screm

BERWICK youngster Liam Carr has withdrawn from the British Under-21 Championship in order to attend his club’s press and practice – which takes place on the same day as the semi-final at Plymouth. The decision has been taken after consultation with the British Youth management, who stress it will not rule Carr out of consideration for other Under-21 events. Co-boss Neil Vatcher said: “Liam was named in the original line-up for the semi-final, but after speaking to both Berwick and Liam it was felt that because this is his first year with his hometown club it would be best for him to attend their press day due to their local sponsors being in attendance on the day. “The Young Lions Management have high regard for both Berwick Speedway and Liam Carr, and although Liam will not being competing in this years 2014 British Under-21 semi-final or Final, he will be considered for future Under-21 events if he continues the progress that he has already shown to date.”

Hopefully an appraisal of the situation and a comment on it will feature in this weeks Speedway Star. That's if it gets to the courts.

I'm sure if Speedway Star had the evidence to expose any shambolic situations then they would, but just printing all kinds of non-truths can be very expensive for those doing so. I do hope though that Speedway Star are asking those involved in this sorry story how we move on from here, and ultimately get the top riders riding in both SGP and SEC.

So that would leave only Mondays and Thursdays, and Thursdays could be a bit dodgy as Sweden's second league race on that night. I agree with you but with speedway sharing most stadiums with other sports, greyhounds mostly, getting enough free Monday nights at the EL tracks we have now could be a non-starter.

Thought Tully was taking a year away from racing though if the offers right that decision could be changed I suppose.

Get the God botherers out of the EOES and get the 4s in the day after SWC Event 1 at Kings Lynn.

If its true that other PL riders are going for the same, then you`d think that's going to end the same way. So Redcar wont be the only team looking for an new rider or two.

As Smith isn't doubling up for anyone I cant see why he cant apply for a Tier3 visa (think that's what its called), Doyle has and others so why not Smith.

Speedway365 understands that Redcar Bears new winter signing Kozza Smith has been refused a visa to come and race in the UK in 2014. The Australian had agreed a winter move from Berwick to Redcar but the switch has been blocked by the authorities. Smith missed the 2012 season through injury but returned to British Speedway last season with Berwick, and Kings Lynn in the Elite League. Australian team manager Mark Lemon has been working closely with the BSPA in recent weeks to ensure riders are allowed enter the UK on a tier 5 working visa. Up to seven riders have ran into troubles this winter and Tyson Nelson and Alex Davies have been refused visas. It’s a hammer blow to Redcar’s team building plans, Smith had been one of their big signings this winter as they looked to reach the play-offs for the second season running.

So in short you have BSI/SGP in the red corner, with OneSport/SEC in the blue. Stuck in the middle you riders who want to ride in both competitions either this year or in the years going forward, while on the outside you have the fans of speedway wondering what the hell is going on. You have to wonder what EuroSport is making of all this, they cover both events and are doing an excellent job doing both. What a mess.

Money, pure and simple.

I think its widely accepted that SportoweFakty is the media mouth piece for OneSport, so you saying that they have given an honest review of the situation isn't exactly the case.

Giving the performances of some of the riders last year, the quicker it was over the better for me. There were times last season where the second half NJL meeting didn't happen due to an over running PL match, obviously injuries aside I hope every effort is made to get the younger lads out on track, especially if we are looking to produce future Bandits.

Holder has just signed up to ride in the Danish League.

Their pit-people excel in getting riders straight out as soon as the previous heat has finished. We could do with some officials of this ilk at home - at more than one track I visit, the people tasked with keeping the meeting running seem hopelessly out of their depth. I hope Mr Barrie will be leading the way to push Berwick meetings on where possible next season.

You, me and many others will be in the same position. Its going to end in a mess.

No doubt there will be right and wrongs on both sides, but what price will have to be paid to kill off any of the threats from OneSport.

With FOGO pulling out as one of the main sponsors and there's got to be a chance there will be others, and NICE threatening to pull out from sponsoring the Polish riders, the FIM could very well end up with a GP series that is virtually worthless if the top riders decide to go with the European Champs rather than the GPs. Decisions like this one from the FIM will only lead to conflict and court cases, which means the only ones likely to profit out of this will be the lawyers.

Doyle has been released by Somerset who have signed Ty Proctor as his replacement.

This story is in this weeks Speedway Star, it appears that Kozza applied for another visa when the one he already had had a year to go on it so Kozza will take his place in the Redcar team.

If we were to get a NOTW type investigations into the goings on in speedway riders private lives,half of it would never be suitable to print.

It speaks volumes IMO that virtually none of the riders who Berwick left out of their 2014 team have not found a team place elsewhere.Aspegren,Alden,Edberg and Barrett have no jobs over here,for the start of the season at least.

This is excellent news and all those concerned should be congratulated for keeping speedway on our screens. Hopefully now the powers that be use this 5 year window as an opportunity to really put speedway on a firm footing that will see our sport grow for many years to come. So all those doom and gloom merchants who wouldn't be renewing their Sky packages without speedway can now renew their Sky subscriptions and while they are on the line to Sky they might congratulate them for continuing to cover speedway.

Its true.....true I tell you. Why are you posting photos of the wife and her sister.

Your right,though you`d think the signing clubs would check that everthing was in place before they made these signing announcements.