Around the Premier League Tracks 2007 - the close season 2007/8
.
.
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!
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!
No comments:
Post a Comment