# 2014 Elite League speedway season

The 2014 Elite League speedway season was the 80th season of the top division of UK speedway and the took place between March and October 2014. The Poole Pirates were the defending champions after winning in 2013.

## Summary

This season saw the first team line-up change since 2011, with the Leicester Lions replacing the Peterborough Panthers who dropped down a division. Ahead of the season the BSPA announced a new rule called the "Fast Track Scheme" which means every side has to use two British youngsters at reserve who have passed through the National League - the third tier of British speedway.
Poole Pirates won their second consecutive Elite League title, defeating Coventry Bees 90–71 in the Grand Final. Poole continued their success, their sixth league title in eleven years. Darcy Ward, Maciej Janowski, Przemysław Pawlicki and Josh Grajczonek all returned for Poole and they were backed up by Kyle Newman and Václav Milík Jr.

## Final league table

| Pos. | Club | M | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | F | A | +/− | Pts |
| Pos. | Club | M | 3W | 2W | D | L | 4W | 3W | D | 1L | L | F | A | +/− | Pts |
| 1 | Poole Pirates (Q) | 32 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1542 | 1333 | +209 | 70 |
| 2 | King's Lynn Stars (Q) | 32 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1528 | 1346 | +182 | 70 |
| 3 | Coventry Bees (Q) | 32 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1489 | 1406 | +83 | 64 |
| 4 | Swindon Robins (Q) | 32 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 1465 | 1407 | +58 | 55 |
| 5 | Eastbourne Eagles | 32 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 1430 | 1460 | −30 | 47 |
| 6 | Lakeside Hammers | 32 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 1435 | 1445 | −10 | 45 |
| 7 | Wolverhampton Wolves | 32 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 1398 | 1524 | −126 | 37 |
| 8 | Belle Vue Aces | 32 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 1372 | 1524 | −152 | 34 |
| 9 | Leicester Lions | 32 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 1350 | 1564 | −214 | 25 |
| | Birmingham Brummies | Club folded, results expunged | Club folded, results expunged | Club folded, results expunged | Club folded, results expunged | Club folded, results expunged | Club folded, results expunged | Club folded, results expunged | Club folded, results expunged | Club folded, results expunged | Club folded, results expunged | Club folded, results expunged | Club folded, results expunged | Club folded, results expunged | Club folded, results expunged |

### 'A' Fixtures

| Home \ Away | BV | BIR | COV | EAS | KL | LH | LEI | PP | SWI | WOL |
| Belle Vue Aces | | 51–39 | 36–56 | 52–40 | 39–54 | 45–45 | 56–35 | 51–39 | 41–39 | 50–39 |
| Birmingham Brummies | 50–40 | | 46–44 | 52–44 | 30–60 | 37–56 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 46–44 |
| Coventry Bees | 52–40 | 46–44 | | 60–32 | 42–48 | 49–41 | 48–42 | 47–43 | 41–49 | 48–42 |
| Eastbourne Eagles | 50–43 | 62–30 | 61–30 | | 49–40 | 48–42 | 52–37 | 45–45 | 54–37 | 59–31 |
| King's Lynn Stars | 52–38 | 60–32 | 53–43 | 60–32 | | 52–43 | 48–42 | 47–43 | 48–42 | 49–41 |
| Lakeside Hammers | 58–32 | 69–21 | 54–35 | 55–41 | 45–47 | | 52–42 | 35–26 | 47–44 | 53–30 |
| Leicester Lions | 50–43 | n/a | 40–50 | 49–41 | 42–47 | 48–41 | | 45–45 | 45–47 | 44–46 |
| Poole Pirates | 53–40 | 48–42 | 49–41 | 52–37 | 44–46 | 50–40 | 59–34 | | 56–34 | 49–41 |
| Swindon Robins | 57–36 | n/a | 26–36 | 46–44 | 50–40 | 55–37 | 48–40 | 45–47 | | 46–47 |
| Wolverhampton Wolves | 45–45 | 58–35 | 47–43 | 61–32 | 47–42 | 48–42 | 56–37 | 45–45 | 52–38 | |

