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Bspa Scrap New Point Rule Elite League promoters have voted to scrap the rule limiting clubs to one rider with an average over 8.00 for 2012.
All 10 top flight clubs will come to the tapes next year and must build their seven-man teams to a 41-point limit.
This decision clears the way for Poole to retain Aussie sensations Chris Holder and Darcy Ward.
Meanwhile, Wolves won’t be forced to get rid of Freddie Lindgren, Tai Woffinden and Peter Karlsson, although it seems likely one will have to go to ensure the team isn’t too top-heavy.
Poole owner Matt Ford has left the BSPA management committee as expected, along with Sheffield’s Neil Machin. Ford remains a reserve member along with Scunthorpe’s Rob Godfrey and can join the main group in the absence of one of the regulars.
Edinburgh boss Alex Harkess remains as chairman and Lakeside co-promoter Jon Cook steps up to the role of vice-chairman.
Wolves owner Chris van Straaten returns to the management committee after a two-year absence. Newcastle’s George English keeps his spot and Sheffield co-promoter Dave Hoggart, who oversees the BSPA’s shared events programme, also joins the group.
One of the annual meeting’s major shocks sees the Elite League Best Pairs dropped from the calendar for 2012. The event at King’s Lynn in April, which was won by Holder and Ward, drew a disappointing crowd and was badly hit by rider absences.
But the Elite League Riders Championship stays and will take place at Swindon again. Wolverhampton will stage the British Final and their fellow Monmore Green tenants Dudley will run the British Under-21 Final at the same venue.
Sheffield stage the Premier League Riders Championship yet again, while the Premier League Fours returns to Peterborough. Somerset host the Premier League Pairs on August 24 – the night before the FIM British Grand Prix in Cardiff.
Poole team manager Neil Middleditch will serve as Team Great Britain boss again, while former rider Phil Morris and Lakeside team manager Neil Vatcher will oversee the nation’s under-21s.
King’s Lynn and Eastbourne will not contest the Elite League Knockout Cup, leaving seven clubs to fight holders Poole for the prize.
The Premier League title will be settled by play-offs next term. The top six clubs qualify and the teams will be split into two groups, with the leading two sides selecting their opponents. The club that finished top will have the first pick.
The winner of the two groups will fight for the championship in the two-legged final. There will be a separate end-of-season competition for the teams finishing seventh to 12th inclusive, which will be run with the same format as the title play-offs.
There will be 14 teams in the Premier League and they meet each other once home and away during the regular season.
Premier bosses have also voted to bring back the season-opening Premier Trophy competition. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Workington, Newcastle, Berwick, Redcar, Scunthorpe and Sheffield compete in the northern group, while Rye House, Plymouth, Somerset, Newport, Ipswich and Leicester are in the southern section.
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