Rider insurance (or lack thereof)

[SteveLyric2]

18 hours ago, Chadster said:

Is that the case, I wonder? From the context of Barker's post it seems that it might not be. Whatever, the change seems to have been poorly communicated and the fault seems to lie more with the SCB than with BSPL but ti might prove to be problematic for non-ACU licence holders.

Or maybe riders should read the regs each year?!

[Technik]

19 hours ago, Glen said:

Taken from the ACU website - 

 

The cost of an Auto-Cycle Union (ACU) competition licence and registration will be subject to a modest increase in 2026 as new-and-improved personal accident insurance becomes integrated into the annual fee as standard.

The decision to set the competition licence fee at £98, the new-for-2026 national trial registration at £50, and the club trial registration at £35 for a full season of ACU competition reflects the national governing body of British motorcycle sport’s commitment to improving rider protection and simplifying how insurance is delivered across its permitted events.

The current insurance model requires organisers to pay for personal accident cover, a cost that is reflected in riders’ event entry fees.

The decision to introduce a new approach in 2026 comes after a two-year review of insurance and safety arrangements across all ACU activity. It also marks the start of a new partnership between the ACU and Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance that will bring increased value and support for riders, organisers and officials.

Central to the new-and-improved personal accident insurance benefits the ACU has secured for its riders in 2026 is hospitalisation payments that will now begin after 72 hours in hospital, rather than the previous 14-day threshold. These payments will be paid daily up to a maximum of £2,000 per hospital stay.

As well as this, public liability cover of £40 million will remain in place for all competitive events run under an ACU permit. These insurance benefits do not apply to non-ACU competitions.

Matthew Edwards-Wear, CEO of the Auto-Cycle Union, said: “Introducing a modest competition licence and registration fee increase is necessary to provide the best insurance package currently available within UK motorcycle sport.

“We are proud the ACU is there for riders if they suffer an injury at one of our permitted events and the benefits that come with the latest personal accident insurance package we’ve secured for 2026 is proof of that commitment.

“Bringing the personal accident payment – which amounts to £20 for an entire season – into the rider licence or registration fee also helps organisers by reducing their event costs and admin. With costs increasing in other areas of motorcycle sport, it’s important the ACU family supports those that do such a great job when organising the events we all compete in.”

I guess Thomsen would need something similar under his Danish licence.

 

What about our young riders that travel across Europe to represent the ACU in FIM & International open events. Are they fully covered for travel & racing time whilst away from UK Borders.

[Wee Eck]

4 hours ago, Technik said:

What about our young riders that travel across Europe to represent the ACU in FIM & International open events. Are they fully covered for travel & racing time whilst away from UK Borders.

If the ACU insurance is now the same for speedway as all other disciplines then yes, they’ll be covered. Under the previous arrangements, they weren’t. 

[SPEEDY69]

Looks like an improvement to me, from the info posted on here. 

[Technik]

22 hours ago, Wee Eck said:

If the ACU insurance is now the same for speedway as all other disciplines then yes, they’ll be covered. Under the previous arrangements, they weren’t. 

I ask the question as the statement reads to say only ACU permit meetings are covered, If that is the case then FIM & racing in another country would not be covered by an ACU permit. Even an FIM event in the UK may not be covered.

[Triple.H.]

1 minute ago, Technik said:

I ask the question as the statement reads to say only ACU permit meetings are covered, If that is the case then FIM & racing in another country would not be covered by an ACU permit. Even an FIM event in the UK may not be covered.

Maybe they mean an ACU permit covers you if you are representing the Country abroad. You ride in a SGP,SEC,U21,U19 etc qualifier or finals you're representing your Country. 

Riding in the Edward Jancarz memorial for example you're invited to take part, but not representing the country.

[Wee Eck]

29 minutes ago, Triple.H. said:

Maybe they mean an ACU permit covers you if you are representing the Country abroad. You ride in a SGP,SEC,U21,U19 etc qualifier or finals you're representing your Country. 

Riding in the Edward Jancarz memorial for example you're invited to take part, but not representing the country.

I don’t know enough about the insurance side but my understanding is that any ACU licenced rider needs start permission from the ACU for any event abroad. That would then suggest to me that they are covered by the existing personal accident cover available to all disciplines. Previously, ACU licensed speedway riders had to arrange their own cover 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

17 minutes ago, Wee Eck said:

I don’t know enough about the insurance side but my understanding is that any ACU licenced rider needs start permission from the ACU for any event abroad. That would then suggest to me that they are covered by the existing personal accident cover available to all disciplines. Previously, ACU licensed speedway riders had to arrange their own cover 

Although licences are through the ACU the international licence is different to a domestic one, on top of that you have to have a SCB licence, up till this year a rider was deducted a fee per race for his insurance which was through company’s like doodson’s or George burrows via the SCB, on top of that rider can (and should) get their own cover, this season the cover provided by the SCB has been scrapped and it’s now through the ACU and a higher fee for the licence, I think the problem is too fold, firstly riders were not told or at least barker says they weren’t and secondly it doesn’t cover lost earnings only hospital stay 

[crescent girl]

On 4/5/2026 at 10:41 PM, SPEEDY69 said:

Looks like an improvement to me, from the info posted on here. 

