SGB Premiership 2018
The SGB Premiership 2018 was the 84th season of the top division of Great British Speedway in 2018. The season ran between March and October 2018 and had eight teams participating. The line-up of teams remained the same as in 2017. The Swindon Robins were the defending champions after winning the title in 2017. BT Sport continued its TV coverage of the SGB Premiership in 2018. Poole Pirates defeated King's Lynn Stars in the Play off final. It was Poole's tenth tier one title, which brought them level in second place with the Wembley Lions in the historical records.[1][7]
League | SGB Premiership |
---|---|
Champions | Poole Pirates[1] |
Knockout Cup | Somerset Rebels[2] |
Charity Shield | Swindon Robins[3] |
Individual | Jason Doyle[4] |
Highest average | Jason Doyle[5] |
Biggest home win | Belle Vue Aces 62 Leicester Lions 28 [6] |
Biggest away win | Leicester Lions 37 Poole Pirates 53[6] |
Division/s below | SGB Championship National League |
Regulation changes
At the Speedway AGM in November 2017, a number of changes were made to the rules and regulations for 2018. The biggest change was the introduction of fixed race nights: from now on, all Premiership meetings would be held on either a Monday or Wednesday, with Swindon Robins receiving special dispensation to continue to host home meetings on a Thursday. It was hoped that this would result in more of the world's top riders returning to UK racing. However, Premiership teams were only allowed to sign one rider per team with a Premiership average of over 8 points per match, and this rule prevented some of the world's best riders returning to Premiership teams in 2018.[8] The change to race nights also eliminated the possibility of doubling up riders (riding in both of the top two divisions in British Speedway) by being scheduled to ride for two clubs on the same night.
At the BSPA (British Speedway Promoters Association) annual conference, a decision was made to discontinue the end-of-season play-off for promotion and relegation between the bottom team of the SGB Premiership and the SGB Championship play-off winners.[9]
Squads
Belle Vue Aces
Also Rode
King's Lynn Stars
-
Niels Kristian Iversen
-
Thomas Jørgensen
-
Robert Lambert
-
Simon Lambert
-
Michael Palm Toft
-
Ty Proctor
-
Erik Riss
Also Rode
Leicester Lions
Also Rode
Poole Pirates
-
Josh Grajczonek
-
Chris Harris
-
Frederik Jakobsen
-
Nicolai Klindt
-
Brady Kurtz
-
Richie Worrall
-
Kacper Woryna
Also Rode
-
Peter Kildemand
-
Stefan Nielsen
-
James Shanes
-
Paul Starke
-
Linus Sundstorm
-
Mateusz Szczepaniak
Rye House Rockets
The Rockets had their membership of the 2018 SGB Premiership annulled by the Speedway Control Bureau on July 4th.[10]
The following riders represented Rye House in 2018:
Somerset Rebels
Also Rode
Swindon Robins
Also Rode
Wolverhampton Wolves
-
Jonas B. Andersen
-
Nathan Greaves
-
Kyle Howarth
-
Sam Masters
-
Ashley Morris
-
Rory Schlein
-
Jacob Thorssell
Also Rode
Results
Teams faced each other four times: twice home and away. The first of the home and away meetings were called the 'A' fixtures, and the second were the 'B' fixtures.
