Hey, speedway's back! Well, almost. On May 17th, fans will be allowed in to see bikes sliding round corners for the first time since FOREVER, although things kick off a little bit earlier than that with some behind-closed-doors stuff. British speedway is once again going with a 3 (and a half) tier system, but there's been a few casualties since the tapes were pulled down at the end of the 2019 season.
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In the top division, still called the Premiership, just SIX teams will race this year, after reigning champions Swindon put their license on hold for a year due to not-at-all-surprising difficulties getting their new stadium finished. Sheffield had stepped up to the Premiership for the aborted 2020 season, replacing Poole, who dropped down to the second tier. Teams in the top division are forced to track a young British rider at reserve this year, taking us back to where we were the last time this was done in 2014 (only to be dropped because some teams didn't like being forced to track young British riders).
The 2021 Premiership looks like this:
Belle Vue Aces: Brady Kurtz (AUS), Steve Worrall (GBR), Dan Bewley (GBR), Richie Worrall (GBR), Charles Wright (GBR), Jay Etheridge (AUS), Tom Brennan (GBR)
Ipswich Witches: Jason Crump (AUS/GBR), Cameron Heeps (AUS), Nicolai Klindt (DEN), Jordan Stewart (AUS), Danny King (GBR), Anders Rowe (GBR), Drew Kemp (GBR)
King's Lynn Stars: Craig Cook (GBR), Ty Proctor (AUS), Lewis Kerr (GBR), Thomas Jorgensen (DEN), Erik Riss (GER), Lewis Bridger (GBR), Ryan Kinsley (GBR)
Peterborough Panthers: Bjarne Pedersen (DEN), Scott Nicholls (GBR), Chris Harris (GBR), Hans Andersen (DEN), Michael Palm-Toft (DEN), Ulrich Ostergaard (DEN), Jordan Palin (GBR)
Sheffield Tigers: Troy Batchelor (AUS), Justin Sedgmen (AUS), Adam Ellis (GBR), Kyle Howarth (GBR), Jack Holder (AUS), James Wright (GBR), Josh Bates (GBR)
Wolverhampton Wolves: Sam Masters (AUS), Ryan Douglas (AUS), Nick Morris (AUS), Luke Becker (USA), Rory Schlein (AUS/GBR), Broc Nichol (USA), Tom Bacon (GBR)
The six Premiership clubs will also track reserve sides in a second-half competition, although it will not be after every meeting, and only four races per match. Premiership fixtures will be raced on Monday and Thursday evenings, although the main reason for bringing this in - to avoid clashes with overseas leagues who share riders with the Premiership - has been slightly negated by limits being put on the amount of leagues any one rider can compete in by the Polish League.
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The second division, again called the Championship, has twelve teams taking part, with Plymouth the new arrivals, replacing Somerset, who declined to take part and have put their license on ice. Kent will also race their first second-tier fixtures, having made the jump for 2020 before it was cancelled. Championship teams also have to include a British youngster in their line-up.
