Around the Premier League Tracks 2007 - the close season 2007/8

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23 December 2007

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Premier League News

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Well here we are on the eve of Christmas Eve and yet only five Premier League teams have declared their 1 – 7 for next season while two have, as yet, announced no-one.

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First off the blocks was Rye House who came up with: Chris Neath, Luke Bowen, Tai Woffinden, Tommy Allen, Stefan Ekberg, Robert Mear and Danny Betson. Gone are Steve Boxall and Adam Roynon both of whom I would have kept. Boxall looked a much better bet than Chris Neath, particularly away from home, while Roynon is a real prospect with ability to pass, a skill many more experienced riders have still to learn! While the Rockets will once again be formidable opponents round Hoddesdon they look as though they will struggle to win many away from home.

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Another team with an early declaration was King’s Lynn who have announced: Tomas Topinka, Kozza Smith, Kevin Doolan, Shaun Tacey, Trevor Harding, John Oliver and Simon Lambert. Gone are Daniel Nermark, Chris Mills and Paul Lee. Getting Kevin Doolan back on an 8.40 average is a real gift and fully compensates for the loss of Nermark. A lot will depend on Kozza Smith and the infuriatingly inconsistent Shaun Tacey. If John Oliver has fully recovered from his horrendous injuries of last season, the Stars look a good side again with the ability to win away from home as well as at the Norfolk Arena.

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After the change to the promotion team Workington have come up with a team that looks the one to beat. They have announced: Carl Stonehewer, Charles Wright, Daniel Nermark, Craig Branney, Kauko Nieminen, Joe Haines and John Branney. Gone are Ulrich Ostergaard, James Wright and Mattia Carpanese. This looks about as strong a side as could be assembled within the 41.5 points limit with scarcely a weakness. Indeed if Joe Haines can realise the potential he has already shown then it would be a brave man who would bet against the Comets. The only minor concern might be whether Carl Stonehewer will be the force to be reckoned with he has been in previous seasons after his injuries. They will surely start the league campaign as favourites.

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Newcomers Reading haven’t been hanging about either in nominating their side: Ulrich Ostergaard, Chris Mills, Mark Lemon, Tomas Suchanek, Tom P Madsen, Danny Warwick and Jamie Smith. Again this looks a more than useful side although how they fare will almost certainly be decided by the boilerhouse of the team – Mills, Suchanek and Madsen. Madsen, whose best days are surely behind him now, has looked less than impressive on a number of occasions while Suchanek relies so much on fast starts. Mills looks a good middle order rider and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was given the third heat leader role in place of Madsen. They Racers should have a good season at home if they can quickly get dialled in to their home track. Away from home they don’t look to have enough cutting edge to win may matches.

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The one other team to declare before Christmas is Newcastle. They are going with: George Stancl, Ben Powell, Christian Henry, Jason King, Josef Franc, Sean Stoddart and Jamie Robertson. Gone are Carl Wilkinson, Jonas Raun, Paul Clews and Sam Dore. This looks to me to be a solid enough side which might do well at a number of away tracks without setting the heather on fire. The big change from last year should be the second reserve spot which produced so little for them last season. However it depends whether Jamie Robertson can recover his best Brough Park form after his time away from the Diamonds. The three heat leaders will do well enough at home but have looked fragile away on many occasions but this looks a top half of the league team.

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So who’s next? Well Sheffield have signed six riders with just their second reserve spot to fill: Ricky Ashworth, Ben Wilson, Andre Compton, Paul Cooper, Joel Parsons and Lee Smethills. It’s just about the same side as last year with only the reserves being changed. They did very well last season but their massive bonus point advantage will be wiped out next season with the abolition of the bonus point. It should be another season of huge home wins with away wins few and far between. To improve on last season they need further progress from Paul Cooper and a return to something like previous best form from Lee Smethills. They look to me as though they’ll struggle to finish as high up the league as they did this year.

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So who have five riders in the bag? Birmingham for starters who have: Jason Lyons, Phil Morris, Kyle Legault, Adam Roynon and Jack Hargreaves. Gone are Ulrich Ostergaard, Henrik Moller, Emiliano Sanchez and Ben Powell. After the ravages of last season the Brummies will be looking for fewer injuries next season so that they can track a recognisable side more often. They have just about the best top two in the league in Jason Lyons and Kyle Legault. Throw in Phil Morris and the impressive Adam Roynon and they’ve made a good start to putting together a formidable side. Jack Hargreaves looks an excellent signing on a 3.00 average leaving just under 9 points for the last two riders.

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The Isle of Wight having lost Chris Holder have signed: Jason Bunyan, Cory Gathercole, James Holder, Glenn Phillips and Krzysztof Stojanowski. The loss of Chris Holder is massive; the signing of James Holder, his brother, on a 7.00 average a gamble. With the two reserves still to be announced it looks like the Islanders will not be the force they were last season although they’ll take some beating at home. Away from home they will struggle but, who knows, maybe James Holder will ‘take off’ like his brother and become another inspired signing.

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The big question down Somerset way is – will Magnus Zetterstrom be back or will he be replaced by Jason Doyle or someone else. They’ve lined up: Simon Walker, Emil Kramer, Jordan Frampton, Ritchie Hawkins and Stephan Katt so it’s business as usual thoughout the rest of the side with only the departing Danny Walker to replace at reserve. If Zetterstrom returns then the Rebels will be as strong as last year and be a team to be reckoned with home and away but if not……. All down at Burnham-on-Sea wait with baited breath for the news they’re all hoping for.

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It’s very much a new-look Stoke side. They have: Klaus Jacobsen, Ben Barker, Jesper Kristiansen, Emiliano Sanchez and Lee Complin. Gone are Glenn Cunningham, Rusty Harrison, Claus Vissing and Jack Hargreaves. The huge plus for the Potters is the re-signing of Lee Complin when he was being chased, allegedly, by so many other tracks. They also managed to keep the much-improved Ben Barker. But to start with not one but two 7.00 point assessed Danish riders new to the Premier League is a huge gamble. It’s a lot to ask for them to get up to speed quickly to that average and they probably have no experience of most of the Premier League tracks. If they struggle to make their mark the Potters could well struggle at home and away but the still have just under 9 points for their last two signings so may look a better balanced side once they have been announced.

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With four signings made to date Glasgow will have a much changed side. They have at present: Robert Ksiezak, Shane Parker, Ross Brady and Trent Leverington. Gone are Craig Watson, David McAllan (unfortunately having retired through injury) and Michael Coles with possibly Lee Dicken to be added to that list. The only surprise in the four riders signed is Ross Brady, another rider who is a gamble even on a low 5.4 average. If he can better that the Tigers will be relieved but their prospects for the season depend very much on the last three signings. With 14.54 points left their options may be limited. Parker, Leverington and Ksiezak should ensure strength at home but, unless the last three signings suggest otherwise, away success may be hard to come by.

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Newcomers to the Premier League, Scunthorpe, have made an impressive start to building their side: Viktor Bergstrom, Magnus Karlsson, Richard Hall and Byron Bekker leave the Scorpions nearly 17 points to play with for their remaining three signings. Karlsson and Hall are stepping down from the Elite League and should give them a good spearhead but it’s important to get the right riders for the remaining three spots. As with all assessed riders Bergstrom is a mystery on his 7.00 point average but at least he is not being asked to lead the side at number one or three.

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With only three riders in the bag so far Mildenhall will need to pull some big names out of the bag to turn out a respectable side. They have: Jan Graversen, Mark Baseby and James Cockle but have lost Tom P Madsen, Shaun Tacey, Kyle Legault, Jason King and Paul Fry (unless he is re-signed). One 7.00 point assessed newcomer and two reserves need a lot of reinforcement from the rest of the new squad and the Fen Tigers’ fans will be hoping that the departing riders can be replaced at least adequately.

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Heading north of the border again we find that Edinburgh have only two signed riders: Andrew Tully and Aaron Summers. Since they may form the reserve pairing the jury is out until more signings are made. The only riders who appear to be ruled out from last year’s side are George Stancl and Kalle Katajisto (probably).

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That leaves three sides without a signing to their name – Redcar, Newport and Berwick. Redcar look to be on the verge of announcing their full teamwhile Newport always seem to leave it late to assemble a side. The noises coming from Berwick are worrying with doubts now appearing as to whether the Bandits will, in fact, come to the tapes next season. Here’s hoping they do.

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Anyway, that’s how I see it. Any comments?

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Around the Premier League Tracks 2007 - the close season 2007/8
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Thursday, 13 December


Premier League News


Oxford: Oxford Promoter Allen Trump has all but given up on Premier League speedway at Oxford for 2008.

And unless there are any dramatic developments between now and the deadline set by the BSPA of 5pm tomorrow (Friday) for a new lease agreement to be concluded between the club and stadium owners, the GRA, it appears that the final speedway race could have taken place at Sandy Lane.

