The 2009 Premier League season was the second division of motorcycle speedway racing in the United Kingdom and the 15th season since its creation in 1995. The league is governed by the Speedway Control Board (SCB), in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA).
Summary The League consisted of 14 teams for the 2009 season with the re-admission of the Newport Wasps and the loss of Mildenhall Fen Tigers, Isle of Wight Islanders (Both dropped to National League) and the Reading Racers (Loss of Stadium). New rules introduced for 2009 with a complete revamp of the points scoring system. The team finishing at the top of the league table at the end of the season after accumulating the most points were declared the Premier League champions. The four highest placed teams were entered into promotion play-offs, whereby the Premier League play-off winner faced the bottom Elite League team over two legs. Teams finishing in fifth to twelfth at the time of the fixture cut-off date compete in the Young Shield.
The Kings Lynn Stars were crowned the Premier League champions after ending the season as the highest placed team. The Edinburgh Monarchs finished second, Newcastle Diamonds third and the Birmingham Brummies fourth. All four teams took part in the promotion play-off with Edinburgh and King's Lynn reaching the final. Edinburgh won 97–83 on aggregate and faced Elite League team Belle Vue Aces, but lost the two-legged promotion/relegation final.
New points scoring system A new points scoring systems was devised for the 2009 season in an effort to make teams more competitive even when losing. If a Home team were to win by 7 or more points they would receive 3 points for the win. However, if the away team restricted the win from 1-6 points, the home team would receive only 2 points for the win, and the away team would be awarded 1 point for losing by less than 7 away from home. If the match was a draw, the home team would be awarded 1 point and the away team awarded 2. If the away team won the match by between 1-6 points, they would be awarded 3 points with the home team collecting 0. And finally if the away team won by 7 or more points, they would collect 4 points with the home team again collecting 0.
League League table Pos Club M Home Away F A Pts 3W 2W D L 4W 3W D 1L L1 Kings Lynn Stars26130004203413781013642 Edinburgh Monarchs26112002111813781122513 Newcastle Diamonds26121001112812411139494 Birmingham Brummies2692021305412321139495 Redcar Bears26101110205611741197446 Somerset Rebels2694000104811991177427 Workington Comets2674111112811701215418 Sheffield Tigers26100121004811921179399 Rye House Rockets26930100049121111743710 Scunthorpe Scorpions268401010210119511993711 Stoke Potters267501001111109612753212 Berwick Bandits266313020011112812573113 Glasgow Tigers263406010210112212382214 Newport Wasps2623170011111074130316
Key: Premier League play-offs
Home: 3W = Home win by 7 points or more; 2W = Home win by between 1 and 6 points Away: 4W = Away win by 7 points or more; 3W = Away win by between 1 and 6 points; 1L = Away loss by 6 points or less M = Meetings; D = Draws; L = Losses; F = Race points for; A = Race points against; +/- = Race points difference; Pts = Total Points
Last updated: October 20, 2010
Source: BSPA
Fixtures and results
Play-offs
Semi-finals
Leg 1
Leg 2
Grand final
First leg
1 Ryan Fisher 3, 2', 2, 1', 1 9+2 2 Michał Rajkowski 0, 3, 3, 0 6 3 Andrew Tully 3, 0, 3, 3 9 4 Matthew Wethers 2', 3, 2', 2' 9+3 5Kevin Wölbert 3, 3, 3, 2, 3 14 6Aaron Summers 3, 0, 2', 0 5+17Kalle Katajisto 0, X, 1, 3 4Manager: Alan Bridgett 1 William Lawson (guest) 1', 2, 2, 1^, 3, 2 11+1 2 Tomáš Topinka , , R/R 3 Chris Schramm 2, X, 2, 3, 4^, X 11 4 Emiliano Sanchez 1, 1', 1', 1, 1 5+2 5Josh Auty (guest) 2, 1, 1, 0, X 4 6Linus Eklöf 2, 0, 0, 1', 0 3+17Jan Graversen 1', 1', 0, N 2+2Manager: Rob Lyon
Second leg
1 Ulrich Ostergaard (guest) 1', 2, 3, 2, 1' 9+2 2 Kozza Smith , , R/R 3 Emiliano Sanchez 3, 1', X, 1', 1' 6+3 4 Chris Schramm 2', 2, 2, 3, 2 11+1 5Ty Proctor (guest) 0, 3, 3, X 6 6Linus Eklöf 1', 1', 1, 0, 2, 2' 7+37Jan Graversen 2, 2, 2, 2, 0 8Manager: Rob Lyon 1 Ryan Fisher 3, 3, 2, X 8 2 Michał Rajkowski 0, 0, F 0 3 Andrew Tully 1, 0, 2, 3, 0 6 4 Matthew Wethers 0, 2, 1', 0 3+1 5Kevin Wölbert 3, 3, 0, 3, 3 12 6aron Summers 0, 0, 3, 0 37Kalle Katajisto 3, 1, 3, 1', 1 9+1Manager: Alan Bridgett
Premier League Knockout Cup The 2009 Premier League Knockout Cup was the 42nd edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. King's Lynn Stars were the winners of the competition.
