Byker Biker

Postal deliveries in my area have reduced to 2 or 3 times a week, fortunately I have a digital subscription so do not have to worry about my SS but upon enquiry to the local sorting office last week I was told that there were 35 employees who had either tested positive or were self isolating as a consequence of close contact - over 60% of the team! This may be the situation elsewhere in the postal service, clearly if it is all deliveries will be impacted.

Ignoring the critics on here who hold a perpetual dislike of his style of presentation

Less the VAT content? £12.95 less vat is £10.80, profit (if there really was any) is not a dirty word and on one event won't even dent the costs of the BSPL this year. No matter what (not you Grachan) they do they are still vilified for trying..

Why don't you just tell him to cuff off Laurence?

As long as they race I don't mind, another rubbish stirring post with love from Irrevelance from Birmingham....

Best get all the local authorities to agree then before the BSPA are held responsible, like I said it's no good one track opening if there is no-one to race against NDL challenges will not suit every track and there is at least 1 track whose lease agreement declares it must run Speedway at the highest possible level. Realistically the only clubs that may (subject to local authority permission having been granted) be in for criticism are those who are in complete control of their facilities and choose not to implement the safety steps and avoid racing. I'm no fan of the BSPA (L) but no criticism from me on this one, operating a business involving the general public under Covid 19 restrictions is a complete nightmare at the moment and cannot be compared with pre-lockdown in any size, shape or form - Speedway as we know it will not be the same unless restrictions are lifted, try to imagine how it will be with a one way system, everyone wearing masks and gloves, keeping between 1 and 2 metres apart and then have to sanitise every surface that the public have access to after each visit, dealing with those who choose not to comply particularly when those who do are screaming at those who won't and we're only a week into compulsory masks in retail. It goes on face shields, "spit" screens, rigorous employee temperature checks, detailed risk assessment, compliance self audit and review process, staff education and individual compliance records - oh yes the local authorities are on it big time and are using go pro type body worn cameras to visi retail premises to record social distancing measures and effective risk management with the power to issue immediate cessation orders and then put the evidence before a court. Time to give the BSPA a break on this one.

Then it's clear, if there was Speedway in Yarmouth then it could run but with no-one to race against as other local authorities haven't agreed then it's all pretty academic. How on earth the BSPA can be held responsible in the current climate I just don't know.

ffs!

Mind your fingers

I don't disagree entirely with your sentiment but don't criticise him for trying his best, the poisoned chalice doesn't taste any different - whoever you are

I have to be honest, I'm a mere layman when it comes to everyone else's expertise and knowledge with Covid 19 on here, oh how I wish I had the analytical nowse and scientific qualifications to keep up with the rest of you wonkers.

No

I have to say Phil the current format is a hit with me, I usually skip a fair bit of the results and track correspondents notes but I have found the current issues an excellent read, thank you.

I'm still waiting for mine !

By "track in a field" i mean the current Brandon track but without the overhead of maintaining a dilapidated facility. A modest rebirth is more financially sustainable and can grow organically like Scunthorpe, Leicester and Redcar as examples but restoring it to it's former glory will place an ongoing cost burden with the associated risk. There are enough examples of oval sports being staged in tired old stadiums commanding disproportionate rents that have proved unsustainable.

I have to be honest, IMHO I do feel the venue has a greater opportunity of success as a track without the overbearing costs of maintaining an old facility. Starting again from a track in a field will give it the freedom to go/grow it's own way. The cost of running the sport is more then enough but to have to meet modern legislative demands in an old facility could always threaten it's viability in the future. It may need to take more steps back before it can go forward nevertheless I do sincerely wish everyine connected with the campaign well and good fortune for a positive outcome.

It'll be the Duchess of Sherbourne back next!

I'm with you, unforgivable that the BSPA have created a virus so that they can achieve their own agenda! I thought they'd stop after they were deemed responsible for the climate change that rained off so many key meetings. J Arthur

Wow! Bit of a shot in the foot this Rob......

And I'd like to think the ACU would get a grip with a safeguarding and pastoral care programme across all disciplines which can be adequately outsourced on a pay as you go basis. Some of the programmes in place for the military and emergency services are yielding success with a reduction of self inflicted injury/loss of life, this isn't the place to explain in depth but "trauma" and "incident" management yields very positive results. Sincere condolences.

Correct and the riders/offshore clubs are protected by the ISLB fixture list "first logged first served" which is what maintains their self employed status for the time being. That's without the DMU, SVEMO, MA, AMA and other federation agreements.

I'm afraid not, the riders are free to work for whom and where they like, granted there may be argy bargy because the club that holds the registration wants to offer a team place and some newby promoter has made an illegal approach offering the rider brewsters to go elsewhere. The BSPA has an appeal process which runs all the way to the ACU but ultimately the rider will ride where he chooses and in my example the club owning the registration gets a loan fee and the club making an illegal approach gets a fine. If club A says you can have him on a transfer only basis then it goes to appeal. The process has been taken to Barristers by certainly one rider I know as well as the BSPA and has been acknowledged as legal and definately not a Bosman.

Then they shouldn't enter into contractual agreements or accept payments for anything other than the work they do. Service contracts have failed the statutory test of Self Employment so it's only a matter of time.

You could always go as one of your alter-egos

I think you know the answers to those questions already Dick