In a statement issued today Trump said: "Stadium owners GRA's attitude of non-communication and brinkmanship prevents any form of negotiation and apart from an insistence on doubling the rent to £56,000 per season I've had no meaningful response at all from them.

I have found the GRA's landlord and tenant attitude depressingly unique in my business experience. Oxford Speedway have not had nor have they been offered a written lease and as a result would only have had at best a verbal season by season agreement open to arbitrary amendment by the GRA at any time.

I requested a three year deal to enable me to create a solid sponsorship base at the club bearing in mind the additional cost of Premier speedway but the GRA have not responded to this. Oxford Cheetahs have been cursed by this annual winter uncertainty and that has negatively impacted on the sport in the town. It is not possible to plan on a year by year basis.

I suggested that Oxford Speedway would be able to substantially increase the GRA's income through the bars and restaurant but with less than two days left to finalise plans and no meaningful response there simply is not the time left.

There is no doubt that Oxford Stadium was not user friendly to speedway supporters. With drinks at around £3 a pint and inflated food prices for speedway meetings coupled with other petty restrictions many supporters felt alienated by the GRA. This needed to be addressed in conjunction with an increased rental figure.

There was regular conflict with the Go-Kart operator last season whenever we had a change of date and bearing in mind the increased number of meetings for 2008 I needed certainty that an alternative night would be available in advance.

Even though I paid off the rent arrears of the previous promotion in 2007 I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that the GRA are not interested in the sustainability of speedway at Oxford. I believe that my financial proposals for Oxford would have met both the GRA's financial requirements and the long term future of Oxford Cheetahs, unfortunately the GRA are fixated on doubling the rental figure to the exclusion of anything else.

I believe that the GRA have made a serious commercial error in this latest attempt at brinkmanship and they will now be faced with no income at all from speedway in 2008. Any attempt to substitute speedway with stock cars will I am sure be met with fierce resistance in the town and I believe that the GRA will live to regret their current approach."

Source: Oxford Cheetahs Speedway Official Website


Stoke: The Potters have been boosted by Ben Barker agreeing a new deal for a second successive season with the Loomer Road side. Barker joins Lee Complin as a confirmed starter in the Potters’ line up with more expected to follow soon.

Stoke promoter, Dave Tattum, said: “Ben is a very exciting talent and I’m sure he’ll continue to make profress next season. We’re delighted to have him back on board.

Source: BPSA Webite


Sheffield: The Tigers have appointed former England boss, Eric Boocock, as their new team manager.

Boocock, who spent last season with Elite League Belle Vue, replaces Reg Wilson who has stood down because of business commitments.

“I enjoy working in the Premier League and Sheffield is a club I know well. I have a lot of respect for the people there and hopefully we can have a good season,” said Boocock.

Source: BPSA Website


Newcastle: George Stancl and Christian Henry are the Diamonds’ first two signings for next season.

The Newcastle Diamonds' management team, freshly back from one of the most positive British Speedway Promoters Association AGMs in years have taken a huge initial step in putting together a team capable of challenging the best in the new-look and 17 (possibly 18) strong Premier League set to start in March 2008.

Promoter George English yesterday revealed the first two of their top-end spearhead that will hit the tracks next year, and they are two high-scoring and highly popular racers around the Byker track.

Making a very welcome return to Newcastle, in what will be his 3rd consecutive in the Black and White is 26 year-old Australian Christian Henry who will be welcomed back into the number 1 position and again as team captain.

Joining Henry up at the team's top end is a rider who adores Newcastle, the track and the City and raced as a Diamond in 2006 before reverting to Glasgow and eventually Edinburgh in 2007 and he is 32-year-old Czech star, George Stancl.

"It's a great way to start our team building by announcing two of the best scoring riders around our Newcastle Stadium home in Byker in recent seasons." said English, "Both riders can race at our track with the highest level of expertise and this will only do us good in our quest for success.

"Christian [Henry] comes back to us as skipper for a second season in his 3rd as a Diamond, and we are looking forward to seeing him continue where he left off last year which was a season that saw him make massive strides with his improvement, and it's an improvement we fully expect to continue throughout 2008. He is due back from Australia on December 24th in order to get his preparation well underway for his 2008 racing, such is his commitment to success.
George [Stancl] just loves Newcastle full-stop, and it's great to welcome him back after a year out at Glasgow and Edinburgh last season. Again I'm convinced we'll see a solid year of solid scores from this guy in 2008.

One of the important main reasons cited for the return of Stancl to the Tyneside outfit has been the recent launch of a "new-look" Newcastle Speedway in terms of structure, attitude and management which really turned Stancl's head when a decision had to be made. Details of the "New-Look" will be forthcoming in due course.

Source:Worldspeedway.com


Workington: Carl Stonehewer has been given the all-clear to ride again in 2008 after a visit to his specialist.

Workington Comets had re-signed their former captain in the belief that he would be fit to resume his career at Derwent Park. Today Stoney said: “It’s a great relief. I thought I would be ok but it’s good when your specialist says that the bone has healed well and you’re ok to resume your career.

“I’ve been swimming to keep myself in trim and now he’s given me the all clear to start some physio so I’ll be working hard on my fitness before next March. Hopefully I will get back on a bike in February and have a spin round Northside or even Derwent Park if I’m allowed. I can’t wait.”

Stonehewer will form a new spearhead for the Comets alongside number one Daniel Nermark and captain Kauko Nieminen – and will be working for a new owner in Keith Denham. Most of Stonehewer’s career has been spent as a Tony Mole asset but now he’s part of the Comets rider base owned by Denham.

“I’ve spoken to Keith since confirming I was coming back to Derwent Park and I’ve been impressed with his enthusiasm. He is putting his heart and soul into Workington speedway and what he has planned for the club and the track sounds awesome.

“It will be up to us as a Workington team to put an equal amount of effort in to try and give him the success he is looking for. I haven’t had chance to get-up to Workington and take a look at the work being put on the track but by what everyone tells me it is fantastic,” he says.

Workington have completed their team plans for 2008 a good three months ahead of the new season. Rivals Birmingham have announced the signings of Canadian ace Kyle Legault and inspirational skipper Jason Lyons for next season.

Legault will ride on loan from parent club Sheffield and Lyons is already a Brummies favourite after a sensational season in 2007. Jubilant Birmingham boss Graham Drury said: "Kyle is a young lad who went within five rides of becoming a fully qualified Grand Prix rider and we simply had to keep Jason.”

Sheffield have unveiled three more riders in their push for the 2008 Premier League title - and they're all familiar faces! Ben Wilson, Joel Parsons and Paul Cooper have all signed new deals and will join skipper Andre Compton - who signed a new two-year deal last week - and Ricky Ashworth in next season's side.

Source: News and Star


Birmingham: The row which is developing over the noise caused by speedway racing at Perry Barr is causing Birmingham some concern.

University students have joined Birmingham families in a "noisy neighbour" war with a speedway team which wants changes to its licence.

City councillors must decide whether to allow more Sunday racing and other alterations requested by the Birmingham Brummies, at a meeting tommorow. Speedway returned to the city only in March, after a 20-year absence, but neighbours of Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium have already sent in nearly 100 representations to the council.

Birmingham City University, which has students living in halls of residence opposite the stadium in Aldridge Road, claims it has conducted its own noise monitoring which shows that the din "exceeds acceptable council, national and European levels".

A spokeswoman said: "The university has consistently objected to the presence of speedway racing at Perry Barr Greyhound Stadium, in that the noise and disturbance generated are incompatible with the activities that take place on our adjacent campus.

"The university has commissioned a study of the noise levels generated which concludes that it exceeds acceptable standards as set down by city council, national and European bodies." The university spokeswoman added: "The current planning application represents a significant intensification of speedway racing in the greyhound stadium."

Speedway organisers want to increase the number of heats at race meetings. They also want to race on eight additional Sundays a year - including four bank holiday weekends - and are seeking a compromise on who pays for noise monitoring.

Councillor Jon Hunt (Lib Dem, Perry Barr) said: "The application has been useful because it has enabled residents to be consulted on their experience of the first season - and, unfortunately, many are not happy at all.

"More residents have taken the chance to complain about noise levels than when the first application for speedway's return was lodged late last year. As well as letters, we have received visits at our advice bureaux from groups of residents and have also had phone calls.

"The consultation has raised real issues in the neighbourhood about the impact of speedway. Prior to the original application there was no experience of the event in its current form. Given that much of this summer was wet and rainy this is quite disappointing, and suggests that a long dry summer might cause significantly more problems."

Coun Hunt added: "I have had a meeting with the speedway organisers last week and it was quite constructive. I had a tour of the site and there are gaps in the stadium, which I would like to see filled with sound barriers."

