1997 Elite League speedway season

British motorcycle speedway season October 2023 October 2023 Sky Sports Elite League Champions Bradford Dukes Knockout Cup Eastbourne Eagles Craven Shield Coventry Bees Individual Greg Hancock Fours Peterborough Panthers Tony Rickardsson 1997 Premier League1997 Conference League 1996 1998 The 1997 Elite League speedway season was the 63rd season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom. It was the first season of a new league known as the Elite Leaguehttps://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19961107/108/0108 Speedway bosses aim for Elite Era Coventry Evening Telegraph 7 November 1996 British Newspaper Archive subscription 21 February 2025 and was governed by the Speedway Control Board (SCB), in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA).http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway Archivehttps://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive HISTORY ARCHIVE British Speedway 4 July 2021 Season summary In 1997, the single speedway league in Great Britain separated after two seasons, forming a new top division. The inaugural league consisted of ten teams. The league operated on a standard format without play-offs.http://www.speedwaygb.co/history/leaguetables1997.php 1997 league tables Speedway GB The Craven Shield was introduced as an end of season cup competition for the top eight teams in the league standings.Wheelie Good Trophy for Champs Reading Evening Post 30 June 1997 10 December 2021 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002472/19970630/336/0049 British Newspaper Archive subscription https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive History Archive Official British Speedway website 10 December 2021 Bradford Dukes finally won the league, their first success since 1966 when they raced as Halifax Dukes. Bradford retained top English riders Gary Havelock and Joe Screen but crucially brought in Mark Loram from Exeter Falcons. Loram had a superb season that included becoming the new British Champion.http://www.speedwaygb.co/rollofhonourbritishfinal British Final Roll of Honour BSPA 31 July 2021 Final table Pos M W D L F A Pts Bon Tot1 Bradford Dukes 36 23 1 12 1733 1506 47 15 622 Eastbourne Eagles 36 20 0 16 1665 1570 40 11 513 Swindon Robins 36 20 1 15 1662 1578 41 9 504 Ipswich Witches 36 16 2 17 1671 1616 34 13 475 King's Lynn Knights 36 18 3 15 1592 1645 39 8 476 Belle Vue Aces 36 18 0 18 1646 1587 36 9 457 Wolverhampton Wolves 36 18 0 18 1572 1658 36 6 428 Coventry Bees 36 15 1 20 1582 1653 31 7 389 Poole Pirates 36 13 2 21 1551 1684 28 6 3410 Peterborough Panthers 36 14 0 22 1556 1679 28 5 33 'A' Fixtures main FBR grey BV BD COV EAS IPS KL PET PP SWI WOL Belle Vue Aces 48–42 42–47 54–36 51–38 63–27 51–39 61–29 53–37 52–38 Bradford Dukes 51–39 50–40 55–35 58–32 52–38 42–48 44–45 46–44 55–35 Coventry Bees 48–42 44–46 48–42 50–40 42–48 39–51 50–40 41–49 51–39 Eastbourne Eagles 48–42 58–32 56–34 63–27 53–37 56–33 59–31 48–42 42–46 Ipswich Witches 44–45 51–39 56–34 60–30 50–40 49–41 51–39 55–37 57–33 King's Lynn Knights 47–43 41–49 48–42 56–34 50–40 50–40 50–40 51–39 50–40 Peterborough Panthers 53–37 40–50 50–40 46–44 41–49 44–46 43–47 41–49 42–47 Poole Pirates 39–51 37–53 48–42 44–46 50–40 52–38 44–46 45–45 47–43 Swindon Robins 51–39 47–43 50–40 54–36 52–38 46–44 47–43 55–35 56–34 Wolverhampton Wolves 51–39 49–41 46–43 59–31 53–37 53–36 51–39 56–33 48–42 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1997fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1997 fixtures & results 31 May 2024 'B' Fixtures main FBR grey BV BD COV EAS IPS KL PET PP SWI WOL Belle Vue Aces 44–46 52–38 57–33 55–33 56–34 47–43 50–40 54–36 48–42 Bradford Dukes 53–37 45–45 59–31 60–30 57–33 54–36 36–54 52–38 58–32 