THE Somerset Rebels have been forced to re-think their team plans for 2014 after the speedway authorities decreed that new signing Brady Kurtz would start the season with the club on a 5.00 average rather than the 3.00 figure which is normally applied to Australian riders with dual British nationality.

After originally being thwarted by red tape in his attempt to join Somerset this time last year, Kurtz, who is eligible for such dual Australian/British nationality, decided to wait a season before come to join the Rebels for the 2014 campaign.

Despite the Kurtz family receiving confirmation from the BSPA Office in Rugby that Brady's wish to ride in Denmark during 2013 would not affect his proposed 2014 3.00 starting average with Somerset, the fact he then attained a riding average with the Danish authorities meant that Brady would no longer be eligible for that 3.00 average.

Instead a 5.00 figure would be applied, something, it would appear, that the BSPA Office failed to make the Kurtz family or the Somerset promotion aware of.

Somerset promoter Debbie Hancock said: “We were then informed by way of an email a couple of days ago that the BSPA had decided that Brady would now be classed as a 5.00 point assessed rider than the previously advised 3.00 figure due to him attaining a Danish average.

“I know that Brady's father, Steve, had followed everything as originally laid down by the BSPA Office to ensure that Brady did not fall foul of any of the guidelines that had been set, which included his riding in the Danish Elite League, but even though he has complied with those guidelines, the fact he attained that Danish average changed everything, even though we nor Brady's family were made aware of that when originally confirming matters with the BSPA Office.”