SGB Premiership 2018

The SGB Premiership 2018 was 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]

SGB Premiership 2018
LeagueSGB Premiership
Season2018
ChampionsPoole Pirates[1]
IndividualJason Doyle Somerset Rebels [2]
Knockout CupSomerset Rebels[3]
Charity ShieldSwindon Robins[4]
Highest averageJason Doyle Somerset Rebels 9.80 [5]
Biggest home winBelle Vue Aces 62 Leicester Lions 28 [6]
Biggest away winLeicester Lions 37 Poole Pirates 53[7]
Division/s belowSGB 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.

2018 teams
Locations of the 2018 Premiership teams

Belle Vue Aces

March 20 Paul Starke replaced the injured Damian Dróżdż in the Belle Vue Aces team [9]
April 26 Damian Dróżdż replaced Paul Starke in the Belle Vue Aces team [10]
June 13 Jason Garrity replaced the injured Steve Worrall as a short-term replacement in the Belle Vue Aces team[11]
July 11 Steve Worrall returned to the Belle Vue Aces after injury replacing short-term replacement Jason Garrity in the side.[12]
August 1 Mark Riss replaced Jye Etheridge in the Belle Vue Aces team [13]
August 10 Dimitri Berge replaced Damian Dróżdż in the Belle Vue Aces team [14]

King's Lynn Stars

April 30 Michael Palm Toft replaced Lewis Rose in the King's Lynn Stars team [15]
July 11 Simon Lambert replaced the injured Kasper Andersen in the King's Lynn Stars team [16]
July 17 Jason Garrity replaced the injured Lewis Kerr in the King's Lynn Stars team [17]
August 6 Erik Riss replaced short-term signing Jason Garrity in the King's Lynn Stars team [18]

Leicester Lions

April 4 Michael Palm Toft replaced the injured Josh Bates in the Leicester Lions team [19]
April 20 Kenneth Bjerre and Todd Kurtz replaced the injured Martin Vaculik and Michael Palm Toft in the Leicester Lions team [20]
June 29 Ricky Wells and Charles Wright replaced the injured Danny King and Kyle Newman in the Leicester Lions team [21]
July 18 Scott Nicholls Stuart Robson Josh Auty and Connor Mountain replaced Kenneth Bjerre Krystian Pieszczek Todd Kurtz and James Sarjeant in the Leicester Lions team [22]

Poole Pirates

April 2 Peter Kildemand replaced Chris Holder in the Poole Pirates team [23]
May 4 Stefan Nielsen replaced James Shanes in the Poole Pirates team [24]
May 12 Richie Worrall replaced Peter Kildemand in the Poole Pirates team [25]
May 28 Paul Starke was used as a short-term replacement replaced the injured Stefan Nielsen in the Poole Pirates team until Nicolai Klindt is available [26]
June 29 Fredrik Jakobsen replaced Mateusz Szczepaniak in the Poole Pirates team [27]
July 12 Chris Harris replaced Linus Sundstrom in the Poole Pirates team [28]

Rye House Rockets

March 21 Aaron Summers replaced Ben Barker in the Rye House Rockets team [29]
May 3 Nicolaj Busk Jakobsen replaced the injured Stuart Robson in the Rye House Rockets team [30]
June 12 Stuart Robson replaced the injured Edward Kennett in the Rye House Rockets team [31]
July 4 Rye House Rockets had their membership of the 2018 SGB Premiership annulled by the Speedway Control Bureau.[32]

Somerset Rebels

June 18 Claus Vissing and Nicolás Covatti replaced Charles Wright and Jonas Jeppesen in the Somerset Rebels team [33]
July 7 Aaron Summers replaced Claus Vissing in the Somerset Rebels team [34]

Swindon Robins

May 14 Jack Smith replaced the injured Mitchell Davey in the Swindon Robins team [35]

Wolverhampton Wolves

August 3 Jonas B. Andersen replaced Cameron Heeps in the Wolverhampton Wolves team [36]

