JONATHAN Chapman has labelled Bjarne Pedersen a 'prima donna' after blaming the Pirates star for playing a major role in getting the Elite League Best Pairs' Championship called off.

King's Lynn's co-promoter tarred most of the 18-man field with the same brush after the first meeting of the Super 7even series was controversially washed out at the Norfolk Arena on Saturday.

But Pedersen hit back by claiming the Saddlebow Road circuit was "too icy and dangerous" for the event to go ahead after a heavy downpour 20 minutes before tapes up had saturated an already heavily watered track.

Poole Castle Cover's spearhead was also angry because he alleged Chapman had shouted to him after the postponement: Riders have too much money. It's all about the money with you guys, not the paying public.' Pedersen, who had been due to defend Poole's title alongside Davey Watt, said: "When we walked out on the track it was like ice.

"So I can't understand why the promoter and track staff were so angry the riders wanted it called off because it was too dangerous.

"If you look back at last year's Elite League Riders' Championship here, the track had got a bit too much water on it.

"It was like ice and there were four or five crashes before they stopped the racing and worked on the track to make it better.

"It would have been just like that this time, so I asked if they could put some fresh material (shale) on it.

"But the promoter said to me the meeting was off because you, Leigh Adams and a couple more riders whose names I didn't hear don't want to ride'.

"Then he said we have too much money, but I said it's not about the money, it's just about the safety side of it'."

Pedersen added: "The ref (Dave Dowling) said conditions were too dangerous.

"It's not that big money is this event anyway. It's more to do with running a big meeting in England with the top riders. It's really wrong to say we have too much money.

"It's completely out of order for him to say that. We are looking at safety, not money."

Chapman, who was staging his last meeting as Super 7even series director before voluntarily relinquishing the role, said: "I think these guys will push their luck as far as they can with a referee.

"As far as I could see they (the riders) didn't even walk out on the track before they said it needed blading.

"Our track man said it didn't need blading, it needed the rippers. They then only walked out on the track because they had asked to see the ref. Then they said it was okay, it needed the rippers.

"The riders chose to rip it, including Bjarne and Leigh, but low and behold, 20 minutes later when we are ready to race and the ref is saying the track is fine, Bjarne says to me it needs blading.

"I said Bjarne, you said it needs rippers and now you want it blading.' I added don't you think the paying public deserves to see you ride'?"

Chapman, who only decided not to run King's Lynn in the top flight this year shortly before the BSPA's winter conference, added: "I have no time for Elite League riders, they are all prima donnas, although Jason Crump is one exception in my eyes.

"I have dealt with a lot of Elite League meetings now with the Super 7even. I know it's a dangerous sport and I will never disrespect a rider, but it is two-way traffic.

"They (the riders) all keep doing it (forcing referees to call meetings off).

"They must have forgot there was prize money here.

"Bjarne can be as upset with me as he likes, but I'm just as upset with Bjarne."