Speedway Elite League Pairs Championship
Encyclopedia
The Elite League Pairs Championship is a contest between the top two riders from each club competing in the Speedway Elite League
in the UK
. The meetings comprise ten teams of two riders drawn into two qualifying groups.
This system is used to encourage team riding. A pair finishing first and second will score five points, whereas a pair finishing first and last will score only four. Race points scored over all Qualification Heats are used to determine the final group placings.
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The meetings comprise ten teams of two riders drawn into two qualifying groups.
Gate positions
In the Qualification Heats, riders are allocated starting gates. For the Semi-Finals, the group winners have first choice of gate positions (A&C or B&D). Gate A is on the inside of the track, whilst Gate D is on the outside. For the Final, the gate positions (A&C and B&D) are decided by the toss of a coin.Points scoring
All heats are scored as follows:- 1st = 4pts
- 2nd = 3pts
- 3rd = 2pts
- 4th = 0pts
This system is used to encourage team riding. A pair finishing first and second will score five points, whereas a pair finishing first and last will score only four. Race points scored over all Qualification Heats are used to determine the final group placings.
Ties
Where two are tied for a place, the team who scored most points scored in the heat where they met go through. Where more than two teams are tied for a place, the tie is resolved as follows:- Most wins
- Most second places
- A ballot
Winners
| Year | Winners | 2nd place |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Ipswich Witches Ipswich Witches The Ipswich Witches are a British speedway club based at Foxhall Stadium near Ipswich, Suffolk. Meetings are staged on most Thursdays from March until October, normally commencing at 7.30pm.... (John Louis & Billy Sanders Billy Sanders William Robert Sanders 'Billy Sanders' was an Australian international Speedway rider who won six Australian Championships and was a five time Speedway World Championship finalist with a career best second place in Germany 1983.-Australian Speedway:Billy Sanders bought his first speedway bike from... ) |
Coventry Bees Coventry Bees The Coventry Bees are a motorcycle speedway team based at Brandon near Coventry, England. A Coventry team was first formed in 1928 and competed in the Southern League and then the National League in the pre-war era at Brandon stadium. There were also meetings at a stadium in Lythalls Lane... (Ole Olsen & Mitch Shirra Mitch Shirra Mitchell Owen Shirra is a former motorcycle speedway rider who rode with the Coventry Bees, Reading Racers, Swindon Robins and Ipswich Witches in the British League.-Career summary:... ) |
| 1977 | Ipswich Witches Ipswich Witches The Ipswich Witches are a British speedway club based at Foxhall Stadium near Ipswich, Suffolk. Meetings are staged on most Thursdays from March until October, normally commencing at 7.30pm.... (John Louis & Billy Sanders Billy Sanders William Robert Sanders 'Billy Sanders' was an Australian international Speedway rider who won six Australian Championships and was a five time Speedway World Championship finalist with a career best second place in Germany 1983.-Australian Speedway:Billy Sanders bought his first speedway bike from... ) |
King's Lynn Stars King's Lynn Stars King's Lynn Stars are a motorcycle speedway team who compete in the British Elite League. The nickname "Stars" comes from the defunct Norwich Stars team... (Michael Lee Michael Lee (speedway rider) Michael Andrew Lee is a former international speedway rider who won the Speedway World Championship in 1980... & David Gagen) |
| 1978 | Cradley Heath Heathens Cradley Heath Heathens Cradley Heath Heathens are a defunct motorcycle speedway team from Dudley, England.-History:Cradley Heath speedway team was formed in 1947 and first raced at Dudley Wood Stadium on 21 June 1947 after a number of away appearances prior to the opening of the newly built stadium... (Steve Bastable Steve Bastable Stephen Henry Bastable is a former Speedway rider, son of Harry Bastable, who had also been a rider... & Bruce Penhall Bruce Penhall Bruce Lee Penhall is a retired American motorcycle speedway racer who also starred in television and in film. He was the World Speedway Champion in 1981 and 1982 and rode for the successful Cradley Heath Heathens speedway team in the United Kingdom... ) Coventry Bees Coventry Bees The Coventry Bees are a motorcycle speedway team based at Brandon near Coventry, England. A Coventry team was first formed in 1928 and competed in the Southern League and then the National League in the pre-war era at Brandon stadium. There were also meetings at a stadium in Lythalls Lane... (Ole Olsen & Mitch Shirra Mitch Shirra Mitchell Owen Shirra is a former motorcycle speedway rider who rode with the Coventry Bees, Reading Racers, Swindon Robins and Ipswich Witches in the British League.-Career summary:... ) |
none (shared winners) |
| 1979 -1983 |
