British Speedway Season Begins

Having the acceleration of a Formula One race car with no brakes and powered by pure methanol British Speedway is an exciting form of dirt track racing with an international following.

Originating in New South Wales, Australia in 1923 by young New Zealander Johnny Hoskins Speedway is now a global sport attracting large crowds in many countries around the world with top riders of all nationalities including riders from Poland, Russia, Denmark, Sweden and the United States. But the toughest league in the world that boasts the best riders from around the globe has to be the British Speedway Elite League.

British Speedway meetings are two teams racing against each other around oval circuits of around 300 metres in length in an anti-clockwise direction around tight corners at high speeds where riders actually have to accelerate to bring the rear wheel out and initiate a "skid"! The two teams have seven riders each and they race over 15 heats with two riders from each team in every heat.

If a rider wins a race he will earn his team three points, if he comes second he will earn them two points, 3rd and they will only earn one point and if he comes last the rider earns no points. The team with the most accumulated points wins the match. Clubs travel weekly to compete both home and away like traditoinal sporting teams.

The Bellvue Aces, Coventry Bees, Poole Pirates, Ispich Witches are just of four of the nine clubs that make up the British Speedway Elite League that began the 2009 season on March 16.

The season runs though the summer ending with the Elite Riders Championship to be held at Coventry Speedway on October 2.

I will be posting more as the season progresses inlcuding match results, fixtures and standings.