2003 Elite League speedway season
The 2003 Elite League speedway season was the 69th season of the top division of speedway in the United Kingdom and governed by the Speedway Control Bureau (SCB), in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA). Season summary In 2003, the league decreased to eight teams, after the King's Lynn dropped to the Premier League and reverted back to their traditional name of Stars. They also lost the promotion of Nigel Wagstaff who took over at Oxford, which resulted in Oxford Cheetahs taking over the Silver Machine name from King's Lynn. King's Lynn's leading riders Nicki Pedersen and Sebastian Ułamek also switched to Oxford. Freddie Eriksson went to Ipswich. Oxford also brought in former World Champion Greg Hancock from Coventry but lost Leigh Adams and Lukáš Dryml to Poole. Poole's decision to recruit Adams and Dryml was instrumental because they went on to claim the title. Adams finished top of the league averages and he was backed up by their five time World Champion Tony Rickardsson and the vastly improved form of Magnus Zetterström. Poole went on to complete the double by winning the Knockout Cup. Final table Play-offs Semi-final decided over one leg. Grand Final decided by aggregate scores over two legs. Semi-finals Poole Pirates 48-42 Oxford Silver Machine Coventry Bees 60-30 Peterborough Panthers Final First leg Second leg The Poole Pirates were declared League Champions, winning on aggregate 100-79. Elite League Knockout Cup The 2003 Elite League Knockout Cup was the 65th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Poole Pirates were the winners of the competition. Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final First leg Second leg The Poole Pirates were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 90-88. Riders' Championship Lee Richardson won the Riders' Championship. The final was held at Brandon Stadium on 18 October. r-retired Leading final averages Riders & final averages Belle Vue 10.79 8.24 7.93 6.78 6.52 6.21 5.23 5.15 4.79 4.78 4.31 2.67 2.46 Coventry 9.23 8.78 8.49 7.72 6.84 5.97 3.71 3.27 2.82 Eastbourne 8.48 8.08 8.05 7.83 7.81 7.44 7.36 5.89 5.70 5.08 4.00 4.00 2.67 Ipswich 9.41 6.53 6.46 5.93 5.93 5.91 5.60 5.47 4.83 4.70 4.07 4.00 Oxford 9.33 9.28 8.64 7.82 7.81 6.52 6.43 6.37 6.30 5.57 4.84 4.77 4.46 2.72 Peterborough 9.23 8.76 7.28 7.22 6.97 6.93 6.23 5.86 Poole 10.14 10.07 9.64 8.52 7.66 7.20 7.06 6.48 6.10 5.83 4.55 4.33 Wolverhampton 9.28 9.10 7.45 7.40 7.02 7.01 6.57 6.00 5.80 5.67 4.88 2.95 See also Speedway in the United Kingdom List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References SGB Premiership 2003 in British motorsport