barncooseboy

Dave is well past the 4 year mark

I'm biased but Matej Zagar has to be up there

I am taking bets that EVERYBODY who has posted on this forum will be at the opening fixture. I would love to see Polish Dave at #7 he doesnt have long to go before he can become a Brit

At last it can be told!!! Somerset wanted to get more posts on the forum than any other track

Declaring a team and getting BSPA approval for that team are two different things, until such time as the BSPA approve the declaration the named riders remain an aspiration.

The UK Border Agency was disbanded on the last day of March, it is now the Visa and Immigration Service to more closely reflect what it does. The BSPA, as the recognised body for speedway riders in the UK were asked to complete new paperwork to take account of the change of circumstances. The permanent staff at the BSPA Office failed to reply to the government and hence the chaos at the beginning of the 2014 season which resulted in Alex Daviies and a few others being rdefused Visas to come to the UK because at that point the Visa agency did not have a recognised 'expert' body to consuult regarding the applicants suitability to come to the UK to be employed potentially keeping a British person out of a job. The V and i were then ignored for several months and no visa applications could progress because the BSPA Office were going home early, playing POETS DAY every day and ignoring the need. Eventually, with applicatio time for riders returning home fast approaching a meeting between the two bodies was held, at that meeting the V and I EXPRESSED surprise that the BSPA had independently decided to modify the terms of the agreement between the two bodies and non EU riders were rated at an assessed 5 not the 7 of the years old agreement. The V and I pointed out it wzaas not within the powers of the BSPA to independantly change the agreement conditions and hence the statement at the AGM that non EU Riders were now assessed on 7 points. The BSPA are trying to negotiate a return to their figure of 5 in view of the current furore over non EU immigration dont hold your breath.No announcement of the change seems to have been announced because it would have involved the BSPA admitting it had flouted Government regulations for years, since whenever the limit was reduced to 5. The BSPA have merely agreed to stick to government regulations, dont they call those Laws.

A possible explanation, was Debbie and Gary May actually at the AGM for every day, the V & I announcement to all PRESENT was made on one of the days, it was not included in the conference press statement, so if you werent there you wouldnt know it was said and so the team building could have continued in ignorance of the change of circumstances.

having gone through some long term medical treatment over the past year I hope i will be able to be at SBA most weeks this coming season, perhaps I should change my name to hop or jump. Talking of medical treatment Brian Cave is in Derriford currently, recovering from major surgery, ;lets all wish him a speedy recovery. I believe he is in Braunton ward.

Ryan had a v ery big, complex operation on his shoulder area in August, it corrected the damage caused in the, at that time recent accident, but it also corrected damage that had been present since his days at Edinburgh. Ryan says that currently he is feeling better than he has felt, physically, for several years, those lost points could well be on the way back. Abby and Harley love the kids playground at West Hoe however apparently the schools in Las Vegas are crap

no change has been announced because as far as the UK Visa and Immigration department the 7 point assessment for Non EU riders has been in force for some years, the BSPA in their wisdom decided to allow Aussie riders to come in on a 5 INDEPENDENT OF THE OPINION of the UK Visa and Immigration service. They have also ignored the requirement that the riders from non EU countries actually achieve their assessed average within 2 years or no further visas are issued and the non complying riders have to return to their country of origin. CVS and others at the meeting with the UK V & I were astonished when they were presented with listing of the averages of all visa issued riders, visa and immigration are watching speedway closely, this attempt at getting around the agreed figures will not be tolerated. I believe Jack Holder could be on the next flight back to OZ without leaving the airport IF the 5 assessment continues

lets not forget that all teams can list who they have reached agreements with to join them, however before that team can take to the track in an official fixture it has to be approved by the BSPA office/management. Teams in the past have had their plans rejected at this hurdle, likely to be the case here after Zummerzet put forward their planned team or the team being protested to the ref at the first official fixture

It is POSSIBLE that the BSPA office were asked about Jack Holders entry average very early on in 2014 and believed it could be 5, since that time senior officers of the BSPA have had a late season meeting with the Visa people and had their fingers stamped on for applying their own averages instead of the numbers agreed several years ago. Back in 2001 Czech republic were still outside the EU and Pavel Ondrasik, Pepe Franc, Adrian Rymel, Mike Makovsky, all came into their teams oon a 9 point average I was under the impression the 2.5% British rider discount had been dropped because it was deemed discrimation against EU citizens which is not allowed, in the matter of work it has to be a level playing field. IF the BSPA continue to ignore or flout Visa and Immigration rules the V & Is answer will be to stop issuing ANY visas for speedway use. Dont forget the current government policy, and one that is supported by a large percentage of the British population is to reduce immigration, because that isnt currently possible with EU citizens it switches the attention for the reduction to non EU citizens.

