The Eagles team for 2009
| 1...Davey Watt (8.15)
2...David Norris (5.91)
3...Cameron Woodward (5.41)
4...Lewis Bridger (5.11)
5...Ricky Kling (4.90)
6...Simon Gustafsson (4.28)
7...Denis Gizatullin (4.00)
Total points 37.76 |
A message from the
promoters
You will have all had time to study our
selected seven which Trevor and I are sure many of you will not agree with. But
you must understand for Eastbourne, racing on a Saturday night and the majority
of riders racing in Poland on a Sunday, it’s not easy. However we are confident
that it is a brilliant team for 2009 - 5 of our seven are under 25 years old and
improving year on year, as does Davey who won’t let us down.
David Norris returns - nobody was more surprised than us when told David wanted
to race again and was adamant that it would only be for Eastbourne. With a
10.5% reduction on his average for being British and out of the saddle for a
season it gave an opportunity we could not afford to miss, especially as he is
so determined to get back to his best (which made him the highest scoring Eagle
of all time) you would be a fool not to grab such an opportunity with both
hands. His addition to the team carries an extra bonus as it leaves us some
slack - if any rider is not cutting the mustard we can make changes - but we
believe that won’t be necessary!
Trevor and I put 27 different teams down
after we received Edward’s transfer request.
We looked at numerous aspects to determine what would give us the best
opportunity to be a force to be reckoned with. Anybody who thinks cost came
into our selection consider this - 2 Australians, 2 Swedes and 1 Russian, bring
a legend out of retirement and kept the best British rider at Eastbourne – if
you think this comes cheap you couldn’t be more wrong.
Trust in us we’ve done the very best we can in difficult times. It only remains
to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a successful team for 2009. OH COME
ALL YE FAITHFUL! Trevor, Bob our families and our band of willing helpers; it’s
a time of goodwill to all men, especially our seven!
Eagles reject "joke" offer for Kennett
Eastbourne Eagles have turned down a £20,000 offer for Edward
Kennett.
Promoter Bob Dugard said he had no hesitation knocking back the bid from
Coventry Bees.
Now he admits the rider, who requested a move two weeks ago, might have to go
out on loan.
Eagles and Lakeside Hammers have already finalised their Elite League
line-ups for next season and places are quickly being filled elsewhere.
Dugard, who has revised his asking price for Kennett down to £45,000, said:
“Coventry offered £20,000. That’s an absolute joke. We will not sell him for
that.
“He would have to go out on loan somewhere and there is no guarantee that
would be to Coventry. He would go to whoever gave us the best offer of a loan
fee.”
Eagles’ new line-up, which includes a comeback for David Norris, has received
stinging and widespread criticism from fans posting on speedway websites.
Dugard, however, said: “Myself and (team manager) Trevor Geer have been doing
this for a long time and people should trust our judgement. We will now let the
dust settle and have a look at the other teams being put together.
“I’ve seen Lakeside and it looks very good on paper but they are lacking at
the bottom end.
“We went through a whole year with potentially one weak link and they
possibly have a couple. That will be hard to overcome.”
Dugard is still waiting for confirmation from the BSPA as to who he will have
at reserve alongside Simon Gustafsson.
He still expects Russian champion Denis Gizatullin to come in on a five-point
average, meaning Ricky Kling would be at reserve.
However the BSPA are listing Gizatullin at 4.00 on their website, which would
give him a reserve berth while on-loan Kling goes into the main body of the
team.
Dugard said: “Gizatullin at reserve would be good for us but I would not
trust that figure at the moment.
Norris ready and raring to go
Arlington legend David Norris has
reassured his army of fans he is fully fit to ride again for Eastbourne Eagles.
The club’s record points scorer has
signed up for a comeback, little more than a year after retiring due to a
culmination of head and neck injuries.
Norris, 36, has been given the all-clear
by his doctor, received backing from his family and done a deal with promoter
Bob Dugard to complete Eagles’ line up for next season.
He will be joined in the pits by former
on-track sidekick Dean Barker, who will be acting as his mechanic.
Norris’ decision to return to the
unforgiving world of no-brakes bike racing will delight many of his fans around
the Arlington terraces and British speedway in general It might also alarm a
few.
He appeared to have walked away from the
sport after the last in a series of crashes in mid-season 2007, when he waved to
fans on all sides of Arlington Stadium on his way back to the pits after picking
himself up from the shale on the third bend.
