Bates says the good of the sport is No.1 priority

WITH the planned start to the new British Speedway season now just three months away, club owners will link up tomorrow through Zoom for the sport’s Annual General Meeting, writes Alan Jones.

Leicester’s joint-owner Damien Bates has vowed to put the overall good of the sport above personal interests.

Bates, who is in charge of the Watling JCB Lions as well as Premiership Sheffield, says it’s more important than ever for promoters to look at the bigger picture.

After losing an entire league season to the pandemic last year, bosses are planning on a spring re-launch following the start of vaccinations to combat the virus.

Bates said: “Speaking from a personal perspective, I will be supporting proposals which are for the good of the sport throughout the UK, this year and for years to come.

“These are changing times and we have to adapt to protect the long-term future of this wonderful sport.

“I won’t be supporting anything just because it benefits Sheffield or Leicester, I will only be supporting what is good for British Speedway and in my own mind I know what that is.

“We are gripped by a pandemic, we are up against a changing landscape with riders ruled out thanks to Poland and we need to come together for the greater good of the sport. If that means a change or two along the way then so be it.”

A new rule introduced recently by the Polish authorities has meant that a rider who is contracted to a club in Poland’s top division will only be allowed to race in just one other league in 2021.

Previously riders have had the freedom to race in four or more of Europe’s top leagues but will now have to choose between Sweden, Denmark or the UK as their secondary team.

Fortunately, the new ruling will not have an impact on the Lions team as none of their current team members race for a club in Poland.

Only one minor change is envisaged from the side that was assembled to defend the league title they won in October 2019 following the announcement by Ellis Perks that he was taking a break from competitive racing.

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