First round Date Team one Score Team two09/05 Stoke Potters 48-42 Berwick Bandits06/05 Berwick Bandits 50-39 Stoke Potters10/05 Newcastle Diamonds 48-42 Scunthorpe Scorpions08/05 Scunthorpe Scorpions 65-25 Newcastle Diamonds29/04 Birmingham Brummies 43-47 Rye House Rockets09/05 Rye House Rockets 53-37 Birmingham Brummies14/05 Redcar Bears 52-38 Newport Wasps21/06 Newport Wasps 40-50 Redcar Bears08/05 Somerset Rebels 46-44 Glasgow Tigers24/05 Glasgow Tigers 45-44 Somerset Rebels28/05 Sheffield Tigers 56-34 Edinburgh Monarchs08/05 Edinburgh Monarchs 59-31 Sheffield Tigers Quarter-finals Date Team one Score Team two20/05 King's Lynn Stars 58-32 Berwick Bandits20/06 Berwick Bandits 26-57 King's Lynn Stars13/06 Rye House Rockets 56-34 Somerset Rebels12/06 Somerset Rebels 53-37 Rye House Rockets20/06 Workington Comets 47-43 Edinburgh Monarchs19/06 Edinburgh Monarchs 56-34 Workington Comets13/08 Redcar Bears 46-44 Scunthorpe Scorpions31/07 Scunthorpe Scorpions 50-39 Redcar Bears Semi-finals Date Team one Score Team two09/10 Scunthorpe Scorpions 45-27 King's Lynn Stars06/10 King's Lynn Stars 70-20 Scunthorpe Scorpions19/09 Rye House Rockets 49-41 Edinburgh Monarchs11/09 Edinburgh Monarchs 63-27 Rye House Rockets
Final
First leg
Second leg
King's Lynn were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 98–81.
Premier Trophy
North Group Pos Team P W D L Pts1Edinburgh 12 8 1 3 282Workington 12 7 0 5 213 Glasgow 12 6 0 6 194Berwick 12 5 2 5 195 Sheffield 12 5 1 6 186 Sheffield 12 6 0 6 177 Newcastle 12 3 0 9 7
South Group Pos Team P W D L Pts1 King's Lynn 12 9 0 3 332 Scunthorpe 12 6 0 6 213 Rye House12705204 Somerset12615205 Stoke 12 6 1 5 186 Newport 12 4 1 7 127 Birmingham 12 2 1 9 7
Semi-final Team one Team two ScoreWorkingtonKing's Lynn 51–39, 35–58Scunthorpe Edinburgh 44–46, 41–52
Final Team one Team two ScoreEdinburgh King's Lynn 54–41, 38–58
Young Shield End of season competition for the league teams positioned 5 to 12.
First Round Team one Team two ScoreBerwick Workington 37–57, 47–43 RedcarScunthorpe 49–43, 34–56Stoke Somerset 52–43, 43–49 Sheffield Rye House 51–38, 41–55
Semi-final Team one Team two Score Stoke Workington 39–39, 36–54 Scunthorpe Rye House 51–42, 40–50
Final Team one Team two ScoreRye House Workington 54–42, 38–55
Riders' Championship Ricky Ashworth won the Riders' Championship. The final was held on 27 September at Owlerton Stadium.
Pairs The Premier League Pairs Championship was held at Oaktree Arena on 26 June. The event was won by Birmingham Brummies.
Group APosTeamPtsRiders1King's Lynn 24Topinka 14, Ward 102Somerset 23 Johnston 12, Kramer 113Scunthorpe 20 Karlsson 11, Howe 94Berwick 13 Franc 7, Makovsky 65Rye House 10 Sundstrom 10, Neath 0
Group BPosTeamPtsRiders1Workington 27 Rymek 14, Doolan 132Birmingham 19 Lyons 12, Piszcz 73Edinburgh 17 Tully 9, Fisher 84Redcar 16 Havelock 10, Proctor 65Glasgow 11 Grieves 7, Brown 4
Semi finals Birmingham bt King's Lynn 6–3 Somerset bt Workington 7–2
Final Birmingham bt Somerset 6–3
Fours Workington Comets won the Premier League Four-Team Championship for the fifth time, the Championship was held on 25 July 2009, at the Derwent Park.
