2008 Elite League speedway season

2008 Elite League speedway season
League	Sky Sports Elite League
Season	2008
Champions	Poole Pirates
Knockout Cup	Eastbourne Eagles
Pairs Championship	Coventry Bees
Craven Shield	Coventry Bees
Elite League Riders Championship	Jason Crump
Highest average	Jason Crump ; (10.80)
	← 2007; 2009 →;

The 2008 Elite League (also known as the Sky Sports Elite League for sponsorship reasons) is the 12th since its establishment in 1997. The first fixtures of the season took place on 29 March and the season ended on 27 October. The Coventry Bees were the defending champions from 2007.

New rules introduced for 2008 included three points for an away win compared to two points in 2007, and the removal of the bonus point, in which a team was awarded an extra point for an aggregate win over home and away matches against another team. Also new in 2008 was a relegation and promotion play-off between an Elite League team and a Premier League team. The two teams that finish bottom of the Elite League will face in each other in a two legged play-off with the loser facing the Premier League play-off winner over two legs.^[1]

The Poole Pirates finished top of the league table, with the Lakeside Hammers, Swindon Robins and Ipswich Witches occupying the other championship play-off places. Poole and Lakeside progressed to the grand final of the play-offs, with Poole winning the first leg at Lakeside 42–48, and the second leg at Poole 60–33, giving them a 108–75 victory.^[2] The Poole Pirates were crowned with their third Elite League title, and fifth championship overall. Wolverhampton faced Premier League team the Edinburgh Monarchs in the relegation/promotion play-off final, with Wolverhampton winning comfortably over the two legs with a 106–76 aggregate victory, and thus avoided relegation.^[3]

League table

Key:
Competition play offs
Relegation play-offs

Pos	Club	M	Home			Away			F	A	+/-	Pts
Pos	Club	M	W	D	L	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	Poole Pirates	32	14	0	2	8	0	8	1600	1321	+279	52
2	Lakeside Hammers	32	15	0	1	7	1	8	1551	1375	+176	52
3	Swindon Robins	32	12	2	2	5	0	11	1498	1434	+64	41
4	Ipswich Witches	32	11	1	4	5	2	9	1483	1439	+44	40
5	Eastbourne Eagles	32	11	0	5	4	0	12	1462	1472	-10	34
6	Coventry Bees	32	10	2	4	2	1	13	1418	1506	-88	29
7	Belle Vue Aces	32	13	0	3	0	2	14	1423	1491	-68	28
8	Peterborough Panthers	32	12	1	3	1	0	15	1371	1528	-157	28
9	Wolverhampton Wolves	32	8	0	8	0	0	16	1341	1581	-240	16

Home: 3W = Home win by 7 points or more; 2W = Home win by between 1 and 6 points
Away: 4W = Away win by 7 points or more; 3W = Away win by between 1 and 6 points; 1L = Away loss by 6 points or less
M = Meetings; D = Draws; L = Losses; F = Race points for; A = Race points against; +/- = Race points difference; Pts = Total Points

Results

Teams face each other four times: twice home and away. The first of the home and away meetings are called the 'A' fixtures, and the second are the 'B' fixtures.

'A' Fixtures

Home\Away	BV	COV	EAS	IPS	LH	PET	PP	SWI	WOL
Belle Vue Aces		46-43	42-48	52-38	47-43	52-41	50-43	42-51	60-30
Coventry Bees	45-45		43-47	52-37	41-49	48-42	48-45	52-41	48-45
Eastbourne Eagles	50-40	50-40		42-48	53-39	59-35	41-48	46-44	53-40
Ipswich Witches	52-41	50-43	51-39		42-51	60-31	41-51	43-50	53-38
Lakeside Hammers	54-39	63-29	48-45	51-42		56-37	48-45	50-45	53-40
Peterborough Panthers	47-45	51-38	48-42	49-41	36-36*		35-57	42-48	48-42
Poole Pirates	59-33	53-39	52-41	40-50	54-38	44-46		53-39	62-31
Swindon Robins	49-43	49-43	56-37	45-45	53-40	53-40	39-51		50-42
Wolverhampton Wolves	48-45	44-45	50-39	43-48	41-49	59-33	54-36	42-48

* Meeting abandoned after heat 12. Result stands.