The 2021 Championship looks like this:
Berwick Bandits: Aaron Summers (AUS), Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen (DEN), Jye Etheridge (AUS), Daniel Gappmaier (AUT), Fernando Garcia (ARG), Kyle Bickley (GBR), Leon Flint (GBR)
Birmingham Brummies: Chris Harris (GBR), Eric Riss (GER), Ashley Morris (GBR), Valentin Groubauer (GER), James Shanes (GBR), Paco Castagna (ITA), Jack Thomas (GBR)
Eastbourne Eagles: Edward Kennett (GBR), Richard Lawson (GBR), Lewis Kerr (GBR), Tom Brennan (GBR), Kyle Newman (GBR), Drew Kemp (GBR), Jason Edwards (GBR)
Edinburgh Monarchs: Sam Masters (AUS), Richie Worrall (GBR), Josh Pickering (AUS), Nathan Greaves (GBR), Kye Thomson (AUS), William Lawson (GBR), Joe Lawlor (GBR)
Glasgow Tigers: Craig Cook (GBR), Ricky Wells (USA/NZL), Ulrich Ostergaard (DEN), Justin Sedgmen (AUS), Broc Nicol (USA), Sam Jensen (DEN), Jack Smith (GBR)
Kent Kings: Scott Nicholls (GBR), Paul Hurry (GBR), Cameron Heeps (AUS), Paul Starke (GBR), Tom Bacon (GBR), Ben Morley (GBR), Dan Gilkes (GBR)
Leicester Lions: Nick Morris (AUS), Ryan Douglas (AUS), Kyle Howarth (GBR), Ty Proctor (AUS), Josh Bates (GBR), Dan Thompson (GBR), Joe Thompson (GBR)
Newcastle Diamonds: Claus Vissing (DEN), Ben Barker (GBR), Matty Wethers (AUS), Max Clegg (GBR), Adam Roynon (GBR), James Wright (GBR), Joe Alcock (GBR)
Poo Pirates: Rory Schlein (AUS/GBR), Danny King (GBR), Steve Worrall (GBR), Stefan Nielsen (GBR/DEN), Ben Cook (GBR), Zane Keleher (AUS), Danyon Hume (GBR)
Plymouth Gladiators: Jason Crump (AUS/GBR), Bjarne Pedersen (DEN), Steven Goret (FRA), Zach Cook (AUS), Dillon Ruml (USA), Alfie Bowtell (GBR), Henry Atkins (GBR),
Redcar Bears: Charles Wright (GBR), Michael Palm Toft (DEN), Jordan Stewart (AUS), Kasper Andersen (DEN), Anders Rowe (GBR), Jordan Jenkins (GBR), +1 TBC
Scunthorpe Scorpions: Josh Auty (GBR), Tero Aarnio (FIN), Thomas Jorgensen (DEN), Theo Pijper (HOL), Simon Lambert (GBR), Jordan Palin (GBR), +1 TBC
There's no fixed racenight in the Championship, with clubs able to pick their own. Kent & Plymouth usually run on Tuesdays, with Birmingham & Poole on Wednesdays, and Edinburgh, Glasgow, Redcar & Scunthorpe using Fridays. Saturdays are for Berwick, Eastbourne & reigning champions Leicester, with Newcastle on Sundays.
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The third division has gone through some changes, with Stoke and Cradley dropping out ahead of the 2020 season, which was planned to run with just seven clubs. For 2021, it's back up to eight, although they've lost Plymouth to promotion and the Isle of Wight altogether, with the addition of second teams from Newcastle and Berwick. With Armadale effectively Edinburgh B, only Mildenhall run as a standalone track in tier three. All riders have to qualify for a British racing license.
The 2021 National Development League looks like this:
Armadale Devils: Nathan Greaves, Sheldon Davies, Danny Phillips, George Rothery, Tom Woolley, Lewis Millar, Gregor Millar
Belle Vue Colts: Jack Parkinson-Blackburn, Paul Bowen, Ben Woodhull, Connor Coles, Harry McGurk, Sam McGurk. +1 TBC
Berwick Bullets: Leon Flint, Ryan MacDonald, Greg Blair, Ben Rathbone, Kyle Bickley, Kieran Douglas, Mason Watson
Eastbourne Seagulls: Jake Knight, Connor King, Richard Andrews, Chad Wirtzfeld, Henry Atkins, Nick Laurence, Nathan Ablitt
Kent Royals: Dan Gilkes, Jacob Clouting, Rob Ledwith, Jamie Bursill, Ryan Kinsley, Jake Mulford, Josh Warren
Leicester Lion Cubs: Joe Lawlor, Tom Spencer, Jamie Halder, Dan Thompson, Joe Thompson, Kai Ward, Ben Trigger
Mildenhall Fen Tigers: Jason Edwards, Elliot Kelly, Luke Ruddick, Sam Bebee, Jordan Jenkins, Arran Bucher, Sam Hagon
Newcastle Gems: Max Clegg, Kelsey Dugard, Joe Alcock, Josh Embleton, Ryan Terry-Daley, Danny Smith, Archie Freeman
Racenights are all over the place for NDL clubs, with some operating on the same night as their senior clubs, some racing in place of those senior clubs on those nights, and some on different nights altogether. Mildenhall run Sundays, for what it's worth!
