1996 Premier League speedway season

British motorcycle speedway season December 2023 December 2023 Premier League Champions Wolverhampton Wolves Knockout Cup Wolverhampton Wolves Individual Sam Ermolenko Fours Oxford Cheetahs Billy Hamill 1996 Conference League 1995 1997 The 1996 Premier League season was the 62nd season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom. It was also the second and last edition of two seasons, in which British speedway was competed as a single division. In addition there was a Conference League.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway Archive 30 May 2018 5 June 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180605084900/http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html livehttps://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive HISTORY ARCHIVE British Speedway 4 July 2021 29 June 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210629213050/https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive live As from 1997 the Elite League would be the top division and the Premier League would be the second division. Team changes Cradley Heathens and Stoke Potters merged for the 1996 season and Arena Essex Hammers dropped out of the league with the promotion moving to Hackney Wick Stadium and racing as the London Lions. The Glasgow Tigers and Edinburgh Monarchs effectively merged because the Edinburgh promotion raced at Shawfield Stadium under the name the Scottish Monarchs. Oxford reverted to their traditional name of Cheetahs, after ditching the unpopular Silver Machine and King's Lynn Stars did not participate during 1996. Summary Many Glasgow Tigers fans refused to support what they saw as their team of old rivals, and although Monarchs fans initially travelled to Glasgow, crowd numbers soon fell. Cradley & Stoke, despite having the American stars Billy Hamill and Greg Hancock finishing first and second in the averages, could only manage fifth place in the league. Cradley Heath were disbanded after the season following the closure of Dudley Wood Stadium, their home venue.http://www.cradleyspeedway.co.uk/years/1996.htm Heathens at Stoke:End of Another Era Cradley Speedway 31 July 2021 22 June 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210622145808/http://cradleyspeedway.co.uk/years/1996.htm live Oxford reverted to their popular name of Cheetahs and The one league set up only lasted for 1995 and 1996, due to the huge disparity between the teams. Wolverhampton Wolves won the title for the second time in six years, with American Ronnie Correy being the sole survivor of the 1991 winning team. In a strange coincidence a new set of two brothers helped Wolves win the title, back in 1991 it was the Ermolenko brothers but now it was the Swedish Karlsson brothers. Peter Karlsson and Mikael Karlsson both scored heavily and ended the season with averages around the 10 mark.http://www.speedwaygb.co/history/leaguetables1996.php 1996 league tables Speedway GB 30 May 2018 12 June 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180612135823/http://www.speedwaygb.co/history/leaguetables1996.php livehttp://www.british-speedway.co.uk/ SPEEDWAY GB – British Speedway Official Website 16 July 2012 30 December 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20061230040122/http://www.british-speedway.co.uk/ live Final table Pos Team PL W D L BP Pts1 Wolverhampton Wolves 36 29 0 7 18 