Poles apart over the quarantine issues

QUARANTINE rules could keep speedway stars away from the British Premiership.

Coronavirus has forced many countries to adopt strict quarantine rules regarding international travel and it could adversely impact speedway here if the sports does resume.

With riders normally competing in different countries and multiple leagues over a course of a season, some may now have to choose where they compete.

In Poland, the world’s best riders are going through a 14-day quarantine before returning to training ahead of the season’s planned resumption on June 12.

One such rider is three-time world champion Nicki Pedersen, who was set to race for Sheffield Tigers in the Premiership as well as for GKM Grudziadz in the Polish Ekstraliga.

Tigers co-promoter Peter Mole said: “Poland have now got a system – because they can afford to run the top league behind closed doors – where they’ve got all the riders they want who aren’t Poland based.

“They now live in Poland and have to quarantine for two weeks and are living there while the season is on.

“We want Nicki Pedersen back. Our dream is to carry on with the team we signed this year, whether that’d be this season or even if the top league starts again next season. It would be great if every team could have the same line-up at the start of next season as we’re starting this one with.”

There is a growing consensus amongst UK speedway clubs that racing behind closed doors in this country is not financially viable.

Nevertheless, Mole does admit that the sport has not abandoned hope. “We’re still hopeful of staging speedway this season. Nobody’s given up on it and we’re still positive that maybe we can but I think quarantine would have some knock-on effects on teams’ strengths.”