### 'B' Fixtures

| Home \ Away | BV | BIR | COV | EAS | KL | LH | LEI | PP | SWI | WOL |
| Belle Vue Aces | | 56–39 | 40–53 | 47–43 | 48–42 | 42–33 | 55–38 | 54–38 | 48–44 | 55–38 |
| Birmingham Brummies | n/a | | n/a | n/a | 42–48 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Coventry Bees | 52–39 | n/a | | 60–33 | 52–38 | 55–35 | 50–42 | 40–50 | 53–40 | 58–34 |
| Eastbourne Eagles | 57–35 | n/a | 49–44 | | 49–44 | 50–40 | 55–36 | 50–40 | 53–40 | 55–35 |
| King's Lynn Stars | 50–40 | n/a | 61–31 | 39–24 | | 59–35 | 51–39 | 41–49 | 44–43 | 54–39 |
| Lakeside Hammers | 59–31 | n/a | 39–56 | 47–43 | 47–43 | | 59–36 | 45–45 | 56–38 | 57–35 |
| Leicester Lions | 56–36 | n/a | 54–38 | 45–44 | 39–51 | 48–42 | | 41–49 | 37–52 | 47–45 |
| Poole Pirates | 57–37 | 60–32 | 47–48 | 56–35 | 48–42 | 53–37 | 59–31 | | 56–35 | 48–42 |
| Swindon Robins | 42–33 | n/a | 60–31 | 56–36 | 52–41 | 57–35 | 47–43 | 46–43 | | 59–36 |
| Wolverhampton Wolves | 48–45 | n/a | 44–46 | 56–37 | 37–53 | 44–46 | 50–42 | 36–59 | 51–41 | |

## Play-offs
### Draw

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final | Grand final |
| 3 | Coventry Bees | 49 | 50 | 99 | | | | | |
| 4 | Swindon Robins | 41 | 45 | 86 | | | | | |
| 4 | Swindon Robins | 41 | 45 | 86 | 3 | Coventry Bees | 34 | 37 | 71 |
| | | | | | 1 | Poole Pirates | 37 | 53 | 90 |
| 1 | Poole Pirates | 45 | 47 | 92 | 1 | Poole Pirates | 37 | 53 | 90 |
| 2 | King's Lynn Stars | 44 | 43 | 87 | | | | | |

### Semi-finals

| 29 September 2014 | Report | Coventry Bees | 49–41 | Swindon Robins | Brandon Stadium Referee(s): Chris Durno |
| 29 September 2014 | Report | King's Lynn Stars | 44–45 | Poole Pirates | King's Lynn Stadium Referee(s): Graham Flint |
| 6 October 2014 | Report | Swindon Robins | 45–50 | Coventry Bees | Abbey Stadium Referee(s): Dan Holt |
| 16 October 2014 | Report | Poole Pirates | 47–43 | King's Lynn Stars | Poole Stadium Referee(s): Christina Turnbull |

### Grand final

| 17 October 2014 | Report | Coventry Bees Howarth 10 Harris 8 Garrity 5 Hansen 5 Andersen 3 Sarjeant 2 Barker 1 | 34–37 | Poole Pirates Newman 9 Pawlicki 8 Janowski 6 Batchelor 5 Milik 5 King 4 Williamson 0 | Brandon Stadium Referee(s): Peter Clarke |
| 20 October 2014 | Report | Poole Pirates Janowski 14 Newman 11 Pawlicki 8 Milik 8 Batchelor 6 Morris 5 Compton 1 | 53–37 | Coventry Bees Howarth 9 Harris 7 Garrity 6 Andersen 6 Sarjeant 4 Fricke 3 Hansen 2 | Poole Stadium Referee(s): Mick Bates |

## Knockout Cup

The Knockout Cup was not held during 2014.

## Riders' Championship

Troy Batchelor won the Riders' Championship. The final was held at King's Lynn Stadium on 25 September.
| Pos. | Rider | Pts | Total | SF | Final |
| 1 | Troy Batchelor | 2 3 3 1 3 | 12 | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | Maciej Janowski | 1 3 2 2 2 | 10 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Jason Doyle | 3 1 3 3 2 | 12 | x | 1 |
| 4 | Matej Žagar | 3 T/exc 3 3 3 | 12 | x | 0 |
| 5 | Bjarne Pedersen | 2 3 3 2 1 | 11 | 1 |
| 6 | Hans Andersen | 3 2 2 2 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 7 | Chris Harris | 2 2 1 1 3 | 9 |
| 8 | Václav Milík Jr. | 0 2 2 3 1 | 9 |
| 9 | Rory Schlein | 3 2 1 1 1 | 8 |
| 10 | Danny King | 1 3 0 3 0 | 7 |
| 11 | Dakota North | 0 1 1 2 2 | 6 |
| 12 | Jacob Thorssell | 1 1 2 1 1 | 6 |
| 13 | Richard Lawson | 1 1 0 1 2 | 5 |
| 14 | Peter Kildemand | 2 0 1 ret - | 3 |
| 15 | Robert Lambert | 0 0 0 0 3 | 3 |
| 16 | James Cockle | 0 1 | 1 |
| 17 | Davey Watt | 0 ret ret - - | 0 |
| 18 | Scott Campos (res) | 0 0 | 0 |
* f=fell, exc=excluded, ret=retired ef=engine failure t-touched tapes