Tony Mole, director of the Birmingham Brummies, said: "These changes do not impact on the university. If anything, Sunday racing would be more helpful to them. As far as the residents are concerned this is just an application on conditions of planning consent. We have no problem for the sound testing whatsoever - our problem is who pays for it."

Mr Mole added: "After we got permission last year we were told that we would have to pay the council to do its monitoring, at their prices. We're unwilling to do that. We want to pay for a tester to visit four times in the season. We then have controls over the costs and we would expect the city to be present during those testings."

Mr Mole said the next racing was scheduled for March 16, and added: "Crowd levels for our first season exceeded expectations." The planning committee must decide whether to accept amendments to the team's temporary three-year licence. It has received 61 signatures on two petitions, 46 letters of objection, based on noise, and eight letters in favour.

Source: Birmingham Mail


Berwick: The Bandits have been dealt a blow with the announcement that they have lost their main team sponsor.

Anderson's (Quality Butchers) of North Berwick, have backed the Bandits for the past two years. But last Wednesday they revealed that they were not prepared to carry on for a third successive season, and so the search is now on for a replacement.

Promoter Peter Waite said: "We can only thank Anderson's for the invaluable support they have given us over the past two seasons, three if you include what they did they year before they came in as main sponsors.

"We have had a very good working relationship with them. I would go so far as to say they have been the best sponsors we have had during my spell in running the club, but reluctantly, because of their own business commitments, they have decided they cannot sponsor us again in 2008.

"It's no exaggeration to say they've kept the club afloat over those years when to stand alone would have been disastrous financially. It's a fact I know to be the case because I've had to run the club solo without backing like this and it means cutting all costs to a minimum and then panicking week in week out and it's a position I cannot bear to think about going into again."
The announcement came as something of a shock to Waite, who had been hoping the company would extend their deal into a third year. And it has meant the Bandits' boss has been forced to put his team-building plans on hold for the time being until he knows what his budget is going to be.

"The financial implications of this are massive," he said. "A small club like Berwick needs the backing of a sponsor if it is to survive. Since the AGM, when the new points limit was set, I had been looking at several options on the rider front. I was talking to certain individuals, but now it looks like I might have to go back to the drawing board as we will have to cut our cloth accordingly.

"If I had known at the end of the season that Anderson's were not going to be backing us again in 2008 I might have been able to line up a replacement. But here we are, two months into the close season, just starting to put our team together, and then this happens.

"It's a hard one to swallow because I was planning my team around the finances I thought I might have. Now it feels like the rug has been pulled from underneath me. It would be easy to say that I don't know where we go from here, and in some respects that is true.

"Finding a new sponsor who is willing to put that sort of money in is easier said than done. All I know is that I cannot afford to bankroll it myself. But despite this I still have to go out and put a team together. It won't be easy under the current circumstances, but we will just have to do the best we can."

Waite had mixed reactions to the annual conference. He was disappointed that the points limit for team building purposes was raised to 41.5, but he was pleased to see that the two three-point reserve rule was scrapped.

"That means teams can have a much more balanced look about them, and that is something we have always tried to do at Berwick in the past," he said. "I was also pleased to see that the assessed averages for foreign riders was reduced, because that will give us more scope as well.
"Someone like Matej Kus (a young Czech who has been a long-term target for the Bandits), will now come in on seven points as opposed to eight, which makes him a more attractive proposition. Then there are the Australians who now come in on only five points.

"That's a big, big plus . . . imagine what that would have meant to teams in the past if riders like Chris Holder, Troy Bachelor, Glenn Doyle and Corey Gathercole had come in on a figure like that. There are quite a few young Australians hoping to make the breakthrough in Britain next season and I am sure a lot of British clubs will now be casting their nets to try and land them."
Waite was also delighted at the decision to scrap the aggragate bonus and make it three points for an away win instead of two.

"Getting rid of the aggregate bonus point means big things to me. Whereas in the past teams with massive home track advantage could win the league on their home form alone by picking up 14 bonus points as well, now we all have the chance to get up to the top of the league in a fairer way, and with the new points system coming in I honestly believe this will make for a better league all round with much more competitive racing to put on display for the fans."

Source: Berwick Advertiser


King‘s Lynn: Shaun Tacey having done an about turn on joining Mildenhall due to his son’s grass track commitments at weekends has joined King’s Lynn instead. Trevor Harding is also back for the Stars next season.

King's Lynn Stars last night announced a shock Norfolk return for old boy Shaun Tacey.The 33-year-old Norwich born racer was the surprise name revealed at a fans' forum as the club finalised its 2008 Premier League line up.Australian racer Trevor Harding is also back at Saddlebow along with exciting young compatriot Kozza Smith in a competitive middle order.

The new look trio join reserve pair Simon Lambert and John Oliver unveiled last week - with Tomas Topinka and Kevin Doolan forming a potent front line spearhead.Stars' co-promoter Jonathan Chapman insisted Tacey could be the missing link in the crucial number five race jacket.

“Last season we asked for someone to step up to the plate in that position,” he said. “Paul Lee tried but his form dipped towards the end. It's key because you have three races with the reserves and we need someone to help the younger lads along. We know Shaun is so much better than he showed last year at Mildenhall and we know what we'll get - not just at home but away in the pits and helping the team.”

Tacey jumped at a Norfolk homecoming after being strongly tipped for a Mildenhall return despite a disappointing West Row campaign last season. “I was prepared to talk to them (Mildenhall) about a team place,” he confirmed. “But with my son starting grasstrack next season, which usually takes place on a Sunday, it was never looking promising. I then made it clear to them that I wanted to ride for a week night club and as soon as I was made available King's Lynn came up with an offer. I believe they changed their team plan for me as they had another new Australian lined up. “I'm sure they have done the right thing by bringing more experience into the team. I'm really happy to be back and plan to recapture the form I had in 2004. Since then the fans have given me great support and I hope they are just as excited about my return as I am.”

Chapman is convinced the club will again fight it out for Premier League honours after dominating the sport's second tier in recent seasons.“We don't think we'll be far away with this side,” he said. “We got it totally right in 2006 and we were nearly perfect in 2007. It's very similar to last season but with a bit more experience at number five in Shaun. We feel if Tomas can maintain his average the other six are more than capable of putting a few points on theirs.

This time around there was a little bit of politics when it came to team building but we're still the second team to announce our plans. We never worry about what other clubs are doing. We just feel it's important to get things right.”

Chapman insists the club have pulled off a major coup to land Queensland starlet Smith.“He's got a lot of natural talent - in that respect he's very much like Troy Batchelor,” said Chapman. “Supporters will have seen him ride a few second halves last season and we know he has to adapt to British tracks but there is no one better to guide him along than Tomas. Kozza has got even more tiger in him than Kevin Doolan. He never knows when to give up so we'll maybe have to tame that a little.”Stars' team boss Rob Lyon confirmed Smith's compatriot Harding edged out popular rider Chris Mills - who joined Premier League new boys Reading last week.“Because of the points' limit both wouldn't fit in the team together,” he said. “It was a hard choice but Trevor, overall, had another solid year of progress and even though he dipped in form when he was missing home, he has heaps of natural talent. This year we are expecting him to raise his average considerably. He is well liked at Lynn and even though the fans loved Millsy he was never going to be a club asset after Reading refused to sell him.”

Source: Eastern Daily Press (EDP24)

Around the Premier League Tracks 2007 - the close season 2007/8

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Monday, 10 December


Premier League News



Workington: Craig Branney is back again with Workington Comets to complete the team line-up for 2008. He re-joins younger brother John in the Comets side to contest an extended Premier League when it gets underway in March. Branney senior is delighted to be returning to his hometown track for a second successive season. “I was considered for a reserve slot one year, and even got to a virtual ride-off in pre-season practice, without landing the job. “I’ve just had to get my head down and work hard at my sport so getting the call at the end of last year to sign for the Comets was the moment I’d been waiting for. “I enjoyed riding for the team last season and I just hope that I can build on that and help move the team forward again,” he says. Owner Keith Denham said: “We’ve put together a side which I believe will be very competitive in what is likely to be an intense League. “Generally, from talking to the fans, they are happy with the side we have assembled at Derwent Park. “We might seem a bit top heavy with Daniel Nermark, Kauko Nieminen and Carl Stonehewer looking as good a top three as there is in the League. “But it will be up to the likes of the Branney brothers, Charles Wright and young Joe Haines to provide the back-up and make the progress which can turn us into a challenging side.” Workington’s new owner will unveil the new line-up to the fans before the season officially opens at Berwick on Easter Saturday, March 22 with the first home meeting at Derwent Park on Easter Monday, March 24.“We will be holding a press and practice day behind closed doors but will also be inviting the fans to meet the team on a Saturday open house. “They shouldn’t have to worry about getting time off work that day. “They will be able to come into the stadium, chat to the riders and take photographs as well as collect autographs,” said Denham. He is also planning a major publicity campaign in which the Comets will be going into all the schools around Cumbria. “I believe we went into two schools in Allerdale last season.“Well I intend to see that we have riders going to schools throughout the county all year round, pushing home the message that speedway is a sport to be enjoyed by young and old,” said Denham.