competition not held | |
| 1984 | Belle Vue Aces Belle Vue Aces The Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there... (Peter Collins Peter Collins (speedway rider) Peter Spencer Collins MBE is a former Speedway rider who spent his whole career with the Belle Vue Aces, the team he supported as a child... & Chris Morton Chris Morton Christopher John Morton MBE is a former motorcycle speedway rider. He rode bikes from a young age at the farm of Peter Collins' parents.-Brief career summary:... ) |
Reading Racers Reading Racers Reading Racers were a British motorcycle speedway team. Formed in 1968, they won four British League titles during their history... (Mitch Shirra Mitch Shirra Mitchell Owen Shirra is a former motorcycle speedway rider who rode with the Coventry Bees, Reading Racers, Swindon Robins and Ipswich Witches in the British League.-Career summary:... & Tim Hunt) |
| 1985 | Oxford Cheetahs Oxford Cheetahs The Oxford Cheetahs were a British Speedway team based in Oxford, England. From 1972 to 1975 they were known as Oxford Rebels, which was the name the team took to White City in 1976 as White City Rebels. The new Oxford team, in the National League, took back the name of Cheetahs... (Hans Nielsen Hans Nielsen (speedway rider) Hans Hollen Nielsen - a prominent speedway rider active from the 1970s to the late 1990s; a former World Champion.... & Simon Wigg Simon Wigg Simon Wigg was a speedway, grasstrack and Longtrack rider who finished runner-up in the Speedway World Championship in 1989.... ) |
Reading Racers Reading Racers Reading Racers were a British motorcycle speedway team. Formed in 1968, they won four British League titles during their history... (Mitch Shirra Mitch Shirra Mitchell Owen Shirra is a former motorcycle speedway rider who rode with the Coventry Bees, Reading Racers, Swindon Robins and Ipswich Witches in the British League.-Career summary:... & John Davis John Davis (speedway rider) John Henry Davis is a former international motorcycle speedway rider who represented England when they won the World Team Cup in 1977.-World Final Appearances:* 1977 - Gothenburg, Ullevi - Reserve - did not ride... ) |
| 1986 | Oxford Cheetahs Oxford Cheetahs The Oxford Cheetahs were a British Speedway team based in Oxford, England. From 1972 to 1975 they were known as Oxford Rebels, which was the name the team took to White City in 1976 as White City Rebels. The new Oxford team, in the National League, took back the name of Cheetahs... (Hans Nielsen Hans Nielsen (speedway rider) Hans Hollen Nielsen - a prominent speedway rider active from the 1970s to the late 1990s; a former World Champion.... & Simon Wigg Simon Wigg Simon Wigg was a speedway, grasstrack and Longtrack rider who finished runner-up in the Speedway World Championship in 1989.... ) |
Coventry Bees Coventry Bees The Coventry Bees are a motorcycle speedway team based at Brandon near Coventry, England. A Coventry team was first formed in 1928 and competed in the Southern League and then the National League in the pre-war era at Brandon stadium. There were also meetings at a stadium in Lythalls Lane... (Kelvin Tatum Kelvin Tatum Kelvin Martin Tatum MBE is a former British international motorcycle speedway and Grasstrack rider.-Career:... & John Jørgensen John Jørgensen John Jørgensen is a former international motorcycle speedway rider who won the 1988 Speedway World Team Cup... ) |
| 1987 | Oxford Cheetahs Oxford Cheetahs The Oxford Cheetahs were a British Speedway team based in Oxford, England. From 1972 to 1975 they were known as Oxford Rebels, which was the name the team took to White City in 1976 as White City Rebels. The new Oxford team, in the National League, took back the name of Cheetahs... (Hans Nielsen Hans Nielsen (speedway rider) Hans Hollen Nielsen - a prominent speedway rider active from the 1970s to the late 1990s; a former World Champion.... & Andy Grahame Andy Grahame Andrew George Grahame is a former Speedway rider.He won the British Speedway Championship in 1982... ) |
Swindon Robins Swindon Robins The Swindon Speedway team, also known as the Swindon Robins, are an English Motorcycle Speedway team established in 1949 that competes in the Elite League.... (Mitch Shirra Mitch Shirra Mitchell Owen Shirra is a former motorcycle speedway rider who rode with the Coventry Bees, Reading Racers, Swindon Robins and Ipswich Witches in the British League.-Career summary:... & Jimmy Nilsen Jimmy Nilsen Jimmy Nilsen is a former international motorcycle speedway rider from Sweden. He was Swedish Champion in 1996 after finishing 3rd in 1994. Nilsen also rode in five World Finals as well as representing Sweden in Test Matches.... ) |
| 1988 -2003 |
competition not held | |
| 2004 | Swindon Robins Swindon Robins The Swindon Speedway team, also known as the Swindon Robins, are an English Motorcycle Speedway team established in 1949 that competes in the Elite League.... (Leigh Adams Leigh Adams Leigh Scott Adams is an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. He is a multiple Speedway Grand Prix winner and World Team Champion... & Charlie Gjedde Charlie Gjedde Charlie Rasmussen Gjedde is an international motorcycle speedway rider who won the Speedway World Cup with Denmark in 2006... ) |
