Today's Elite Riders' Championship was cancelled at late notice due to problems with the Coventry Speedway track.

King's Lynn Stars trio Rory Schlein, Niels-Kristian Iversen and Kenneth Bjerre were due to be part of the 16-man line-up, with Schlein the reigning champion.

But 'absolutely humiliated' Coventry promoter Mick Horton decided to cancel the event because the track was in a 'totally unacceptable' state to host the event.

In a statement posted on the Coventry Bees' website Horton said: 'I have made the decision today that the teams representing Coventry Speedway will not be taking to the track at Brandon until such time as the stadium bring in the correct and proper track curator to prepare our track.

'The track has been totally unacceptable. I am embarrassed and humiliated and I am not prepared to take all of the criticism because this is 100 per cent down to the stadium.

'They got rid of our old track curator and brought in a new one and it simply hasn't worked. I am totally humiliated and can only apologise.

'I have told the stadium staff what the situation is – it's destroying me. We said early this morning that the track should be bladed but they decided to let it dry and pack it, and it was still rubbish.

'Television were here and I have taken a lot of criticism, and I know I'm going to get the flak. But I want to make it very clear that this was totally out of my control, this was 100 per cent down to the stadium.

'They brought in the track staff and assured Coventry Speedway that this track curator and track staff team was the best that we could get. The rest is history – it has been a total shambles starting on Friday with the Storm match and now on Sunday for a major national event.

'There is no way that I will allow a Coventry team on that track until it is correct, and until that time, until it is in a suitable condition to race on, we will decline any further shared events or TV meetings.

'In all my years of speedway, this is my lowest moment. I feel absolutely humiliated by something that is totally out of my control.'