Yes, but don't let that get in the way of all the potty-posters in here, Speedy!

[mikebv]

3 hours ago, crescent girl said:

Yes, but don't let that get in the way of all the potty-posters in here, Speedy!

I think, to be fair, when a rider isn't aware of such a significant change then the comms. process probably needs looking at....

In my old job employment law changed almost weekly, so I got notified of the updates ongoing, meaning I would follow the "new rules" when making decisions...

I wasn't expected to read the whole employment law each year to pick out the changes..

The BSP put out their operating model changes from their AGM, therefore maybe the ACU should do the same?

[SJA]

On 4/4/2026 at 1:07 PM, mikebv said:

So, if non ACU licensed, you are insured through your own countries licence, or the licence of the nation you choose to race under?

Presume it must be a global thing then?

Amazing that riders, like Ben Barker, were not made aware of the change pre season...

Amazing, but not surprising.....

Speaking to an official at Poole he said that the ACU had sent out two emails on this subject but the read receipt was in single digits. This sounds partly like the classic case of trying to blame ignorance which is no legal defence.

 

[StevePark]

[cowboy cookie returns?]

On 4/9/2026 at 5:14 PM, StevePark said:

That’s what a professional outfit does…. Different owners but fully professional as always. Well done Ippo

[Fromafar]

On 4/7/2026 at 5:06 PM, crescent girl said:

Yes, but don't let that get in the way of all the potty-posters in here, Speedy!

Don’t know about potty posters.But Rob Godfrey says it’s not the same deal and not as good.

On 4/7/2026 at 5:06 PM, crescent girl said:

Yes, but don't let that get in the way of all the potty-posters in here, Speedy!

 

[Byker Biker]

15 hours ago, Fromafar said:

Don’t know about potty posters.But Rob Godfrey says it’s not the same deal and not as good.

 

And is only a fraction of the cost to riders allowing them to take out their own policies.

[Fromafar]

16 minutes ago, Byker Biker said:

And is only a fraction of the cost to riders allowing them to take out their own policies.

Which won’t be cheap as that was one of the reasons why it was changed.If they can find suitable cover.

[Whitelinehugger]

46 minutes ago, Fromafar said:

Which won’t be cheap as that was one of the reasons why it was changed.If they can find suitable cover.

Tarpaulin is a cheap form of cover, done in various colours and sizes.

Edited 3 hours ago by Whitelinehugger

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

23 minutes ago, Fromafar said:

Which won’t be cheap as that was one of the reasons why it was changed.If they can find suitable cover.

Not sure who really does a good injury policy these days, back in the day CICA was by far the best and was used by just about every major sport but about 20 years ago they stopped taking on new customers but they continued with existing customers, I’ve still got mine, I first took it out in 1994 and still have it today, I can remember the reps coming round to the meetings trying to sell the policy’s, I’m sure there are company’s that specialise in sports injury but not sure what the benifits are like especially with speedway being a high risk for injury but I remember the insurance provided by the SCB being really poor in comparison to the CICA, something else which I always thought was the Ben fund was just for serious injury not your average leg or arm break, for all the injuries i had I never claimed off the Ben fund because I didn’t know you could, I was alway suspicious of a certain rider who always seem to get a back injury in the last couple of meetings of the season, a nothing crash but enough to get him on the insurance pay roll if you know what I mean, I did hear that the CICA were investigating but never heard any comeback 

[Fromafar]

39 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Not sure who really does a good injury policy these days, back in the day CICA was by far the best and was used by just about every major sport but about 20 years ago they stopped taking on new customers but they continued with existing customers, I’ve still got mine, I first took it out in 1994 and still have it today, I can remember the reps coming round to the meetings trying to sell the policy’s, I’m sure there are company’s that specialise in sports injury but not sure what the benifits are like especially with speedway being a high risk for injury but I remember the insurance provided by the SCB being really poor in comparison to the CICA, something else which I always thought was the Ben fund was just for serious injury not your average leg or arm break, for all the injuries i had I never claimed off the Ben fund because I didn’t know you could, I was alway suspicious of a certain rider who always seem to get a back injury in the last couple of meetings of the season, a nothing crash but enough to get him on the insurance pay roll if you know what I mean, I did hear that the CICA were investigating but never heard any comeback 

I remember years ago when a collarbone or back injury seemed to be “ favourite” at the end of season to get you on the insurance for a few extra weeks after the season finished.

[Fromafar]

49 minutes ago, Whitelinehugger said:

Tarpaulin is a cheap form of cover, done in various colours and sizes.

🤡