- - -
Below that, there'll be no semi-official youth development leagues (which sees the end of some clubs keeping famous names alive as nomads) but there will be the British Youth Championship.
- - -
In the top division, still called the Premiership, just SIX teams will race this year, after reigning champions Swindon put their license on hold for a year due to not-at-all-surprising difficulties getting their new stadium finished. Sheffield had stepped up to the Premiership for the aborted 2020 season, replacing Poole, who dropped down to the second tier. Teams in the top division are forced to track a young British rider at reserve this year, taking us back to where we were the last time this was done in 2014 (only to be dropped because some teams didn't like being forced to track young British riders).
The 2021 Premiership looks like this:
Belle Vue Aces: Brady Kurtz (AUS), Steve Worrall (GBR), Dan Bewley (GBR), Richie Worrall (GBR), Charles Wright (GBR), Jay Etheridge (AUS), Tom Brennan (GBR)
Ipswich Witches: Jason Crump (AUS/GBR), Cameron Heeps (AUS), Nicolai Klindt (DEN), Jordan Stewart (AUS), Danny King (GBR), Anders Rowe (GBR), Drew Kemp (GBR)
King's Lynn Stars: Craig Cook (GBR), Ty Proctor (AUS), Lewis Kerr (GBR), Thomas Jorgensen (DEN), Erik Riss (GER), Lewis Bridger (GBR), Ryan Kinsley (GBR)
Peterborough Panthers: Bjarne Pedersen (DEN), Scott Nicholls (GBR), Chris Harris (GBR), Hans Andersen (DEN), Michael Palm-Toft (DEN), Ulrich Ostergaard (DEN), Jordan Palin (GBR)
Sheffield Tigers: Troy Batchelor (AUS), Justin Sedgmen (AUS), Adam Ellis (GBR), Kyle Howarth (GBR), Jack Holder (AUS), James Wright (GBR), Josh Bates (GBR)
Wolverhampton Wolves: Sam Masters (AUS), Ryan Douglas (AUS), Nick Morris (AUS), Luke Becker (USA), Rory Schlein (AUS/GBR), Broc Nichol (USA), Tom Bacon (GBR)
The six Premiership clubs will also track reserve sides in a second-half competition, although it will not be after every meeting, and only four races per match. Premiership fixtures will be raced on Monday and Thursday evenings, although the main reason for bringing this in - to avoid clashes with overseas leagues who share riders with the Premiership - has been slightly negated by limits being put on the amount of leagues any one rider can compete in by the Polish League.
- - -
The second division, again called the Championship, has twelve teams taking part, with Plymouth the new arrivals, replacing Somerset, who declined to take part and have put their license on ice. Kent will also race their first second-tier fixtures, having made the jump for 2020 before it was cancelled. Championship teams also have to include a British youngster in their line-up.
The 2021 Championship looks like this:
Berwick Bandits: Aaron Summers (AUS), Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen (DEN), Jye Etheridge (AUS), Daniel Gappmaier (AUT), Fernando Garcia (ARG), Kyle Bickley (GBR), Leon Flint (GBR)
Birmingham Brummies: Chris Harris (GBR), Eric Riss (GER), Ashley Morris (GBR), Valentin Groubauer (GER), James Shanes (GBR), Paco Castagna (ITA), Jack Thomas (GBR)
Eastbourne Eagles: Edward Kennett (GBR), Richard Lawson (GBR), Lewis Kerr (GBR), Tom Brennan (GBR), Kyle Newman (GBR), Drew Kemp (GBR), Jason Edwards (GBR)
Edinburgh Monarchs: Sam Masters (AUS), Richie Worrall (GBR), Josh Pickering (AUS), Nathan Greaves (GBR), Kye Thomson (AUS), William Lawson (GBR), Joe Lawlor (GBR)
