The Premier League tracks are nearing completion of their team building. The northern tracks have been well ahead of their southern counterparts throughout the process. A possible explanation for this is the fact that most Elite League teams are based in the south and midlands. Hence the southern Premier League teams have to wait on te completion of the Elite Legue teams before they can sign their key heat leaders.
Two northern teams: Workington and Sheffield are now complete. Sheffield completed their team by adding former Monarchs' reserve James Birkinshaw as their number 7. Berwick, Glasgow and Edinburgh are one short while Newcastle have two places to fill.
Workington were first to completed their team and were installed as pre-season favourites in by many comentators. Their mid season Swedish recruit of 1999, Peter Karlsson saw his average drop to six points plus. Coupled with Brent Werner's erratic form, this enabled the Comets to fit in Mick Powell into a powerful top four headed by Carl Stonehewer. The rest of the team is solid with long-time Monarch Barry Campbell plus Darren Groves and Lee Smethills. A possible problem for Workington is the Grand Prix involvement of Carl Stonehewer. If this causes him to lose focus on the Premier League, major strains will be placed on Werner and Powell, neither of whom could be relied on last year.
Glasgow have added Paul Thorp to their already strong heat leader pairing of Les Collins and James Grieves. Emiliano Sanchez, who is surely a great bet for a substantial hike in his average, completes the strong top four. Glasgow have a very long tail with two inexperienced if promising three-pointers at reserve in Scott Courtney and Aiden Collins. With just over four points available for the last place, Sean Courtney looks a likely selection although Brian Turner or Wesley Waite are possibles.
Edinburgh have several options for their last place although the choice could come down to Brian Turner, Jon Swales or David McAllan. Edinburgh have a very powerful top five. With Robert Eriksson a perfect replacement for James Grieves, they have the core of the team that was so succesful last time. If Monarchs get get at least one of their reserves scoring serious points and Kevin Little and Blair Scott develop some consistency they could go all the way this year.
Berwick also have a very strong top five with the addition of of Paul Bentley and Scott Smith to Scott Lamb, Alan Mogridge and David Meldrum. Even with their probable weakness at reserve, Berwick are likely to steamroller every visiting team at Shielfield Park. They will almost certainly struggle on the road.
Newcastle have already secured a very strong top four with newcomers Bjarne Pedersen and Will Beveridge joining Jesper Olsen and Stuart Swales. Jamie Smith comes in at reserve and will be probably joined (eventually) by Linlithgow's Rob Grant on his 16th birthday. This leaves just over six points for their remaining second string place.
Sheffield have retained the core of last years' (almost) all-conquering team. Robbie Kessler comes in for André Compton while James Birkinshaw effectively replaces Scott Smith. With Simon Stead and Paul Lee good bets to increase their averages, Sheffield look the team to beat, as things stand.
Stoke look to be strengthening up as compared to their teams over last few years. Paul Pickering and David Walsh are signed and will be joined at heat leader by a unnamed internationalist. Buzz Burrows is likely to come in at second string while Dean Felton has returned to Stoke at reserve. It is rather early to speculate about the prospects for the team.
Swindon's team has a strange look. In a league when most team have one if not two nine point riders, Swindon have a number on just over eight points and have athird heat leader on under seven points. Frank Smart is probably on a false average but the team has a distinctly wooden spoon look to it. Swindon originally planned to use Nick Simmons at reserve alongside Oliver Allen but this was scuppered by the rule that all team had to incluse at least one rider on four points or below. David Mason could make a comeback because of his sub-four point average.
Newport also look very weak as things stand. They have retained Anders Henriksson on a very high average along with Chris Neath and Andrew Appleton. Craig Taylor comes in at reserve on a low average and is joined by Australian Lee Hearne. A Bavarian newcomer Stefan Bachhuber plus an eight point heat leader still to be signed. Steve Masters has been mentioned in connection with this vacancy but he appears to be on his way to Kings Lynn.
Exeter have a familar look to them with Michael Coles and Graeme Gordon likely to be joined at heat leader by Mark Simmons or Phil Jeffery. Roger Lobb and Seemond Stephens will be at second string. Chris Harris is likely to be partnered at reseve by Bobby Eldridge. This time will wipe out everyone in sight at the County Ground but does not look equipped for success on the road.
The Isle of Wight are another grossly unablanced team if reports are to be believed. They appeared to have abandoned last years' strength-in-depth approach for a weakness-in-depth strategy. They have two seven point heat leaders in Phillippe Bergé and Scott Swain, a couple of five to six point second strings in Danny Bird and Tommy Palmer plus two three point reserves. Their remaining points look like being gobbled up by Ray Morton coming from Elite League Hull on a massive eleven point plus average. Since Morton averaged just under eight and a half points in his previous stint on the Island in 1998, this looks a very risky strategy. Unless Danny Bird makes spectacular progress they look set to battle things out with at the bottom of the table with Swindon.
Reading look a compact side with three good heat leaders in Casagnia, Wester, and Morris. They have been stung eleven points for Armando Castagna. This has left them short of points to include a strong number 4. They may even end up turning to our old friend Justin Elkins. If Paul Clews displays more consistency and Marc Norris can capture his form of early last season, Reading may yet make an impact.
Arena Essex are building on the foundations of last year's team. They have retained their top five with reserves Roger Lobb (returning to Exeter) and John Wainwright (retired) to be replaced.
The one unknown is Hull. Firstly the Premier league teams will have to admit them and secondly they will have to find a team from middle ranking Elite League riders plus the limited number of Premier League riders who remain available. Likely starters include Lee Dicken, Gary Stead, John Wilson and Paul Smith. Monarch's asset Jan Anderson has also been linked with Hull as has Scott Robson.
Possible teams are listed below:
Possible Teams: Northern Tracks
Possible Teams: Southern Tracks