NeilWatson

COVENTRY promoter Mick Horton has issued the following statement following the postponement of the Elite Riders’ Championship on Sunday. “I have made the decision today that the teams representing Coventry Speedway will not be taking to the track at Brandon until such time as the stadium bring in the correct and proper track curator to prepare our track. “The track has been totally unacceptable. I am embarrassed and humiliated and I am not prepared to take all of the criticism because this is 100 per cent down to the stadium. “They got rid of our old track curator and brought in a new one and it simply hasn’t worked. I am totally humiliated and can only apologise. “I have told the stadium staff what the situation is – it’s destroying me. We said early this morning that the track should be bladed but they decided to let it dry and pack it, and it was still rubbish. “Television were here and I have taken a lot of criticism, and I know I’m going to get the flak. But I want to make it very clear that this was totally out of my control, this was 100 per cent down to the stadium. “They brought in the track staff and assured Coventry Speedway that this track curator and track staff team was the best that we could get. The rest is history – it has been a total shambles starting on Friday with the Storm match and now on Sunday for a major national event. “There is no way that I will allow a Coventry team on that track until it is correct, and until that time, until it is in a suitable condition to race on, we will decline any further shared events or TV meetings. “In all my years of speedway, this is my lowest moment. I feel absolutely humiliated by something that is totally out of my control.”

Mick and I know that the events of Friday evening were unacceptable and we (and everyone at the Club) are devastated by the way the meeting turned out. At the moment we are working hard on the staging of this evening's ERC, before we sit down to try and right the wrongs of Friday. A Club statement, which will also give details of the re-admission arrangements, will follow in due course.

PETERBOROUGH stunned Elite League newcomers Leicester with a terrific 48-42 challenge match win at the Jordan Road Surfacing Stadium on Saturday. The TC Harrison Panthers put in a rock-solid display in the East Midlands with reserve duo Joe Jacobs and Oliver Greenwood putting in especially impressive displays. Although the Lions had the heavier individual scorers in Danish duo Patrick Hougaard and Mads Korneliussen, no fewer than four Panthers riders carded eight points, and they were all regular members of the team. Guest Nick Morris, standing in for the unavailable Ales Dryml, failed to finish in his first two rides and the meeting looked to be going according to league status when Leicester raced into a 22-14 lead after six heats. But Panthers clawed their way level across the next four races, inspired by a 5-1 from Jacobs and Greenwood in Heat 9 and 4-2s in Heats 7 and 10 with both Lasse Bjerre and Ulrich Ostergaard taking wins. Ryan Fisher then took Heat 11 with Ostergaard third to put Panthers ahead, and their two-point lead was maintained with the next two races shared, Morris taking the flag in a feisty Heat 13. Panthers then applied a sucker punch with a 5-1 in the penultimate race with Leicester’s Simon Stead falling on the first lap, Ostergaard and Jacobs taking full advantage to make the match safe. The sides will do battle again at the East of England Showground on April 7, but prior to that Panthers return to League Cup action at home to Plymouth on Tuesday. LEICESTER 42: Patrick Hougaard 13, Mads Korneliussen 11+2, Peter Ljung 9+1, Simon Stead 5+1, Tom Perry 4, Max Clegg 0, Jason Doyle r/r. PETERBOROUGH 48: Joe Jacobs 8+2, Ulrich Ostergaard 8, Lasse Bjerre 8, Oliver Greenwood 8, Nick Morris 6+2, Ryan Fisher 6+1, Aaron Summers 4+2.

It was the first meeting of the season so more detailed introductions seem appropriate.

The airfence was very badly damaged - four panels destroyed. It was good to see Lewis & Steve walk away and take part in the re-run.

No. Advance tickets can be bought on-line via Sky, or pay on the day.

No it doesn't - Coventry Club events only.

That's correct

Ales will be No 2 in Panthers averages for the start of the season.

SR 17.9 An INJURED RIDER REPLACEMENT (IRR) Facility allows one certified injured Rider’s (#1- #5) remaining programmed rides (including a ride in which he was unable to re-start but was not disqualified - FN) to be taken by other Team Members (including any Guest Riders), providing the Team is not already using RR and subject to: 17.9.1 The injured Rider not having completed 3 Rides 17.9.2 Only one position per Team may be declared as IRR. 17.9.3 All Riders with an MA below the Injured Rider may take one IRR ride each. 17.9.4 IRR is not permitted in Heat 15. 17.9.5 A Nomination once made cannot be changed. 17.9.6 A Rider taking an IRR ride may be nominated to take a TR ride (SR 17.10)

The 2014 Rule Book is now available to view: http://www.scbgb.co.uk/pdf/regulations/2014%20SPEEDWAY%20REGULATIONS.pdf

http://www.speedwaygb.co/erc.html

It will be 22 heats - so pretty much an identical cost per heat.