Coventry Bees 53–36 52–28 53–37 52–38 40–49 47–43 58–32 54–36 60–30 Eastbourne Eagles 51–39 56–34 54–36 49–41 61–29 66–24 55–35 55–35 52–37 Ipswich Witches 58–32 39–51 57–32 59–31 45–45 44–45 52–38 47–43 57–32 King's Lynn Knights 49–41 48–42 46–44 48–42 45–45 53–37 52–38 42–48 58–32 Peterborough Panthers 57–33 41–49 50–40 53–36 41–49 50–40 48–41 49–41 51–39 Poole Pirates 53–36 35–55 65–25 44–46 48–42 45–45 58–32 48–42 61–28 Swindon Robins 54–36 49–41 43–47 47–43 59–31 53–37 49–41 57–33 54–36 Wolverhampton Wolves 49–41 35–55 59–31 40–50 52–38 47–42 55–35 52–38 54–36 complete Elite League Knockout Cup The 1997 Elite League Knockout Cup, sponsored by the Speedway Star, was the 59th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams but the first under its new name. Eastbourne Eagles were the winners of the competition.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2014/04/elite-league-ko-cup.html 1997 Elite League Knockout Cup Speedway archive First round Group A Date Team one Score Team two15/03 Coventry 51-40 Swindon16/03 Swindon 41-49 Coventry21/03 Belle Vue 48-42 Coventry22/03 Coventry 45-45 Wolverhampton22/03 Bradford 56-34 Swindon23/03 Swindon47-42 Bradford24/03 Wolverhampton 52-38 Swindon28/03 Belle Vue 56-33 Wolverhampton29/03 Swindon 56-34 Belle Vue29/03 Bradford 58-32 Wolverhampton31/03 Coventry 49-41 Bradford31/03 Wolverhampton 52-38 Belle Vue04/04 Belle Vue 46-44 Bradford05/04 Bradford 52-38 Coventry05/04 Swindon 65-25 Wolverhampton11/04 Belle Vue 52-40 Swindon12/04 Coventry 51-41 Belle Vue14/04 Wolverhampton 50-40 Coventry19/04Bradford 57-33 Belle Vue28/04 Wolverhampton 44-46 Bradford Pos Team P W D L1 Bradford 85032 Coventry 84133 Belle Vue 84044 Wolverhampton 83145 Swindon 8305 Group B Date Team one Score Team two20/03 Ipswich 47-43Peterborough21/03 Peterborough 41-49 Kings Lynn23/03 Eastbourne 53-37 Ipswich28/03 Ipswich 50-40 Kings Lynn28/03 Peterborough 62-27 Eastbourne30/03 Eastbourne 54-36 Poole02/04 Poole 53-37 Kings Lynn03/04 Ipswich 44-46 Eastbourne06/04 Eastbourne 55-35 Kings Lynn09/04 Kings Lynn 46-44 Eastbourne09/04 Poole 52-38 Peterborough10/04 Ipswich 41-49 Poole11/04 Peterborough 38-52 Poole12/04 Kings Lynn 37-52 Poole16/04 Kings Lynn 47-43 Peterborough16/04 Poole 57-33 Ipswich18/04 Peterborough 48-42 Ipswich19/04 Eastbourne 52-37 Peterborough23/04 Poole 73-17 Eastbourne30/04 Kings Lynn 41-49 Ipswich Pos Team P W D L1 Poole 87012 Eastbourne 85033 King's Lynn 83054 Peterborough 83055 Ipswich 8206 Semi-finals Date Team one Score Team two02/07 Poole 53-37 Coventry15/06 Coventry 48-42 Poole15/07 Bradford 56-34 Eastbourne13/04 Eastbourne 58-32 Bradford Final First leg 4 September 1997 Poole PiratesCraig Boyce 18Lars Gunnestad 10 43 - 49 Speedway Reading Evening Post 5 September 1997 31 May 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002472/19970905/800/0083 British Newspaper Archive subscription Eastbourne EaglesStefan Andersson 10Gary Havelock (guest) 10David Norris 8Stefan Danno 7Alan Mogridge 5 Wimborne Road Second leg 7 September 1997 Eastbourne EaglesMartin Dugard 14Ronnie Correy (guest) 14Stefan Andersson 13Stefan Danno 12David Norris 8Alan Mogridge 6 67 - 23 Speedway South Wales Echo 8 September 1997 31 May 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004733/19970908/053/0053 British Newspaper Archive subscription Poole PiratesCraig Boyce 7Mark Lemon 5Armando Castagna 4Ben Howe 3Lars Gunnestad 2Savalas Clouting 2 Arlington Stadium Eastbourne Eagles were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 116-66. Craven Shield End of season competition for the top eight league teams First Round Team one Team two ScoreIpswich King's Lynn 50–40, 39–51Bradford Coventry 55–35, 34–56Eastbourne Wolverhampton 52–38, 51–38Swindon Belle Vue 60–30, n–h Semi-final Team one Team two ScoreCoventry