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BRITISH Speedway is delighted to announce the appointment of Phil Morris as its Premiership Chief Executive Officer. Former rider and manager Morris, who will continue as FIM Race Director at Grand Prix and World Cup events, takes on the newly created position with the responsibility of overseeing all aspects of Premiership business. 47-year-old Morris will be a major decision-maker at the top of the Premiership, both in terms of rulebook interpretation and race-night operations, and the specifics of his role also include an active involvement in the running of televised meetings. BSP Ltd Director and Ipswich promoter Chris Louis said: “The Premiership CEO is a new role which we all agreed was very much needed and I think the timing is right, especially with what’s going on in the world of speedway. “We want to enhance the professionalism and integrity of the league, as well as making it simple, transparent and fun for the fans to view and understand, and to improve the product and put British Speedway back at the top of the tree, where it did sit for many years. “Phil is unquestionably the right man for the job. His grounding is in British Speedway, he loves British Speedway, and he also has one of the top positions in World Speedway, which made him the perfect candidate. “He will be tasked with making sure the rulebook is as simple and easy to follow as possible, both for those involved within the sport and also for the fans, and that it is absolutely understood and adhered to. “Phil will also take an active role in televised meetings. He will be on-site and assist with the presentation of those meetings to make sure they are as fluid as possible and that the format is rigidly stuck to. “The appointment has the full backing of the Board of the BSPL, and we’d also like to thank the other people who showed an interest in the position and were part of the process. “We see this as an evolving role which will develop as the year goes on, but fundamentally we’ve brought in a top man to lead the Premiership and I think it’s a hugely positive move. “Phil has seen all sides of the sport as a rider and a manager, he’s never stopped following British Speedway and he has the experience of what is probably for this sort of role, the top position in World Speedway. “We couldn’t have a better guy on board, and as a league we are delighted with the appointment.” Morris enjoyed a long and successful racing career over nearly 20 years, the majority of which were spent with Reading, and as a youngster he was part of the Racers’ British League Division One title-winning side in 1992. After retirement, he team-managed Birmingham to top spot in the Elite League in 2013 before missing out in the Grand Final, and he also took joint charge of the flourishing British Youth set-up alongside current boss Neil Vatcher. Since 2015 he has held the position of FIM Race Director and has officiated at over 80 GPs along with the World Cup, Speedway of Nations and GP Challenge. Morris said: “There are three words associated with this role that stand out for me: integrity, transparency and perception, and all of those are big things for me which I feel need to be improved. “I’m not here to lie to anyone and I’ve already made it clear that I’ve seen some events and incidents over the last few years that I believe we can improve on a lot – and I’m saying ‘we’ here because I’m now going to be part of it. “I want to do my very best to try and lift levels across many different facets of the Premiership, from club officials and regulations to the visuality of the events we’re staging. “Hopefully that will then filter down to all levels of speedway, so even though my job is Premiership CEO, it’s something which can benefit British Speedway as a whole. “I’ve been very lucky to work at the highest level of the sport, so my eyes are probably quite focused on good quality levels of the product, and I’ve always said that speedway is a good product. “We’ve just got to package it right and make sure other things are acceptable along the way, and I’m very much looking forward to getting started.”

I don't mind either league tbh. Do what Poole say?

A much needed step in the right direction and an ideal choice for the appointment at this time IMO Let's hope that all involved emmbrace the move and that we don't see Phil undermined or hampered when something doesn't go the way desired for certain quarters

His first major decision should be to retrospectively remove all tactical joker points from the 2006 play- off final scores.

"Integrity, Transparency and Perception"... Does Phil come on here? Great news... Just as long as his remit isn't influenced by the self interest of others it could be a major move forward for the sport in the UK... Chris Louis seems to be a voice that can see the UK version of Speedway's major fundamental issues that hold it back from being taken seriously, (which impacts crowd levels negatively and also major sponsor involvement), but can also see the huge potential that the sport has if ever done "properly" in the UK... A very positive move, and with the "major names" starting to come back, let's hope the "custodians" see the bigger picture rather than just their own team being "successful" in such a small minority sport, which currently resonates little.... A good year to launch some major marketing of the sport given the quality of riders on offer, and hopefully with his contacts, Phil Morris can help facilitate this... Just hide the water truck from him on TV race nights...

Guessing you’re new around here ;-)

Car park fills up about 75-90 mins before start. You can park in Beaumont Leys shopping centre, however there is a STRICT 4 hour time limit

Translation I held out for a few more quid , they got desperate and blinked so I'm here

Darts is the forums favourite sport also

What if there is?? Do you want some!

Whether or not this change is successful will depend on the rule being properly enforced. I notice that Wolverhampton had a two minute clock all last season but referees and riders paid scant attention to it and riders were regularly continuing to "garden" after the time had expired and I can recall only one instance when a rider was excluded for exceeding the time limit. Referees need to put their foot down and rigidly stick to the letter of the rule. There might be a brief time of chaos and howls of protest from riders, but they would soon get the message. Personally, I'd be strongly in favour of NO RESERVE replacement for excluded riders too!

I guess it depends how many were just picking and choosing meetings and who generally had other plans on Thursday. I am giving Thursday as an example as crowds on Mondays were even worse

Had a face like a slapped Arse when he rode for Kings Lynn in the pits on warm up before the meeting.

Can safely donate via PayPal so proof of payment can be uploaded on here at the end of the season. Either way Ben Fund gets an extra 50 quid donation so all good.

