GLASGOW is set to host one of British speedway’s biggest meetings next season.
That’s the headline news as far as the Tigers are concerned following this week’s AGM of speedway promoters – which saw a major shake-up of the sport in the UK.
The Premier League has been rebranded the Speedway Great Britain (SGB) Championship, with the top flight now known as the SGB Premiership. Promotion and relegation between the leagues has been introduced.
The Peugeot Ashfield Stadium will host the Championship Riders’ Individual, a major move for the event which usually attracts thousands of fans to Sheffield each September and sees the cream of the second tier going head-to-head for the title. A date for the event is still to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, Glasgow’s move to Saturday nights has been ratified, meaning speedway under the floodlights is making a full-time return to the city for the first time this century.
The other big news for Championship sides is the lowering of the points limit for team-building to 40. Each side must again have a British rider on a three-point average at No 7 – but riders who have previously raced in the second tier, but not achieved the three-point average, can come in on a minimum of two points.
The points limit for the Premiership is 50, but riders will only have one average across both leagues, with new calculations introduced for men who have only ridden in the top league.
Somerset, winners of the 2016 Premier League, and Rye House – who were also in last year’s second tier – have taken the step up to the Premiership.
For full details on the decisions made at the AGM, click here.