Swindon 50–40, 49–41King's Lynn Eastbourne 53–36, 37–52 Final Team one Team two ScoreKing's Lynn Coventry 41–49, 32–58 Riders' Championship Greg Hancock won the Elite League Riders' Championship, held at Odsal Stadium on 11 October.Double triumph for Greg Coventry Evening Telegraph 13 October 1997 7 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19971013/030/0030 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos. Rider Total Total SF Final1 USA Greg Hancock 2 1 3 3 312x32 SWE Tony Rickardsson 2 3 2 3 313x23 ENG Chris Louis 3 3 1 2 211214 ENG Simon Wigg 1 0 3 2 3 9305 ENG Mark Loram 1 2 3 1 291 6 USA Billy Hamill 3 TX 0 3 3 9 07 USA Sam Ermolenko 3 1 2 0 2 8 8 AUS Craig Boyce 1 1 3 2 1 8 9 ENG Joe Screen 2 3 1 1 1 8 10 AUS Jason Crump 0 2 2 3 0 7 11 ENG Martin Dugard 2 3 0 0 1 6 12 DEN Brian Andersen 0 2 1 2 1 6 13 SWE Peter Karlsson0 1 2 1 26 14 SWE Mikael Karlsson 3 0 1 TX 04 15 ENG Garry Stead (res) 2 0 2 16 AUS Leigh Adams 1 0 0 0 0 1 17 AUS Steve Johnston 0 0 0 1 0 1 tx-touched tapes, excluded Fours Peterborough Panthers won the Elite League Four Team Tournament, which was held on 3 August 1997, at the East of England Arena.Speedway Birmingham Daily Post 4 August 1997 6 July 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002135/19970804/014/0014 British Newspaper Archive subscription https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1997fixtures.pdf 1997 fixtures and results Speedway Researcher 6 July 2023 FinalPosTeamPtsRiders1 Peterborough 27Crump 9, Sullivan 62 Bradford 21Screen 103 Swindon 15Adams 104 Belle Vue 15 Hamill 6 Final leading averages Rider Team Average SWE Tony RickardssonIpswich10.09 USA Billy HamillBelle Vue10.07 USA Greg HancockCoventry9.85 ENG Joe ScreenBradford9.77 AUS Leigh Adams Swindon9.76 AUS Jason CrumpPeterborough9.71 ENG Mark LoramBradford9.59 AUS Craig BoycePoole9.43 ENG Chris LouisIpswich9.42 DEN Brian AndersenCoventry9.02 Riders & final averages Belle Vue 22em USA Billy Hamill 10.07 USA Sam Ermolenko 8.48 AUS Jason Lyons 7.74 USA Charlie Venegas 5.58 USA Chris Manchester 5.56 ENG Paul Thorp 4.17 ENG Paul Smith 1.62 NZL Nathan Murray 0.97 Bradford 22em ENG Joe Screen 9.77 ENG Mark Loram 9.59 ENG Gary Havelock 7.59 ENG Garry Stead 5.78 USA Josh Larsen 5.70 ENG David Walsh 4.45 Coventry 22em USA Greg Hancock 9.85 DEN Brian Andersen 9.02 DEN John Jørgensen 6.90 ENG Andy Smith 5.84 ENG Sean Wilson 5.67 ENG Simon Cross 5.13 AUS Shane Bowes 4.15 ENG Paul Smith 1.44 Eastbourne 22em ENG Martin Dugard 8.44 SWE Stefan Andersson 8.24 ENG Dean Barker 7.32 SWE Stefan Dannö 6.97 ENG David Norris 6.57 ENG Alan Mogridge 4.56 Ipswich 22em SWE Tony Rickardsson 10.09 ENG Chris Louis 9.42 AUS Steve Johnston 7.74 ENG Scott Nicholls 6.25 ENG Ben Howe 6.17 ENG Jeremy Doncaster 6.11 CZE Antonín Šváb Jr. 3.62 King's Lynn 22em ENG Simon Wigg 8.07 AUS Shane Parker 7.48 CZE Tomáš Topinka 7.24 CZE Bohumil Brhel 6.91 ENG Paul Hurry 6.26 USA Charles Ermolenko 5.14 ENG Shaun Tacey 3.11 Peterborough 22em AUS Jason Crump 9.71 ENG Kelvin Tatum 7.80 AUS Ryan Sullivan 7.71 DEN Hans Clausen 7.22 DEN Ronni Pedersen 7.08 CZE Zdeněk Tesař 4.95 CZE Marián Jirout 4.90 DEN Rene Madsen 2.52 Poole 22em AUS Craig Boyce 9.43 NOR Lars Gunnestad 7.48 ENG Marvyn Cox 7.30 AUS Mark Lemon 6.43 ENG Steve Schofield 6.18 ITA Armando Castagna 4.80 ENG Savalas Clouting 4.77 ENG Ben Howe 4.45 Swindon 22em AUS Leigh Adams 9.76 SWE Jimmy Nilsen 8.96 DEN Brian Karger 8.12 SWE Tony Olsson 6.68 ENG Alun Rossiter 4.68 ENG Steve Masters 2.53 Wolverhampton 22em SWE Mikael Karlsson 8.62 SWE Peter Karlsson 8.37 USA Ronnie Correy 7.08 DEN Jesper B. Jensen 5.45 USA Charles Ermolenko 4.76 CZE George Štancl 4.55 SCO James Grieves 4.16 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:SGB Premiership Category:1997 in British motorsport