Tim Stone, Newport Wasps promoter, has lodged a protest with the sport's governing body, the British Speedway Promoters' Association, following yesterday afternoon's two-point home Premier League defeat by Workington Comets.

And Stone is demanding that the meeting be rerun.

The argument surrounded the non-use of Danish rider Mads Korneliussen in a rider replacement role for the injured Tony Atkin.

Stone said: "The referee (Robbie Perks) stopped us from using Korneliussen as a rider replacement because Kristian Lund and Tony had the same average.

"We have been told by the BSPA that Lund, for team purposes, is below Atkin. A protest from Workington overturned that which means that Lund was one below Tony, but one above which meant we couldn't use Mads.

"I have since had it confirmed by the BSPA statistician, and the referee had it confirmed as well - unfortunately after the meeting - that Atkin's average is 6.328 and Lund is 6.327 which means we were correct and Mads should have ridden.

"I have lodged a protest with the referee and deposited my cheque. The referee will make a report and in view of the fact that we lost by only two points I am demanding that the match be rerun.

"We only needed one point from a rider replacement to gain a draw. If there is any justice this match must be rerun."

It was not the best of starts for the Wasps, suffering two maximum heat defeats in the first four races, South Australian Brett Woodifield setting the scene for his spectacular meeting of a paid 20 from seven races, putting some of his more experienced teammates to shame.

Wasps led by two points going into the final two heats but a maximum for Woodifield and Kauko Nieminen, who has twice guested successfully for the Wasps this season, and then a shared heat sealed Wasps' fate.

Neil Street, Wasps team manager, said: "It was a damn shame that we lost after such a battle."

Carl Wilkinson continued his comeback by gaining a paid eight from seven rides - his best since a similar score against Exeter in the Knock-out Cup in mid-May.

And that after failing to score in his opening ride but it was followed by a heat win over reserve James Wright and heat leader Simon Stead in race six which squared the scores at 18-18.

Earlier, at the end of heat four, Wasps trailed by eight points but they failed to use a tactical ride in the following heat, which resulted in a 5-1 from Wilkinson and Pavel Ondrasik.

Captain Craig Watson then teamed up with Wilkinson for a 4-2 success to put Wasps ahead a 22-20 for the first time. This was followed by six all-square heats and then the fateful heat 14 tipped the scales in the Comets favour.

Watson won the final heat but partner Kristian Lund was out of the frame and although Wasps suffered defeat it was yet another cracking home meeting but it seems that the fans only turn out to watch a winning side and not one rooted to the foot of the table.

Now the Wasps face a tough week three days on the road, starting in Glasgow on Thursday, followed by Edinburgh and on to the border for a meeting with Berwick. The return against Edinburgh on Sunday will start at 4pm followed by a Conference League clash with Scottish club Armadale.

Wasps: Pavel Ondrasik 5+2 (4), Tony Atkin (rider replacement), Kristian Lund 10+2 (6), Mads Korneliussen 6+1 (4), Craig Watson 13 (5), Carl Wilkinson 7+1 (7), Barrie Evans 3 (4).

Comets: Carl Stonehewer 5+2 (4), Aidan Collins 2 (3), Rusty Harrison 0 (3), Kauko Nieminen 8+1 (5), Simon Stead 9+1 (5), James Wright 3+1 (3), Brett Woodifield 19+1 (7).