762 Peterborough Panthers 36 23 0 13 15 613 Eastbourne Eagles 36 23 1 12 12 594 Swindon Robins 36 22 2 12 12 585 Cradley & Stoke Heathens 36 21 1 14 13 566 Belle Vue Aces 36 21 1 14 12 557 Hull Vikings 36 20 3 13 11 548 Ipswich Witches 36 20 0 16 12 529 London Lions 36 20 0 16 11 5110 Coventry Bees 36 16 2 18 10 4411 Bradford Dukes 36 16 0 20 9 4112 Scottish Monarchs 36 16 0 20 5 3713 Oxford Cheetahs 36 12 4 20 8 3614 Poole Pirates 36 13 2 21 5 3315 Exeter Falcons 36 13 2 21 4 3216 Middlesbrough Bears 36 11 1 14 6 2917 Long Eaton Invaders 36 12 0 24 4 2818 Sheffield Tigers 36 13 0 23 2 2819 Reading Racers 36 11 1 24 2 25PL = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; BP = Bonus Points Pts = Total Points Fixtures & results main FBR grey BV BD COV CH EAS EX HV IPS LL LE MID OX PET PP RR SHE SM SWI WOL Belle Vue Aces 51–45 53–43 57–39 58–38 62–34 56–40 51–45 58–38 55–41 63–33 54–42 59–37 54–42 67–29 41–28 60–36 47–49 43–53 Bradford Dukes 51–45 43–53 51–45 46–50 51–45 53–42 55–41 46–50 43–29 62–34 45–51 42–54 55–41 57–39 56–40 61–35 57–39 52–44 Coventry Bees 59–37 42–54 50–46 51–45 58–38 64–32 54–42 45–51 57–39 52–44 55–41 46–50 41–55 60–36 73–20 62–34 44–52 54–41 Cradley & Stoke Heathens 46–50 53–43 56–40 44–52 54–42 46–50 43–53 60–36 56–40 55–41 53–42 58–38 60–36 52–43 56–40 55–41 53–43 43–52 Eastbourne Eagles 56–40 62–33 55–41 46–50 62–34 57–38 53–43 56–38 58–38 58–38 58–38 51–45 55–41 52–44 58–38 52–43 52–44 45–50 Exeter Falcons 56–39 53–43 51–45 49–47 48–48 43–53 57–39 46–50 46–50 52–44 48–48 52–44 57–39 44–52 60–36 54–42 51–45 52–44 Hull Vikings 52–43 49–47 58–37 48–48 59–37 60–36 58–38 52–41 53–43 54–42 55–41 55–41 61–35 63–33 63–33 54–42 54–41 47–49 Ipswich Witches 55–41 52–43 50–46 58–38 55–41 64–32 66–30 52–44 58–38 61–35 52–44 50–46 50–46 57–39 65–31 66–30 59–37 50–46 London Lions 47–49 52–44 51–45 49–47 43–51 57–39 46–50 56–40 52–43 60–36 40–32 50–46 50–46 53–43 62–28 45–51 64–32 50–46 Long Eaton Invaders 49–47 50–46 55–41 45–50 46–50 53–43 40–56 50–46 49–47 52–44 49–47 42–48 46–50 59–37 56–39 53–43 45–51 45–51 Middlesbrough Bears 59–37 54–42 48–48 37–59 39–56 44–52 56–39 49–47 55–40 64–32 46–49 48–47 57–38 56–40 63–33 61–35 47–49 43–53 Oxford Cheetahs 45–51 47–48 45–51 43–53 41–54 56–40 48–48 50–46 43–53 55–41 63–33 51–45 57–39 45–49 52–42 55–41 48–48 43–53 Peterborough Panthers 59–37 61–35 56–40 51–45 57–39 60–36 55–41 54–42 50–46 59–37 59–37 55–41 55–41 70–26 62–34 56–40 50–46 56–40 Poole Pirates 51–45 55–41 48–48 40–56 53–43 52–44 57–39 53–43 45–51 53–43 51–45 48–48 46–50 53–42 54–42 51–45 34–44 45–51 Reading Racers 48–48 44–52 50–46 42–54 46–49 56–40 54–42 47–49 50.5–45.5 52–44 53–43 43–53 46–50 55–40 53–43 44–52 53–43 45–51 Scottish Monarchs 46–50 53–43 42–54 39–57 49–46 70–26 51–45 49–46 57–39 52–44 57–39 53–43 54–42 59–37 61–35 63–33 53–43 38–58 Sheffield Tigers 42–54 53–25 54–42 42–54 51–45 56–40 52–44 52–44 47–49 50–46 55–41 41–55 50–46 53–43 54–42 50–46 52–44 46–50 Swindon Robins 60–36 49–46 52–43 51–45 59–37 53–43 48–48 56–39 53–43 55–41 68–28 53–43 56–40 52–44 56–40 61–35 56–40 52–44 Wolverhampton Wolves 58–37 60–36 55–40 53–43 53–41 65–31 53–42 60–36 61–35 53–42 72–24 65–31 56–40 64–31 56–40 57–38 65–31 59–37 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1996fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1996 fixtures & results 5 June 2024 Premier League Knockout Cup The 1996 Speedway Star Knockout Cup was the 58th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams and the second with the name Premier League Knockout Cup. Wolverhampton Wolves were the winners of the competition. The following season the tier one teams would compete in the Elite League Knockout Cup and the Premier League Knockout Cup would be for tier two teams.