Wolves boss behind radical change

Wolves boss Peter Adams has emerged as the architect behind speedway's radical 2009 points system.

The Monmore team boss sliding scale (see panel below) was the most revolutionary of a raft of changes agreed by the British Speedway Promoters Association.

Home teams will score up to three league points a match while an emphatic away win of seven points or more will net the visitors four points.

The new system aims to give more incentive to away teams, who can take at least one league point by keeping their losing margin to six points or fewer.

To help keep matches close, the double-point tactical substitute outing off a 15-metre handicap has been scrapped in favour of a second use of the tactical ride.

Adams claims his scheme was adopted unanimously by promoters at the annual general meeting.

He said: "Lots of them were talking about it being the most refreshing idea in years. One or two thought it might be a bit cumbersome but we need to grasp the nettle.

"There is a cross-subsidy in speedway where the away promoter pays his team up to a certain level and the home promoter tops it up.

"Visiting teams were losing matches by a couple of points and there was a double whammy in forking out all that money and getting nothing in return."

The change is also likely to play well with broadcasters Sky, who televise the sport.

Adams sees the two tactical rides – the first when 10 or more behind, the second 12 or more – as part and parcel of the drive for closer matches.

He said: "Now there are a lot more points to play for and you can get a very big swing. The tactical substitute ride was never a level playing field."

Other measures include the formation of a third tier for the sport, to be called the National League, and the anticipated 39.90 point team-building ceiling for Elite League clubs.