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
Home \ Away BV KL LEI PP RYE SOM SWI WOL
Belle Vue Aces 43–47 62–28 47–43 59–31 47–43 50–40 56–34
King's Lynn Stars 53–37 56–34 46–44 58–32 44–46 51–39 60–30
Leicester Lions 47–43 38–52 43–47 53–37 55–35 44–46 47–43
Poole Pirates 50–40 58–32 58–32 47–43 47–43 38–52 45–45
Rye House Rockets 44–46 49–41 48–42 48–42 48–42
Somerset Rebels 47–43 45–45 47–43 48–42 50–40 49–41
Swindon Robins 41–49 48–42 51–39 50–39 48–42 58–32 51–39
Wolverhampton Wolves 49–41 49–41 47–43 54–36 60–30 52–38 52–38
Source: [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

'B' Fixtures
Home \ Away BV KL LEI PP RYE SOM SWI WOL
Belle Vue Aces 44–46 57–33 48–42 48–42 55–35 52–38
King's Lynn Stars 49–41 60–30 58–32 49–41 49–41 55–35
Leicester Lions 58–32 40–50 37–53 46–44 48–42 46–44
Poole Pirates 54–35 61–29 43–23 48–42 54–36 55–35
Rye House Rockets
Somerset Rebels 42–48 61–29 46–32 51–39 54–36 59–31
Swindon Robins 34–56 52–38 55–35 47–42 41–49 50–40
Wolverhampton Wolves 46–44 43–47 56–34 46–44 41–49 53–37
Source: [37]
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

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

[45]

July 4 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.[46]

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 [47] Belle Vue Aces 41–49 King's Lynn Stars National Speedway Stadium
Referee(s):
Willie Dishington

1 October [48] King's Lynn Stars 54–36 Belle Vue Aces Adrian Flux Arena
Referee(s):
Mick Bates

17 September [49] Somerset Rebels 46–44 Poole Pirates Oak Tree Arena
Referee(s):
Mick Bates

1 October [50] Poole Pirates 47–43 Somerset Rebels Poole Stadium
Referee(s):
Christina Turnbull

Grand final
8 October [51] Poole Pirates 53–37 King's Lynn Stars Poole Stadium
Referee(s):
Craig Ackroyd

10 October [52] King's Lynn Stars 51–39 Poole Pirates 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 [53] Swindon Robins 59–31 Rye House Rockets Abbey Stadium
Referee(s):
Paul Carrington

23 May [54] Rye House Rockets 51–39 Swindon Robins Rye House Stadium
Referee(s):
Dave Robinson

7 May [55] Leicester Lions 48–42 King's Lynn Stars Beaumont Park Sports Complex
Referee(s):
Ronnie Allan

16 May [56] King's Lynn Stars 51–39 Leicester Lions Adrian Flux Arena
Referee(s):
Craig Ackroyd

2 May [57] Somerset Rebels 52–38 Poole Pirates Oak Tree Arena
Referee(s):
David Watters

27 June [58] Poole Pirates 43–47 Somerset Rebels Poole Stadium
Referee(s):
Willie Dishington

7 May [59] Belle Vue Aces 57–33 Wolverhampton Wolves National Speedway Stadium
Referee(s):
Peter Clarke

18 June [60] Wolverhampton Wolves 44–46 Belle Vue Aces Monmore Green
Referee(s):
Graham Reeve

Semi-finals
10 September [61] Swindon Robins 48–42 King's Lynn Stars Abbey Stadium
Referee(s):
Dave Watters

17 September [62] King's Lynn Stars 51–39 Swindon Robins Adrian Flux Arena
Referee(s):
Chris Durno

12 September [63] Somerset Rebels 52–38 Belle Vue Aces Oak Tree Arena
Referee(s):
Ronnie Allan

19 September [64] Belle Vue Aces 50–40 Somerset Rebels National Speedway Stadium
Referee(s):
Craig Ackroyd

Grand final
17 October [65] Somerset Rebels 53–37 King's Lynn Stars Oak Tree Arena
Referee(s):
Ronnie Allan

18 October [66] King's Lynn Stars 45–45 Somerset Rebels Adrian Flux Arena
Referee(s):
Tony Steele

SGB Premiership Charity Shield
19 March [67] Belle Vue Aces 48–42 Swindon Robins National Speedway Stadium
Referee(s):
Stuart Wilson

22 March [68] Swindon Robins 52–38 Belle Vue Aces Abbey Stadium
Referee(s):
Christina Turnball

Final leading averages
Rider Team Average
Jason DoyleSomerset9.80
Robert LambertKing's Lynn9.13
Max FrickeBelle Vue8.20
Sam MastersWolverhampton8.11
Rory SchleinWolverhampton7.92
Chris HarrisPoole7.78
Craig CookBelle Vue7.73
Troy BatchelorSwindon7.69
Rohan TungateBelle Vue7.61
Hans AndersenLeicester7.56