Does this mean Lambert won't get his end-of-year outing as BV's ringer for the play-offs?

And don't forget Bradley Wilson-Dean

Kasprzak

Every action has a reaction and an end aim. IMHO this is step 1 on the road to the PL breaking away from BSPL (but still aligning to SCB and therefore ACU) to create a separate entity to optimise TV money and Commercial opportunities and to do effectively what PL has done in soccer, and in similar way to the way Cricket is also redefining on Franchise type basis. I think they will want an 8 Team League (more riders coming in from Poland will help that) and possibly ultimately 9 or 10. Poole and Glasgow are the obvious targets.

Who gives a toss about SGP?

If he has any sense he will have signed a contract with at least three years on it, if not it could be a short appointment.

Think this is getting overplayed a bit here. Definitely Bewley, and possibly Pedersen (it’s a wait and see with him) will provide Doyle with a stiffer test, who else has come in to the league that I’ve missed? Doyle will again comfortably top the averages of that there is no doubt.

You’re right, and exactly as it should be. The only reason they originally tried to bring the leagues closer together was to introduce promotion/relegation which let’s be honest, was never going to work.

Ipswich have too long a tail and reliance will be on JD again

Possibly not just the opposition.......

Straight back round to the start no need for any time allowance,keep pit gate closed and no helpers on centre green allowed,and no getting of bike to kick dirt around ,simples!

I think alot of people forget that there is now 18 foot more racing room on each bend after the changes. For a shortish track,, 285 metres there is oodles of racing room in the bends. Emil got round all Cardiff,, Warsaw and other one off tracks just fine,, and they are all smaller than Foxhall.

You’ve wasted my time and the time of every poor person who has had to read through your messages.

I think we can all agree this is the toughest prediction of who comes where for a long long time. Every team has a case for making the play offs. I keep changing my predictions every day. It's actually fantastic. Didn't want Leicester to move up initially but now I'm a little bit more excited for the season ahead.

Richie Worrall and Kyle Hawarth confirmed. BEN FUND BONANZA LINE-UP SO FAR: Tom Brennan, Kyle Howarth, Lewis Kerr, Danny King, Simon Lambert, Fredrik Lindgren, Connor Mountain, Michael Palm Toft, Richie Worrall, Steve Worrall, Charles Wright.

But it doesn't apply to sunbreaks

Hopefully he will be given free reign without interference from those within the BSPA or otherwise? Should have happened years ago...

This argument has been trotted out time and again over the last year or two. The GP’s, Poland, Timbuktu are all completely irrelevant to what happens here. He was more dominant here last season than he’s ever been hence his 10 And a half point average! He was literally head and shoulders above everybody. Bewley out performed him in the GP’s last season and will be the closest to him here no doubt, but I’ll wager he won’t topple Doyle in the averages here at the end of the season. This time last year there were people on here who like you’re doing now, were saying Doyle would be demoted to 4th best Aussie as Fricke, Kurtz and Holder would all overtake him. They all finished miles off!

Most of the riders 'double up' these days so why shouldn't the Race Director do it as well !!!!

Does it lead to tracks being over watered?

Me. But not you. Someone has just pointed out to me that he is continuing with his GP job anyway whilst doing the PL job in his days off. So we can both be reassured that he gives a toss about both, equally.

Should be an interesting season ....

Hugely positive step forward. A long time coming mind! Hopefully will eradicate at best the bending of the rules, and at worst blatant cheating.. simplifying the rule book is something that’s been needed for some time, no grey areas, just black and white so everybody can fully understand them.

It'll be pay on the gate I'm sure. Plenty of room for everyone in the AFA.

If ya wanna be the best and ya wanna beat the rest,,, dedication is what you need.

Good luck to any opposition riders arriving into turns 1 & 2 at Peterborough against a pairing of Nicki Pedersen and Hans Andersen. No prisoners taken

I also see that the starts are going to be computer controlled.Seemingly it was tested in lower leagues in Poland last season.It would be strange for the riders to have different tape settings in different Countries.

Not heard about any other countries following suit, but will defo be interesting to see how it works in reality. As for the 'micro movement' ruling.....this is a very good move. There were a few Extraleague meetings last year that had farcical stoppages based on this, and you could see no advantage was gained when watching the replays.

Thank you to all who tuned in to https://www.tapesup.tv today - don't forget to join us again at the same time tomorrow for Day 2!

Or just put the two minutes on as soon as the race is stopped. The hold up isn't the two minute warning, it's not putting the two minute warning on quick enough. So not putting the shiny new one minute warning on quick enough will still mean there is some hanging about. If there was actually two minutes between a stoppage and a restart, it wouldn't be a problem in the first place.

Hooooooray! Only 20 years too late, but better late than never I suppose!

Not for me it isn’t - for £9 per month through Fanseat i can get all Swedish and Danish( plus French league) which is approx 25 matches a month. Sign up at start and cancel at end.

All of the news coming from this venture is fabulous for the sport, the custodians of the sport need to recognise this and propel Workington as an example and maintain a position that encourages investment in the sport. To mire this club with the usual political self serving bollox will deter anyone from investing in this sport forever. BSPL this is your opportunity to nurture and promote investment in the sport, burn it and you have fukt Speedway forever

It's tough to get a team place when you've burnt bridges with most clubs.

A rider on the decline who is not a particularly nice personality so no great loss really.