Byker Biker

Except Kyle doesn't ignore the fans, quite the opposite he is polite, courteous and considerate towards them but when a journalist asks you how much you spent on equipment last year you answer honestly. When the same asks how much you have spent for the forthcoming season you answer honestly, when you are asked if you are pizzed off you answer honestly. It's not hard to work out surely even you can see that article wasn't written and published by Kyle Bickley!

The rules and constitution have been ignored by the BSPA on so many occasions now that Laura can be forgiven for this late decision. Workington were allowed to attend the AGM and subsequently put a team together which inevitably gave some comfort. Despite this support from the BSPA the pay up or else call wasn't finalised until last week. Laura had to call it off or face an annulment and consequently a seizure, at least she still has some influence over the future of the Comets (for the time being). Allowing Laura to make the call does save the awkward announcement that the triple champions are being forcibly closed, it's a very difficult situation for all parties and let's be honest the BSPA could have pulled the plug long before now. The disagreeing views on this thread (including mine) confirm only one thing, there are no winners whatsoever !

You've mentioned the one word that is the at root of most of the evil in Speedway EGO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tbh the BSPA have been patient over the couple of seasons that the cash flow hasn't worked, my beef is purely the interference and lack of fixture cooperation that has made this situation far worse than it would have been. The persistent refusal by some clubs to accept dates and the removal of dates already agreed not withstanding the Management Committee's inability to enforce some of those clubs to commit has contributed. I don't believe that this has been malicious, they just never think about the medium to long term consequences of their actions (or lack of) and it just doesn't seem to matter that clubs generally throw 5 and some 6 figure sums down the toilet every year.

Yes, that's the daft part about it outstanding debts and allowed at the AGM but not at a fixture meeting??? i suppose if they'd stuck to the constitution there wouldn't have been an AGM. I don't know if they voted.

Yes that's correct and the loan fees will go into the pot but this is a cash flow situation that will be resolved but not in time to start the season. The members who refused fixtures last season, withdrew Friday fixtures and allowed the finals all to be run in just over a week need to take a long hard look at themselves. Plenty of clubs owe money but this isn't the first hiccup at Workington that has taken a while to sort, if the BSPA want to try and retain a shred of respect they will allow them to put the licence on ice until the cash flow situation is resolved. It didn't help matters that the rest of the league met last week to agree fixtures and Workington was excluded from that meeting so even if they did come to the tapes in 2019 they'd get the rse end of the fixtures. In my opinion the responsibility for the decision not to run lies with the sport as a whole and not just Laura, "There by the grace of God go I" should have been on every Promoter's lips this morning just like "chuck her under a bus" was last week! (allegedly of course)

Only if they're annulled

It's a vicious circle which is why Promoters like Rob Godfrey ensure that their practice and training facilities are fully licensed and insured

In a word ... no

Unfortunately there is a statutory duty of care and despite disclaimers, statutory rights cannot be waived. I did mention it's complex and trust me it is. I had the displeasure to act as an independent consultant to a firm of solicitors representing a "rider" who was injured on a non licensed Speedway Training Track, the claim had merit because the track was unlicensed and operated outside the rules of any recognised federation and that the operators having chosen to operate a "training event" outside the protection of the off road regulations were culpable and had a duty of care for the welfare of the participant and a due responsibility to manage, coach and instruct in such a way that he remained safe at all times. This was purely because there were no rules in place for either the Plaintiff or Defendant to rely on. Again this was complex but without motive I was able to convince the Barrister that the "rider" (trainee in their words) had not followed the instructions he was given at the safety briefing, I was able to find other participants who had recorded footage of the safety briefing and this rider "behaving" in a different way to the other riders in the same session. The barrister agreed that even though the case would probably succeed any award would be diminished by the contributory negligence of the rider. As the Solicitors were on a punt they asked the rider to meet their costs before taking further action, you can guess the rest - gone away. Hopefully the gentleman's collarbone and broken arm have fully healed.

