Post by schumi on Mar 12, 2009 20:05:12 GMT
Don't know if anyone else gets this or is interested, but here's Rob Lyon's thoughts from the latest e-zine:
THE 2009 speedway season promises to be an interesting one. For the first time in the Elite League we enter a campaign which will be devoid of the majority of top Grand Prix riders. They have decided to ply their trade inelsewhere in Europe, whilst also committing to the cut-and-thrust of the GP campaign once again.
Many hardened speedway fans will no doubt look upon the decisions of the top riders to elect not to ride in the UK to be a negative and backward step for our leagues and you cannot blame them for thinking that way. On the other hand, however, look at the opportunities that lie ahead for those riders with the ambition to make it to the very top in their chosen sport. They now have the chance to flourish in the new season and become outright stars themselves.
As for the leagues themselves, once again there looks to be some very competitive teams lining up to contest the 2009 Sky Sports Elite League. Swindon, on paper at least, are the favourites and maybe this is the year where they finally clinch that long-awaited League Championship. However, I'm sure the reigning Champions Poole will have something to say about that, having managed to keep hold of their top two (Bjarne Pedersen and Chris Holder) from last year's successful team. Either way, it will be very entertaining and teams like Lakeside will be very keen to build on a successful season and attempt to go one step further than last year's play-offs when they finally ran out of steam against the Pirates.
The Premier League also looks to be one of the most competitive in its history and on paper at least, it is very hard to pick a winner from the list.
The new National League is also launched this year to attempt to capture the next generation of stars who will grace the UK tracks. This will provide us with a verysolid third level within the structure of British Speedway.
Elsewhere, it's great to see the doubling-up rule back as it will provide some much-needed opportunities to riders looking to break into a higher level within the sport. It will also give them the experience they'll certainly need when they finally make the permanent move to the top flight. Obviously the rule is open to all nationalities, but from Britain's point of view, it's good to see a few younger riders doing it as it will help their careers enormously.
So all-in-all it promises to be a great season and there will be plenty going on at all levels to keep us all entertained. I can't wait for it to start - bring it on!
Rob Lyon
THE 2009 speedway season promises to be an interesting one. For the first time in the Elite League we enter a campaign which will be devoid of the majority of top Grand Prix riders. They have decided to ply their trade inelsewhere in Europe, whilst also committing to the cut-and-thrust of the GP campaign once again.
Many hardened speedway fans will no doubt look upon the decisions of the top riders to elect not to ride in the UK to be a negative and backward step for our leagues and you cannot blame them for thinking that way. On the other hand, however, look at the opportunities that lie ahead for those riders with the ambition to make it to the very top in their chosen sport. They now have the chance to flourish in the new season and become outright stars themselves.
As for the leagues themselves, once again there looks to be some very competitive teams lining up to contest the 2009 Sky Sports Elite League. Swindon, on paper at least, are the favourites and maybe this is the year where they finally clinch that long-awaited League Championship. However, I'm sure the reigning Champions Poole will have something to say about that, having managed to keep hold of their top two (Bjarne Pedersen and Chris Holder) from last year's successful team. Either way, it will be very entertaining and teams like Lakeside will be very keen to build on a successful season and attempt to go one step further than last year's play-offs when they finally ran out of steam against the Pirates.
The Premier League also looks to be one of the most competitive in its history and on paper at least, it is very hard to pick a winner from the list.
The new National League is also launched this year to attempt to capture the next generation of stars who will grace the UK tracks. This will provide us with a verysolid third level within the structure of British Speedway.
Elsewhere, it's great to see the doubling-up rule back as it will provide some much-needed opportunities to riders looking to break into a higher level within the sport. It will also give them the experience they'll certainly need when they finally make the permanent move to the top flight. Obviously the rule is open to all nationalities, but from Britain's point of view, it's good to see a few younger riders doing it as it will help their careers enormously.
So all-in-all it promises to be a great season and there will be plenty going on at all levels to keep us all entertained. I can't wait for it to start - bring it on!
Rob Lyon