That gesture was seen by many present
that night as a star rider waving goodbye to his public. He has not raced since.
He announced his retirement at the end of
October last year, though he returned to the pits for a short stint as mechanic
to Lewis Bridger.
For almost two decades he was one of the
finest and most exciting riders in the league.
The locally-born racer made his Eagles
debut back in 1988 and broke Gordon Kennett's record for total points scored in
a home win over rivals Poole on Good Friday, 2007.
He has always kept the door to a comeback
slightly ajar and seemed slightly irked that he could not stage a farewell
meeting until late 2009 at the earliest.
Now he is back as the final piece of a
line-up which has been the subject of a re-think after Edward Kennett put in a
transfer request two weeks ago.
Norris said: “I could get on a bike
tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to racing again. I want to lose 5kg but I
never usually start training until January anyway.
“It is what it is. It’s wind the throttle
on and turn left. Maybe having been away I won’t be as intense about it as I was
before.
“The timing is right to come back. In two
years’ time I’ll be too old to do this.
“I’ve seen my doctor. I was more nervous
about seeing him than anything because I consider him to be a friend.
“He just said he had no problems with it.
He said ‘it’s your life to live’.
“My wife has given me her blessing as
much as she can. She is right behind me and the kids are excited about it.”
Norris, like all riders, will have to
pass a medical before being allowed to start the Elite League season.
He comes in on a modest average 5.58
after receiving an 8% reduction due to not having raced last season.
Dugard said: “There will be reservations
from some people but as far as I and (team manager) Trevor Geer are concerned we
are both confident he can fill a massive void.
“We will get him practising as soon as we
can.
“David will know himself if he doesn’t
measure up but I'm elated he wanted to come back.”
The club have done a deal to help buy two
bikes worth a total of £8,000 from GP rider Hans Andersen in Denmark though
Norris insists reports that he had already shelled out that money before signing
are wide of the mark.
He said: “We have done a deal. I’m very
happy.
“I said what I would like and Bob
bettered it. He looked after me good as gold.”
Norris will continue his day job as an
electrician but is now likely to pull out of the running for the vacant post of
Great Britain team manager.
Eagles 2009: Watt (capt), Bridger,
Woodward, Gizatullin, Norris, Gustafsson, Kling
Martin Dugard rules out becoming Eagles boss
Martin Dugard has ruled out an immediate
move into management at Eastbourne Eagles.
But he insists he will still be around to
help out.
The former British GP winner and star
Eagles rider has been asked by his father and club boss Bob to take a
co-promoter’s role ahead of the 2009 season.
Dugard junior, who undertakes an array of
unsung tasks during the week and on race nights, said: “I’m still around to
help.
“I’m not interested in running the thing
at the moment.
“At some stage I could be but not at the
moment.”
Meanwhile, Martin Dugard admits there is
no prospect of the Brighton Bonanza, or Indoor Speedway as it was called last
season, making a quick return.
The ten-year-old pre-Crristmas event did
not take place this time around after he failed to agree terms with the
Brighton Centre.
Dugard said: “I’ve been trying to find
different dates and a different venue but they are hard to come across. The hunt
goes on
Eagles move in on Kling
By Brian Owen
Eastbourne Eagles expect to sign Swedish
reserve Ricky Kling on loan from Lakeside tonight.
Kling has been left out of the Hammers’
new line-up and, subject to agreeing personal terms, will come in alongside
compatriot Simon Gustafson at the bottom of the Eagles’ order.
That leaves Arlington supreme Bob Dugard
with just one place left in his line-up and about six average points with which
to work.
Kling is in Sussex today and will meet
Dugard to discuss a one-year deal.
Dugard said: “Ricky would probably say
himself Arlington is his favourite track.
“We definitely want him. I’vet wanted him
for weeks. He has got to be more solid on a 4.90 average than bringing in a
three or four-pointer.
“I know he is very excited about coming
to us and I don’t envisage any sticking points.”
The under-rated Kling averaged 6.24 paid
points per four rides in all matches for the Hammers last season as they reached
the finals of both the Elite League play-offs and Craven Shield.
The 21-year-old from Mallila had a very
creditable 38 wins or paid wins in 160 rides and, as in 2007, proved he can be a
handy performer at Arlington.
