The SGB Premiership Pairs (formerly the Elite League Pairs) is a motorcycle speedway contest between the top two riders from each club competing in the SGB Premiership in the United Kingdom.[1]
| Formerly | British League Pairs (1976-1987) Elite League Pairs (2004-2011) |
|---|---|
| Sport | motorcycle speedway |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
History
editThe Championship was a reincarnation of the British League Pairs Championship, which ran from 1976 until 1987. After the eighth running of the competition in 2011 the Championship was discontinued. However the pairs returned for the top tier once again in 2017 and was called the SGB Premiership Pairs Championship and won by the King's Lynn Stars riders Chris Holder & Robert Lambert.[2][3] From 2004 until 2011 it was known as the Elite League Pairs because the top league in the UK was called the Elite League at the time.
Rules
editIn the Qualification Heats, riders are allocated starting gates. For the Semi-Finals, the group winners have first choice of gate positions (A&C or B&D). Gate A is on the inside of the track, whilst Gate D is on the outside. For the Final, the gate positions (A&C and B&D) are decided by the toss of a coin. A pair finishing third and second will score five points, whereas a pair finishing first and last will score only four. Race points scored over all Qualification Heats are used to determine the final group placings.
Winners
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "Stars Win Pairs Championship". 31 March 2017.
- ^ "Premier ship pairs" (PDF). Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
- ^ "Speedway: It's home sweet home for Robins". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "2005 Elite League Pairs". Speedway Updates. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "2006 Elite League Pairs". Speedway Updates. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "2007 Elite League Pairs". Speedway Updates. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "Bees come good in Pairs", Sky Sports, 18 August 2008, retrieved 29 July 2012
- ^ "Pirates storm to Pairs title", Sky Sports, 11 August 2009, retrieved 29 July 2012
- ^ Chard Phil (2010) "Speedway: Middlo wants pairs rules change", Bournemouth Echo, 8 September 2010, retrieved 29 July 2012
- ^ "2011 Elite League Pairs". Speedway Updates. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ^ "Premiership Pairs @ Leicester". British Speedway. Retrieved 30 June 2023.