Group APosTeamPtsRiders1 Berwick 14Makovsky 5, Franc 4, Clews 3, Aarnio 22 Somerset 12Johnston 4, Kramer 4, Gathercole 4, Walker 0, Sedgmen 03 King's Lynn11 Topinka 6, Schramm 4, Sanchez 1, Graversen 0, Smith 04 Redcar 11 Proctor 5, Stonehewer 3, Havelock 2, Wilson 1
Group BPosTeamPtsRiders1 Workington 18 Compton 6, Rymel 5, Doolan 4, Lawson 32 Edinburgh 12 Wethers 5, Fisher 3, Rajkowski 3, Summers 13 Rye House 12 Neath 3, Mear 3, Sundstrom 3, Bowen 34 Scunthorpe 6 Karlsson 3, Howe 3, Wilkinson 0, Lambert 0
FinalPosTeamPtsRiders1 Workington 27Compton 9, Rymel 9, Doolan 7, Lawson 22 Somerset 18Johnston 8, Gathercole 6, Kramer 2, Sedgmen 2, Walker 03 Edinburgh 14 Fisher 5, Wethers 4, Summers 3, Rajkowski 24 Berwick 13 Clews 5, Makovsky 4, Franc 4, Aarnio 0
Final Leading averages
Rider Team Average Darcy Ward Kings Lynn9.71 Tomáš TopinkaKings Lynn9.62 Steve Johnston Somerset 9.46 Kevin Doolan Workington 9.35 David Howe Scunthorpe 9.18 Mark Lemon Newcastle 9.17 James GrievesGlasgow8.97 Shane Parker Glasgow 8.93 Ryan FisherEdinburgh8.89 Kevin Wölbert Edinburgh 8.97
Riders & final averages Berwick
Michal Makovský 8.49 Josef Franc 8.28 Stanisław Burza 7.60 Paul Clews 7.39 William Lawson 6.02 Tero Aarnio 5.55 Guglielmo Franchetti 4.43 Danny Warwick 4.00 Tamas Sike 2.81 Frank Facher 2.59 Greg Blair 2.33
Birmingham
Tomasz Piszcz 8.64 Jason Lyons 8.42 Richard Sweetman 7.20 Russell Harrison 6.91 Ludvig Lindgren 6.73 Robert Ksiezak 6.12 Lee Smart 5.25 Manuel Hauzinger 5.10 Jay Herne 4.64 Marek Mroz 3.52 James Cockle 3.13 Ben Taylor 2.31
Edinburgh
Ryan Fisher 8.89 Kevin Wolbert 8.87 Andrew Tully 7.83 Matthew Wethers 7.74 Thomas H. Jonasson 7.44 Michał Rajkowski 7.06 Aaron Summers 6.26 Sean Stoddart 3.53 Byron Bekker 3.17 Max Dilger 2.54
Glasgow
James Grieves 8.97 Shane Parker 8.93 William Lawson 7.79 Josh Grajczonek 6.78 Russell Harrison 5.76 Anders Andersen 5.50 Lee Dicken 4.91 Mitchell Davey 4.51 Peter Juul 2.40
King's Lynn
Darcy Ward 9.71 Tomáš Topinka 9.62 Chris Schramm 8.49 Emiliano Sanchez 8.12 Kozza Smith 7.40 Christian Henry 6.93 Linus Eklöf 6.39 Jan Graversen 5.92 Darren Mallett 5.08
Newcastle
Mark Lemon 9.17 Kenni Larsen 8.19 René Bach 8.17 Jason King 7.83 Derek Sneddon 5.86 Steve Boxall 5.57 Trent Leverington 5.52 Craig Branney 4.78 Adam McKinna 4.10 Casper Wortmann 2.18
Newport
Mark Lemon 8.00 Leigh Lanham 7.64 Jordan Frampton 7.36 Paul Fry 6.40 Chris Kerr 6.19 Brent Werner 6.00 James Holder 5.20 Jonas Andersson 4.14 Kyle Newman 2.26
Redcar
Ty Proctor 8.55 Gary Havelock 8.23 Ben Wilson 7.90 Carl Stonehewer 6.97 Robbie Kessler 6.59 Stuart Swales 5.18 Benji Compton 3.85 Arlo Bugeja 3.52
Rye House
Chris Neath 7.82 Linus Sundström 7.46 Robert Mear 7.42 Joe Haines 7.39 Luke Bowen 6.97 Andrew Silver 6.20 Tommy Allen 5.11
Scunthorpe
David Howe 9.18 Magnus Karlsson 8.67 Carl Wilkinson 7.04 Simon Lambert 5.77 Viktor Bergström 5.67 Ritchie Hawkins 5.08 Jerran Hart 4.89 Byron Bekker 3.52
Sheffield
Ricky Ashworth 8.42 Richard Hall 7.88 Josh Auty 7.51 Joel Parsons 6.21 Chris Mills 5.88 Hugh Skidmore 5.87 Paul Cooper 5.71 Ritchie Hawkins 5.39 Scott Smith 4.53
Somerset
Steve Johnston 9.46 Emil Kramer 8.79 Cory Gathercole 8.23 Simon Walker 5.77 Justin Sedgmen 5.16 Nick Simmons 4.89 Jay Herne 4.57 Tom Brown 4.30 Jari Makinen 2.27
Stoke
Jason Bunyan 8.55 Lee Complin 7.63 Phil Morris 5.89 Klaus Jakobsen 5.82 Tom P. Madsen 5.76 Jesper Kristiansen 5.62 Robert Ksiezak 5.06 Craig Branney 4.00 Glen Phillips 3.38
Workington
Kevin Doolan 9.35 Adrian Rymel 8.74 Andre Compton 8.18 Richard Lawson 5.57 John Branney 5.37 Charles Wright 5.36 Craig Cook 3.93 Luke Priest 2.54
See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway)
References