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2014/02/premier-league-ko-cup-1996.html 1996 Premier League Knockout Cup Speedway archive 21 June 2018 21 June 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180621194428/http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2014/02/premier-league-ko-cup-1996.html live The cup was won by Wolverhampton despite the fact that they had to ride their home fixture at Long Eaton Stadium due to Monmore Green undergoing work to the greyhound track.It's the big one Nottingham Evening Post 9 October 1996 30 May 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003894/19961009/087/0087 British Newspaper Archive subscription First round Date Team one Score Team two20/04 Bradford 65-31 Sheffield18/04 Sheffield 42-54 Bradford24/04Hull 56-40 Middlesbrough23/05 Middlesbrough 50-45 Hull04/05 Swindon 51-45 Oxford26/04 Oxford 50-46 Swindon Second round Date Team one Score Team two20/05 Wolverhampton 56-39 Ipswich23/05 Ipswich 53-43 Wolverhampton24/05 Belle Vue 53-43 Cradley Heath13/07 Cradley Heath 52-44 Belle Vue25/05 Bradford 57-39 Edinburgh22/05 Edinburgh 44-52 Bradford29/05 Long Eaton 56-40Hull31/05 Hull 47-49 Long Eaton26/04 Peterborough 59-37 Coventry25/05 Coventry 40-56 Peterborough23/05 Hackney 54-42 Reading13/05 Reading 40-56 Hackney20/05 Exeter 45-51 Poole26/06 Poole 44-52 Exeter27/05 Swindon 59-37 Eastbourne25/05 Eastbourne 56-39 Swindon Quarter-finals Date Team one Score Team two19/08 Wolverhampton 48-48 Belle Vue23/08 Belle Vue 48-48 Wolverhampton24/08 Bradford 62-34 Long Eaton28/08 Long Eaton 50-45 Bradford23/08Peterborough 52-44 Hackney15/08 Hackney 51-45 Peterborough09/09 Exeter 52-44 Swindon17/08 Swindon 48-48 Exeter09/09 Wolverhampton 51-45 Belle Vue13/09Belle Vue 49-46 Wolverhampton Semi-finals Date Team one Score Team two23/09 Wolverhampton 59-37 Bradford28/09 Bradford 54-42 Wolverhampton13/09 Peterborough 61-35 Exeter23/09 Exeter 48-48 Peterborough Final First leg 9 October 1996 Wolverhampton WolvesPeter Karlsson 14Mikael Karlsson 12Ronnie Correy 12George Štancl 7Stewart McDonald 7Jamies Grieves 6Craig Taylor 0 58 - 38 Speedway Reading Evening Post 10 October 1996 27 June 2021 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002472/19961010/469/0062 British Newspaper Archive subscription Peterborough PanthersJason Crump 13Ryan Sullivan 10Marián Jirout 7Rene Madsen 4Scott Swain 2Zdeněk Tesař 2Anders Nielsen 0 Long Eaton Stadium Second leg 18 October 1996 Peterborough PanthersBrian Andersen (guest) 12Jason Crump 11Ryan Sullivan 11 Marián Jirout 6Rene Madsen 6Scott Swain 5Anders Nielsen 3 54 - 42 Wolves make it a double Sports Argus 19 October 1996 30 May 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002192/19961019/010/0010 British Newspaper Archive subscription Wolverhampton WolvesMikael Karlsson 16Peter Karlsson 8Ronnie Correy 8George Štancl 4Stewart McDonald 4Jamies Grieves 2Craig Taylor 0 East of England Showground Wolverhampton Wolves were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 100-92. Riders' Championship Sam Ermolenko won the Premier League Riders