Last updated: September 11, 2008. Source: BSPA

Colours: Blue = home win; Red = away win; White = draw

Home team listed in the left-hand column

'B' Fixtures

Home\Away	BV	COV	EAS	IPS	LH	PET	PP	SWI	WOL
Belle Vue Aces		50-40	48-45	48-42	42-48	53-39	48-42	47-43	49-41
Coventry Bees	52-40		52-41	45-45	42-51	59-36	37-56	52-43	53-40
Eastbourne Eagles	56-37	46-47		41-49	49-44	46-44	41-52	50-43	63-27
Ipswich Witches	48-42	45-45	52-41		44-48	54-38	52-38	54-39	49-41
Lakeside Hammers	59-34	56-37	56-37	55-38		49-41	53-39	41-49	58-32
Peterborough Panthers	52-42	51-42	39-54	52-40	56-37		47-43	52-41	56-37
Poole Pirates	50-31*	54-36	60-33	59-34	50-42	54-36		58-35	55-37
Swindon Robins	45-45	51-39	53-39	49-44	53-39	49-44	42-51		62-29
Wolverhampton Wolves	48-45	47-43	45-48	40-52	43-47	54-38	44-46	47-46

*Meeting abandoned after heat 13. Result stands.

Last updated: October 7, 2008. Source: BSPA

Colours: Blue = home win; Red = away win; White = draw

Home team listed in the left-hand column

Championship play-offs

Semi-finals

2008-09-29

19:30

Poole Pirates	59 – 33	Ipswich Witches
Bjarne Pedersen 13+1	(Report)	Kenneth Bjerre (guest) 11

Wimborne Road, Poole

Referee: Dave Watters

2008-09-29

19:30

Lakeside Hammers	56 – 33	Swindon Robins
Andreas Jonsson 15	(Report)	Leigh Adams 14

Arena Essex Raceway, Purfleet

Referee: Phil Griffin

Poole and Lakeside progressed to the grand final

Grand final

First leg

2008-10-06

19:30

Lakeside Hammers	42 – 48	Poole Pirates
	(Report)

Arena Essex Raceway, Purfleet

Referee: Chris Gay


Lakeside:
	1	Andreas Jonsson (c)	(2,3,0,3,1',3,3)	15+1
	2	Leigh Lanham	(1',1,1,1,2)	6+1
	3	Rider replacement
	4	Jonas Davidsson	(1,3,2',2,2,0)	10+1
	5	Tomasz Jędrzejak	(0,2,1,3,2')	8+1
	6	Ricky Kling	(1,0,1',1')	3+2
	7	Krzysztof Jabłoński	(0,1',0)	1+1
Manager:
Jon Cook


Poole:
	1	Chris Holder	(3,2,2,0)	7
	2	Magnus Zetterström	(0,0,3,1')	4+1
	3	Bjarne Pedersen (c)	(2',2',3,3,2)	12+2
	4	Adam Skórnicki	(3,3,f,3,1')	10+1
	5	Davey Watt	(3,2,1,1)	7
	6	Freddie Eriksson	(2',0,0)	2+1
	7	Daniel Davidsson	(3,0,2',0,1')	6+1
Manager:
Neil Middleditch

Second leg

2008-10-13

19:30

Poole Pirates	60 – 33 (108 – 75)	Lakeside Hammers
	Report

Wimborne Road, Poole

Referee: Tony Steele


Poole:
	1	Chris Holder	(3,3,3,0,3)	12
	2	Magnus Zetterström	(2',1,3,2')	8+2
	3	Bjarne Pedersen (c)	(3,3,3,3,2')	14+1
	4	Adam Skórnicki	(1,ex,1,2)	4
	5	Davey Watt	(3,1,2,2)	8
	6	Freddie Eriksson	(2',0,1',1')	4+3
	7	Daniel Davidsson	(3,2',2',1,2')	10+3
Manager:
Neil Middleditch


Lakeside:
	1	Scott Nicholls (guest)	(1,ex,6^,3,1)	11
	2	Leigh Lanham (c)	(0,1,0)	1
	3	Rider replacement
	4	Tomasz Jędrzejak	(0,2,1,1,3,0)	7+1
	5	Jonas Davidsson	(2,1,2,2,3,1)	11
	6	Ricky Kling	(0,ex,0,0)	0
	7	Krzysztof Jabłoński	(1,0,2,0,0,ex)	3
Manager:
Jon Cook

Poole win 108-75 on aggregate and are the 2008 Elite League Champions.