Source: Official Workington Website

Somerset: The 2008 Somerset ‘Sharp’ Rebels will certainly have a familiar look about them when they take to the track next season as the club confirm Ritchie Hawkins as their third signing for the new campaign.

Hawkins, the 2004 British Under 21 Champion, joins Jordan Frampton and Simon Walker in making it three riders who will now line up for the Rebels in 2008 who were part of last season’s septet.

In confirming Hawkins signature, Somerset promoter Mike Golding felt that there is still plenty of potential within the 24 year old, and is looking for this to come to the fore in 2008;

“I feel Ritchie had a steady season in 2007, and it was pleasing to see that there were no ill effects from the nasty injury he sustained the previous season,” said Golding, “Ritchie has plenty of potential still to realise and a second season at the Oak Tree Arena could be just what he needs in order to bring out the best in him.” “I see a 7 point rider in Ritchie and I expect him to be pushing this figure as the season progresses.”

For Hawkins, 2008 will be his third season with Somerset, his first coming in 2005 when he was a part of the quartet that lifted Somerset’s first ever trophy at Premier League level, namely the Premier League Fours Championship at Workington. The following season saw him join Workington, but a serious head injury brought a premature end to his year, but fully recovered he returned to the Somerset colours for 2007, and finished the year with a 6.06 average, which, after the reduction allowed for British riders will convert to 5.91 for 2008.

Lining up for Somerset for a second successive season is something of a novelty for the Poole based Hawkins as he explained;

“I am really happy to be staying with Somerset for 2008, this is the first time I think I have stayed with the same club since my time with Swindon, and it makes life a whole lot easier as you do not have to get used to a new track as far as set ups etc are concerned.”

“Mike [Golding] has been such a great guy to ride for that I had no hesitation in agreeing to ride for Somerset again next year,” added Hawkins, “I was a bit disappointed with my form at times last season, but everything it looking really positive for 2008, I already have a major sponsorship deal agreed with Scandic Clutches and another almost completed, but would always welcome more!” “I know what expectations Mike has of me for next season and I feel that I am more than capable of achieving those.”

In further news from the Oak Tree Arena, announcer Dave Lewis has decided to ‘hang up the mic’ as far as 2008 is concerned due to family commitments.

“The decision I have made not to continue with my role at Somerset was a very hard one to make indeed, for the last year has been probably the most enjoyable I have had since I started in this role at Swindon 10 years ago.” Explained the ever popular Lewis, “Mike Golding has been a fabulous man to work for and he deserves every success at Somerset for the effort he has put into the club and I can only see a good future for the Rebels with Mike at the helm.”“I will very much miss seeing everyone at Somerset - as well as the fantastic racing - on Fridays, but the need to spend more quality time with my family was becoming more and more evident, and of course, family has to come first. I will do my best to get to the OTA a few times in 2008, but in the meantime I would like to offer my thanks to everyone at Somerset for the support, encouragement and friendship they shown me in the past.”

“I was sorry to learn from Dave that he has decided not to continue announcing at Somerset, but I can fully appreciate the reasons behind his decision,” said Mike Golding, “I would like to go on record to personally thank Dave for 2007, the accolades he received from fans up and down the country for his announcing at the Premier League Pairs bears testament to what a loss he will be here at Somerset; he is going to be a very difficult man to replace.”

Source: Official Somerset Website



Sheffield: The Tigers have unveilrd three more riders in their push for the 2008 Premier League title – and they’re all familiar faces!

Ben Wilson, Joel Parsons and Paul Cooper have all signed new deals with the Sheffield Window Centre backed club and will join skipper, Andre Compton – who signed a new two-year deal last week – and Ricky Ashworth in the main body of next season’s side.

That means there is no place for James Birkinshaw and James Cockle at reserve, though the latter has already signed for Mildenhall. Two new signings will follow soon.

Tigers’ co-promoter David Hoggart said: “What a great position we’re in, enjoying the continuity with the bulk of a team which did us proud last season and we’re all looking forward to next March.

“Joel and Coops were promised some backing if they came back to Owlerton, they had expensive repair bills at the end of last season so naturally we hope those pledges of sponsorship come true in the coming weeks.”

Meanwhile Tigers asset Kyle Legault has joined Birmingham on loan – resisting a move into the Elite League.

“Despite Kyle’s transfer request which was played out in the press, we wish the lad all the very best”, said Hoggart. “It means both Kyle and Lee Complin remain assets of Sheffield Speedway and we are delighted that both riders have been fixed up elsewhere.”

Source: Official Sheffield Website


Birmingham: Birmingham Speedway are celebrating a thrilling double with the signings of Canadian ace Kyle Legault and inspirational skipper Jason Lyons for next season.

Legault is widely regarded as one of the most exciting prospects on the scene and has turned down several other offers to race for the Brummies.

And Lyons, who first appeared in the sport as a rookie with Glasgow in the early 90s, has already written his name in Brummies’ folklore after a sensational season with the club in their amazing comeback campaign at Perry Barr.

Jubilant Birmingham boss, Graham Drury, said: “I’m delighted with the capture of Kyle, it’s actually the second time I’ve held talks with him because he was in our plans last season.

“There was confusion over his average back then and it all fell through, but this time we are sorted with the lad.

“Remember, this is a young lad who went within five rides of becoming a fully qualified Grand Prix rider last season and he made good progress at Mildenhall as well.

“Jason has already written himself into the record books as a Brummies’ Legend”, said Drury. “All along it was his first choice to come back to Perry Barr but we wanted to get the AGM out of the way and see what points limit we had to work with.

“It’s all worked out really well and I’m sure Jason will once again prove to be one of the top riders in the Premier League.”

Source: Official Birmingham Website


Stoke: It looks as though Jack Hargreaves will not be in the Potters’ colours next season.

Jack Hargreaves is unlikely to figure in Stoke Potters' plans for next season. The 19-year-old seems set to move away from Loomer Road as promoter Dave Tattum builds a new-look squad for 2008.

Tattum, who is hoping to announce more names to run alongside that of the already signed Lee Complin this week, said: "There has been some interest shown by other clubs in Jack and it is unlikely he will be wearing our colours in 2008."

Big things were predicted for Hargreaves, below, when he signed for Stoke as a 16-year-old. But that potential has yet to be realised and the teenager sees next season as one in which he must make strides forward.

"I look around at other riders in my age group and I can see there are things I must do to change my ways, otherwise I might not make the progress I expect from myself," he said. "I've messed around a bit too much and I regret much of that now.

“With a bit more dedication, I might have made more progress by now and I have no-one to blame other than myself. I'm not saying next season is make-or-break because it isn't. I'm still only 19 and hardly over the hill - but I do want to see real progress made next year."

Source: The Sentinal

Around the Premier League Tracks 2007 - the close season 2007/8

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Sunday, 9 December


Premier League News



Sheffield: Owlerton is set to welcome the return of the Premier League Riders’ Championship next September. Sheffield co-promoter, David Hoggart, said “I found it crazy that a stadium with the facilities at Sheffield didn’t stage a major BSPA event last season.

“We’re looking at a date of Sunday, September 21, with a 3.30pm start but all this is subject to confirmation from the big events series director, Jonathan Chapman.”

Source: BPSA Website


Edinburgh: The signing of Andrew Tully was covered by a Monarchs Press Release.

Edinburgh announced the signing of Andrew Tully for their 2008 side at their Video Night last night.

The 20 year old who lives in Bathgate, within a very short distance of the Armadale track, was rated a slightly surprising choice for a reserve berth last year, but he fully justified the club’s faith by turning in a good season’s work.

His average of 5.33 (4.4 without bonus) came in spite of doing well enough to move out of the reserve berth very early, and spending the bulk of the season in the main body of the team.

There had been speculation that Andrew might like to ride for Scunthorpe, his Conference team of the last couple of years who are now in the Premier League, but this never seemed to be an issue.

He said “I’m very pleased to be back and I hope the team can do well and win something. I thought I did reasonably well last year but I will be setting myself higher goals for 2008.”



Glasgow: The signings of Shane Parker and Robert Ksiezak were the subject if a statement on the Official Glasgow Website.