In three visits to Sussex last term, he
won the reserves’ race twice, had victories over Lee Richardson and Cameron
Woodward and posted scores of 8+2 (5), 9+1 (7) and 7+2 (5) for an average of
6.82 including bonuses.
Kling would join Davey Watt, Lewis
Bridger, Denis Gizatullin, Woodward, Gustafson and one other.
Last season’s Eagles skipper Richardson
will spearhead the new Lakeside one-to-seven. He joins Adam Shields, Jonas
Davidson and Joonas Kylmakorpi in a strong looking top four.
Kauko Nieminen and reserve Stuart Dobson
are also on board, with the last reserve spot to be shared between Chris Mills
and another rider to be named.
Meanwhile Dugard admits he is yet to do a
deal to offload wantaway Edward Kennett, for whom he has set a reduced asking
price of £45,000.
Kennett has admitted he would like to
ride for Coventry.
He had also been linked with
Peterborough, but the Panthers’ promoter Mick Bratley has described Dugard’s
asking price as ludicrous.
Bratley added: “I know some people think
I’m stupid, but I can assure them I’m not that stupid. We were briefly
interested in Kennett but then someone else became available who we preferred.
Denis heading back to
Arlington
9:00am Tuesday 9th December
2008
By Brian Owen
Eastbourne Eagles look set to bring back
Denis Gizatullin for next season as they re-think their team building plans.
Arlington chief Bob Dugard has been
knocked back by Coventry in an audacious move to sign Rory Schlein in exchange
for Edward Kennett, who has requested a transfer.
Now Dugard is splashing out on Gizatullin,
the Russian champion who rode once for Eagles in 2007.
If the 24-year-old completes formalities,
that would leave room below the average points limit for Eastbourne to make
further changes.
Sergey Darkin and Appe Mustonen would be
left out, with Eagles lining up an alternative second string and reserve.
Eagles would not need to stump up a
transfer or loan fee for Gizatullin.
But they would have to provide him with a
van, bikes, accommodation and regular flights.
Dugard insists: “It would no longer be a
cut-price team but if you want to try and win titles you have to spend some
money.”
Team manager Trevor Geer is in contact
with Gizatullin through the rider’s English-speaking compatriot Roman Povazhny,
Bringing in Schlein, who enjoys riding at Arlington, would have been a major
coup for Eastbourne but he is now a confirmed starter for Coventry.
Kennett, who asked for a move last week,
is still keen to join the Bees although Eagles are keen on a permanent deal
rather than a loan.
Dugard said he has reached agreement to
sell Kennett to Peterborough for £45,000 but added: “He doesn’t want to go
there.
“Coventry are his only choice and we are
still waiting for a call from them.”
Eagles skipper wants team spirit
New skipper Davey Watt reckons Eastbourne
must take a tip from their arch rivals if they want to battle for Elite League
honours next season.
The Poole Pirates asset has rejoined
Eagles for a third loan stint ahead of the 2009 campaign.
Watt heads back east as a reigning league
champion after helping Poole top the regular season table, then hammer closest
rivals Lakeside in the final of the play-offs.
The powerhouse Dorset outfit attract the
best crowds in the league and were many people’s tips for silverware even before
the campaign started.
Watt, though, insists the title might
have eluded them had they not shown the sort of team spirit he now wants to see
at Arlington, where Eastbourne will be hoping to finish in the top six and reach
the new look play-offs.
He said: “We had a lot of success at
Poole but I was riding with a bunch of guys who all got on very well.
“They were really supportive of each
other and that was key to our success last season.
“I don’t particularly think we had the
best team on paper.
“We were top heavy, as a lot of people
were pointing out, but everybody really wanted to win and was hungry.
“That can help you make up a lot of
points and that is what I’m looking for at Eastbourne next year.
“Hopefully we will be able to create a
good team spirit and atmosphere.”
Although Watt has never been Eagles’
official captain, he stood in for Nicki Pedersen on various occasions during the
2007 season.
Many considered him the true team leader
within the Eagles camp even when the Danish star was present.
He will join Pedersen with Swedish
champions Lejonen next season and also be riding in Poland.
The new Eagles skipper heads home on
Sunday to compete in the Australian Championship and enjoy a holiday.
Meanwhile Eagles boss Bob Dugard has
confirmed there is no way back into his plans for wantaway heat leader Edward
Kennett but has assured fans he has good replacements lined up.
