BRITISH SPEEDWAY STATEMENT
23 November 2005 - British Speedway Promoters Association

BSPA Chairman Pete Toogood has hailed a ''successful and constructive'' AGM after the sport''s promoters met in Tenerife this week to finalise arrangements for the 2006 season.

*The sport''s Management Committee remains unchanged and therefore comprises Toogood (Somerset), Vice-Chairman Chris Van Straaten (Wolverhampton), Matt Ford (Poole), Neil Machin (Sheffield) and Dave Pavitt (Isle of Wight).
*Neil Middleditch will continue as manager of Great Britain at over-21 level, with Peter Oakes remaining in charge of the under-21s.

*Reading are elevated to the Elite League, which will have a points limit of 40 (without bonus). This is a temporary reduction for 2006 due to the inclusion of an eleventh team.

*The Elite League will once again be decided by the play-off system which remains unchanged from 2005 and will feature the top four clubs. Clubs will meet home and away twice in the regular League season.

*The draw for the first round of the Elite League Knockout Cup is as follows:

Wolverhampton v Oxford
Swindon v Reading
Peterborough v Arena-Essex
Byes to second round: Belle Vue, Coventry, Eastbourne, Ipswich, Poole.
*After a successful Craven Shield competition at the conclusion of the 2005 season, this competition has been unanimously retained for next year.
*Mildenhall are elevated to the Premier League, which will have a points limit of 33 (without bonus) for the top five riders in the team, plus two graded British reserves. This is following the acceptance of a proposal from Peter Oakes regarding the progression of British youth.
*For the first time, the Premier League Championship will be decided by play-offs, which will be contested by the top eight clubs.
*The Premier Trophy has been retained with clubs split into two regional sections.
*The draw for the first round of the Premier League Knockout Cup is as follows:
King''s Lynn v Berwick
Rye House v Isle of Wight
Newcastle v Workington
Stoke v Somerset
Newport v Edinburgh
Byes to second round: Sheffield, Glasgow, Mildenhall
Second round draw:
King''s Lynn/Berwick v Rye House/Isle of Wight
Newcastle/Workington v Glasgow
Stoke/Somerset v Mildenhall
Newport/Edinburgh v Sheffield
*The tactical ride and tactical substitute ride facilities remain unchanged for both Elite and Premier Leagues in 2006.
*Venues have been confirmed for the following major events:
Championship of Great Britian - Belle Vue
Elite League Pairs - Swindon
Elite League Riders'' Championship - Poole
Premier League Pairs - Glasgow
Premier League Fours - Workington
Premier League Riders'' Championship - Sheffield

Toogood said: ''I am very pleased that we will have the same Management Committee in operation next season, and the continuity here will be good for the sport.

''It is good to see that we have another team elevated to the Elite League, and I am also pleased that Mildenhall have been elevated to the Premier League.

''The only change to the competitions next season is the fact that the Premier League will be decided by the play-off system which has proved to be so successful in the Elite League.

''Overall I regard this as having been a successful and constructive AGM and we look forward to another fine season in 2006.''

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