Glasgow Speedway are delighted to announce two more members for the 2008 season and in addition a brand new team sponsor for next season after what has been a very busy week!Supporters will be delighted to know that making a return to Ashfield for a fifth season will be the inspirational Australian SHANE PARKER. The veteran is coming towards the end of an illustrious career but is not yet ready to hang up the kevlars and will enjoy the 2008 season with the Tigers. There is little doubt that Parker is revered by all at Ashfield and his return will certainly provide a major boon for supporters. Also inking in a 2008 return is yet another Australian with ROBERT KSEIZAK set for his third season in Glasgow colours. Ksiezak initially arrived on loan from Edinburgh but made such ain impression in his first season that the Promotion made the move to make him a full-time Glasgow asset. Last season saw the popular Australian suffer a couple of injuries which curtailed his improvement but hopes are still very high that he can be a major player in the Tigers side for next season. Ksiezak and Parker join another Australian Trent Leverington in the three names listed so far with another four to be finalised prior to the tapes going up. Co-Promoter Stewart Dickson is delighted with another phase of the team building being completed: "I know that at some point soon we are going to have to face up to a time at Glasgow without Shane Parker but I am glad it is not just yet! He is such a talisman for us and an inspiration both on and off the track and to have secured his services means it is a most excellent Christmas present for our supporters. He will also captain the side again and I am sure that a number of our other riders will be delighted about that. It is a big year for Robert Ksiezak who knows that he must take some big strides this season. Robert produced some excellent stuff last season but his aim this time around is to be more consistent and put up the big numbers more regularly. He is more than capable of doing that and I have a sneaky suspision that this coming year will be the best for him since arriving on these shores.Overall I am very pleased with the way things are going but our next couple of signings will shape the kind of team that we will have. We can still go for another big hitter or perhaps think about a more balanced side, that decision will be decided upon by who comes in next and we are looking at a number of options at the moment."The Tigers will also have new backing for 2008 and will now be known as the "Buildbase" Glasgow Tigers. Buildbase have a strong allegience with the sport and are currently Main Sponsors at Elite League Champions Coventry, indeed are about to enter their 5th season, and the current longest serving sponsors in British Speedway. Regional Director for Scotland Graham Lister was delighted to become involved with the Premier Scottish Speedway team:"We are delighted to be given the opportunity of sponsoring the Tigers in 2008 and hopefully playing a major part in the continued growth of one of the fastest growing spectator sports in Britain. This deal is driven by the success that the Company has had with Coventry Bees and this is a great opportunity for us as a company to improve our standing in Scotland. We have been very impressed with the ambition that Glasgow Speedway have shown in attracting us to Ashfield, a special thanks goes to Elaine Daly, who turned up at our base in Falkirk one day a few years ago and left us some tickets to attend the speedway and we took to it straight away and the rest, as they say, is history! Now we are looking forward to the Tigers continuing their excellent progress of recent seasons and being one of the major players in the league in 2008."Buildbase are Builders Merchants who supply to both trade and householders and have 141 branches throughout the UK. 14 branches are based in Scotland and they supply "A great deal more for the Builder." For your local branch please check out the website at www.buildbase.co.ukThe Club would like to put on record their thanks to Graham and all the team at Buildbase and look forward to a fruitful partnership in 2008 and also express their grateful thanks to previous sponsors FSM Outdoor Advertising and Fraser McDonald in particular, and hope that they will continue to play a big part in the future of the Tigers.MAIN SPONSORS FOR SEASON 2007 - FSM OUTDOOR ADVERTISINGMAIN SPONSORS FOR SEASON 2008 - BUILDBASEREAD THE LATEST ON THE TIGERS - www.glasgowspeedway.co.uk HEAR THE LATEST ON THE TIGERS - Glasgow Club Hotline 09068 664685 (calls cost 60p per minute at all times)

Workington: The Comets announced John Branney as their sixth signing for next season.

WORKINGTON have added a sixth rider to their team for 2008 with reserve John Branney returning to the Comets.

The Premier League club only have one more signing to announce to complete their line-up and this is expected early next week. Workington-based Branney made a progressive return to the side after suffering a serious back injury in 2006 and turned in some solid performances over the second half of the season.

Comets owner Keith Denham said: “John knows what we are looking for from the younger lads at the bottom end of the team. There’s plenty of scope for improvement and I think it’s good to have a local lad in the line-up.

“We will be continually monitoring the youngsters from the area who use the Northside training track and I’m determined that any rider who shows the potential will be given every encouragement and help by the Comets.”

Team manager Ian Thomas, speaking from Las Vegas where he is attending the Ricky Hatton/Floyd Mayweather title fight, said he was confident Branney would continue to improve. “I was very impressed with the progress he made over the second half of the season and I think he can continue to move forward. He has the potential to improve and increase his average again,” said Thomas.

Source: News and Star


Scunthorpe: The Scorpions believe they will be fielding a very competitive side in their inaugural season in the Premier League.

CO-PROMOTER Rob Godfrey believes the Scunthorpe Scorpions are well on the way to assembling a 'very competitive' team.

Wolverhampton rider Magnus Karlsson is the latest to sign for the team, joining Richard Hall, Viktor Bergstrom and Byron Bekker at Normanby Road in 2008. Elite League riders Hall and Karlsson, who both arrive with an average of seven, will spearhead the Scorpions' assault in the Premier League next year.

Godfrey is delighted with the way preparations are going. He said, in a statement released this week: "Kenny Smith and I sat down and decided that we want a balanced team that can score points from number one to number seven - just as we have done over the last two seasons in the Conference League.

"With this in mind we have tried to sign as many six and seven-point riders as we can. "We feel we are well on the way to fielding a very competitive side but we are having to make sure that a rider is committed to a deal before we announce it.

"It is quite a game negotiating with riders but we have a budget; it's as simple as that. We're here for the long term and not just for one year. If crowds are good in 2008 then we might have more in the budget for 2009, but we know it all depends on the show we put on this year. The riders that we are trying to sign, and have signed, are going to be showmen for sure."

Godfrey had a thrilling message for the team's fans, who he hopes will come out in force to back the club in the Premier. "You think you've had it good in 2007, 2008 is going to be something out of this world" he enthused.

"We have got some cracking riders that will put on a superb show and we will be in a league that's balanced. We have some great people working behind the scenes to help bring everything together. They all want Scunthorpe speedway to succeed and it will succeed!"

Godfrey added that the Scorpions are also planning to improve facilities at Normanby Road. It follows talk on the club's internet messageboard, where some fans called for banking to be installed to improve the view.

"First of all we are going to make both stands non-smoking" he said. "And with regard to the elevated viewing issue, we are planning to raise the viewing level around the first turn by about five or six feet from the stand round to the newly positioned toilets.

"It will be a large sloped area which should provide excellent viewing without fans being splattered in shale. The work is lined-up for the summer."

Source: Scunthorpe Telegraph


Reading: The Racers have signed a strong top two for their return to the Premier League next year.

Mark Lemon has agreed terms to skipper Reading in 2008, whilst also forming a potent spearhead alongside new recruit Ulrich Ostergaard. The Australian racer, who was born in Bairnsdale, Victoria, was the mainstay of the Berkshire side in 2007, appearing in thirty-four Elite League matches for 176 points and a 5.11 real-time average.

This was despite being hampered by a nasal problem for much of the season, which required corrective surgery in September. Having recovering quickly from that, the Aussie was to take over the club captaincy in the final weeks of the campaign, after compatriot Travis McGowan had broken his shoulder blade in a curtailed Knock-Out Cup semi-final tie versus Swindon at Smallmead.

And Lemon concluded the season in style by charging to victory in the Denny Pyeatt Memorial Trophy on 22 October, when he defeated Krzysztof Stojanowski, Filip Sitera and Patrick Hougaard in the final. For the upcoming 2008 season, Lemo reverts back to his 2006 Premier League green sheet average achieved with Stoke, which means he will start the campaign with an 8.77 figure.

A delighted Malcolm Holloway said: “This is brilliant news for all our supporters. It means we will have terrific top-end strength with Lemo and Ulrich Ostergaard. Mark gave great service to the club in 2007 and was a pleasure to work with. He was an ideal captain after Travis McGowan had been injured and will fill the role superbly for us next season, I'm certain of that.

“He is a proven Premier League heat leader and in the Denny Pyeatt Memorial meeting, Mark showed the kind of dominant form we can expect in 2008. I'm well pleased with our three signings so far. As I've said all along, we want to build a side that is capable of taking the Premier League by storm. We are not going into it just to make up the numbers, that's for certain”


Somerset: The signing of Simon Walker and the new season in general was covered by the Weston and Somerset Mercury.

WITH the conclusion of the annual British Speedway Promoters' Association Conference, the following has been decided as the framework for the 2008 Speedway season.

Somerset will be part of an enlarged Premier League with Reading making the move down from the Elite League and Scunthorpe moving up from the Conference League, which means the Premier League has 17 confirmed starters, which could rise to 18 should Oxford's discussions with their landlords, the GRA, prove successful.