Kennett could be heading to 2007 treble
winners Coventry.
Dugard insists he wants a transfer fee or
rider exchange for Kennett and will not settle for a loan deal.
The Arlington supremo said: “In my honest
opinion I’ve got three options to bring in and two would be better for the club
than Ed.
“We are talking about experienced
international riders.
“Let’s be honest, last season was really
the first complete season he has ridden for us even though he has been with us
since he was eight years old on the junior track.
“I’ve said if he wants to leave again
it’s for good this time.
“It is not a decision I’ve taken lightly.
I was mortified with Edward when he rang me and told me he wanted to leave but I
could see there was no way he was going to change his mind.”
Dugard expects teenager Lewis Bridger to
flourish after his fellow local boy quit the club.
He added: “There have always been
undertones between Lewis and Ed. It’s like this town is not big enough for both
of them.
“This will simplify things for the club.”
Eagles will begin their Knockout Cup
defence with a two-leg quarter-final against Lakeside Hammers, the side they
beat in last season’s semis.
The home leg, scheduled for May 16, will
be included in season tickets, prices for which have been set at £270 for
adults, £250 for OAPs and concessions and £108 for children aged 8-14.
All prices include a programme for each
meeting, with other offers available at elite-eagles.com.
On-the-night admission next season will
cost £15 for adults, £13 for OAPs and concessions, £6 for children aged 8-14 and
£38 for a family of four, the latter to include a match programme.
Eagles will not let
Kennett go cheaply
By Brian Owen
Eastbourne Eagles have slapped an £80,000
asking price on Edward Kennett after the Team GB rider said he wanted to leave
Arlington.
Kennett has been told to submit an
official transfer request after Eagles boss Bob Dugard refused to let him go out
on a year’s loan.
The 22-year-old is keen to ride at a
larger circuit than 275 metre Arlington and would love to join Coventry, though
Peterborough could also come into the reckoning.
The bombshell news emerged from the KO
Cup winners last night just as Lewis Bridger, the rider most widely linked with
a move away from his native East Sussex, was shaking hands on improved terms to
stay at the club next season.
Bridger’s role in the new-look team,
which will be captained by Davey Watt, now takes on even greater importance
though Eagles insist they have two or three possible replacements for Kennett
lined up.
Kennett, who came within one vote of
being named Eagles’ rider of the year for 2008, admits he wants to leave the
club but only for a year.
He believes a loan deal to a bigger track
would benefit him and, in the longer term, Eastbourne, with whom he still sees
his long-term future.
The Hailsham-based racer said: “I don’t
want to leave permanently. I wanted to go for a year but Bob says if I go I’m
not welcome back.
“I feel I need to move on. When I went to
Poole for a year in 2007 I felt I came back a better rider and I believe I can
do that again.
“Bob wasn’t happy with that. I don’t want
to put an official transfer request in but I’m going to have to.
“I don’t even know how to go about it
because I’ve never done it before.”
Dugard has based his eyecatching price
tag on talk doing the rounds of a potential £100,000 fee being asked for rising
star Tai Woffinden.
He said: “I’m disappointed with the way
it has happened. I didn’t believe there to be any doubts about Edward.
“He wants to go to Coventry or
Peterborough but I don’t think Coventry can fit him in.
“We would rather sell him than loan him
out.”
Although Kennett has the better average,
Dugard sees Bridger as the harder man to replace as he has potential to improve
significantly on his starting average of 5.11.
Bridger had been linked with a move to
Swindon but Dugard said: “I explained how Edward was going and how it was so
important Lewis stayed. Lewis was fantastic about that.
“He is very happy with the terms. We have
repaid him for his loyalty.”
Meanwhile Eagles rider Cameron Woodward
is celebrating in his native Australia after winning the Victoria State
Championship
Watt is new Eagles skipper
By Brian Owen
New signing Davey Watt is relishing the
chance to captain Eastbourne Eagles after signing for a third loan stint.
Eagles boss Bob Dugard has successfully
brought in the Australian star from Poole Pirates for next summer, five days
after revealing he planned to do so in The Argus.
Watt, whose most recent stint at
Arlington saw him win rider of the year honours in 2007, will ride in the No. 1
position for Eagles.
Poole were unable to fit the rider, who
turns 31 in January, into their new line-up as they plan to defend the Elite
League title.