Hey there 'Former Devil' dont cut off your nose or indeed your horns to spite your face, Plymouth probably consistantly presents the best RACING in the UK , does it matter who is doing the racing as long as its gokod. A lot of that is down to unsung hero Nigel Prynne who works hiis socks off to prepare the best racing surface he can. I can only remember him making one serious error one afternoon at Trelawny when coming down the back straight he forgot to turn the wheel and left the track through the third bend fence. Penny Cross are you the lovely lady who takes some good piccys for The Herald? Come and enjoy close exciiting racing, maybe there will be a few hiccups along the way but its better than my permanent flatulence

On a lighter note, will he be the first Arthur since Arthur Browning

BSPA were told in August/September or October that their decision to apply a 5 point average was theres alone wwhile the agreement with the Visa people going as far back as 2000 was that non EU resident riders came into British speedway on a 7 point average and I believe that linked to it is a requirement that they meet the assessed average witnhi n 2 years, indeed I believe that in the early 00s tthe average was in fact 9. The V AND I Agency REQUIRE that speedway comply with the agreement and will not allow any variation from the agreement, non compliance could easily result in NO visas being issued for speedway riders to come into the UK One track cannot be allowed to flout the rules when the potential is there to destroy speedway in the UK

dont want to throw a handgrenade in BUT it dont add up. JACK HOLDER HAS TO COME IN ON A 7 POINT AVERAGE following the latest proclamation from the Visa and Immigration Agency as do ALL Non EU resident riders

Roland Benko will have Mark Simmonds looking after him at all meetings this year, that should get him on the correct gearing which I believe was a problem this season gone. I believe there is a lot of talent there, just needs some good advice, I would have loved to have got Eric Boocock looking after him, then you would see what I believe he is capable of. Dont forget he is still only 18, maybe 19. Not winding anyone up regarding Plymouth

Perhaps I am wrong but I thought Nick Morris had signed for Glasgow, Think the man will be returning from Edinburgh Jason Doyles work permit only allows him to ride for one team

Hopefully the first meeting at Plymouth will be the new #1s Testimonial night and we are putting together plans for a BIG meeting

PLymoutbh number one is signed, he rang me tonigght as is over the moon about coming to Plymouth. # IF some further plans come to fruition it will be difficult to gegt into SBA on opening night

It seems that a number of Council officers have latched onto the noise measurement from the Mildenhall Stadium court case, I believe it is 55dB but not sure of the other parameters, their reasoning the court case has set a legal precedent

Speedway have had a crisis in 59 when Mike Parker came into the fold after running so called Pirate meeting and the Premier League was born, a few years later tracks again went Pirate and the British League was born BUT the big difference was people wanted to see the product and there were local riders who were in the area 7 days a week. Now even home riders arrive at the track from wherever at 4, ride and go, there is no local presence available in local pubs, restaurants i.e Riders are not seen in the local community durin g the week and so there is no contact with the local community as there used to be. Speedway needs to become more involved in the local area so spectators can form a bond with our team. Kids used to drop into sheds and garages to give a hand cleaning bikes, leathers etc and spread the word at school about the sport. how about all tracks running a few BMX races at the end of meetings to get the local kids into the stadiums

A lot of speedways problems start and finish at ACU House in Rugby If you as a promoter ring the office during the lunch hour you receive a fine, why cant the staff lunch hours be staggered to provide a full day service? Letters that are sent to the BSPA sit in the office waiting for a managent team member to read them, in March a letter from the Visa and Immigration dept oif the British Government REQUIRED an answer by April 1, it was ignored and mightily P....Off the V&I Agency Speedway is now in the same category as your local Indian Takeaway A clear out is needed at Rugby and new staff that dont treat every day as POETS day need to be enployed Where else will you find a glorified secretary on a tad short of 50k

ALL new AUSSIES and Yanks to come in on assessed 7 no arguements

For many years theOTA track was prepared in such a way that you could use the full width and still win a race, for the past 18 months it has become a one line track and is it a coincidence that in that time crowd levels seem to have become depressed. The track man, I believe has changed would be nice to bring Eric Boocock back for a couple of days to put it back a few years.