Glasgow Tigers: Craig Cook (GBR), Ricky Wells (USA/NZL), Ulrich Ostergaard (DEN), Justin Sedgmen (AUS), Broc Nicol (USA), Sam Jensen (DEN), Jack Smith (GBR)
Kent Kings: Scott Nicholls (GBR), Paul Hurry (GBR), Cameron Heeps (AUS), Paul Starke (GBR), Tom Bacon (GBR), Ben Morley (GBR), Dan Gilkes (GBR)
Leicester Lions: Nick Morris (AUS), Ryan Douglas (AUS), Kyle Howarth (GBR), Ty Proctor (AUS), Josh Bates (GBR), Dan Thompson (GBR), Joe Thompson (GBR)
Newcastle Diamonds: Claus Vissing (DEN), Ben Barker (GBR), Matty Wethers (AUS), Max Clegg (GBR), Adam Roynon (GBR), James Wright (GBR), Joe Alcock (GBR)
Poo Pirates: Rory Schlein (AUS/GBR), Danny King (GBR), Steve Worrall (GBR), Stefan Nielsen (GBR/DEN), Ben Cook (GBR), Zane Keleher (AUS), Danyon Hume (GBR)
Plymouth Gladiators: Jason Crump (AUS/GBR), Bjarne Pedersen (DEN), Steven Goret (FRA), Zach Cook (AUS), Dillon Ruml (USA), Alfie Bowtell (GBR), Henry Atkins (GBR),
Redcar Bears: Charles Wright (GBR), Michael Palm Toft (DEN), Jordan Stewart (AUS), Kasper Andersen (DEN), Anders Rowe (GBR), Jordan Jenkins (GBR), +1 TBC
Scunthorpe Scorpions: Josh Auty (GBR), Tero Aarnio (FIN), Thomas Jorgensen (DEN), Theo Pijper (HOL), Simon Lambert (GBR), Jordan Palin (GBR), +1 TBC
There's no fixed racenight in the Championship, with clubs able to pick their own. Kent & Plymouth usually run on Tuesdays, with Birmingham & Poole on Wednesdays, and Edinburgh, Glasgow, Redcar & Scunthorpe using Fridays. Saturdays are for Berwick, Eastbourne & reigning champions Leicester, with Newcastle on Sundays.
- - -
The third division has gone through some changes, with Stoke and Cradley dropping out ahead of the 2020 season, which was planned to run with just seven clubs. For 2021, it's back up to eight, although they've lost Plymouth to promotion and the Isle of Wight altogether, with the addition of second teams from Newcastle and Berwick. With Armadale effectively Edinburgh B, only Mildenhall run as a standalone track in tier three. All riders have to qualify for a British racing license.
The 2021 National Development League looks like this:
Armadale Devils: Nathan Greaves, Sheldon Davies, Danny Phillips, George Rothery, Tom Woolley, Lewis Millar, Gregor Millar
Belle Vue Colts: Jack Parkinson-Blackburn, Paul Bowen, Ben Woodhull, Connor Coles, Harry McGurk, Sam McGurk. +1 TBC
Berwick Bullets: Leon Flint, Ryan MacDonald, Greg Blair, Ben Rathbone, Kyle Bickley, Kieran Douglas, Mason Watson
Eastbourne Seagulls: Jake Knight, Connor King, Richard Andrews, Chad Wirtzfeld, Henry Atkins, Nick Laurence, Nathan Ablitt
Kent Royals: Dan Gilkes, Jacob Clouting, Rob Ledwith, Jamie Bursill, Ryan Kinsley, Jake Mulford, Josh Warren
Leicester Lion Cubs: Joe Lawlor, Tom Spencer, Jamie Halder, Dan Thompson, Joe Thompson, Kai Ward, Ben Trigger
Mildenhall Fen Tigers: Jason Edwards, Elliot Kelly, Luke Ruddick, Sam Bebee, Jordan Jenkins, Arran Bucher, Sam Hagon
Newcastle Gems: Max Clegg, Kelsey Dugard, Joe Alcock, Josh Embleton, Ryan Terry-Daley, Danny Smith, Archie Freeman
Racenights are all over the place for NDL clubs, with some operating on the same night as their senior clubs, some racing in place of those senior clubs on those nights, and some on different nights altogether. Mildenhall run Sundays, for what it's worth!
- - -
Below that, there'll be no semi-official youth development leagues (which sees the end of some clubs keeping famous names alive as nomads) but there will be the British Youth Championship.
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