King’s Lynn Stars receive play-off boost after two-point deduction overturned
Stars' racer Kozza Smith. Picture: Ian Burt - Credit: IAN BURT
King's Lynn Stars' play-off hopes were given a huge boost this afternoon when their appeal for using Kozza Smith against Peterborough Panthers was upheld.
The Speedway Control Bureau had initially ruled the Australian was used inilegibly as a guest and removed his score of 13 from his side's winning total of 47. The decision effectively meant the Stars were docked two precious points while the Panthers gained three.
However, Lynn's hierarchy remained certain they had used Smith in good faith, and have been proved correct by the call to reinstate the original result which keeps the Norfolk side's top-four hopes alive while ending their fierce rivals play-off dreams in the process.
The SCB statement said: 'An ACU (Auto-Cycle Union) Court of Enquiry convened this morning at ACU House, Rugby to hear an appeal lodged by King's Lynn speedway against the decision of an SCB officer in regards to the fixture. The result of this meeting was amended as a result of Kings Lynn allegedly fielding an ineligible rider (Kozza Smith) as a guest for the missing (injured) Nicklas Porsing. The decision of the ACU Court was to uphold the appeal.
'The Court therefore ruled that the result of the meeting between Kings Lynn and Peterborough reverts to the result declared on the night (47-43) and that the meeting match points (Lynn two, Panthers one) be reinstated.'
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Owner Buster Chapman said he was 'over the moon' at the news and hailed it a 'refreshing victory for common sense'.
The city outfit had been handed all four Elite League points for the 43-34 victory but now have been ruled out of making the end-of-season showcase without even turning a wheel.
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The Stars, who were six points behind fourth-placed Lakeside Hammers, are now just four adrift with two meetings left. They have one fixture in hand on the Arena Essex outfit and Poole Pirates who sit fifth on 42.
