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Elite Riders Championship - 25/09/2014


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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 w

 

 

 

as 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.”

 

 

Blah, blah blah and more blah. At the end of the day the speedway supporters get shafted. Could care less who the blame is shifted to - I as a spectator deserve better than the shoddy actions to date from the people who "run" in inverted comma's who run this this so called sport - guys lining their pockets.

Horton you just another pawn in this embarrassing episode .

 

Makes Sky look rubbishe too.

 

So what, only the true supporters seem to care hey !

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Neil,Watson and mick Horton I must apologise for my posts previously referring to you as muppets- of course you should be laurel and hardy .

 

That's a disgraceful thing to say. Laurel and Hardy were total professionals, and masters of their art.

 

Watson and Horton are more Mike and Bernie Winters.

 

 

 

And that rubbish from Horton doesn't wash with me.

If there is a serious accident at a Coventry meeting, it's the promoter who ends up in the coroner's court. A feeble excuse of I didn't prepare the track won't wash. It's his ultimate responsibility.

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Surely the BSPA were aware of these problems?

Good point Rob! Seeing it was an SGB event they bloody well should be!

It's fine for BSPA loving journos to post on social media about the track man, but the buck needs to stop much further up the chain, not with the stadium for employing him, not with Horton for believing the stadium but with the event promotion!

Common sense have someone at stadium Friday to check all well, when obviously it wasn't as clearly stated on here (and we know that senior BSPA figures watch this site like a hawk) then you still have almost 48 hours to address the problem. Don't just show up 2 hours before the event to hob nob it and act amazed when track not fit for purpose.

 

Failure to prepare - prepare to fail (again)

 

So pleased I'm not involved with the sport I adored for years. Feel sorry for those who again have been ripped off!

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It's no good parts of the sport pointing fingers at others. The sport as a whole had the job of ensuring this meeting was properly staged. Apportioning individual blame is irrelevant although I do feel some sympathy for the Bees' promotion.

 

Surely these behind the scenes problems were known in wider circles outside Coventry and surely Friday night's problems must have sounded alarms?

 

If your flagship seasonal launch is threatened unnecessarily surely you intervene to make sure it's dealt with?

 

absolutely spot on..

 

the only issue though is 'who' intervenes??

 

simply no leadership in the sport, no one person takes the big bold decisions that need to be made..

 

rudderless ship.....

 

and its sinking fast....

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I agree with Mick Horton 100%. One of the stewards tonight told me the same thing. I am a Bees supporter living 150 miles away so I have had a very long day with a disappointing end to it. Ironic that Peter York drew the short straw of giving out the bad news. One small crumb of comfort is that they have offered refunds if you send your tickets to the BSPA.

 

Tonight was embarrassing for Brandon, embarrassing for Sky Sports and embarrassing for Speedway.

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The Storm meeting a shambles, today a complete shambles and now Horton stating no Coventry team will take to the track until the owners fix the situation. Conspiracy theorists are gonna have a field day. It certainly does read = Coventry Closed to me.

 

Can't see the stadium owners spending money they feel they don't have to

Edited by screamer
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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.”

 

Translated means 'We're off down the A47'.

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absolutely spot on..

 

the only issue though is 'who' intervenes??

 

simply no leadership in the sport, no one person takes the big bold decisions that need to be made..

 

rudderless ship.....

 

and its sinking fast....

Sunk Mike unfortunately!

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To top it off Middlo is on twitter saying right decision as rider safety comes first! Yeh course it does you clown but you were more than happy to race 10 heats on a totally unrideable track at Belle Vue not giving a monkeys about safety until the league points were in the bag! Man is a clown!

 

 

:D:approve:

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That's a disgraceful thing to say. Laurel and Hardy were total professionals, and masters of their art.

 

Watson and Horton are more Mike and Bernie Winters.

 

 

 

And that rubbish from Horton doesn't wash with me.

If there is a serious accident at a Coventry meeting, it's the promoter who ends up in the coroner's court. A feeble excuse of I didn't prepare the track won't wash. It's his ultimate responsibility.

 

You are totally correct - sorry to tar the great laurel and hardy with the likes of Horton and Watson !

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And that rubbish from Horton doesn't wash with me.

If there is a serious accident at a Coventry meeting, it's the promoter who ends up in the coroner's court. A feeble excuse of I didn't prepare the track won't wash. It's his ultimate responsibility.

I guess it's down to what Mike Horton bought from Sandu. It appears he has the right to run meetings but the infrastructure, including track preparation, remains the responsibility of the stadium owners. This has not been clear (to me at least) in the past and I must say is an astounding business arrangement. What recourse does Mike Horton have in the event of a poorly prepared track as we have seen today? None or very little or would seem. Perhaps Sandhu should make a suitable refund to Mike Horton and let him have sole responsibility for track preparation. Then he can employ who he wishes and would more clearly carry the can in the event of a cock up like that which we've seen today

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The Storm meeting a shambles, today a complete shambles and now Horton stating no Coventry team will take to the track until the owners fix the situation. Conspiracy theorists are gonna have a field day. It certainly does read = Coventry Closed to me.

Can't see the stadium owners spending money they feel they don't have to

all home meetings to be held on Fridays at the east of England Showground you see as with the Xmas meeting switched to Pboro
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To top it off Middlo is on twitter saying right decision as rider safety comes first! Yeh course it does you clown but you were more than happy to race 10 heats on a totally unrideable track at Belle Vue not giving a monkeys about safety until the league points were in the bag! Man is a clown!

 

Give it a rest Gav - everyone is saying the same as Middlo!!

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What planet are you on? The Showground can barely support one set of fixtures let alone two.

can see it happening why wait 3 years it s obvious what' will happen ok wasn't going to happen till Brandon closed in 3 years but it could be a lot sooner than that
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Give it a rest Gav - everyone is saying the same as Middlo!!

not saying that we know the cov track isn't rideable and has quite rightly been called off. It just grates that Middlo goes on twitter talking bout safety when quite clearly he was happy to race on a soaked track that was dangerous. Sorry but the man is two faced
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