Belle Vue Aces Belle Vue Aces The Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there... (Jason Crump Jason Crump Jason Phillip Crump is an Australian international motorcycle speedway rider. He is a three-time Speedway World Champion, a World Cup winner and a former World Under-21 Champion.-Family:... & Joe Screen Joe Screen Joseph 'Joe' Screen , is a British international speedway rider who rides for the Glasgow Tigers in the British Premier League. In 2011 While pairing with James Grieves he won the Premier league Pairs For the Tigers... ) |
| 2005 | Swindon Robins Swindon Robins The Swindon Speedway team, also known as the Swindon Robins, are an English Motorcycle Speedway team established in 1949 that competes in the Elite League.... (Leigh Adams Leigh Adams Leigh Scott Adams is an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. He is a multiple Speedway Grand Prix winner and World Team Champion... & Lee Richardson Lee Richardson (speedway rider) Lee Stewart Richardson is a British international motorcycle speedway rider. Richardson has represented Great Britain at senior and under-21 level, and has featured in several World Cup tournaments. He was also a fully fledged Grand Prix rider for four seasons from 2003 until 2006... ) |
Belle Vue Aces Belle Vue Aces The Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there... (Jason Crump Jason Crump Jason Phillip Crump is an Australian international motorcycle speedway rider. He is a three-time Speedway World Champion, a World Cup winner and a former World Under-21 Champion.-Family:... & Joe Screen Joe Screen Joseph 'Joe' Screen , is a British international speedway rider who rides for the Glasgow Tigers in the British Premier League. In 2011 While pairing with James Grieves he won the Premier league Pairs For the Tigers... ) |
| 2006 | Belle Vue Aces Belle Vue Aces The Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there... (Jason Crump Jason Crump Jason Phillip Crump is an Australian international motorcycle speedway rider. He is a three-time Speedway World Champion, a World Cup winner and a former World Under-21 Champion.-Family:... & Simon Stead Simon Stead Simon Stead is an international Speedway rider. Simon currently rides for the Swindon Robins in the British Elite League, Masarna in the Swedish League and for Intar Ostrów in the Polish League.-Career Summary:... ) |
Swindon Robins Swindon Robins The Swindon Speedway team, also known as the Swindon Robins, are an English Motorcycle Speedway team established in 1949 that competes in the Elite League.... (Leigh Adams Leigh Adams Leigh Scott Adams is an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. He is a multiple Speedway Grand Prix winner and World Team Champion... & Sebastian Ułamek) |
| 2007 | Poole Pirates Poole Pirates Poole Pirates are a motorcycle speedway team based in Poole, England, competing in the British Elite League... (Jason Crump Jason Crump Jason Phillip Crump is an Australian international motorcycle speedway rider. He is a three-time Speedway World Champion, a World Cup winner and a former World Under-21 Champion.-Family:... & Bjarne Pedersen Bjarne Pedersen Bjarne Pedersen is an international motorcycle speedway rider who has represented Denmark in the Speedway World Cup, winning it on two occasions: in 2006 and 2008.-Career summary:... ) |
Reading Bulldogs (Greg Hancock Greg Hancock Gregory Alan "Greg" Hancock is an American motorcycle speedway rider.He is a current Speedway World Champion and a multiple World Team champion with USA, with whom he is currently captain... & Travis McGowan Travis McGowan Travis McGowan is an Australian speedway rider.-Career:McGowan started racing motorbikes the age of ten and by 1993 he had already won the Australian Under-16 Speedway Championship... ) |
| 2008 | Coventry Bees Coventry Bees The Coventry Bees are a motorcycle speedway team based at Brandon near Coventry, England. A Coventry team was first formed in 1928 and competed in the Southern League and then the National League in the pre-war era at Brandon stadium. There were also meetings at a stadium in Lythalls Lane... (Hans Andersen Hans Nørgaard Andersen Hans Nørgaard Andersen is a motorcycle speedway rider and captain of the Denmark speedway team that won the Speedway World Cup in 2006 and 2008.- Career summary :... & Chris Harris Chris Harris (speedway rider) Christopher Calvin "Chris" Harris in Truro, Cornwall, nicknamed Bomber, is a Great Britain international speedway rider for the Belle Vue Aces in the United Kingdom.- Early career :... ) |
Swindon Robins Swindon Robins The Swindon Speedway team, also known as the Swindon Robins, are an English Motorcycle Speedway team established in 1949 that competes in the Elite League.... (Leigh Adams Leigh Adams Leigh Scott Adams is an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. He is a multiple Speedway Grand Prix winner and World Team Champion... & Mads Korneliussen Mads Korneliussen Mads Korneliussen is an international speedway rider in the British Elite League for the King's Lynn Stars.- References :... ) |