The Premier League has agreed upon a points limit of 41.50 for team building purposes, the combined averages of the seven riders making up each team must be within that limit. The really big news, however, to come out of the conference is that British Speedway is to introduce promotion and relegation between the Elite and Premier Leagues.

In short, the bottom two teams in the Elite League will meet to go into a final against the winners of the Premier League play-offs. The top four teams in the Premier League will contest the play-offs for the right to meet the Elite League team, with a place in the 2009 Elite League on the line.

Somerset have been drawn against Newcastle in the first round of the Premier League Knockout Cup. The Rebels can confirm their second signing for the 2008 season, and it is one that will go down well with the Somerset faithful as it will see Simon Walker once again lining up for the Rebels.

Walker joins Jordan Frampton as the two riders already confirmed in the Somerset line up for 2008. Further signings will be announced over the next few weeks as promoter Mike Golding weighs up his options for the remaining five team places.


Redcar: The Bears boss, Chris Van Straaten, has declared his enthusiasm for the outcome of the recent promoters’ conference in the Evening Gazette Live.

REDCAR Bears boss Chris van Straaten has hailed what he says is a magnificent blueprint for the future after the annual promoters’ conference.

The key issue decided was to introduce a promotion and relegation system between the Elite and Premier Leagues. In addition the PL points limit was increased to 41.5 and the EL to reduced to 38.5. And that, says van Straaten will begin a process of narrowing the gap in standards between the two leagues.

“I am excited about what is a new blueprint for the future of speedway,” he said. “It’s something that was needed, rather than just patching things up from time to time as we have done. We have been the only professional team sport where there has been no opportunity to climb up the ladder, and now that opportunity exists.”

Whoever finishes top of the PL will be crowned champions - but the top four will go into a play-off competition. The winners will meet the losers of an EL play-off between the bottom two in the final table - the prize being a place in the top flight for the following season.

“It’s a long term project,” added van Straaten, “and it will bring the Elite League and Premier League closer together.” The Bears chief said he also expected the Premier League to split into two at some point.

With Reading coming down from the EL and Scunthorpe going up from the Conference League, next season’s PL is guaranteed 17 teams - and that figure should rise to 18 once Oxford have secured a rent deal with their stadium landlords.

“I’m not totally enamoured with an 18-team league,” admitted van Straaten, “but it’s a democracy and I’m not going to slate what has happened.” The proposed revivals at Cradley Heath and Leicester would create further need for a split, added van Straaten.

Another change for 2008 is that the aggregate point has been abolished, and teams will now get a bonus point for winning away. “There are four teams who have a distinct home advantage,” said van Straaten, “we know who they are and they always seem to finish near the top. Now we will see teams rewarded for winning away rather than for scoring 60 points at home.”

With the points limit now set, the Bears can now start their team-building plans for 2008. And van Straaten revealed he had made a contract offer to Coventry-owned Josh Auty, who made such a big impression in his debut year of PL racing this season.



Sheffield: The Christmas Cracker short track meeting on 30th December will feature Ricky Ashworth.

Three speedway riders have been confirmed for the Christmas Cracker short track meeting on Sunday December 30th.

The meeting, which attracted a huge crowd last year, is set to see stars of various motorcycle disciplines take on the regular short track riders. Already confirmed is British Superbike rider Steve Plater and three speedway riders, Ricky Ashworth, Adam Allott and Rusty Hodgson, have now been added to the list.

Ashworth is a heat leader with the Sheffield Tigers and is keen to demonstrate how his speedway skills compare to those of the regular short-trackers. He will be riding a KTM machine whilst the other two speedway riders will be aboard CCM bikes for the day.

Adam Allott will be making a return to the Scunthorpe track for the first time after a nasty crash nearly ended his career at the end of the 2006 season. He did announce his retirement but returned to ride for the Kings’ Lynn Stars towards the end of last season and he is now hoping to compete in the whole of the 2008 short track season.

Another rider looking to mount a challenge for the 2008 title is Rusty Hodgson. Rusty rode for the Redcar Bears and Cleveland Bays last season and also managed to fit in three Short track races, finishing third in one race.

As with last year, when riders like TT star John McGuinness and former World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson took part, there is expected to be a host of road racing stars participate in this year’s event which starts at 1pm.

Source: Worldspeedway.com


Mildenhall: The Fen Tigers have released details for their season tickets next year.

Mildenhall Speedway are please to announce that Season Tickets for the 2008 campaign are now on sale and application forms will be available tonight (Friday 7th) at the Supporters Club Christmas Party at West Row from Club Administrator Steve Dolby and via the Official Website.

The prices have been set and the club are to offer Child Tickets again for the 15 and under age catergory due to various requests from Supporters.

All Season Tickets are valid for Premier League, Premier Trophy and Knockout Cup matches only which will be a minimum of 21 home meetings in 2008 and represent great value for Money with the additional discount for all Share Holders

Prices:
Non Shareholder Shareholder
Adult £246 £222
Concession £189 £171
Under 15 £42 £38

Source: Mildenhall Press Release


Birmingham: Birmingham Speedway will play host to some of the leading riders in the world next August.

The Perry Barr club have been handed the prestigious Elite League Riders' Championship on Wednesday, August 20, which will feature the top rider from every top flight club. And that means leading Grand Prix stars Leigh Adams, Jason Crump, Bjarne Pedersen and Hans Andersen will make their first visit to Perry Barr.

Jubilant Birmingham co-promoter Graham Drury said: "This really is wonderful news for Birmingham Speedway and everyone at the club should feel very proud. "It's an honour for the club, supporters, management, stadium management and the city of Birmingham in general.

"For us to be staging such a prestigious meeting after just one season of racing here at Perry Barr is a massive achievement and we're looking forward to it already!

Around the Premier League Tracks 2007 - the close season 2007/8
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Friday, 7 December


Premier League News



Scunthorpe: The Scorpions have completed the signings of two riders with Elite League experience as they prepare for their debut season in the Premier League.

They will be led by 2006 title winner Richard Hall, who rode for Peterborough, and Wolverhampton asset Magnus Karlsson.

Promoter Rob Godfrey said “These guys will average at least a point more than their starting averages. I’m sure they will be excellent acquisitions.”

Source: BPSA Website



Reading: Mark Lemon is staying with Reading to form part of a strong spearhead with Ulrich Ostergaard in the Racers’ Premier League Team. Lemon rode for the club in the top-flight last season but will revert to his previous Premier League average from 2006.

Promoter Malcolm Holloway said “This is brilliant news for all our supporters. It means we will have terrific top end strength with Mark and Ulrich.”

Source: BPSA Website



Edinburgh and Glasgow: Both the Scottish teams have shown enthusiasm for elevation to the Elite League.

Glasgow Tigers and Edinburgh Monarchs have welcomed the chance to take part in the Elite League.

The winner of the play-offs will take on the last-placed team in the Elite League to see who rides in the top league in 2009 with both Scottish sides hoping to eventually force their way in.

Source: Daily Record



Berwick: The Bandits are facing a crisis after losing the valuable sponsorship they have enjoyed over the last three seasons.

The Berwick Bandits association with the North Berwick-based award winning butchers, Andersons has come to a close in the last few days.

It’s been a very fruitful (although not always on track) relationship which has seen a very positive 3 seasons of joint work going on between club and company, with the last 2 as main team sponsors. So as the Bandits get ever closer to the new season starting with a home and away friendly Tyne Tweed Trophy encounter with Newcastle Diamonds on March 8th and 9th the search is on for a new club backer has gone into overdrive.

“It’s a real blow to us,” said Berwick’s Peter Waite, “as it now means we are desperately in the lookout for a new major backer as Andersons have been such tremendous backers for 3 years, and it’s no exaggeration to say they’ve kept the club afloat over those years when to stand alone would have been disastrous financially.

“It’s a fact I know to be the case because I’ve had to run the club solo without backing like this and it means cutting all costs to a minimum and then panicking week in week out and it’s a position I cannot bear to think about going into again.

“Andersons were fantastic to deal with and were always supportive and positive in all ways and we have to thank them hugely for that help. We cannot really convey the importance to us that they have had in out running in recent years.

“Consequently we are now very actively in the market for new sponsors, especially in this very important year for the Premier League when even the chance of a playoff for promotion to the Elite League is on the winner’s platter.

“It could be a massive year and we need a company to jump on board to help get the Bandits to the top of the pile again, and any company who does come along and back the Bandits in 2008 will be assured of a mountain of publicity as we will boost them to the hilt for the help we get.

