AGM time again

British speedway to discuss options

Last updated: 4th November 2009  

AGM time again

Nicki Pedersen: Could he return in 2010?

Personally I feel the standard of competition in the Elite League in 2009 was better than the previous season.

Nigel Pearson
Quotes of the week

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Once again there are calls for the Elite League to be refined, to offer less fixtures next season... but I just don't see how it can happen.

Eastbourne supremo Bob Dugard has led the calls for the fixture list to be slashed - and this would entice back to British racing the likes of Nicki Pedersen and Greg Hancock.

One proposal has been for eight clubs to race one home and one away on the same night every week - that's 14 league fixtures plus play-offs.

And whilst I can see the merit in this, let's look at the other side of the argument. Many promoters have contracts with their landlords which state they must run a minimum of, say, 22 meetings.

In Coventry's case Avtar Sandhu wants to make as much use of his Brandon Stadium as possible - and seven home league meetings doesn't satisfy that need.

Plus, there is the added argument from some people who ask why the league should be slashed just to accomodate those riders who don't want to ride here at the moment. You can see their point.

Personally I feel the standard of competition in the Elite League in 2009 was better than the previous season - and that was despite winter worries over the absence of riders like Scott Nicholls and Hans Andersen.

Both will be back to start the 2010 campaign, as will the likes of Leigh Adams and Freddie Lindgren. That's no lack of quality.

In conclusion, I really don't see how such a dramatic change can occur. There are too many clubs who need a full fixture list, as opposed to Eastbourne's less.

And when the BSPA AGM gets underway in Bournemouth next week, a new leader for the British Speedway Promoters' Association will need to be appointed. Just for the record, Terry Russell's decision to stand aside as president is a sad moment for the sport - he's a fine promoter.

Comments (2)

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Howard Bonewell says...

I have to Agree With Nigel We have to look after ourselves British Speedway that is ,What Happens in Poland and Sweden happens in Poland and Sweden .I am a Reading Fan and i would like the BSPA to put some pressure on Stadia UK to build our Stadium .British Speedway should stick together

Posted 07:26 6th November 2009

Matthew Bailey says...

if anything the elite league needs more teams init rather than cutting the fixture list.maybe evening out the elite and premier leagues and having the old promotion and relegation systems in operation. if the likes of nicki pederson dont want to ride in this country then they dont but the british want to see more speedway not less.

Posted 21:15 5th November 2009
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