| 2009 | Poole Pirates Poole Pirates Poole Pirates are a motorcycle speedway team based in Poole, England, competing in the British Elite League... (Hans Andersen Hans Nørgaard Andersen Hans Nørgaard Andersen is a motorcycle speedway rider and captain of the Denmark speedway team that won the Speedway World Cup in 2006 and 2008.- Career summary :... & Chris Holder Chris Holder Chris Holder is a speedway rider currently riding for the Poole Pirates in the British Elite League. He became the Australian Individual Speedway Champion in 2008 and followed up with wins in 2010 and 2011 as well as winning the Australian Under-21 Championship in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008... ) |
Eastbourne Eagles Eastbourne Eagles The Eastbourne Eagles are a British speedway team based near Eastbourne, England who compete in the British Elite League. They became Elite League Champions in 2000. They were also Elite League Knockout Cup winners in 2002 and again in 2008. Speedway was initially introduced to Eastbourne in... (Lewis Bridger Lewis Bridger Lewis Alan Bridger is a speedway rider in the United Kingdom, riding with the Peterborough Panthers in the Elite League. He stepped straight into Elite League racing from the Conference League after one season with the Weymouth Wildcats.On 21 September 2007, Bridger was selected to represent Great... & Davey Watt Davey Watt David John Watt is an Australian international motorcycle speedway rider who rides for the Poole Pirates in England where his is currently the team captain, WTS Wrocław in Poland and Lejonen in Sweden... ) |
| 2010 | Coventry Bees Coventry Bees The Coventry Bees are a motorcycle speedway team based at Brandon near Coventry, England. A Coventry team was first formed in 1928 and competed in the Southern League and then the National League in the pre-war era at Brandon stadium. There were also meetings at a stadium in Lythalls Lane... (Chris Harris Chris Harris (speedway rider) Christopher Calvin "Chris" Harris in Truro, Cornwall, nicknamed Bomber, is a Great Britain international speedway rider for the Belle Vue Aces in the United Kingdom.- Early career :... & Krzysztof Kasprzak Krzysztof Kasprzak Krzysztof Kasprzak is an international speedway rider who became World Under-21 Champion in 2005. He is a son of former Polish national speedway team member Zenon Kasprzak... ) |
Poole Pirates Poole Pirates Poole Pirates are a motorcycle speedway team based in Poole, England, competing in the British Elite League... (Chris Holder Chris Holder Chris Holder is a speedway rider currently riding for the Poole Pirates in the British Elite League. He became the Australian Individual Speedway Champion in 2008 and followed up with wins in 2010 and 2011 as well as winning the Australian Under-21 Championship in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008... & Bjarne Pedersen Bjarne Pedersen Bjarne Pedersen is an international motorcycle speedway rider who has represented Denmark in the Speedway World Cup, winning it on two occasions: in 2006 and 2008.-Career summary:... ) |
| 2011 | Poole Pirates Poole Pirates Poole Pirates are a motorcycle speedway team based in Poole, England, competing in the British Elite League... (Chris Holder Chris Holder Chris Holder is a speedway rider currently riding for the Poole Pirates in the British Elite League. He became the Australian Individual Speedway Champion in 2008 and followed up with wins in 2010 and 2011 as well as winning the Australian Under-21 Championship in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008... & Darcy Ward Darcy Ward Darcy Stephen Ward is an Australian motorcycle speedway rider who won the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Australian Under-21 Championships as well as the 2009 and 2010 World Under-21 Championships... ) |
Belle Vue Aces Belle Vue Aces The Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there... (Chris Harris Chris Harris (speedway rider) Christopher Calvin "Chris" Harris in Truro, Cornwall, nicknamed Bomber, is a Great Britain international speedway rider for the Belle Vue Aces in the United Kingdom.- Early career :... & Rory Schlein Rory Schlein Rory Robert Schlein is an Australian international speedway rider. Schlein was signed by the Edinburgh Monarchs in 2001 and has since won the British Conference League championship while on loan at Sheffield Tigers in 2001, the British Premier League championship with the Monarchs in 2003 and the... ) |
See also
- Speedway in the United KingdomSpeedway in the United KingdomThe sport of Speedway in the United Kingdom has changed little since the first meetings in the 1920s. With three domestic leagues, its own Speedway Grand Prix and an annual entry into the Speedway World Cup it remains one of the popular motorsports in the country.-History:The first meeting in the...
- Premier League Pairs Championship