Championship, held at Odsal Stadium on 19 October. It was the third time that Ermolenko had won the Riders' Championship trophy but the most fortunate. He had qualified for the semi finals with just 7 points and then won the final when Chris Louis was leading on the final lap before suffering an engine failure.American ace survives late drama Huddersfield Daily Examiner 21 October 1996 7 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000901/19961021/015/0015 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos. Rider Total SF Final1 USA Sam Ermolenko 7232 AUS Jason Crump 12323 AUS Leigh Adams 10214 ENG Chris Louis 113ef5 ITA Armando Castagna 8 1 6 SWE Jimmy Nilsen 8 1 7 DEN Brian Andersen 7 0 8 SWE Peter Karlsson 7 0 9 ENG Joe Screen 7 10 AUS Craig Boyce 6 11 ENG Mark Loram 6 12 USA Mike Faria 6 13 ENG Sean Wilson 4 14 ENG Martin Dugard 4 15 AUS Steve Johnston 4 16 USA Billy Hamill 3 17 USA Chris Manchester 3 18 CZE Tomáš Topinka 3 19 DEN Jan Staechmann 3 20 AUS Shane Parker 1 ef=engine failure Fours Oxford Cheetahs won the Premier League Four-Team Championship, which was held on 4 August 1996, at the East of England Arena.Cheetahs race to four team title Hull Daily Mail 5 August 1996 5 July 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0003600/19960805/026/0034 British Newspaper Archive subscription Group APosTeamPtsRiders1 Hull 14 Ott 5, Morton 4, Thorp 3, Grahame 22 Oxford 13 Cox 6, Topinka 4, Brhel 3, Hare 03 Poole 12 Boyce 6, Gunnestad 4, Andersson 2, Richardson 0, Willis 0 4 Wolves 9 Karlsson M 3, Karlsson P 3, McDonald 3, Grieves 0 Group BPosTeamPtsRiders1 Peterborough 13 Crump 5, Jirout 52 Ipswich 13 Louis 5, Clouting 43 Belle Vue 11 Klingberg 4, Lyons 44 Bradford 11 Screen 5, Smith 5 FinalPosTeamPtsRiders1 Oxford 23Cox 7, Brhel 7, Topinka 7, Hare 32 Peterborough 17 Crump 8, Jirout 6, Swain 2, Nielsen 13 Hull 16Ott 6, Grahame 4, Thorp 3, Morton 34 Ipswich 16 Louis 6, Doncaster 6, Howe 3, Clouting 1 Leading final averages Rider Team Average USA Billy HamillCradley & Stoke10.67 USA Greg HancockCradley & Stoke10.55 ENG Chris LouisIpswich10.29 AUS Jason CrumpPeterborough10.20 SWE Peter KarlssonWolverhampton10.14 AUS Leigh AdamsLondon10.09 ENG Martin DugardEastbourne10.08 USA Sam ErmolenkoSheffield9.73 SWE Mikael Karlsson Wolverhampton9.71 USA Ronnie CorreyWolverhampton9.62 ENG Joe ScreenBradford9.57 ENG Gary HavelockBradford9.55 DEN Brian AndersenCoventry9.46 AUS Craig BoycePoole9.38 ENG Mark LoramExeter9.28 ENG Chris ManchesterBelle Vue9.27 SWE Jimmy NilsenSwindon9.22 NOR Lars GunnestadPoole9.13 ENG Kelvin TatumLondon9.07 AUS Ryan SullivanPeterborough9.01 Riders & final averages Belle Vue 22em USA Chris Manchester 9.27 AUS Jason Lyons 8.14 DEN Frede Schött 7.37 SWE Niklas Klingberg 7.33 ENG Neil Collins 6.68 USA Charlie Venegas 6.32 ENG Andre Compton 3.84 ENG Wayne Carter 3.56 ENG Sean Courtney 3.33 ENG Chris Cobby 2.56 ENG Phil Knowles 0.52 Bradford 22em ENG Joe Screen 9.57 ENG Gary Havelock 9.55 ENG Andy Smith 7.76 ENG Sean Wilson 7.52 ENG Paul Pickering 4.74 ENG Andre Compton 4.42 AUS Glyn Taylor 3.07 EST Rene Aas 2.65 ENG Chris Readshaw 1.73 Coventry 22em DEN Brian Andersen 9.46 AUS Shane Bowes 7.29 ENG Simon Cross 7.11 DEN Jan Andersen 6.83 ENG Shaun Tacey 6.35 ENG Paul Bentley 6.24 ENG Stuart Robson 5.33 SCO Kevin Little 4.20 Cradley & Stoke 22em USA Billy Hamill 10.67 USA Greg Hancock 10.55 SWE Daniel Andersson 6.36 ENG Les Collins 6.21 