'A' Fixtures
'B' Fixtures
Table
SGB Premiership Final League Table
Pos. | Club | M | Home | Away | F | A | Pts | +/− | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | D | L | 4W | 3W | D | 1L | L | |||||||
1 | King's Lynn Stars | 24 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1128 | 1032 | 53 | +96 |
2 | Somerset Rebels | 24 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1103 | 1045 | 47 | +58 |
3 | Poole Pirates | 24 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 1114 | 1019 | 44 | +95 |
4 | Belle Vue Aces | 24 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1118 | 1041 | 44 | +77 |
5 | Swindon Robins | 24 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1060 | 1098 | 35 | -38 |
6 | Wolverhampton Wolves | 24 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 1043 | 1117 | 34 | -74 |
7 | Leicester Lions | 24 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 955 | 1169 | 23 | -214 |
4 July Rye House Rockets had their membership of the 2018 SGB Premiership annulled by the Speedway Control Bureau. The league table has been updated to represent this news.[10]
Play-offs
Draw
Semi Finals | Grand Final | |||||||||||
Belle Vue Aces | 41 | 36 | 77 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
King's Lynn Stars | 49 | 54 | 113 | |||||||||
King's Lynn Stars | 37 | 51 | 88 | |||||||||
Poole Pirates | 53 | 39 | 92 | |||||||||
Somerset Rebels | 46 | 43 | 89 | |||||||||
Poole Pirates | 44 | 47 | 91 |
Home team scores are in bold
Overall aggregate scores are in red
Semi-finals
24 September | [20] | Belle Vue Aces | 41–49 | King's Lynn Stars | National Speedway Stadium Referee(s): Willie Dishington |
1 October | [21] | King's Lynn Stars | 54–36 | Belle Vue Aces | Adrian Flux Arena Referee(s): Mick Bates |
17 September | [22] | Somerset Rebels | 46–44 | Poole Pirates | Oak Tree Arena Referee(s): Mick Bates |
1 October | [23] | Poole Pirates | 47–43 | Somerset Rebels | Poole Stadium Referee(s): Christina Turnbull |
Grand final
8 October | [24] | Poole Pirates Klindt 11 Worrall 10 Harris 8 Woryna 7 Grajczonek 6 Jakobsen 6 Morris 5 |
53–37 | King's Lynn Stars R Lambert 12 Ellis 6 Jørgensen 6 Palm Toft 6 Riss 3 Proctor 2 S Lambert 2 |
Poole Stadium Referee(s): Craig Ackroyd |
10 October | [1] | King's Lynn Stars Riss 13 R Lambert 12 Proctor 10 Jørgensen 6 S Lambert 4 Ellis 3 Howarth 3 |
51–39 | Poole Pirates Grajczonek 8 Morris 7 Klindt 6 Worrall 6 Harris 5 Jakobsen 5 Woryna 2 |
Adrian Flux Arena Referee(s): Graham Flint |
Home team scores are in bold
SGB Premiership Team KO Cup
The 2018 Knockout Cup was the 76th edition and (second under its new name) of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams.
Draw
Quarter Finals | Semi Finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||
1 | Swindon Robins | 59 | 39 | 98 | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 | Rye House Rockets | 31 | 51 | 82 | ||||||||||||||||
Swindon Robins | 48 | 39 | 87 | |||||||||||||||||
King's Lynn Stars | 42 | 51 | 93 | |||||||||||||||||
4 | Leicester Lions | 48 | 31 | 79 | ||||||||||||||||
5 | King's Lynn Stars | 42 | 59 | 101 | ||||||||||||||||
King's Lynn Stars | 37 | 45 | 82 | |||||||||||||||||
Somerset Rebels | 53 | 45 | 98 | |||||||||||||||||
3 | Somerset Rebels | 52 | 47 | 99 | ||||||||||||||||
6 | Poole Pirates | 38 | 43 | 81 | ||||||||||||||||
Somerset Rebels | 52 | 40 | 92 | |||||||||||||||||
Belle Vue Aces | 38 | 50 | 88 | |||||||||||||||||
2 | Belle Vue Aces | 57 | 46 | 103 | ||||||||||||||||
7 | Wolverhampton Wolves | 33 | 44 | 77 |
Home team scores are in bold
Overall aggregate scores are in red
Quarter-finals
21 May | [25] | Swindon Robins | 59–31 | Rye House Rockets | Abbey Stadium Referee(s): Paul Carrington |
23 May | [26] | Rye House Rockets | 51–39 | Swindon Robins | Rye House Stadium Referee(s): Dave Robinson |
7 May | [27] | Leicester Lions | 48–42 | King's Lynn Stars | Beaumont Park Sports Complex Referee(s): Ronnie Allan |
