Workington Comets fans, without their speedway fix for five years, will have to get used to a new rule this season.
The Comets relaunch in the National Development League on May 13 – and fans and riders will see the introduction of a new rule.
British Speedway will bring in a new one-minute warning in order to speed up reruns following unsatisfactory starts.
Any race which is stopped where there is no incident such as a rider falling will have the time allowance for the rerun halved from the normal two minutes to just one.
SCB co-ordinator Neil Vatcher explained: “During the course of the close season the members of the BSP Ltd have been in consultation with the SCB regards regulation changes for the 2023 season, and one of the major points brought to the table was when there is an unsatisfactory start, and the race is stopped without any incident or accident.
“As with any other time allowance for the start of the race, previously the riders were allowed two minutes to return back to the start after the race had been stopped.
“The authorities were in agreement that where there has been no incident or accident, just an unsatisfactory start, there is no need to allow an extra two minutes for those riders to return to the start, and one minute would be sufficient.
“Therefore, for the 2023 season in the scenario of an unsatisfactory start without any incident or accident, the riders will be required to return back to the start line within one minute.”
The Comets’ new Northside track is looking forward to staging the semi-final of the British Under-21s Championship on Sunday, May 28.
The final is being staged by Glasgow and has been rearranged following the announcement of venues being confirmed for two of British Speedway’s popular Major Events in the coming season.
The Championship League Riders’ Championship will take place at Redcar on Sunday August 27 with a 5pm start, with that date selected for maximum availability of top riders.
Meanwhile the Championship Pairs will once again be staged at Oxford on the night before the British Grand Prix. The Cowley event takes place on Friday September 1 at 7pm.
The CLRC date also means a change for the British Under-21 Final at Glasgow, which will now move forward to Sunday July 16 at 2pm.
BSP Ltd Chairman Rob Godfrey said: “I know many people look forward to these events, and we’re very pleased with the dates with the CLRC on a Bank Holiday weekend, and of course the Pairs just before Cardiff as usual.
“I must place on record our thanks to Glasgow for their co-operation in agreeing to move the British Under-21 Final, without which we wouldn’t have been able to put together this schedule.
“Their assistance is very much appreciated, and we wish them well for the U21 final which I’m sure will be a great event as well.”
