Phil

Apology from Neil Machin in the Sheffield programme May 23 2003, 08:18 AM First of all an apology. It follows widespread criticism of the new KO Cup rules relating to the golden double facilities, which were designed to bring scores closer without actually diminishing the spectacle in any way. We will obviously accommodate the rules this year for the remaining cup fixtures, but your voices have been heard and the item will be revisited at the next AGM. http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/ind...c=1737&hl=joker Many of the fans complained about this rule this year but now they bring it into the main league! 91.67% of the votes so far say we don't want it. Will the speedway star have the guts to offer a national vote in their magazine on this issue?

CRAP, should be no guests or all guests. Guest for a number one bt not others is terrible. Newport had two rider with averages higher than Berwicks number one this year, so in Berwick vs Newport we could have had Niels missing and they coudl have had Makovsky(?) missing, they could hav a guest for the 8.3ish rider while we could not have a guest for a 9+ rider. I think the BSPA are running around shouting out my signature while men in whte coats run around behind them. SCB can you post that here... Guest Topic http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/ind...wtopic=5597&hl= Please

Kevin can you post that here.... http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/ind...wtopic=5596&hl= Please

Please use this topic for voting and discussing the “Guest Rule” only. A guest rider will only be allowed for the top rider in a team with the rider-replacement facility in operation elsewhere Discuss....

Please vote and discuss the “golden joker” here…. http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/ind...?showtopic=5596

Please use this topic for voting and discussing the “Golden Joker” only Both leagues have scrapped the traditional tactical substitute regulation in favour of a new ruling which allows team managers to nominate two riders whose points can count as double if a team is eight points behind. Discuss...

No news on how grading system will work.

EL 10 EL clubs 2 home 2 away = 36 meetings Grading system Elite League teams will sign two Premier League riders as squad members to cover for injured reserves. Double up riders will only be for ACU permit holders riders and who have not previously achieved an EL average of 5 or above. PL 15 clubs. 45 points limit Premier Trophy is back Both Leagues No Tac Subs! Golden Joker. Riders nominated to score double points when 8 points down. Can only be used twice. Guest Rules Only the top rider can be replaced by a guest the other riders will be replaced by Rider Replacement Full Report. *BRITISH Speedway's top flight will have 10 clubs next season - after Swindon and Arena Essex were confirmed as Elite League members at the sport's AGM. The race for the Sky Sports Elite League play-offs will be over two home and two away meetings which means 36 outings per club. Premier League fans will have a minimum of 15 clubs, possibly 16 depending on Trelawny's bid for a new site and they have been given until January 14 to declare. And in what is sure to be a popular move the Premier Trophy has been re-introduced to start next season with a north and south group which will then see the top two from each group go into the semi-finals. The Sky Sports Elite League will also feature a revolutionary new grading system to determine team strengths after promoters voted to scrap the points limit. And that means newcomers Swindon and Arena will have a pick of riders to build competitive teams as movement in the transfer market is inevitable. Averages will still come into effect for team building purposes but a grading system allows more flexibility and for the 2005 campaign bonus points will not be taken into account. Both leagues have scrapped the traditional tactical substitute regulation in favour of a new ruling which allows team managers to nominate two riders whose points can count as double if a team is eight points behind. They have also retained the use of a golden double tactical substitute in both leagues when a rider is nominated to start off a 15-metre handicap for double points. The move comes as a result of a successful experiment in this year's Premier League Knockout Cup when ties were kept alive by intelligent work from team bosses. Premier League clubs have retained the 45-point limit but will keep a close eye on how the new grading system works for their Elite League counterparts in 2004. Promoters have also decided to restrict the use of guest riders in response to confusion amongst a new generation of fans brought into the sport by increased media and TV coverage. A guest rider will only be allowed for the top rider in a team with the rider-replacement facility in operation elsewhere and the Elite League teams will sign two Premier League riders as squad members to cover for injured reserves. Another thorny issue was the doubling up and doubling down which saw several riders enjoy riding for two clubs. Doubling down has now been scrapped and the doubling up facility will only be allowed for ACU permit holders who have not achieved an Elite League average of five-points and above. This will apply for only one team position per club and not two like last season. Great Britain boss Neil Middleditch remains in office for another season - realistically there was never any doubt as long as Middleditch wanted the job - and the Under-21 job is between Alun Rossiter and Louis Carr who have both applied. The management committee will interview both ex-riders regarding the position at the first available oppourtunity before a final decision is made regarding Graham Reeve's successor. On the subject of management committee, it's a case of as you were with chairman Chris Van Straaten joined by new Somerset promoter Peter Toogood as vice chairman alongside Jon Cook of Eastbourne, Coventry's Colin Pratt and Sheffield chief Neil Machin http://www.british-speedway.co.uk/ No Tac Subs! Golden Joker. Riders nominated to score double points when 8 points down. Can only be used twice. Please vote and discuss the “golden joker” here…. http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/ind...?showtopic=5596

I think most arrived over there on Friday but the actual AGM does not start till Monday.

...some clubs wanted a reduction in the points limit in a bid to reduce costs but that proposal was thrown out by promoters at a top-level meeting. It seems certain that the 45-point limit will be retained. http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle....rticleID=686081

I had come to the conclusion a few weeks ago that it would be a 45 points limit next year but I had not realised that the EL promoter could vote on a PL issue but I do take the point that the limit does affect both leagues due to the possible riders moving up.

Co-promoter Neil Machin attended a General Council meeting at the sport's headquarters in Rugby in midweek and, although no press statement has been made, it is looking more likely that the 45-point limit will be retained. http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle....rticleID=684838

Yes, it seems like every year they look to change things just for the sake of it! I really don't think this is the solution to reduce costs. “Speculation suggests many clubs are in favour of reducing the points limit in a bid to cut costs for the 2004 campaign.” “A meeting of all PL clubs will take place at British Speedway's HQ in Rugby, Warwickshire, tomorrow where next season's plans will again be discussed.” http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle....rticleID=682347

Surprised that Simon Stead is the reserve and not David Howe, but good luck Simon.

FIM dates now show the Czech Rep meeting as the 15th of May!!! 15/05 Czech Rep. (Marketa Stadium)

As we know the BSPA often fail to produce a set of rules and instead have an idea and make it up as they go along. Can you really see this happening or working? Why do people think this would be better than current averages?

One of the problems I find with speedway is too often you have to break teams up, if it went to 40 points then it would make it even bigger of a problem. More riders might become available at the end of the season and some teams would start throwing silly money to try and get them, which would result in costs going up! On the other hand it could depend on the rules for doubling up / down but if the likes of Shields, Stead, Harris, Stoney, Gjedde, Kylmakorpi, (names just used as examples!!) who are doing alright in the EL moved up permanently. Then there is going to be less top heat leaders about. Some teams might even struggle to get to 45 points.

Should the Premier League points limit stay at 45 or drop to 40.

So why have you gone for Crumpy to win then, Phil? Good point! Hardly anything between all the top really. Think Crump will get second but just pointing out Nicki appears to be relaxed which will help him. Guess that does not really answer the question

I think Nikki has a slight advantage over Jason Crump in the fact that Nikki seems to be so relaxed and chilled out. If he can keep this up for the GP he will do well.

1. Rickardson (temporary track expert) 2. Crump 3. Pedersen

THANK YOU

1st Tomasz Gollob 2nd Jason Crump 3rd Niki Pedersen

http://www.speedwaygp.com/news/index2.php3?pr=784