Relegation play-offs

Semi-finals

2008-10-14

19:30

Wolverhampton Wolves	48 – 47	Peterborough Panthers
Niels Kristian Iversen 11	Report	Rory Schlein 14+1

Monmore Green Stadium, Wolverhampton

2008-10-16

19:30

Peterborough Panthers	67 – 23	Wolverhampton Wolves
Karol Zabik 14+1		Jesper B. Monberg 7

East of England Showground, Peterborough

Referee: Jim Lawrence

Peterborough win 114-71 on aggregate. Wolverhampton will face the Premier League play-off winners, the Edinburgh Monarchs, over two legs.

Final

2008-10-24

19:30

Edinburgh Monarchs	37 – 53	Wolverhampton Wolves
Ryan Fisher 14	Report	Jesper B. Monberg 14

Armadale Stadium, Armadale, West Lothian

Referee: Stuart Wilson

2008-10-27

19:30

Wolverhampton Wolves	53 – 38	Edinburgh Monarchs
Jesper B. Monberg 12	Report	Ryan Fisher 16+1

Monmore Green Stadium, Wolverhampton

Referee: Jim Lawrence

Wolverhampton win 106–76 on aggregate and avoid relegation.

Averages

The top ten rider averages in the Elite League as of October 1, 2008:

	Rider	Average^[4]	Team
1	Jason Crump	10.80	Belle Vue
2	Leigh Adams	10.48	Swindon
3	Andreas Jonsson	9.66	Lakeside
4	Hans Andersen	9.16	Coventry
5	Bjarne Pedersen	9.13	Poole
6	Chris Holder	8.80	Poole
7	Scott Nicholls	8.76	Eastbourne
8	Fredrik Lindgren	8.32	Wolverhampton
9	Jarosław Hampel	8.28	Ipswich
10	Lee Richardson	8.16	Eastbourne

Elite League Riders Championship

The Elite League Riders Championship involves the riders with the highest average from each club competing in the Elite League. It took place on 8 October 2008, at the Premier League track at Birmingham after the original staging of the event on 20 August was abandoned due to bad weather.^[5]

Format

The top 15 highest averaged riders in the Elite League plus one wild card and two reserves take part, although no more than two riders from each club participate. There are 20 qualifying heats, a 'last chance' qualifying heat and a final. The top two scorers from the 20 qualifying heats qualify directly for the final. The next top four scorers take place in the last chance qualifying heat, with the 1st and 2nd place riders from that heat also qualifying to the final.^[6]

Result

2008-10-08, Birmingham^[7]
Changes:
- (5) Jarosław Hampel (IPS) → Janniro (COV)
- (6) Lee Richardson (EAS) → Kennett
- (8) Chris Harris (COV) → Bjerre (PET)
- (10) Scott Nicholls (EAS) → Batchelor (SWI)
- (11) Adam Shields (LH) → Davidsson
- (12) Bjarne Pedersen (PP) → Watt
- (13) Mads Korneliussen (SWI) → King (PET)
- (14) Andreas Jonsson (LH) → Schlein (IPS)
- (15) Hans N. Andersen (PET) → Bridger (EAS)