Watt, who will continue to live in Poole,
said: "I'm sorry the team had to split up but I can't think of a better place to
go than Eastbourne.
"Bob asked if I wanted to be captain and
I'm more than happy to do that.
"It means extra responsibility and it's
not something I will take lightly.
"Unfortunately I'm a little bit older
than most of the other riders now and hopefully that makes me a little bit wiser
Dugard asked to take
over from Dad
By Brian Owen
Martin Dugard has been offered the chance
to succeed his father in charge of Eastbourne Eagles.
The former Grand Prix rider, dubbed the
Master Of Arlington during his racing days at the Sussex track, has been told a
co-promoter’s position alongside Trevor Geer is his if he wants it.
Eagles supremo Bob Dugard would like to
take more of a back seat at Arlington, possibly within the next year, and sees
son Martin as a possible successor.
Geer has been handed co-promoter duties
alongside his role as team manager but will also retain his day job with a
construction company.
Dugard senior is very much top man at
Eastbourne but combines his roles as club promoter and stadium co-owner with
running the family machine tools company in Hove.
He said: “I’m waiting for an answer from
my son Martin if he wants to get involved as well.
“I’ve offered it to him. I’d like to
think he would also become a co-promoter and within half a season he and Trevor
could pretty well be handling all that together.
“I’m going to be 67 next year and I want
an easier life, not a harder one. I think Martin knows what a big decision it
is, though, because it takes your life over.”
Dugard believes he has cut costs
radically with his new look line-up and has revised his break even crowd figure
down from 1,350 to about 1,000.
However, he remains keen to bring in
investment. He said: “I'm talking now with two sponsors. One would be a
secondary sponsor and I’m talking with one company that would be a mainline
sponsor. It’s an international household name.”
Meanwhile, former co-promoter Martin
Hagon has decided against rejoining Eastbourne to take charge of a team in the
new National League.
Eastbourne will not be represented in the
new third tier of British speedway next year but will continue to develop young
riders through second-half meetings and challenge fixtures.
Hagon had planned to take a young Eagles
side into the Conference League but that has now been replaced by a more
professional National League and the costs of entering a competitive team are
seen as prohibitive
Eagles reveal 2009
line-up
By Brian Owen
Eastbourne Eagles expect to bring back
Davey Watt as their No. 1 for next season.
Sergey Darkin definitely returns to the
club but there is no place for Scott Nicholls or Lee Richardson in the new
line-up.
The arrival of Finnish teenage prospect
Appe Mustonen in place of James Brundle is the only other change to the team
which won the Knockout Cup but failed to make the Elite League play-offs in
2008.
That means Lewis Bridger, Edward Kennett,
Cameron Woodward and Simon Gustafsson stay at Arlington.
Eagles were this evening waiting for
confirmation that Watt is not required by Poole next season before completing a
loan deal with the Pirates to bring him back for a third spell.
Nicholls and Richardson had both
indicated they might give the Elite League a miss next season.
Neither rider has shut the door
completely on the English league but Eagles boss Bob Dugard has already made his
move and selected a team with a total average of 39.18, a shade below the limit
of 39.90.
Watt is likely to be captain while Trevor
Geer remains as team manager.
Dugard said: “Team building is going to
be a very hard thing to do and most teams will carry two heat leaders whereas it
used to be three.
“We have set our stall out slightly
differently in that our heat leaders won’t be the highest in the league.
“But we’re backing it up with five pucker
riders whereas a lot of other clubs are going for real big heat leaders will be
really struggling at the lower end.”
Bridger had been linked with a move to a
bigger track, probably Swindon, but Dugard has blocked any attempts to prise him
away.
Six of the team are Eastbourne assets
while Watt is a popular figure at Arlington and was Eagles rider of the year in
2006.
Uzbekistan-born Darkin, 34, has fought
back from life threatening injuries sustained in a crash in Russia in 2005
though his most recent stint in the Elite League, with Poole, was a flop.
He had a spell with Eastbourne in 2001
and has since ridden for Coventry and Arena-Essex.
Dugard hopes the fact he has permission
to base himself in England will be a big plus and help him more than meet a
modest 5.12 average.
No riding order has been fixed yet. Watt,
if he signs, must go at No. 1 but there are no other restrictions among the top
five.
Dugard added: “I have Poole’s assurance,
providing they can do deals they want to do with other riders, that Davey Watt
is coming to Eastbourne.
