Left seeing (three) stars

KO Cup weekend. The spirit of 80 – the year of Nig and the nomads, 89, the year of the Pirate sinkers. Thirty years of hurt and all that.

Just one problem and it’s a great big Glasgow Tigers-sized one. Oh, and Germany’s decision to put the United Kingdom on its Covid-19 High Incidence list.

Which means that anyone flying into Germany needs to have been fully vaccinated. Which means you need to have had your first jab between four and 12 weeks ago. Which would have meant a second jab this week.

Which would have saved Leon Flint, the Bandits and Great Britain a great deal of kerfuffle this week.

However, four to 12 weeks ago our 18-year-old rising superstar, didn’t know he was racing for Great Britain Under-23 in the European Final at Brokstedt.

Not that it would have mattered as the rules regarding entry into Germany were different when he, at the first opportunity available to an 18-year-old sportsman, offered an arm for a squirt of Astra Zeneca’s finest (other vaccinations are available). A day which decided the date that the second jab will be proffered and Leon can join those of us more in our dotage as a member of the fully vaxxed club.

But when Germany moved its Covid torpfosten last weekend a simple plan involving stepping aboard a plane on Sunday morning went Tirpitz up in spectacular fashion.

That Sunday morning flight, lasting a little over an hour, would have followed a Saturday night cup second leg at Shielfield.

But, and just to show that it’s not just in the four nations of the UK that joined-up thinking on Covid is noticeably Missing in Action, entry to Germany by road from a fellow EU country needs proof of a negative Covid test rather than a vaxx card in a diddy little laminated pouch.

So to summarise. Problem: Travelling Northumberland to Schlesweig-Holstein. Solution on Tuesday morning: Sunday flight UK to northern Germany, leisurely drive to Brokstedt. Solution on Tuesday afternoon: Saturday afternoon flight UK to Prague. Wait for Pardubice-based mechanic to find enough koruna for the short-stay car park, board van for 430-odd mile drive through the former east Germany.

So no cup second leg. Still, at least the Bandits can book a guest. Yup, one who is 3* Rising Star or less, or unattached, isn’t Dan Gilkes, Jordan Palin or Drew Kemp – along with 4* Tom Brennan and Leon on GB duty – and doesn’t ride for Eastbourne, Plymouth, Leicester or Birmingham, or already been booked as a guest by one of the four teams also in action on Saturday.

As it happens Poole’s Danyon Hume fits the bill and was quite happy to make the trip north from Buckinghamshire. Inspired by the Bandits’ call, the 25-year-old celebrated with a Championship career-high 12+1 at Kent.

No such problems for our visitors who have Ben Barker guesting for the injured Ulrich Ostergaard in both meetings before facing us again on Sunday as part of his normal job as Newcastle number one.

The reason GB came a-calling for Wor Leon is his stunning start to the 2021. Which has lifted him to fifth in the Bandits averages on the new green sheet averages which kick-in on August 1. Which is the day we visit Newcastle – and Leon rides in Germany for GB.

Fine you say. Just get a decent guest using his new average and Bob’s your Auntie Vera after successful gender reassignment.

Which doesn’t take into account the vagaries of British Speedway regulations – and in particular those regarding the Rising Star system.

For it turns out a missing rising star can only be replaced by a rising star on an equivalent or lesser grading or an unattached rider. Regardless of what their current average may be.

Bandits team manager Gary Flint was, to say the least, a conflicted man this week.

On one hand as father Flint he is proud as punch to see his son becoming a regular part of the GB set-up. Pride also as Berwick Speedway promoter in the club’s first home-grown international talent.

But as Bandits’ team manager he has suffered frustration after frustration as the sport’s rules and regs grabbed a baseball bat, swung wildly and left, right, centre, top and bottom connected smashed every attempted answer to the conundrum of how to replace our young talisman.

Whichever way we looked the regs stepped in and said No.

Kye Thomsen (at Newcastle) and Ashley Morris (at Redcar)? Suitable averages but not 3* Rising Stars or less so No. Dan Thompson? 1*, currently averaging around six so pretty much a like for like replacement. But … guested for Redcar at Newcastle last Sunday so ineligible under the seven day rule.

It could be worse – in fact it may be before the season is done as the undoubtedly well-intentioned but poorly executed rules of a scheme with the laudable and much-needed intention of opening up opportunities for more British riders, especially in the Championship, may be further tested.

If, as is far from fantasy, Leon continues his progress to the point that he tops the Bandits’ averages and Simon Stead came calling again with GB racejacket in hand then we would still only be able to replace Leon with a 3* or less rider.

Someone like Jack Smith for example. An unlikely number one for the Bandits. Daytonas on the other foot and if Jack was unavailable then Plymouth would have the option of using any 3* or less rider in place him at number seven. For example Leon Flint, Berwick’s number one, a more than useful number seven for the Gladiators.

Madness. But, and it’s a big but, not a reason to abandon what remains a worthy scheme and one which needs to be in place for at least the next five years. But there has to be a very close look at some of the anomalies thrown up by the huge strides forward by some, including but not limited to Leon, Tom Brennan, Dan Thompson and Jordan Palin which seem to have caught the law-makers on the back foot.

Surely a simple, and sensible, tweak should be that anyone missing a meeting to represent Great Britain can be replaced by a rider of equal or less average – regardless of their involvement in the Rising Star scheme, or even nationality.

Last word from Shielfield Central was that old pal Rodney “Slash” Rammstein will be returning at Brough Park after a couple of weeks on the sun lounger. Dear old R/R, a man for all seasons.

Right. 7pm Saturday second leg. One cash gate, one (much quicker entry) to scan pre-bought tickets, season passes valid. Weather inquiries to club@berwickspeedway.com