SWE Niklas Karlsson 5.08 ENG John Wilson 4.85 ENG Troy Pratt 4.67 ENG Stuart Swales 3.58 Eastbourne 22em ENG Martin Dugard 10.08 SWE Stefan Andersson 8.98 ENG David Norris 7.89 SWE Stefan Dannö 7.34 ENG Alan Mogridge 5.40 ENG Dean Standing 5.30 ENG Justin Elkins 3.00 ENG Darren Grayling 2.54 ENG Tara O'Callaghan 0.47 Exeter 22em ENG Mark Loram 9.28 ENG Simon Wigg 8.83 ENG Michael Coles 6.50 ENG Alun Rossiter 6.50 ENG Paul Fry 5.96 ENG Peter Jeffery 4.79 ENG Mark Simmonds 4.67 ENG Graeme Gordon 2.66 Hull 22em USA Bobby Ott 8.58 DEN Jan Stæchmann 8.44 ENG Paul Thorp 8.30 ENG Graham Jones 7.00 ENG Ray Morton 6.89 ENG Alan Grahame 6.85 ENG Nigel Crabtree 6.16 HUN Róbert Nagy 5.66 ENG Mike Hampson 2.32 ENG Lee Dicken 1.90 Ipswich 22em ENG Chris Louis 10.29 ENG Jeremy Doncaster 7.63 ENG Scott Nicholls 7.46 ENG Ben Howe 7.42 ENG Savalas Clouting 5.74 ENG Leigh Lanham 5.49 ENG Kevin Teager 3.30 London 22em AUS Leigh Adams 10.09 ENG Kelvin Tatum 9.07 ENG Paul Hurry 7.63 USA Josh Larsen 7.35 ENG Neville Tatum 6.07 DEN Jan Pedersen 5.04 ENG John Wainwright 3.57 ENG Alan Mogridge 3.48 ENG Colin White 1.90 ENG David Mason 1.70 Long Eaton 22em HUN Róbert Nagy 8.57 AUS Steve Johnston 8.28 ENG Carl Stonehewer 6.73 ENG Martin Dixon 6.57 USA Charles Ermolenko 6.37 FIN Kai Laukkanen 6.26 SWE Robert Johansson 6.00 USA Brent Werner 5.60 DEN Rene Madsen 4.00 USA Charlie Venegas 3.49 Middlesbrough 22em ENG Shane Parker 8.67 CZE Antonín Šváb Jr. 6.78 ENG David Walsh 6.78 ENG Stuart Robson 6.23 DEN Jesper Olsen 5.85 ENG Scott Robson 5.82 ENG Martin Dixon 4.86 DEN Martin Vinther 3.59 Oxford 22em CZE Tomáš Topinka 8.58 ENG Marvyn Cox 8.32 CZE Bo Brhel 7.76 AUS Mark Lemon 6.88 ENG Martin Goodwin 5.27 ENG Lawrence Hare 5.16 HUN Attila Stefáni (Mark Frost) 3.74 FRA Philippe Bergé 3.57 ENG Martin Willis 1.73 Peterborough 22em AUS Jason Crump 10.20 AUS Ryan Sullivan 9.01 CZE Zdeněk Tesař 8.94 CZE Marián Jirout 6.22 ENG Alun Rossiter 5.44 DEN Anders Nielsen 4.90 ENG Scott Swain 4.65 DEN Rene Madsen 4.60 ENG Tommy Palmer 4.00 Poole 22em AUS Craig Boyce 9.38 NOR Lars Gunnestad 9.13 ENG Steve Schofield 8.05 AUS Tony Langdon 5.96 SWE Christer Jonsson 4.53 SWE Marcus Andersson 4.38 SWE Magnus Zetterström 3.11 NOR Ingar Hvamstad 2.07 ENG Lee Richardson 2.01 Reading 22em SWE Tony Olsson 8.12 ITA Armando Castagna 7.69 ENG Ray Morton 7.20 ENG Dave Mullett 6.86 FIN Petri Kokko 5.84 ZIM Davd Steen 5.02 ENG Phil Morris 4.76 DEN Jan Pedersen 4.55 GER Jorg Pingel 4.54 Scottish Monarchs 22em USA Mike Faria 8.53 SWE Robert Eriksson 6.58 SCO Kenny McKinna 6.31 SCO Scott Lamb 6.30 AUS Mick Powell 6.02 SWE Robert Johansson 5.86 FIN Vesa Ylinen 5.67 ITA Stefano Alfonso 5.67 Sheffield 22em USA Sam Ermolenko 9.73 GER Robbie Kessler 6.71 ENG Garry Stead 6.69 ENG Scott Smith 6.23 HUN Zoltán Adorján 6.22 CZE Roman Matoušek 5.58 ENG Tony Atkin 3.65 GER Mirko Wolter 3.48 EST Rene Aas 2.71 DEN Thomas Ravn 2.67 Swindon 22em SWE Jimmy Nilsen 9.22 DEN Brian Karger 8.99 DEN John Jørgensen 8.43 NZL Mark Thorpe 7.05 ENG Steve Masters 5.13 ENG Glenn Cunningham 4.73 FIN Jarno Kosonen 4.45 ENG Scott Pegler 1.70 Wolverhampton 22em SWE Peter Karlsson 10.14 SWE Mikael Karlsson 9.71 USA Ronnie Correy 9.62 CZE George Štancl 6.12 SCO James Grieves 5.11 SCO Stewart McDonald 4.74 ENG Craig Taylor 3.41 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:Speedway Premier League Category:1996 in speedway Category:1996 in British motorsport