Elite League (speedway)
Current season, competition or edition: 2016 Elite League | |
| Sport | Speedway |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1997 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Official website | www |
The Elite League was the top division of speedway league competition in the United Kingdom, governed by the Speedway Control Bureau (SCB), in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA). It was sponsored by Sky Sports until the end of the 2013 season.[1] In 2016, the Elite League featured 8 teams, unlike 10 in 2014, during a season which ran between March and October.[2] Each team had a designated race day on which they normally staged their home fixtures, and they regularly had home and away fixtures scheduled in the same week.
The Elite League operated for 20 years until British speedway was restructured with the formation of the SGB Premiership and SGB Championship.[3]
Brief history
The British League was formed in 1965 as the sole professional speedway league in Britain, expanding in 1968 to incorporate two divisions. In 1995 & 1996 there was a single professional tier known as the Premier League (an amalgamation of the British League Division One and the British League Division Two), before the Elite League was created as a new top tier in 1997. The Championship was decided on a straight league table basis until 2001. A play-off system was introduced in 2002, with the top four in the table taking part in a knockout competition to decide the champions.
League format
Teams are awarded two points for a win, one point for a draw and from 2008 three points for an away win. Each team races every other team in the league home and away, and then races five teams again home and twice away, giving a total of 38 meetings. The first of these home and away fixtures are called the 'A' fixtures, the second are the 'B' fixtures. Placings are determined by points accumulated over all matches. Where two or more teams are tied on league points, the team with the greater difference of race points scored over race points conceded is placed higher. The top four teams qualify for the Championship play-offs. The semi-finals are single matches with the top two league positions having home advantage (1st vs 3rd and 2nd vs 4th). Winners from the semi-finals then meet in a two-legged Grand Final to decide the Elite League Championship winner.
From 2008, promotion and relegation between the Elite League and Premier League was introduced for the first time since 1991.[4] The team finishing last faced the Premier League play-off winner over two legs (one match at each track), with the aggregate winner taking the Elite League spot in the following season, and the losing team racing in the Premier League. There is now no relegation from the Elite League, although teams can apply to move up or down between leagues.
For 2014 it was announced that each Elite League team would field two British riders from lower leagues at reserve. These would be picked from a draft[5] of 23 riders. Riders will be picked in two rounds, with the club finishing bottom of the league in 2013 getting the first pick.
Teams
Team building
At the start of each season, teams are built up to maximum points limit. The combined Calculated Match Average (CMA) of the best five riders declared in the team must not be higher than an agreed figure set at the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA) Annual General Meeting. For the 2015 the best five riders must not be higher than 34.[2]
2016 teams
| Team | Years Active | Team | Years Active |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belle Vue Aces | 1997– | Leicester Lions | 2014– |
| Coventry Bees | 1997– | Poole Pirates | 1997– |
| Kings Lynn Stars | 1997–2002, 2011– | Swindon Robins | 1997–1998, 2004– |
| Lakeside Hammers | 2004– | Wolverhampton Wolves | 1997– |
Source:[2]
Former teams
| Team | Years Active | Other Information |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Brummies | 2011–2014 | (14 July 2014 went out of business),[6] reformed for 2015 in the National League. |
| Eastbourne Eagles | 1997–2014 | Moved to National League. |
| Peterborough Panthers | 1997–2013 | Moved to Premier League. |
| Ipswich Witches | 1997–2010 | Moved to Premier League. |
| Reading Bulldogs | 2006–2007 | Moved to Premier League. |
| Oxford Cheetahs | 1998–2007* | Closure. *(Resigned halfway through 2007 season, results were then erased from season) |
| Hull Vikings | 1999 | Moved to Premier League. |
| Bradford Dukes | 1997 | Closure. |
Competitions
Elite League
Champions
Elite League KOC
Craven Shield
Elite Shield
Elite League Riders' Championship
Elite League Pairs
References
- ^ "New speedway deal". Sky Sports. 10 August 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b c "British Speedway AGM Statement". Speedway GB. British Speedway Promoters' Association. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
- ^ "British Speedway Gets Major Revamp", speedwaygb.co, 3 November 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016
- ^ "Elite League line-up". Sky Sports. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
- ^ "Elite League Reserve Draft Rider List Revealed".
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/speedway/28297067
- ^ "Pirates Claim EL Crown", speedwaygb.co, 16 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013