“Any one, individual, company or business who wants to discuss the terms, can I please ask them to waste no time in contacting myself at the club, or via email on bandits32@hotmail.com or phone me direct on 07762-63-63-43 without delay if at all possible for once we get the finances back in place then we can start announcing confirmed riders for the 2008 campaign.”

Waite was also keen to point out that he believes the recent changes and new regulations are an huge positive boost for Speedway in Britain which have only increased his desire for success for the little border club in Berwick upon Tweed.

“It was an amazing AGM to be part of with some really forward thinking moves being passed and in particular getting rid of the aggregate bonus point means big things to me where as in the past teams with massive home track advantage could win the league on their home form alone by picking up 14 bonus points as well.

Now we all have the chance to get up to the top of the league in a far more fair way, and with the new points system coming in rewarding an away victory with 3 points, a home one 2 and the usual 1 for a draw I honestly believe this will make for a better league all round with much more competitive racing to put on display for the fans.

“Also with the top team in the League then going on to challenge for Elite League honours in 2009 that’s really going to get the crowd and the riders going for a great end to a season. With the points limit going to 41½ too and the other fine decisions it’s going to be a great league to be a part of and I can’t wait to get started with the Tyne Tweed Trophy against Newcastle.

We also have a Round one Knockout Cup draw against Edinburgh, so there’s another excellent local derby battle to get our teeth into, all we need now is riders and of course a new sponsor!”

Source: Worldspeedway.com



King’s Lynn: Kevin Doolan is on his way back to King’s Lynn after just one season in the Elite League. He replaces the departing Daniel Nermark who has signed for Workington.

KEVIN DOOLAN is heading back to the Norfolk Arena for the 2008 campaign to form a potent top-order partnership with Tomas Topinka.

This was revealed to the Lynn fans who packed into the stadium clubroom on Monday evening – but they will have to wait until next week for the complete team line-up. Aussie favourite John Oliver and local racer Simon Lambert were announced as the two reserves.

So it's four down and three to go for the Money Centre Stars, with just over 16 points to play with. Doolan joined the club in 2004, and was part of the treble-winning team in 2006 before moving on to Belle Vue last winter. The supporters' meeting was held just hours after the official announcement that rider-of-the-year, Daniel Nermark, was on his way to Workington.

Club boss Buster Chapman said: "Of course, we are disappointed he's leaving. Dan did a great job for us and never let the club down. He was up for sale from Wolverhampton and there was a big fee on his head which we could not afford. We are doing our sums and in Tomas and Kevin we have a brilliant top two, backed up by J-Lo and Simon as two super reserves."

Jonathan Chapman added: "Kevin comes in on his 2006 average of 8.64 and after the great season he's had at Belle Vue that is a huge bonus for us. A lot of Elite League clubs wanted him, but Kevin is our asset and we have agreed the deal. Kevin says that he wants to come back and help us win promotion to the Elite League.

"The other thing about Kevin is that he is a brilliant team man to have in the pits, just like Tomas always helping the other riders, and that's worth another point or two. We are working on the middle order and we hope to have everything sorted out by next week – to give you all an early Christmas present."

Buster said that Lynn had been looking at the possibility of going into the Elite League. "Yes, there was speculation, but we worked it out that our wages bill would go up by about £150,000," he said. "What a risk that would have been and a year from now we could have been down the pan.

"Our sponsors the Money Centre would have backed us going into the Elite League, but I'm delighted to say they are back on board and we value their support. They have been absolutely marvellous."

* LYNN say they are 99.9 per cent sure that admission prices to the Norfolk Arena will remain unchanged for 2008. "Our costs are going up, just like everyone else, but we hope to make up the difference by attracting more supporters through the turnstiles," said club boss Buster Chapman.

The new season will start on Wednesday, March 12, with a challenge against Ipswich, with the return at Foxhall the following night. Lynn, who will be using an air fence for all home matches, have also agreed a Good Friday double against Birmingham in the Premier Trophy. It's noon at Lynn, then the return at 7.30pm.

Season tickets will be on sale at the supporters' meeting next Wednesday, December 12, at 7.30pm.

Source: Lynn News



Sheffield: The Tigers have moved to re-sign five of their 2007 side.

SHEFFIELD Tigers are hoping to keep their top five from last season - with Paul Cooper, Ben Wilson and Joel Parsons currently in talks with the club. The Owlerton side have already confirmed Ricky Ashworth and skipper Andre Compton for the new campaign which starts next March when, for the first time, they will be chasing promotion to the Elite League.

Reserve James Cockle was told very quickly he would not be required and he has since been fixed up with Mildenhall - and colleague James Birkin-shaw, who remains popular on the Owlerton terraces, will also miss out if the top five slips into place. What do you think? Post your comments below.

Club owner Neil Machin said: "We've made a good start with our top two riders and hopefully the rest will follow. We're making no secret of the fact that we want to keep the bulk of last season's team and we feel confident that will be achieved.

"The points limit of 41.5 seems sensible and it gives us the option of continuity. The riders are all capable of improvement and, with the abolition of the aggregate bonus point, we need to look towards winning away meetings. I feel the top five from last season have what it takes and hopefully we will be able to finalise things over the weekend."

Club assets Lee Complin and Richard Hall have joined Stoke and Scunthorpe respectively and Kyle Legault is in talks with Mildenhall. Both Legault and Complin had been hoping to double up with Elite League clubs after handing in transfer requests at Owlerton - but that facility was scrapped at the AGM.

Source: Sheffield Star


Workington: The Comets will stage one of British Speedway’s Super7even events next year for the first time.

Derwent Park missed out last season when the Super7even series was introduced to promote the sport’s top meetings. But new owner Keith Denham, right, instructed team manager and co-promoter Ian Thomas to make sure he came back from the BSPA annual conference last weekend with one of the Super7even for Derwent Park.

Denham said: “He didn’t let me down and I’m absolutely thrilled that we have the opportunity to stage the Premier League Fours on Saturday, July 26. We are doing everything in our power to make Derwent Park the best track in the country, guaranteed to produce exciting racing so it will be really good to be part of this major speedway package.

“The Premier League Fours in 2006, when Alan Mogridge set-up a Workington win in his last outing, was probably one of the most dramatic and enthralling meetings Derwent Park has ever staged.

“I can’t promise anything as emotional as that but I will guarantee that Derwent Park will be at its best and it will be a memorable night for Workington speedway and the fans.” Derwent Park staged the Premier League Best Pairs for three years and then the Fours for another three before missing out this year.

Comets tickets will stay at £13 next season while children will be admitted free all season – as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Pensioners and students will pay £10 and children under-15, not accompanied by an adult, £5. A family ticket will be £30.

Source: News and Star

Around the Premier League Tracks 2007 - the close season 2007/8

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Monday, 19 November


Premier League News



Workington: Teenage sensation, Joe Haines, has pledged his future to Wolverhampton – but he will spend next season on loan to Premier League Workington.

The Bolton based rider was a regular with Scunthorpe in the 2007 campaign. He said: “If I can get a good average with Workington then maybe I can look towards the Elite League in 2009, but whether I will or not remains to be seen. I will be giving my best for Workington.”

Source: BSPA website

Joe Haines signing has received a lot of press coverage:

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Forward-thinking Elite League club Wolverhampton have added talented teenager Joe Haines to their impressive asset base. Haines, 17, will spend 2008 on loan to Premier League Workington to continue his development along the same lines as Tai Woffinden, another 17-year-old, who will race again at Rye House next term.

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“I’m absolutely delighted to have Joe on board and I’m pleased to see him get regular Premier League racing for a season at Workington,” said promoter Chris Van Straaten. “Naturally there were other clubs interested but he felt Wolverhampton was the right club for him and I think he was impressed by the direction we’re going in with the youngsters.

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“We’re laying down the foundations for the next five-years here at Monmore Green and we firmly believe we are doing things right.” Haines is confident he has made the right decision to link up with the Parrys International Wolves – and he will enjoy support from the Sub-Species stable who also back British Grand Prix star Scott Nicholls.

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He said: “I had several options on the table, but Wolverhampton has a reputation as one of the top clubs in the country and they are very professional in everything they do. I’m also impressed by what they’re doing with the youngsters there, when you look at lads like Tai they seem to be showing a lot of ambition for the future. “If I can get a good average with Workington then maybe I can look towards the Elite League in 2009, but whether I will or not remains to be seen. I will be giving my best for Workington.” Haines is hoping to be at Wolverhampton regularly next season to practice.

Source: Express and Star

SPEEDWAY whiz-kid Joe Haines is Workington Comets’ third signing for the 2008 season. Haines, who was only 16 in September, joins skipper Kauko Nieminen and Charles Wright who have both re-signed for the Derwent Park track. The Bolton-based teenager had been chased by NINE different Premier League clubs before deciding to commit his immediate future to the Comets. He had earlier signed for Wolverhampton in the Elite League but the Wolves will immediately loan him out to the Premier League club of his choice.

