Cycle Speedway

[Red Leader 1 8]

Six teams will compete in the 2013 Elite League - Birmingham, Ipswich, Horspath (Oxford), Poole, Sheffield and Wednesfield (Wolverhampton).

Significant transfer activity will see World Champion Lukasz Nowacki lining up for the current league champions Horspath while Ipswich will welcome Adam Peck and the Osborne brothers back to race for their local club. Wednesfield have captured Paul Heard who was top of the 2012 league averages and he will join Leicester's Craig Marchant in a powerful looking Aces line-up. Adam Stephenson joins fellow Hull based British Champion Andy Angell at Sheffield while Poole welcome back Gavin Wheeler to Harbourside where he will team up with the highly experienced Steve Harris. Birmingham will be lining up with most of their 2012 squad but a change of venue will see them in action at the excellent Sandwell circuit.

[Gemini 4,894]

Really disappointing that Leicester have dropped out of the Elite League. Can't believe it really because they have a long history of being very successful. What is the reason do you know? Presumably not enough top riders? It was also sad to see the veteran riders not watching the sport any more - at least not on the occasions I've been to Slater Street.

[Richspeedway 327]

Sadly a few people have left Leicester in the close season to rival sides so they pulled out. Shame as Leicester are a good side and their facilities I would put as the best in the country with Poole. Leicester have got alot of youngsters though so their future does look bright and I am sure once they make their way up the ages categories they will back in the Elite with some local homegrown talent.

[Red Leader 1 8]

Cycle Speedway`s Elite League is set to hit Sky Sports TV shortly with the first broadcast of a 6 match series from this years newly sponsored BCTG Elite League, which went down to a thrilling last day of the season decider. The 30 minutes of pedal sport action, featuring a robust encounter between glamour club Poole and 2011 league champions Oxford, will be screened across the Sky Sports platform in their Sports Unlimited programme on Tuesday 11th December. These include a prime time 8pm slot.

 

The REVISED listings are: Tuesday 11th December at 5pm, 8pm and Midnight (Sky Sports 4), Wednesday 12th Dec, at 2am (Sky Sports 2) and at 12 midday (Sky Sports 3).

 

The transmissions will also be shown in 32 countries and have a global reach to 152 million homes. The second match of the series features the local derby match between Wolverhampton and Birmingham is provisionally scheduled for 18th Dec. Will post again when confirmed.

Edited December 11, 2012 by Red Leader 1

[Gemini 4,894]

Shame I stop my Sky Sports package as soon as the speedway season is over.

[Red Leader 1 8]

Probably wont be long before it finds its way on to utube!

[Red Leader 1 8]

Cycle Speedway in Japan! Yes its true...right in the heart of Tokyo.

Checkout the links from the Spokesman Online website.

200 competitors turned up last weekend despite the cold weather.

They might be able to teach us a thing or two about setting up temporary tracks in busy town centres.

Next big thing?

[Red Leader 1 8]

Team Cycle Speedway racing makes its debut on SKY SPORTS tonight featuring action from the BCTG Elite League!

Dont miss it. See post 34 for timings.

[IAN2 64]

The coverage came across very well, most enjoyable, hard racing from ultra fit competitors, roll on the next match!

[lynnemorley 1]

the only shame is this should be on a free channel to encourage folk to watch and maybe even attend next season....a lot of speedway people take off the sports package in october and you would expect something like this to be shown during the season too.....i used to love going to cycle speedway all the years my ex husband and one of my sons rode but keep it up sky

[Red Leader 1 8]

The featured match in the BCTG Elite League series to be featured on Sky Sports this week will be the local derby between Wolverhampton and Birmingham. Like the first televised match between Poole and Oxford last week, the all-Midlands clash went to a last heat decider with plenty of incidents and controversial moments thrown in for good measure. Broadcast times are:-

 

Wednesday 19th Dec 0030 Sky Sports 4

Wednesday 19th Dec 1300 Sky Sports 3

Saturday 22nd Dec 0600 Sky Sports 3

Sunday 23rd Dec 0500 Sky Sports 3

 

Look out for more BCTG Elite racing on Sky in the new year.

Match 3 will be screened in early January and features the top of the table clash between Birmingham and Oxford.

Edited December 17, 2012 by Red Leader 1

[RS50 359]

Enjoyed watching that. If you know of any more please post the details on here. Thanks

[Red Leader 1 8]

A Rider of the Year poll currently running. Check-out the link on the Spokesman-Online website.

If you are not a cycle speedway regular, then maybe a rider that has impressed you on the Sky matches might get your vote!

 

Currently amongst the front runners are Birmingham captain Paul Heard who was the star of their victory at Wolverhampton in this

weeks programme and European Champion Marcin Szymanski who top scored for Poole in their win over reigning champions Oxford.

 

Leading the ratings at the moment is British champion Andy Angell from Hull. Viewers will see plenty of him in action for Sheffield in two of the

forthcoming televised matches against Ipswich and Oxford. Andy has his new website up and running so check him out!

[Red Leader 1 8]

An "Introduction to Cycle Speedway" film dating back to 1994 has just been posted on You Tube

:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfUN_6dK80g

It was filmed in the days before the sport came under the arm of British Cycling so the contact details are out of date, as are the hairstyles!

 

What is interesting is the interview with Dave Lanning and his comments about the potential for the sport in terms of television coverage. With a seven match highlights series from the 2012 BCTG Elite League currently underway, its very much a case of better late than never. Of course several British Individual finals have been broadcast in the meantime, but we have not had the more robust team events until now. Match 3 featuring Birmingham and Oxford is due to be screened next week - broadcast times to follow shortly.

Edited January 3, 2013 by Red Leader 1

[Red Leader 1 8]

Birmingham v Oxford broadcast dates and times for next week are:-

Tuesday Jan 8th SS4 at 7pm and repeated at midnight on SS3

& Wednesday Jan 9th SS3 at 1pm.

Half hour coverage of match highlights in "Sports Unlimited"