“I’ve looked at every other team in the
league and the combinations they can put together and I’m happy with what we
have got.”
Eagles legend in running
to be new GB boss
By Brian Owen
Eastbourne Eagles legend David Norris is
in the running to be the new Great Britain team manager.
Norris’s name was put forward at the
recent get together of speedway promoters.
Eagles’ record points scorer has not
ridden since midway through the 2007 season but said he would jump at the chance
to guide the Brits in next year’s World Cup.
Norris, 36, has re-trained as an
electrician and said: “I don’t have much time on my hands now but it’s your
country, isn’t it?
“I would have to see what it entails and
discuss it with my wife but I’ve got lots of ideas.
“If it only entails doing the World Cup
and maybe seeing some younger riders through international rounds then I’d do it
but I can’t be flying off to all the GPs.”
Eagles provided three riders to the GB
line-up in last season’s World Cup in Lee Richardson, Scott Nicholls and Edward
Kennett while Lewis Bridger is pushing ever closer to a place.
Doubts Early indications, however, are
that Eastbourne could have less of a home grown look next term.
Finnish teenager Appe Mustonen is being
lined up to replace James Brundle at reserve.
There are also doubts over the
continuation of Nicholls and Richardson, both at Arlington and in the Elite
League altogether.
Eagles would almost certainly have to
look to overseas riders with Elite League experience to replace those two, who
were the highest scoring Brits in the league last season.
Kennett is expected to stay at Arlington
and the club are hopeful Bridger will also be around for his fourth professional
season, despite rumours doing the rounds to the contrary.
However arguably the two riders most
likely to remain at the East Sussex circuit are Cameron Woodward, from
Australia, and Simon Gustafsson, from Sweden.
Eagles chief Bob Dugard has advised fans
to expect a young, exciting line-up and has welcomed the points ceiling of 39.90
per team which should help keep the wage bill down.
He is unlikely, however, to make use of
the new facility allowing Elite League clubs to use Premier League riders with
modest averages on a doubling-up basis.
Eagles plan busy season
By Brian Owen
Eastbourne Eagles are lining up a bumper
34-meeting schedule for Arlington fans next season after welcoming Martin Hagon
back to the club.
Hagon, who quit as co-promoter alongside
Bob Dugard recently, is expected to return in charge of a new youth side to race
in the third tier of British speedway.
Eagles will be racing in the inaugural
National League, where their closest rivals geographically will include Poole’s
youngsters as well as Isle of Wight and possibly Sittingbourne.
Hagon admitted life in charge of an Elite
League club took up too many hours which he could have dedicated to his shock
absorber business and his family.
However he clearly enjoyed developing
Eastbourne’s youth set-up and made no secret of his wish to take a junior team
into what was, at the time, the Conference League.
Eagles expect to run 22 first team
meetings in the nine-team Elite League and its associated competitions, as well
as 12 National League fixtures.
Dugard said: “We have been accepted into
the National League and that will be Martin’s baby.
“I’m very happy about that. He wants to
run on GP Saturday nights but not on Sundays, so that will give us something
nearly every Saturday night.”
Eighteen-year-old Finn Appe Mustonen has
been identified as the young Scandinavian prospect Eagles intend to bring in at
the No. 7 spot next season.
Elite League bosses have agreed various
rule changes for next season, most notably a new points scoring system.
Home teams will now receive an extra
point for winning by seven or more.
Away sides will earn one point for a
defeat by six or less, two points for a draw, three points for a win by six or
less and a bumper four-point haul for winning by seven or more.
There will be a doubling up system in
place, allowing riders with a Premier League average of 8.00 or less to share an
Elite League place
BRITISH SPEEDWAY AGM
FULL STATEMENT 17/11/2008
BRITISH Speedway enters its 80th anniversary of league racing with a clear and
concise message:
"Our wonderful and exciting sport has built 80 years of heritage in the hearts
of our nation, and we are pleased to be at the pinnacle poi nt of re-building
its foundations to make for another 80 years and beyond of action where o ur aim
is to capture the hearts of a new generation."
The British Speedway Promoters' Association, which as a group controls and runs
league Speedway racing in the UK, has just returned from their annual AGM with
firm plans in place which emphasise that the sport, once having a public image
of being short-sighted, is now in actual fact in the middle of building and
completing numerous long-term plans that will make it's 80th season the
strongest in decades.
