Wagstaff statement on Oxford track criticism.

The following statement has been made by Oxford Silver Machine promoter Nigel Wagstaff after reading comments in the Speedway Star on May 3 and having had time to reflect on the Good Friday/Easter Saturday fixtures between Oxford and Coventry.

"It is now to be accepted that the race surface at Cowley this season has not been up to the standard that would generally be expected in the Elite League. I'm sure many tracks in the past have experienced such problems for a variety of reasons. I would point out that, due to the inactivity at the Club during the close season, it was only after protracted negotiations and intensive discussions with numerous parties that in the middle of January a decision was made to run speedway at the Sandy Lane track.

"Without such dialogue the track may well have laid dormant and remained so for a number of seasons, thus threatening the viability of the Sky Sports Elite League. An offer was made to the incumbent track curator, Colin Meredith to continue in one of his two capacities of track curator, but due to other commitments and an offer from Peterborough he decided to leave. I don't think anyone at the club realised the implications of no remedial work being carried out through the winter and that a particularly dry February would have such a direct impact on the surface during the coming weeks.

"Having accepted that everything was far from perfect, the Oxford riders expressed a concern but have ridden and raced and performed to the highest level. I have to say had we not been so dominant at home there would not have been so much adverse reaction. It is with this in mind that I have personally, through the help of Martin Morbey, a loyal sponsor to the club who is the local golf professional at Drayton Park Golf Course and Mr McKenna of McKenna Plant, overseen extensive repair work to the track. This has been carried out over the week of Monday 28th April.

"Due to the heavy rain, especially on Thursday evening and Friday 2nd May, the scheduled meeting against Eastbourne had to be postponed. The Conference League match scheduled for Wednesday of this week was postponed too. I have utilised the counsel and observations of Todd Wiltshire and Travis McGowan, two of my riders, who felt from their initial reaction that the correct alterations have been made. The track will be in an embryonic stage and may have some teething problems, but I'm sure the correct decision has been made.

"The criticism that has been levelled at this Promotion on Good Friday regarding the dust was accepted but the advice of the riders was taken into account on the day and under the very difficult weather conditions and a delayed start, the situation was possibly no worse than at other tracks racing at a similar time. However, I do object to other Promoters who don't have the same financial commitment in the sport as myself speaking on the PA system ridiculing my business, especially when they hold positions of power and respect within the sport. I would also suggest that part of a sportsman's inner make up is accepting both success and failure and treating those impostors both the same. Someone rearranging the contours of the away changing room wall at Cowley, presumably through frustration at the result, is far from acceptable.

"The situation on the Saturday at Brandon which seemed to have ignited the fire between both clubs where in heat 8 Nicki's attempted pass on the two Coventry riders resulted in both Bee's coming off and Nicki being excluded, well, you pay your money and you take your choice and people have different opinions. I do know that after three laps Nicki felt there was a gap and an opportunity to pass both riders on the inside. Whether the delivery of his move was correct, I don't know, but what I do know is that Billy Hamill said to me after the meeting that he had tried that move on previous occasions although Nicki could have ridden the corner different.

"So Nicki made an error of judgement. I do not accept Billy Janniro's interpretation when he implied that Nicki's move was dangerous or that of Billy's in that he T-boned Stuart Robson. I think the scenario that followed may have been exciting for the fans but for a Promoter who I particularly held in the highest respect to allow himself to be manipulated into something that could have resulted in him being removed from his privileged position within our sport is disgraceful.

"I accept that at times within the emotionally charged atmosphere that we find ourselves, we all leave ourselves vulnerable, but I certainly refute the charges made by Janniro that I'm particularly unprofessional. I think there is a certain Pot calling the Kettle black and perhaps the new regime at Brandon have not only been putting excess pressure on their Promotion but have too many panes in their new glass house."