## Final Leading averages

| Rider | Team | Average |
| Niels Kristian Iversen | Kings Lynn | 9.62 |
| Darcy Ward | Poole | 9.24 |
| Lewis Blackbird | Eastbourne | 8.95 |
| Matej Žagar | Belle Vue | 8.84 |
| Maciej Janowski | Poole | 8.70 |
| Chris Harris | Coventry | 8.69 |
| Jason Doyle | Leicester | 8.67 |
| Hans Andersen | Coventry | 8.63 |
| Troy Batchelor | Swindon | 8.46 |
| Piotr Pawlicki | Wolverhampton | 8.36 |

## Riders & averages

Belle Vue
* Matej Žagar 8.84
* Scott Nicholls 8.25
* Craig Cook 6.97
* Richie Worrall 5.95
* Stefan Nielsen 5.61
* Michael Palm Toft 5.40
* Lee Payne 2.73
* Ben Reade 2.00
Birmingham
* Daniel Nermark 7.13
* Adam Skornicki 6.95
* Danny King 6.41
* Paul Starke 6.17
* Ben Barker 5.65
* Nicolás Covatti 4.86
* Simon Lambert 4.00
* Edward Kennett 2.72
Coventry
* Chris Harris 8.69
* Hans Andersen 8.63
* Jason Garrity 7.91
* Michael Jepsen Jensen 6.91
* Kyle Howarth 6.74
* Max Fricke 6.51
* Kenneth Hansen 5.97
* Aaron Summers 5.78
* Ryan Fisher 5.63
* James Sarjeant 5.27
Eastbourne
* Lewis Blackbird 8.95
* Bjarne Pedersen 7.79
* Cameron Woodward 7.24
* Mikkel Michelsen 6.98
* Joonas Kylmakorpi 6.62
* Timo Lahti 6.10
* Danny Halsey 4.24
Kings Lynn
* Niels Kristian Iversen 9.62
* Lewis Kerr 8.13
* Kenneth Bjerre 7.97
* Rory Schlein 7.01
* Nicklas Porsing 6.43
* Simon Lambert 5.94
* Robert Lambert 5.92
* Lewis Rose 5.86
Lakeside
* Mikkel Bech 7.55
* Lewis Bridger 7.52
* Richard Lawson 7.51
* Davey Watt 7.23
* Peter Karlsson 7.12
* Kim Nilsson 6.54
* Adam Ellis 5.57
* Ben Morley 5.52
* Danny King 5.27
Leicester
* Jason Doyle 8.67
* Simon Stead 7.42
* Nicolai Klindt 6.76
* Sam Masters 6.51
* Mads Korneliussen 6.34
* Peter Ljung 5.67
* Krzysztof Buczkowski 5.64
* Patrick Hougaard 5.52
* Tom Perry 5.11
* Josh Bates 4.58
* Lasse Bjerre 4.50
* Max Clegg 3.48
Poole
* Darcy Ward 9.24
* Maciej Janowski 8.70
* Edward Kennett 8.67 (4 matches only)
* Kyle Newman 8.30
* Chris Holder 7.23
* Przemyslaw Pawlicki 7.20
* Josh Grajczonek 7.09
* Václav Milík Jr. 6.91
* Brendan Johnson 3.00
* Benji Compton 2.38
* Lee Smart 2.15 (4 matches only)
* Ben Hopwood 2.14
Swindon
* Troy Batchelor 8.46
* Peter Kildemand 8.26
* Steve Worrall 7.42
* Dakota North 7.10
* Nick Morris 7.09
* Simon Gustafsson 6.39
* Nicolai Klindt 5.89
* Nathan Greaves 2.84
* Dan Greenwood 2.36
Wolverhampton
* Piotr Pawlicki 8.36
* Tai Woffinden 7.73
* Ricky Wells 6.76
* Jacob Thorssell 6.54
* Lasse Bjerre 6.50
* Peter Karlsson 5.84
* Ashley Morris 5.45
* Joe Jacobs 5.33
* Ty Proctor 5.32
* Tom Perry 4.12