Elite League Speedway spearheads British racing for the TWELFTH consecutive
season with nine clubs, featuring some of the world's best riders, competing on
a weekly basis with matches being screened live across the world through an
exclusive rights deal with Sky Sports.
The Elite League goes into the second year of a plan to re-build its strength
from the ground up by increasing the average from last season to which they can
build their team.
Elite League spokesman Chris Van Straaten commented: "Our decision and faith to
start the three year plan last season was endorsed by all the Promoters during a
conference where one of our main concerns was to protect our fans and the sport
from the effects of the current economic climate.
"We have also listened to the fans about the home advantage that previously
existed i n the play-off semi finals, and we have some exciting news coming
about a change to that, which will see home and away matches for everyone
involved. One other improvement is that we may assign one of our team places to
be shared by any two Premier League riders that have an average of 8 points or
less."
For a TWELFTH consecutive season Premier League Speedway also returns. The
second tier of British Speedway brings together all the nations of Great Britain
with clubs such as Glasgow, Birmingham and Newport all competing.
The Premier League will have at least 14 teams competing with the successful
takeovers of Berwick, Redcar and Newport all confirmed just before the
conference, and the door has
also been left open until January 1st for a new club from the south of England
to join subject to planning approval.
Premier League spokesman Alex Harkess is keener than ever for the season to get
underway. He said: "Last year, the Premier League adopted the principle of the
league play-off system to qualify for the promotion and relegation race-off,
this provided the British public with one of the best and most climactic ends to
the season the Premier League has ever seen. We are pleased to be keeping this
for a second season and the foreseeable future.
"We have also taken a long-term view on building our teams, just as the Elite
League did last season, and have therefore adopted a 3-year plan where the
league is limited to a maximum of 16 teams and a team building average of 42.50
points is applied. This is an
increase on last season's team building average and should please fans all over
the country as it will give their team a chance of being stronger than ever
before.
"We have also introduced a revolutionary new `Tactical Gates' system for trial
in thi s years KO Cup competition. This gives the losing team the chance to
select their gate positions on two separate occasions if they are behind by six
points or more. It will be run in addition to the Tactical Ride rule but cannot
be used at the same time."
One of the most exciting and positive moves for British Speedway this decade is
the formation of the new National League. This will form the third tier of
British Speedway and is aimed at producing young and talented riders that want
to pledge their future to British Speedway.
The National League will be recognised by the association in a professional
light with rules and regulations falling in line with the Premier and Elite
Leagues, including the use of rider averages. The league boasts the inclusion of
at least ten teams including former Premier League KOC champions, the Isle of
Wight, plus Conference League champions, the Weymouth Wildcats and Conference
League KO Champions, the Plymouth Devils. Former Management Committee member
Dave Pavitt has been given the job of overseeing and managing the formation of
the new league
He said: "This is great news for British Speedway, I have been chasing this
dream for the last few seasons and it has finally been delivered. Fans will see
a good value league that
will produce some of the world's top Speedway Stars.
"It will be run in a more professional manner then has ever been seen in the
third ti er of British Speedway before, and I look forward to being able to
confirm the teams that will be
competing in 2009 and publishing more detailed rules and regulations in
January."
For a THIRD consecutive season, British Speedway's Super7even series, which
groups together all of British Speedway's major events, has been given a big
thumbs-up by all the promoters with events, dates and venues set to be announced
in January.
One of the other big changes for British league Speedway is the introduction of
a groundbreaking league points scoring system that will create the most exciting
speedway meetings and league tables the sport has seen in its' 80 year history.
Last year, in an attempt to encourage teams to be built with more strength away
from home and create more exciting matches, the aggregate bonus point was
dropped in favour of rewarding teams with three league points instead of two for
winning an away match. This worked well to an extent but was not perfect - some
matches were still dead and buried by heat seven or eight, and teams simply gave
up because there was no aggregate point to
worry about or race for.
This has been addressed with a league scoring system now in place that will
reward a team for even getting within six points of the home team. In theory,
this now means that even a
team that is losing a meeting by 18 points with only three races left can still
turn the meeting around and salvage a league point. They could do this, for
example, by using a tactical ride in Heat 13 and gaining a maximum seven-point
heat advantage followed by two four-point heat advantages in Heats 14 and 15.