It's really complex but basically to hold competitions off road events have to be exempt from the road traffic acts/regulations. This can only be achieved if the events are run under the regulations of a recognised organisation with the appropriate affiliations, the link below may help a little. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1371/made

I think he's struggling to get the Tip-pex off his screen!

Please don't knock this initiative folks it's not that long ago that Plymouth didn't have a Speedway Team and of course it's an even shorter period since it's continuation was threatened. Whatever it takes to secure the sport for Plymouth and it's lovely supporters has to be welcomed and embraced. Well done this is an opportunity to be taken and made the most of, which all the other clubs at death's door would welcome.

It's embedded in a policy called the Planning Framework which is a Government Policy issuing guidelines to local Planning Committees, the next one comes into play late January 2019 and is for all new planning applications. My understanding is that applications made and granted prior to this will be under the previous guidelines issued in 2012 so the new guidelines cannot be used retrospectively - it's a bit like the SCB Regulations they'll make their mind up at the time!

Oh right, we're all fluffed then not just Birmingham!

Do bear in mind that the law on noise pollution changes after 11pm, there were a number of examples at Mildenhall where the complainants claimed motor sport activity on the moto cross course behind the main stadium had exceeded this and in one instance between midnight and 1 am. Allegedly some car meetings over ran beyond 11pm too, I clearly recall Peter Thorogood not being able to get onto the track some Saturdays until the early hours and worked through the night to prepare a Speedway surface.

No, it's ok don't worry about smelling...

Hi G13webb, it's Robin Brucking Fundle here - just thought I'd give you a call to let you know the team. You're right we don't need the EDP or Speedway Star to attract new customers or inform those who aren't on Social Media we'll just let you know then you can do all the hard work for us. You'll probably find the EDP won't support us anymore unless you can give them an edge, do let me know how you get on spreading the news and for all those people who rely on the EDP and SS for information, well they can go duck themselves with an attitude like some have on here (attacking the post not the poster - allegedly!)

Robin Brucking Fundle has put together a media release schedule and sent it out demanding prime media space reserved for the announcements on specific dates, his master plan is under way!

The team is done and dusted stop worrying

It is as you well know

When it's finished will the first turn be open again????

Some of us were quite pedantic when we made these points about; Colin Horton at Peterborough, Allen Trump and Avtar at Coventry, Alan Philips at Birmingham, Aaron Lanney at Oxford, Brian whathisface and Waggy at Kings Lynn, John Postledick at Reading, Gary Patchett at Swindon, Bengt over the Barmaid at Plymouth and many others who threw fortunes at riders to win a league, there are plenty more who had the egostistical pleasure of owning a Speedway Club.

Re-Run have the Lakeside home and away at Workington Grand Final meetings

This one's not a dig Paul the simple truth is that at least 2 of the 2019 team had concluded deals elsewhere only to be re-approached by Glasgow, that's how it is but the raising of the ante has made it very difficult for some other clubs to offer affordable terms. One of last seasons septet has been asking for the sort of eye watering deal he was on at Glasgow and the figures are just stunning but again that's how it is. Six figure losses are not sustainable but fortunately your club owners have the financial footing to withstand that. Take a look at your closest competitors; Edinburgh has been propped up every year by a consortium and has no security of tenure, Berwick hanging on by it's fingertips, Newcastle nothing but hope to hang on to, Redcar we'll do our best and give it one last shot and Workington looking for a miracle in reality. Don't get me wrong this isn't Glasgow's fault it is the state the sport is in but after all the meetings, talks and threats of change we are still in the same situation with wallets only a fraction of the size of egos, walking away from some of those rider deals may have just sent a message out that it can't go on. Regardless of the politics losing a club mid season is hugely damaging, the stigma spreads like a cancer; Rye House, Newport on the eve, Hull and Birmingham have all left a stain on the local business community which makes it nigh on impossible to draw sponsorship if there is a re-opening. Credit to Birmingham, they're fighting back but 2019 could see more clubs go to the wall mid season or just as sad fail to make the tapes in April.