SGB Premiership 2019
The SGB Premiership 2019 was the 85th season of the top division, called the SGB Premiership, of the British speedway championship in 2019. From the 2018 league season two teams, Leicester Lions and Somerset Rebels, dropped down to the next league down, the SGB Championship, and were replaced in the league by Ipswich Witches and Peterborough Panthers. Although no promotion or relegation exist in British speedway these changes were taken purely due to financial concerns of the teams that dropped out of the SGB Premiership. Rye House Rockets who had taken part in the previous SGB Premiership season closed down. 2019 teamsBackgroundThe league ran between March and October 2019 and had seven teams participating. The line-up of teams changed from the previous 2018 league season with both Leicester Lions and Somerset Rebels dropping down into the SGB Championship and being replaced by two 2018 SGB Championship teams Ipswich Witches and Peterborough Panthers. Rye House Rockets who withdrew from the 2018 did not reenter the league. Poole Pirates were the defending champions after winning the title in 2018. BT Sport continued its TV coverage of the SGB Premiership in 2019. At the Speedway AGM in November 2018, a number of changes were made to the rules and regulations for 2019. The biggest change was the introduction of fixed race nights: from now on, all Premiership meetings would be held on either a Monday or Thursday. Riders in teams must have achieved a minimum average of 3.00 to be able to race in the league. Although the team points limit remained at 42.50. League resultsTeams face each other four times: twice home and away. The first of the home and away meetings are called the 'A' fixtures, and the second are the 'B' fixtures. A Fixtures B Fixtures League tableFinal Table Up To And Including Wednesday 18 September
Play-offs
Home team scores are in bold Semi-finals
Grand final
Premiership Supporters CupThe 2019 Knockout Cup (branded as the Premiership Supporters Cup) was the 77th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Northern GroupThe Wolverhampton Wolves Vs Peterborough Panthers fixture was not restaged after one postponement, and one abandonment. Northern Group Table
Southern GroupThe Poole Pirates Vs King's Lynn Stars fixture was not restaged after it was postponed twice Southern Group Table
Grand final
SGB Premiership Shield
Leading averagesFinal SGB Premiership Averages Up To And Including Wednesday 30 October
Official Speedway GB Green Sheets Averages[15] Riders and final averagesBelle Vue Aces
27 June Aarnio replaced Ricky Wells in the Belle Vue Aces team[16] Ipswich Witches
7 June Edward Kennett replaced David Bellego in the Ipswich Witches team[19] King's Lynn Stars
28 May Craig Cook and Simon Lambert replaced Kasper Andersen and the injured Erik Riss in the King's Lynn Stars team [21] Peterborough Panthers
18 January Chris Harris is released from his Peterborough Panthers contract[24] Poole Pirates
17 July Ricky Wells replaced Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen in the Poole Pirates team [31] Swindon Robins
23 May Ellis Perks replaced James Shanes in the Swindon Robins team [33] Wolverhampton Wolves
14 March Scott Nicholls replaced the injured Jacob Thorssell in the Wolverhampton Wolves team [39] See alsoReferences
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