He has,,,,,,,,

COVENTRY Speedway are delighted to confirm main team backers Buildbase will return for an eleventh season of title sponsorship this year. The national builders merchant firm first linked with the club way back in 2004 and have now extended the deal into a second decade. It means the club’s Elite League side will once again be known as the Buildbase Bees, with the announcement being made on BBC Coventry & Warwickshire’s Tapes Up show on Monday evening. Regional Director John Clarke is a staunch supporter of speedway and is a familiar face at Brandon on race-nights, often entertaining guests and clients in the stadium facilities. Each of the club’s three Elite League titles – in 2005, 2007 and 2010 – have come with the Bees carrying the Buildbase name, and determination is high to challenge again this season. Clarke said: “My heart is very much in speedway, but obviously I have bosses who also need to buy into it, and they all agree that it’s a very good way of marketing our brand. “It also means we can get our customer-base, and their families, involved in speedway. We can give them an absolutely fantastic evening in a family atmosphere watching some good sport, “Quite a few of our customers have never been to speedway before and we encourage them to bring their families because they are the next generation of speedway fans. They absolutely love it, and that’s a big reason why this sponsorship has been a huge success. “One of the endorsements of what we’ve done over the years is that our parent company, Grafton Group, are also involved elsewhere in the sport with Birmingham. “Eleven years is a record of which everyone should be proud, we’re delighted to be back and we hope it’s a great season.”

COVENTRY have agreed a deal to purchase the contract of talented British racer Joe Jacobs from Ipswich. Jacobs impressed greatly as No.1 for the Storm in the National League last season and has secured an Elite League fast-track berth with rivals Wolverhampton for 2014. He will also be racing for Peterborough and Mildenhall this year and the Buildbase Bees are delighted to have agreed the deal with Witches boss Chris Louis. Promoter Mick Horton said: Im very pleased to be able to add Joe to our asset base as I believe he is one of the most promising British youngsters in the sport. He did a superb job with the Storm last year, and obviously Ill be working with him again at Peterborough this season. Theres a lot more to come from him and hes definitely one for the future.

THE news that Greyhounds has decided to close after tonights meeting came as a shock and it saddened me that they felt they could not continue to operate until the remaining three years on the lease lapsed. Harry and his team have worked extremely hard during the last few years to make Coventry Dogs a credible force within the greyhound racing world and deserved to have enjoyed the fruits of those labours. They asked me for an extension to the lease to guarantee a further five years which I was unable to offer due to the current negotiations for the sale of the Stadium as all I could contractually offer was the three year guarantee already in place which clearly was not enough. In terms of the other activities the Coventry Bees and Brisca F1 stock cars these are guaranteed to continue for the next three years regardless as to the ownership of the stadium and during those three years I will be trying to secure an alternative site for a new stadium in the Coventry area. All three sports have become something that I enjoy on a personal level and the respective fans have shown me a great deal of respect over the past twelve years as such I want to ensure we do everything we can to see these sports continue. I am giving my word that I will do everything I can to ensure we succeed and if anybody can help us to secure a suitable site in the Coventry area please get in touch with jeremyheaver@btinternet.com or by phone on 07872836640. In terms of the stadium site itself it will be sold and redeveloped its just a question as to when that redevelopment will take place. It will not take place for at least three seasons and that gives us time to find alternative sites for development into our new home. Once again I would like to praise Harry and his team for the efforts they made at Coventry Dogs and I hope both speedway and stock car fans are reassured that we are working towards a more solid future. A Sandhu

Chris Harris is the Bees' skipper for 2014.

2014 Bees Chris Harris and Kyle Howarth, and Bees asset Ben Barker, feature in Great Britain boss Alun Rossiter's team to face the Rest of the World in the Ben Fund Bonanza at Leicester on Sunday March 9. World Champion Tai Woffinden leads the side, which also includes Danny King, Craig Cook, Lewis Bridger and Richie Worrall .

I've just had an email from Seetickets offering me the following opportunity: Due to production changes, alternate seating has become available which is closer to the front of the block than your existing seating. We would therefore like to offer you the option to exchange your current seating to this alternate seating as a gesture of goodwill. As our tickets are booked in the front row of the middle tier, I can't wait to hear their suggestion!

http://www.sasi.group.shef.ac.uk/maps/nsdivide/

For Panthers fans, admission is at concession rate but carers do need their own admission ticket. Blue Badge parking is available inside the stadium.

COVENTRY’S opening fixtures of the 2014 season have now reverted to their original schedule. The re-arrangement of the Elite Riders’ Championship to Friday March 21 generated a clash of dates with Gary Havelock’s Farewell meeting at Poole on the same evening. Sky Sports, who will be broadcasting the ERC live as the first meeting of their new five-year contract with British Speedway, have now been able to make a Sunday evening slot available, and the event therefore reverts to March 23 at 6pm. With thanks to the management of Cradley for their quick co-operation, we can immediately confirm that the visit of the Heathens in the first leg of the Travel Plus Trophy will now take place as originally planned on Friday March 21. This means the first three meetings of the season at Brandon are as follows: Friday March 21 – Coventry Storm v Cradley (Travel Plus Trophy) – 7.30pm Sunday March 23 – Elite Riders’ Championship – 6pm Friday March 28 – Coventry v Birmingham (Elite League) – 7.30pm

Not season ticket holders I'm afraid (hence the parking charge being included with season tickets). Blue Badge holders and officials park within the stadium.

Ales 7.52