16 May | [28] | King's Lynn Stars | 51–39 | Leicester Lions | Adrian Flux Arena Referee(s): Craig Ackroyd |
2 May | [29] | Somerset Rebels | 52–38 | Poole Pirates | Oak Tree Arena Referee(s): David Watters |
27 June | [30] | Poole Pirates | 43–47 | Somerset Rebels | Poole Stadium Referee(s): Willie Dishington |
7 May | [31] | Belle Vue Aces | 57–33 | Wolverhampton Wolves | National Speedway Stadium Referee(s): Peter Clarke |
18 June | [32] | Wolverhampton Wolves | 44–46 | Belle Vue Aces | Monmore Green Referee(s): Graham Reeve |
Semi-finals
10 September | [33] | Swindon Robins | 48–42 | King's Lynn Stars | Abbey Stadium Referee(s): Dave Watters |
17 September | [34] | King's Lynn Stars | 51–39 | Swindon Robins | Adrian Flux Arena Referee(s): Chris Durno |
12 September | [35] | Somerset Rebels | 52–38 | Belle Vue Aces | Oak Tree Arena Referee(s): Ronnie Allan |
19 September | [36] | Belle Vue Aces | 50–40 | Somerset Rebels | National Speedway Stadium Referee(s): Craig Ackroyd |
Grand final
17 October | [37] | Somerset Rebels Covatti 12 Doyle 11 Wright 11 Allen 8 Harris 6 Lawson 5 |
53–37 | King's Lynn Stars Iversen 10 Jørgensen 7 Riss 6 R Lambert 4 Proctor 4 S Lambert 4 Aarnio 2 |
Oak Tree Arena Referee(s): Ronnie Allan |
18 October | [2] | King's Lynn Stars R Lambert 12 Riss 10 Iversen 7 Jørgensen 6 Proctor 6 S Lambert 2 Aarnio 2 |
45–45 | Somerset Rebels Covatti 12 Doyle 9 Lawson 9 Harris 8 Starke 6 Garcia 1 |
Adrian Flux Arena Referee(s): Tony Steele |
SGB Premiership Charity Shield
19 March | [38] | Belle Vue Aces | 48–42 | Swindon Robins | National Speedway Stadium Referee(s): Stuart Wilson |
22 March | [3] | Swindon Robins | 52–38 | Belle Vue Aces | Abbey Stadium Referee(s): Christina Turnball |
Final leading averages
Rider | Team | Average |
---|---|---|
![]() | Somerset | 9.80 |
![]() | King's Lynn | 9.13 |
![]() | Belle Vue | 8.20 |
![]() | Wolverhampton | 8.11 |
![]() | Wolverhampton | 7.92 |
![]() | Poole | 7.78 |
![]() | Belle Vue | 7.73 |
![]() | Swindon | 7.69 |
![]() | Belle Vue | 7.61 |
![]() | Leicester | 7.56 |
See also
- SGB Championship 2018 – the second division of British speedway
- List of United Kingdom speedway league champions
- Knockout Cup (speedway)
References
- "Ford Joy At Eighth Title". 11 October 2018.
- "Rebels Win KO Cup". 19 October 2018.
- "Shield Success For Robins". 23 March 2018.
- "Doyle Crowned Premiership Riders Champion". 9 May 2018.
- "Final 2018 SGB Premiership Averages" (PDF). 22 November 2018.
- "Prates Grab Big Away Win". 31 July 2018.
- "FORD CONFIRMS CLUB FOR SALE". Poole Speedway. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- "MAJOR MOVES ANNOUNCED". Speedway GB. Speedway GB. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- "British Speedway Announce Major Moves". ACU. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- "Statement: Rye House Rockets". 4 July 2018.
- "March Results".
- "April Results".
- "May Results".
- "June Results".
- "July Results".
- "August Results".
- "September Results".
- "October Results".
- "2018 SGB Premiership League Table".
- "Eight Point Lead For Stars". 25 September 2018.
- "Stars See Off Aces". 2 October 2018.
- "Slender Lead For Rebels". 18 September 2018.
- "Harris The Hero For Pirates". 2 October 2018.
- "Advantage Pirates?". 9 October 2018.
- "Robins In Cup Control". 22 May 2018.
- "Robins Into Semis". 24 May 2018.
- "Lions' Held To Six". 8 May 2018.
- "Stars Safely Through". 17 May 2018.
- "Advantage Rebels In Cup". 3 May 2018.
- "Rebels Race Into Semis". 28 June 2018.
- "Aces Turn Up The Heat". 8 May 2018.
- "Aces into Last Four". 19 June 2018.
- "Robins Lead By Six". 11 September 2018.
- "Late Darma As Stars Go through". 18 September 2018.
- "Good Lead For Rebels". 13 September 2018.
- "Rebels Reach Cup Final". 20 September 2018.
- "Sweet Sixteen For Rebels?". 18 October 2018.
- "Aces Lead By Six". 20 March 2018.
- "Final 2018 SGB Premiership Averages" (PDF). 22 November 2018.