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Comets owner Keith Denham said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have got Joe signed-up for next season. He’s going to be one of the stars of the sport in the not-too distant future. I think we’ll have him for at least two years while he gains the experience he needs at Premier League level. “I’ve watched him riding since he started at the Northside training track and I don’t think there’s any doubt that he has star quality written all over him.”

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Since turning 16 just over two months ago he rode for Edinburgh, Berwick, Workington and Redcar, and he was the signature most Premier League tracks were looking for. Workington team manager Ian Thomas said: “I regard him as the young man who put Workington out of the Young Shield. He guested for Redcar against us at Derwent Park in the semi-final second leg and scored five points and a bonus as they were able to hold onto their lead and get through to the final. “It was a very mature performance for a young man and just showed what potential he has. I think it is an excellent signing for Workington speedway.”

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Haines said: “I enjoyed my first full season in the Conference League with Scunthorpe but made the decision it was time to step up. My dad and I had been approached by a number of clubs so we had to sit down and decide where to go. I like it at Workington and have always enjoyed riding there so I’m looking forward to starting my Premier League career at the track.”

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Scunthorpe, where Haines played a role in landing the Conference League championship, are hoping to move up into the Premier League and were one of the tracks pursuing Haines’ signature. Redcar Bears, for whom Haines impressed in the Young Shield semi-final, were also among the chasers. Haines, the 2006 British Under-15’s champion will come into the Workington side at reserve on a 3.00 average and has plenty of scope to improve that in 2008. He rode in more matches (39), took more rides (189) and scored more points (359) than any other Scunthorpe rider in 2007 and finished the season on an 8.55 average.

Source: News and Star


Edinburgh: The Monarchs first signing for next season, Aaron Summers, gave an excellent performance in the Victorian Championship in Australia but just missed out on making the final:

AARON SUMMERS missed out on a Victorian Championship Final spot after falling off in his last race. The Aussie star had piled up nine points from his first four rides and was leading the last heat when he crashed at the Gillman Meet in Adelaide. Edinburgh Monarchs signing Summers was taken to the pits in an ambulance but given the all clear after checks.

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Monarchs director Mike Hunter said: “It’s an encouraging start to the season for Aaron. The Victorian meeting had a good field. He will certainly be race fit when he gets here in February.”

Source: The Sun



Stoke: The Potters’ reserve, Barrie Evans, wants to remain in the Premier League next year:

Barrie Evans has indicated he wants to pull out of Conference League racing - just days after winning an award as Stoke SAS Spitfires' most consistent rider. The popular rider claims he wants to focus on his Premier League riding, having found himself at reserve for most of the season.

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Evans said: "It was very flattering to receive the award and I always gave the Conference League as much time and effort as I did to Premier League racing. I have a lot of time for this club and I will give 100 per cent every time I pull on a Stoke race jacket.

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"I just think the time is right to focus on improving as a Premier League rider. I seem to have stuck at reserve and recording around the same average for too long and the time is right for me to channel my energies into turning that around.

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"He added: "No one knows what will happen until after the promoters' AGM. But I am a Stoke asset and I would like nothing more than to improve and become a more consistent rider here with Stoke."

Source: The Sentinel



Somerset: The Rebels will unveil their first two signings for the 2008 season at a social this Friday.

Both riders are expected to Attend the Oak Tree Arena for an evening which includes skittles games for riders and fans alike.

Promoter Mike Golding said “Tickets have gone well for the event so It’s a good time to announce the signings and it’s a bonus to have them there.”

Source: BPSA website

Around the Premier League Tracks 2007 - the close season 2007/8

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Sunday, 18 November

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Premier League News

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Mildenhall: The Fen Tigers have made their first signing of the season after agreeing terms with young Danish rider Jan Graversen:

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DANE Jan Graversen has agreed terms with Mildenhall and could sign as an asset in front of supporters at the club's Christmas party in two weeks. The 2O year old, who has spent a couple of years with Swedish club Karlstad and will come into the team on an assessed eight-point average, impressed the Fen Tigers management in an individual meeting at West Row last month and the club immediately pursued his services.

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Source: Mildenhall Official website

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Sheffield: In response to the reaction by the Tigers to his transfer request, Lee Complin has outlined how he has recovered his ambition to ride in the Elite league.
He asked for a transfer from Sheffield after making a successful comeback on loan to Stoke.

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He said “I am excited about the future. I want to race at the highest possible level and to achieve the most I can out of speedway which is why my next club is so important.”

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Source: BPSA website

Around the Premier League Tracks 2007 - the close season 2007/8

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Friday, 16 November

Premier League News


Sheffield: The Tigers’ management are upset to have received a transfer request from Lee Complin who, although a Sheffield asset, rode for Stoke last year after making a comeback to the sport:

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Lee Complin has stunned Premier League runners-up Sheffield Tigers with a transfer request.The Owlerton club, widely regarded as one of the best promoted and well run in the country, are set to circulate his name to all clubs after failing to hold suitable talks with the rider. It is a bitter blow to the club after they also received a demand for a move from Canadian Kyle Legault recently.

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And it's the second time Complin has quit the club after retiring at the end of the 2002 season.Sheffield co-promoter David Hoggart said: ""We were set to offer Lee a place back at Sheffield for next season - at his own request! "More than once Lee had said he would like to be included in our plans - until something and someone changed his way of thinking.

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"We had an offer prepared and there was a lot of sponsorship on the table for the lad. Now the sponsors have been left scratching their heads wondering what has gone on and I can't blame them." Meanwile Tigers owner Neil Machin is furious with the way the two transfer requests have been handled."Somebody is advising my assets, like Legault and Complin, to leave Sheffield Speedway and I don't like it," said Machin. "I hate what's going on behind the scenes and, quite frankly, it stinks. We went out of our way to get Kyle Legault fixed up elsewhere and, when Lee Complin decided to make a comeback in April, we again worked hard to find him a team place elsewhere.

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"They have had advice, clearly, about the wording of the letter and the timing of the request and when I find out just who the culprit is I will take it all the way. There is a total lack of respect being shown to the good name of Sheffield Tigers Speedway and our superb fan base."

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Source: Worldspeedway.com



Berwick: One of the Bandits’ likely targets for next season, Matej Kus, looks to have turned his back on a return to Shielfield in 2008:
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Berwick Bandits’ target Matej Kus has virtually ruled out a return next term after agreeing to ride in the Danish Super League.
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Source: Daily Record



Workington: The Comets continue to receive excellent coverage in the press as a news article in the local paper gives pride of place to Charles Wright who has re-signed for the Comets along with other snippets of speedway news from around the tracks:

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CHARLES Wright plans to earn a place in the body of the Workington Comets team next season – and build on a promising first year in the Premier League. The Comets reserve, who was the second rider to sign on the dotted line for 2008, admits he was delighted to be asked to return to Derwent Park. “There were a couple of other teams who had expressed an interest in me but I only wanted to go back to Workington, so when the Comets asked to talk about a deal I knew where I was going. I enjoyed my first season at Derwent Park and I think I can build on that.

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Everybody sets targets in this sport and mine will be to improve my average and move up from reserve into a second string slot. “I’ll be looking to get myself a part-time job during the winter and hopefully get some money together to improve my equipment. I’m also looking to find new sponsors because they can make such a difference,” he says. Charles is unlikely to have elder brother James for company this season as he’s looking increasingly likely to go into the Elite League on a permanent basis. With Charles Wright and Kauko Nieminen re-signed Workington co-promoter Ian Thomas is planning a third announcement before the annual meeting at the end of the month.

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Meanwhile Sheffield Tigers have been hit by a second transfer request from a rider who didn’t figure in their plans last season. Canadian Kyle Legault rocked the club with a demand for a move last month and now a second un-named rider wants away.

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Co-promoter David Hoggart, the former Workington announcer, said: “I find it staggering that both Kyle and the other rider concerned are not even talking to the club and it shows a lack of respect to Sheffield speedway and the fans."

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Reading are to revert back to regular Monday night racing next season after the dismal failure of a switch to Friday. The Racers are keen to encourage new fans at the same time as racing on the club’s traditional night.Co-promoter Malcolm Holloway said: “Both Mark Legg and I would like to see more children and families in general each week, but we must also look after our existing fan-base. It’s still not certain whether Reading will be staying in the Elite League next season or looking to join the Premier League.

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No such doubts at Oxford as the Cheetahs are keen to compete in both the Premier League and Conference League next season. Owner Allen Trump, who rescued the club from probable closure last June, is set to apply for membership at the sport’s AGM at the end of the month.Cheetahs’ manager Peter Oakes said: “There have been lots of rumours but I can confirm Allen wants to see the club racing at both levels next year.”
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Source: News and Star