Placing	Rider	Total	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	Pts	Pos	21	22
1	(2) Jason Crump (BV)	12	3					2				1				3				3			12	3	2	3
2	(14) Rory Schlein (IPS)	10				3		1					1		3							2	10	5	3	2
3	(8) Kenneth Bjerre (PET)	13		3						2			3			2			3				13	2		1
4	(4) Leigh Adams (SWI)	13	1							3				3				3				3	13	1		0
5	(1) Chris Holder (PP)	11	2				3				3				1				2				11	4	1
6	(12) Davey Watt (PP)	10			2					1		2			2						3		10	6	0
7	(15) Lewis Bridger (EAS)	8				2			2			3						0	1				8	7
8	(16) Niels K. Iversen (WOL)	7				1				0	2						2			2			7	8
9	(13) Daniel King (PET)	7				E	2							2		1					2		7	9
10	(3) Fredrik Lindgren (WOL)	6	0						0				2				3				1		6	10
11	(7) Piotr Świderski (IPS)	5		0					3					1	0					1			5	11
12	(11) Jonas Davidsson (LH)	5			3				1		0					0						1	5	12
13	(10) Troy Batchelor (SWI)	5			1			3						0			1		0				5	13
14	(6) Edward Kennett (EAS)	4		1				0			1							2			0		4	14
15	(5) Billy Janniro (COV)	2		2			0					0					0					-	2	15
16	(9) Charlie Gjedde (BV)	2			0		1						0					1		0			2	16
17	(17) Jay Herne	0																				0	0	17
	(18) Luke Priest	0																					0
Placing	Rider	Total	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	Pts	Pos	21	22

m - exclusion for exceeding two minute time allowance • t - exclusion for touching the tapes • x - other exclusion • e - retired or mechanical failure • f - fell • ns - non-starter • nc - non-classify

gate A - inside	gate B	gate C	gate D - outside

References

^ "British Speedway 2008". British Speedway Promoters' Association. 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
^ "Douglas praises champions Poole". BBC Sport. 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
^ "Wolves seal EL place". Sky Sports. 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
^ "2008 Elite League greensheet averages". British Speedway Promoters' Association. 2008. Archived from the original on 12 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-12. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ "Elite League stars in Birmingham". BBC Sport. 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
^ "Elite League Riders Championship". British Speedway Promoters' Association. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-02. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
^ "Crump wygrał w Birmingham" (in Polish). SportoweFakty.pl. 2008-10-08. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-09. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

External links

British Speedway Promoters Association Website

Template:Belle Vue Aces speedway team 2008 Template:Coventry Bees speedway team 2008 Template:Eastbourne Eagles speedway team 2008 Template:Ipswich Witches speedway team 2008 Template:Lakeside Hammers speedway team 2008 Template:Peterborough Panthers speedway team 2008 Template:Poole Pirates speedway team 2008 Template:Swindon Robins speedway team 2008 Template:Wolverhampton Wolves speedway team 2008

[1] "British Speedway 2008". British Speedway Promoters' Association. 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-22.

[2] "Douglas praises champions Poole". BBC Sport. 2008-10-14. Retrieved 2008-11-03.

[3] "Wolves seal EL place". Sky Sports. 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-03.

[4] "2008 Elite League greensheet averages". British Speedway Promoters' Association. 2008. Archived from the original on 12 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-12. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[5] "Elite League stars in Birmingham". BBC Sport. 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-10-16.

[6] "Elite League Riders Championship". British Speedway Promoters' Association. Archived from the original on May 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-02. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[7] "Crump wygrał w Birmingham" (in Polish). SportoweFakty.pl. 2008-10-08. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-09. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

v t e Elite League
Teams	Belle Vue Aces Birmingham Brummies Bradford Dukes Coventry Bees Eastbourne Eagles Hull Vikings Ipswich Witches King's Lynn Stars Lakeside Hammers Leicester Lions Oxford Cheetahs Peterborough Panthers Poole Pirates Reading Bulldogs Rye House Rockets Somerset Rebels Swindon Robins Wolverhampton Wolves
Seasons	1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Domestic cups	Elite League Knockout Cup Craven Shield Elite Shield Elite League Riders' Championship Elite League Pairs Championship

League table

Results

'A' Fixtures

'B' Fixtures

Championship play-offs

Semi-finals

Grand final

First leg

Second leg

Relegation play-offs

Semi-finals

Final

Averages

Elite League Riders Championship

Format

Result

See also

References

External links