period of time, but it will only work if everyone buys into it.

Sounds promising and about bloody time.

He's still down as TM on the club website, but then again, Danny King is still down as the track record holder so accuracy doesn't kick in for about 4 years.

Really happy for Hume. After the Championship Pairs at Oxford last year, he stayed behind after Glasgow went out. Went and thanked all the fans for making the trip, and stayed for autographs and photos with kids long after everybody else had gone home - all the time with a huge smile on his face. Genuinely nice guy

Thank you again to all who tuned into Tapes Up TV, was great fun commentating on ice speedway for the first time, and well done to the dominant Franky Zorn on his first title for 15 years!

Thank you to all who tuned in to https://www.tapesup.tv today - don't forget to join us again at the same time tomorrow for Day 2!

I remember a meeting at Arena Essex when rain was forecast to be very heavy within 90 minutes of start time. Parade was cancelled and dot on time the 2 minute warning sounded. As each race finished the 2 minute warning for the next race sounded as the 4th place rider crossed the finish line! It started raining earlier than forecast but still 5 minutes after the end of the last race. With some referees we would have been lucky to have seen seven races but Frank got it finished.

It's tough to get a team place when you've burnt bridges with most clubs.

If you watch 100 games of basketball a month you have too much time on your hands, how many do you actually watch?

I pay £15 per month for a NBA pass. I get over 100 games per month. This is very poor value for money.

For a little over £4 per match it has to be a bargain buy.