The 2016 Premier League is taking shape – with just a handful of team places left to be filled. Here, we take a look at how each side is lining up and who’s likely to make the most noise come the new season.
Where better to start than with Glasgow’s biggest rivals and reigning British Premier League Champions the Edinburgh Monarchs? The Armadale men will no doubt miss Craig Cook, probably the league’s most consistent performer of recent times, after he made the move to full-time Elite League speedway. The key to their recent success has been building a side that has riders capable of making big improvements, however, and they look to be following that same tactic in 2016. In heatleader trio Sam Masters, Kevin Wolbert and Ryan Fisher, they have three potential No 1s and three men who’ll probably add to their averages when racing at Armadale every week. If Erik Riss and Max Clegg – both returning from 2015 – realise their potential next season, you can expect the Monarchs to be play-off contenders again. They have two places left to fill.
The consensus is that the northern clubs are looking particularly strong for next year and Workington Comets can count themselves in that group. They’ve just confirmed the signature of Ty Proctor – who’s far more capable than his 6.68 average suggests – and he should add to that considerably. Top two Ricky Wells and Claus Vissing are exciting racers, capable of being the men to lead the Comets to glory, if they can find consistency and steer clear of injury. Dane Kenneth Hansen is also a better rider than his 6.84 average shows and he may benefit from being third in line this season, instead of No 1. At the bottom end, they welcome back former Tiger Mason Campton from a season in Australia, with Adam Roynon and Matt Williamson completing a reserve pairing that mixes experience with potential. It’s a side that’s hotly tipped to do well next season.
On the opposite coast, Berwick Bandits have put together a strength-in-depth team that is packed with experienced and reliable riders. The Shielfield club have brought back captain Kevin Doolan – few know this league better than him. He’s joined by ex-Glasgow skipper Theo Pijper who’s won silverware with the Tigers and Edinburgh and will score consistently well given a clear run. Seb Alden comes back to the club where he made a name for himself a few years ago and has the ability to become a strong top man for the Bandits if he can recapture his form of old – at the age of 30, time is still on his side. The Bandits have sealed the return of the exciting Thomas Jorgensen, perhaps one of the hottest properties at this level and he should kick on to average eight or nine next season. Swedish rider Anders Mellgren completes the top five – and he’s a very handy man to have as a second string. Matthew Wethers will start as one of the league’s strongest reserves and, like Doolan, he knows the Premier League inside out. He’s joined by local lad Liam Carr, whose National League performances indicate that he’s well worth a shot at this level now.
Another side catching the eye are Newcastle Diamonds. Geordie fans will be salivating at the prospect of being led by the most hotly-tipped British youngster for years, Robert Lambert, who’s just 17 years old but already has World Cup experience. If he steps to the plate, the Diamonds will surely make the play-offs, given he’ll be backed up by the very capable Stevie Worrall – brother of Glasgow’s Richie – and Ludvig Lindgren, who both raced at the Newcastle Stadium last term. Finnish racer Tero Aarnio was a successful late addition to the 2015 Diamonds and has the potential to improve again in 2016, while Lewis Rose is another returning to the fold next season, keen for the breakthrough he’s been threatening to make for a couple of years. Danny Phillips is largely unknown at this level, but he’s the new National League reserve in the side, and that leaves them with just one to find.
There will be few other teams that line up with the potential to thrill more than Sheffield Tigers in 2016. It’s a side packed with out-and-out racers, led by the terrific Simon Stead, who’ll be aiming to return as the league’s top man after a serious leg break in 2015. Joining him at the top is the all-action Jason Garrity – though his riding style does provoke debate. Ex-Workington man Kyle Howarth is signed up at Owlerton for 2016 and a fresh track may see him kick on. Plenty of Glasgow eyes will be on asset Dimitri Berge, who’ll be targeting a big year after a disappointing 2015. Richard Hall’s leg-trailing style will no doubt be worth watching – and on an average of just over four, he’s potentially one of the bargains of the season – while in Josh Bates and Nathan Greaves, Sheffield have two young Brits who are tipped for success in the sport. As with every team, there are question marks, but there’ll be few dull moments for the Tigers in the new campaign.
Somerset Rebels have, like Edinburgh, been there or thereabouts in the Premier League for several years now. But for 2016, they take on a fresh look with three young riders who have never raced at this level before. Australian Jake Allen will finally make his British debut after a failed bid to race for Berwick last year, and arrives with a decent pedigree. Zach Wajtknecht is the Rebels’ new National League reserve, having been one of the most sought after youngsters during the winter, following a series of impressive showings for Birmingham. The third of those riders is Bradley Wilson-Dean, the most talked-about National League rider of 2015 and a man who arrives at Somerset with plenty of eyes watching him, after some seriously good scores for Eastbourne last term. Ipswich old boy Rohan Tungate is the new second heatleader at the Oaktree Arena, joining familiar faces Josh Grajczonek, Charles Wright and Paul Starke. Many see this as a team built for the future – but given the potential of the new boys, there’ll be few sides watched with more interest.
