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Last Updated: Jan 27th, 2012 - 19:29:09 |
KNOCK OUT CUP
THE Elite League Knockout Cup will be raced using a new format for the forthcoming 2012 season.
The draw was made earlier this week at BSPA HQ in Rugby and Vice Chairman Jon Cook has confirmed plans to refresh the competition are well advanced.
Last year’s winners Poole have been handed a tough test against a revamped Wolverhampton side, with other equally interesting ties amongst the first round encounters.
Cook said: “We are far forward in changes to the competition format to make it stand out from League racing and full details on that will follow of the eve of the season.
“The meetings will all take place within a small time-frame and we are also scheduling an early Final this season. This is something that has been a bugbear in the past.
“The open draw for the first round has thrown up some great clashes including same race-nights and clubs that are only meet once in League competition.
“We are confident that when the full plans are revealed that it will be a must-see night of racing for the fans.”
Full draw:
Birmingham v Belle Vue
Poole v Wolverhampton
Lakeside v Coventry
Swindon v Peterborough
NATIONAL LEAGUE
BRITISH Speedway's National League will have eight clubs doing battle when the tapes rise for the new season.
This sees Buxton, Dudley, Isle of Wight, King’s Lynn, Mildenhall, Rye House, Scunthorpe and Stoke now forming the third tier of the sport.
And like the top two leagues play-offs will also decide the League Championship. Each team will ride against each other home and away with the top four clubs then progressing to the end-of-season race-off for the title.
There will also be an additional competition for some of the ‘stand-alone’ clubs, with Buxton, Isle of Wight, Mildenhall and Stoke competing for the National Trophy against each other home and away. The mini-group winners will win the Trophy.
The points limit remains at 40 with the rule being retained for the next three seasons (2012-14).
National League Co-Ordinator Peter Morrish said: "We are down to eight teams but we have structured the season so it will once again be very competitive and an attractive product for the fans.
"With the introduction of the National League Trophy those clubs who wanted more fixtures get what they need, everyone left the AGM feeling very positive about the new season."
Other news in brief (dates to be confirmed):
KNOCKOUT CUP, 1st round
Dudley v Buxton
Isle of Wight v Rye House
Mildenhall v King’s Lynn
Stoke v Scunthorpe
NATIONAL SHIELD
Dudley v Mildenhall
MAJOR EVENTS
National League Pairs @ Mildenhall
National League Fours @ Stoke
National League Riders Championship @ Rye House (Saturday, September 15)
British Under-21 Semi-Final @ Stoke
British Under-21 Final @ Dudley (Wolverhampton)
SCUNTHORPE SCORIONS
SCUNTHORPE will open up their season by racing for the Kenny Smith Memorial Trophy against Leicester on Friday, March 16.
Smith lost his brave battle against cancer in 2009 having served the Lincolnshire club for a number of years as co-promoter and team manager.
He previously held managerial roles with both Middlesbrough and Newcastle and also had his own racing career in grasstrack, before taking up speedway in the late sixties at Doncaster.
Scorpions’ team manager Richard Hollingsworth said: “We always intended to start the 2012 season with Kenny’s meeting after it was sadly rained off at the end of 2011.
“Leicester are an appropriate choice of opponent, with both Magnus Karlsson and Simon Lambert in their ranks, two riders who rode for Scunthorpe under Kenny’s management.”
KINGS LYNN YOUNG STARS
KING’S Lynn have announced the signing of Brendan Johnson for their 2012 National League team.
The teenager joins the club from Isle of Wight, who now have just one place remaining with James Cockle, Jake Knight, Adam Lowe, Lewis Kerr and Tom Stokes all returning from last year’s squad.
Young Stars team boss Dale Allitt has been keeping a watchful eye on the former British Under-18 Champion for a number of years and is delighted to finally get his man.
He said: “I tried to sign Brendan in my Boston days four years ago when he was 15, and I’ve kept tabs on him since then.
“His starting average means he is the lowest member of our top five – giving us great strength in depth. He has got plenty of potential and someone I am pleased to have on board.”
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