To counteract this, the home team's fans will also be watching on tenterhooks as
thei r team will gain an extra league point if they can win the meeting by more
than six points. A draw
will simply give the home team a single point - but the away team will get two.
NEW LEAGUE SCORING SYSTEM
Home loss by any amount of points 0
Home draw 1
Home win by between 1 and 6 points 2
Home win by 7 points or more 3
Away loss by 7 points or more 0
Away loss by 6 points or less 1
Away draw 2
Away win by between 1 and 6 points 3
Away win by 7 points or more 4
The promoters have also decided to give team managers more scope to pit their
wits against each other and give the fans more to talk about. They have achieved
this by requesting that the home team declares their team and riding order in
writing to the away team manager, so he can decide how to structure his team to
give him the best chance of securing points.
This may have sounded simple in the past as a team's two top riders were always
placed at numbers 1 and 3, but this has now been changed with the only rider who
is restricted to any place in the team being the top rider, who WILL ride at
No.1. The other four main team members can be placed in any order, with the
reserves still at numbers 6 and 7.
The British team manager and British Under-21 team manager positions have also
been shortlisted, and all final nominations will be considered at greater depth
before a final choice is made and announced in January. These will complement
the already enhanced coaching and training system which was established last
season.
Some other rule changes include the disposal of the `Tactical Substitute' rule
which allowed a rider to come into a race from a 15-metre handicap and score
double points. This has been replaced in favour of the more simple `Tactical
Ride' rule which can now be used for a second time, but only when a team is 12
points or more behind their opponents.
The chairman of the British Speedway Promoters' Association, Peter Toogood, has
a message for the fans of British Speedway.
He said: "I am delighted to have the privilege of being at the helm of British
Speedway in its 80th anniversary season, and I plan to make it a special
occasion for every fan.
"One of the plans we have, for example, is to send our special 80th Anniversary
stand to a track each week throughout the season. This will be manned by some of
the greatest riders
from over the eras and will give fans of young and old the chance to re-live
some nostalgia.
"It actually feels like years of hard work and lessons for everybody have
finally paid off, and we now have a sport which will make big strides in a year
where most other sports will struggle. I can say this with confidence because
Speedway is a good value entertainment package for the whole family. In times
where the economy is struggling, people look to be entertained for a reasonable
price and that is where we score so highly. Our sport is great value with most
clubs even offering free entry for children.
"We are able to do things like this because we started to take control of our
costs last year where most other professional sports went the other way and
actually allowed them to spiral out of control. I do hope that even if the big
Grand Prix stars choose not to ride he re in the UK then the fans will
appreciate the reason why, and in actual fact I do believe this could be a good
thing as it we will create a new breed of superstars as a consequence.
"So the 2009 season opens on Sunday 15th March and I hope to see you all turn
out in force to support your favourite team in what promises to be the most
dynamic and exciting season we have ever seen..."
2009 ELITE LEAGUE TEAMS
Belle Vue, Coventry, Eastbourne, Ipswich, Lakeside, Peterborough, Poole,
Swindon,
Wolverhampton
2009 PREMIER LEAGUE TEAMS
Berwick, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, King's Lynn, Newcastle, Newport,
Redcar, Rye
House, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Somerset, Stoke, Workington + 1 more
Summary of major changes in British Speedway for 2009
* Groundbreaking new league points scoring system.
* Formation of new 3rd tier of speedway which will be known as the National
League.
* 39.90 points limit for Elite League and 42.50 for Premier League.
* Tactical Gate rule for Knock Out competitions in all leagues.
* Disposal of 15 metre Tactical Replacement rule. One Tactical Ride remains for
a team
losing by ten points or more and a second has now been added which can be used
if a
team losing by twelve points or more.
* Elite League teams may utilise one team place to be shared by any two riders
contracted
to a Premier League team with an average of 8 points or less.
* A team's highest-averaged rider must always ride at No.1 in the team, while
riders averaged from second to fifth can be placed in any order in the remaining
positions of the
team. The two lowest averaged riders will remain at numbers 6 and 7.
* A home team must declare their team formation to the visiting team first.
* The Premier Trophy will be split into a North and South group with seven teams
in each.
* Promotion and Relegation race-off will remain.
* Premier League's play-off system will remain the same while the Elite League
have
adopted a new play-off system (more details to follow soon).
* New National Senior and Junior team managers to be announced in January.
* Super7even to continue for a third year, events and venues to be confirmed in
January.
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