- Source: 2004 Elite League speedway season
The 2004 Elite League speedway season was the 70th 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). Poole Pirates completed the double (league and cup winners) for the second year running. They were the first team to achieve this since Oxford Cheetahs in 1986.
Season summary
In 2004, the league increased to ten teams, with the Arena Essex Hammers and the Swindon Robins moving up from the Premier League. The title was decided by a play-off between the top five teams. The team that finished top of the table were seeded directly to the final and the next four met in quarter and semi final rounds. The winner of these rounds qualified for the final.
Poole Pirates dominated the season again and completed the 'double double' meaning winning the league and cup for two consecutive seasons. This had not been achieved since Oxford Cheetahs during the 1985 and 1986 seasons. Poole retained the majority of their 2003 squad, five time World Champion Tony Rickardsson, Magnus Zetterström, Antonio Lindbäck and Bjarne Pedersen but Ryan Sullivan was brought in from Peterborough to replace Leigh Adams who moved to Swindon.
Rickardsson topped the league averages but only raced part of the season returning to Sweden to spend more time with his family. Arguably Leigh Adams was the star rider of the season helping new Elite League side Swindon to a respectable mid-table position.
Final table
* Belle Vue v Peterborough not held
= 'A' Fixtures
== 'B' Fixtures
=Play-offs
Quarter-final and Semi-final decided over one leg. Grand Final decided by aggregate scores over two legs.
Quarter-finals
Wolverhampton Wolves 61-33 Oxford Silver Machine
Ipswich Witches 55-39 Eastbourne Eagles
Semi-finals
Wolverhampton Wolves 45-45 Ipswich Witches (Mikael Max beat Hans Andersen in run-off)
= Final
=First leg
Second leg
The Poole Pirates were declared League Champions, winning on aggregate 112-71.
Elite League Knockout Cup
The 2004 Elite League Knockout Cup was the 66th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Poole Pirates were the winners of the competition. Poole had started the final second leg under protest because of the Ipswich team changes that included a late replacement rider Davey Watt, who Poole considered was ineligible.
First round
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
= Final
=First leg
Second leg
The Poole Pirates were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 99-87.
Riders' Championship
Bjarne Pedersen won the Riders' Championship. The final was held at Wimborne Road on 17 October.
Pairs
The Elite League Pairs Championship, sponsored by Suzuki, was held at the Abbey Stadium on 11 April and was won by Swindon Robins.
Semi finals
Swindon beat Eastbourne
Belle Vue beat Peterborough 7–2
Final
Swindon beat Belle Vue 5–4
Leading final averages
Rider & final averages
Arena Essex
Belle Vue
Coventry
Eastbourne
Ipswich
Oxford
Peterborough
Poole
Swindon
Wolverhampton
See also
Speedway in the United Kingdom
List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions
Knockout Cup (speedway)
References
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- 2004 Elite League speedway season
- Elite League (speedway)
- Poole Pirates
- 2008 Elite League speedway season
- 2004 Swedish speedway season
- 2005 Elite League speedway season
- Jan Jaroš
- 2003 Elite League speedway season
- Swindon Robins
- 2004 Premier League speedway season