[69]

See also

References
  1. "Ford Joy At Eighth Title". 11 October 2018.
  2. "Doyle Crowned Premiership Riders Champion". 9 May 2018.
  3. "Rebels Win KO Cup". 19 October 2018.
  4. "Shield Success For Robins". 23 March 2018.
  5. "Final 2018 SGB Premiership Averages" (PDF). 22 November 2018.
  6. "Prates Grab Big Away Win". 31 July 2018.
  7. "Prates Grab Big Away Win". 31 July 2018.
  8. "MAJOR MOVES ANNOUNCED". Speedway GB. Speedway GB. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  9. "Starke Joins Aces". 20 March 2018.
  10. "Dróżdż Back For Aces". 26 April 2018.
  11. "Aces Move For Garrity". 13 June 2018.
  12. "Steve Back With Aces". 11 July 2018.
  13. "Aces Move For Mark". 1 August 2018.
  14. "Aces Move For Berge". 10 August 2018.
  15. "Stars Move For Palm Toft". 30 April 2018.
  16. "Simon In For Stars". 11 July 2018.
  17. "Stars Sign Garrity". 17 July 2018.
  18. "Riss v Riss At The NSS". 6 August 2018.
  19. "Lions Move For Palm Toft". 4 April 2018.
  20. "Lions In Double Swoop". 20 April 2018.
  21. "Lions Move For Two". 29 June 2018.
  22. "Lions Ring The Changes". 18 July 2018.
  23. "Pirates Call For Kildemand". 2 April 2018.
  24. "Pirates Make Move". 4 May 2018.
  25. "Pirates Turn To Worrall". 12 May 2018.
  26. "Klindt Returning To Poole". 28 May 2018.
  27. "Pirates Sign Dane Jakobsen". 29 June 2018.
  28. "Pirates Seal Harris Deal". 12 July 2018.
  29. "Rockets Bring In Summers". 21 March 2018.
  30. "Rockets Make Their Move". 3 May 2018.
  31. "Rockets Retain Busk Jakobsen". 12 June 2018.
  32. "Statement: Rye House Rockets". 4 July 2018.
  33. "Rebels Release Two". 18 June 2018.
  34. "Summers Comes To Somerset". 7 July 2018.
  35. "Smith Signs For Swindon". 14 May 2018.
  36. "Wolves Move For Andersen". 3 August 2018.
  37. "March Results".
  38. "April Results".
  39. "May Results".
  40. "June Results".
  41. "July Results".
  42. "August Results".
  43. "September Results".
  44. "October Results".
  45. "2018 SGB Premiership League Table".
  46. "Statement: Rye House Rockets". 4 July 2018.
  47. "Eight Point Lead For Stars". 25 September 2018.
  48. "Stars See Off Aces". 2 October 2018.
  49. "Slender Lead For Rebels". 18 September 2018.
  50. "Harris The Hero For Pirates". 2 October 2018.
  51. "Advantage Pirates?". 9 October 2018.
  52. "Ford Joy At Eighth Title". 11 October 2018.
  53. "Robins In Cup Control". 22 May 2018.
  54. "Robins Into Semis". 24 May 2018.
  55. "Lions' Held To Six". 8 May 2018.
  56. "Stars Safely Through". 17 May 2018.
  57. "Advantage Rebels In Cup". 3 May 2018.
  58. "Rebels Race Into Semis". 28 June 2018.
  59. "Aces Turn Up The Heat". 8 May 2018.
  60. "Aces into Last Four". 19 June 2018.
  61. "Robins Lead By Six". 11 September 2018.
  62. "Late Darma As Stars Go through". 18 September 2018.
  63. "Good Lead For Rebels". 13 September 2018.
  64. "Rebels Reach Cup Final". 20 September 2018.
  65. "Sweet Sixteen For Rebels?". 18 October 2018.
  66. "Rebels Win KO Cup". 19 October 2018.
  67. "Aces Lead By Six". 20 March 2018.
  68. "Shield Success For Robins". 23 March 2018.
  69. "Final 2018 SGB Premiership Averages" (PDF). 22 November 2018.
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