A new Elite League season revs up

The first league meeting of the new speedway elite league season saw last years runners up Swindon Robins down hosts Eastbourne Eagles 47-43.

Not even new Eagles signing Matej Zagar's 11 point haul on the night could prevent defeat for the Eastbourne team.

Eight time world champion began his last season in Britain with 14 points, however he was outshone and equalled by débutante Thomas H Jonasson.

Next week sees a replay of last years final where Swindon travel to Wolverhampton on Monday.

For those who are new to the sport here is a brief explaination of exactly what Speedway and the Elite League is.

Nine clubs contest the Elite League, each club entering 7 riders into each meeting with 15 heats per event.

Each race consists of 4 laps of mixed material track. The average distance of a Speedway track is 300 metres. The minimum width of the track is 10 metres.

Point scoring is much like that of other motor sports. 3 points for 1st place, 2 for 2nd, 1 for 3rd, none for coming last. In the Speedway Grand Prix, which is the world championship of the sport, the points system becomes 6-4-2-0 in the semi-final and the final.

The bikes that the riders use weigh a minimum of 77kg unfuelled. The bikes run on methonal, not petrol, which cost £15 per gallon! The bikes can achieve 0-60 mph in just 3 seconds, which is on a par with the average Formula 1 car, topping 80 mph.

Speedway's slogan is 'no brakes, no gears, no fear'. It sums up speedway in one statement really. All the riders have in order to slow them down is the steel toe caps on their boots.

Some of the most spectacular crashes in all of motorsport come in speedway. An example of this is Tony Rickardsson's crash in the 17th heat of the 1999 Grand Prix.

"The richest minute ever in motorsport" comes in speedway, the prize for the winner of the Poland Grand Prix is $120,000.

Extensive and comprehensive coverage of this adrenaline fuelled, edge of the seat sport is available via SkySports with televised Elite & Premier League meetings along with Grand Prix events.