Back in the North-East, Redcar Bears are one of the sides yet to be completed. Club bosses have bemoaned the lack of a No 1 to fill their last place but there’s no doubting that Lasse Bjerre – brother of Danish international Kenneth – is likely to take on that role in 2016 given his recent progress. He’s joined by countryman Jonas B Andersen, who – based on his showings during last season – is a rider with potential to do bigger and better things in the sport. French rider David Bellego hasn’t quite made the strides expected of him after his debut season with Glasgow, but he certainly has the talent. The same could be said for Hugh Skidmore, who’ll be keen to see out 2016 injury-free. Simon Nielsen is a new recruit after a steady season with Newcastle, while Englishman Lee Payne will fill the three-point reserve slot, having made a fairly rapid rise in the National League in recent years – he’s certainly one to watch.
Another side still hunting for a No 1 rider are Peterborough Panthers – and the consensus is that the signing could make or break their season. They do have Ulrich Ostergaard, an experienced Dane who is the current Premier League Riders’ Champion, and he’s backed by exciting prospect Nikolaj Busk Jacobsen, following his shock loan move from Rye House. The Danish theme continues with Michael Palm-Toft – who’s yet to match his Elite League form of a couple of seasons ago – and Emil Grondal, another hot talent who could improve well in this side. The Panthers snapped up Tom Perry as their National League reserve – perhaps the most experienced out of all the three-pointers announced so far – and a man who could be a match-winner, particularly at home. His fellow Englishman Simon Lambert has returned to the East of England Showground after making decent strides there last season, and could prove to be a key man in the engine room if Peterborough are to replicate a very progressive 2015.
Their eastern English rivals Ipswich Witches have always threatened to be the top dogs in the Premier League since moving from the top tier some years back, but have never quite got over the line. With Danny King at No 1, they will always give themselves a chance – he’s a man capable of beating any rider in this league. So much, though, could depend on whether thrilling Argentinian Nico Covatti can keep up his rate of improvement, and if Lewis Kerr can return to his best after his massive get-off last season. Regardless, it’ll be great to see him back on a bike. Morten Risager returns to Ipswich next year and has always been a capable performer at this level – but will need to be more consistent if he’s to help the Witches to silverware. One man Glasgow fans will be watching closely is 2015 Tiger James Sarjeant – but if he keeps up his form of late last season, he may be the key man for Ipswich. It’s an intriguing reserve pairing for Ipswich, who’ve brought Paco Castagna in from Sheffield – son of Italian legend Armando – and English youngster Darryl Ritchings, a rider who will relish challenging himself in the Premier League.
Plymouth Devils enjoyed their best-ever season in 2015 when Glasgow knocked them out at the play-offs stage – and their 2016 line-up is a difficult one to judge. It’s fair to say that in new No 1 Charlie Gjedde, they have a man who’s capable of challenging the league’s top riders, the 35-year-old having averaged over nine in his last Premier League stint and having a World Cup winner’s medal in his cabinet. He has, however, been out of British speedway for a couple of years. British prospect Kyle Newman returns for 2016 and he’ll be a key man again for the Devils – as will Aussie Jack Holder, whose pedigree and family links (his brother is 2012 World Champion Chris Holder) make him an attractive rider to bring back. The Devils have also captured World U21 star Stefan Nielsen, a very capable rider, while Ellis Perks is their three-point reserve – another man with some potential. Todd Kurtz and Sam Simota are both back for next season, with Simota in particular having something to prove next term after a poor 2015.
Rye House Rockets revealed their completed 1-7 a few weeks back – and they’re another side who have aimed for strength in depth. Eddie Kennett is back on a nine-plus average, and he’ll lead from the top – but a lot will depend on whether he can find some capable back-up. Experienced English duo Stuart Robson and Leigh Lanham should score well at home, while Nicolai Klindt has proven that he can compete at Elite League level – and is capable of doing more in the second tier – but a lot could depend on how all three show up at away tracks. Cameron Heeps completes the Rockets’ top five and his move from Ipswich could benefit both him and his new club. Where the Rockets have sacrificed some points in the main body of the team, they’ve more than made up for it at reserve – where 2013 Glasgow rider of the year Kasper Lykke takes up one of the berths. He averages more than five points a meeting and is an extremely strong man to have at the bottom end. Ben Morley, meanwhile, is also tipped to do well in his first Premier League season – and these two together have been named by many as the strongest reserve pairing so far announced.
Also complete for 2016 are Scunthorpe Scorpions. The fortunes of the Lincolnshire side are difficult to predict – but they too have built a team that will be capable of scoring big points at its lower end. Carl Wilkinson, who even bagged himself some Elite League guest bookings last year, will start at reserve with Josh Bailey – and depending on the latter’s progress in his debut Premier League campaign, they could prove to be a very tasty duo. There’s plenty of potential improvement elsewhere in this Scunthorpe side – Josh Auty returns as the No 1, a steady performer at this level, while Alex Davies and Ryan Douglas are among a batch of young Australians who are looking to take things to the next level in the UK. Taylor Poole is back in British speedway after being forced to spend 2015 in his home country of Australia, following visa issues, and he’s aiming to keep up the progress he made with Sheffield on these shores in 2014. Completing the septet is exciting Czech rider Zdenek Holub – though it’s yet to be seen exactly what he’s capable of in this company.
Santa might be top of the list just now but, from 22nd December, the days start getting longer again and thousands of speedway fans will be eagerly looking forward to another fascinating season, starting next March. Of course, Glasgow Tigers have already completed their 2016 line-up – with Richard Lawson, Ben Barker, Aaron Summers, Danny Ayres, Richie Worrall, Coty Garcia and Nike Lunna ready to take on the rest of the championship challengers.
We can’t wait!