The two Monarchs reserves are probably more experienced than many in the Premier League this year. David McAllan rode a full season with Berwick and Newcastle and finished marginally ahead of his 3.00 starting average. Ross Brady had several outings with Peterborough and as a guest with Berwick. He only completed 5 Premier League meetings which is just as well as he was averaging 4.29!
Prospects: Monarchs should be championship contenders provided that the team can avoid the mechanical disasters of 1998 and Stewart McDonald can recapture his Glasgow form.
Newport Wasps
Newport have three genuine heat leaders, one excellent second string in Scott Pegler but not much else. Craig Watson and Frank Smart should be capable of scoring points anywhere and Henriksson is should also be up to standard. Chris Neath showed some encouraging signs last year but Andrew Appleton and Bobby Eldridge remain unproven at this level but could yet prove to be match winners.
Prospects: Certainly good for mid table and will be real championship material if a couple of their tail-enders progress.
Swindon Robins
A very strong team with Cunningham and Masters at the top and assisted by the under-rated Neil Collins. They have good second strings in Krister Marsh and Oliver Allen and some experience at reserve with David Mason.
Prospects: Definite championship contenders. They have a fair top end and strength in depth. The parallels with Peterborough last year are there to be seen. Masters looks the weak link at the top end and Collins will need to regain some of his own form.
Mid-table Prospects
Exeter Falcons
A typical Exeter team built around a strong top four of Michael Coles, Peter Jeffery, Mark Simmons and Graeme Gordon. The bottom end looks rather thin on experience.
Prospects: Some have seen Exeter as championship contenders although unanswered questions remain. The key issue is who is going to score points away from home consistently apart from Michael Coles. Last year the Falcons had Frank Smart to help out and the year before they also had Leigh Lanham on board. They will probably win most if not all of their home matches but could struggle away. They remain excellent prospects for the knock-out tournaments such as the National Trophy, the Cup, and the Young Shield.
Glasgow Tigers
Tigers now have a stadium and have a complete team. They look solid if unspectacular. Tigers appear to have gone with a dual number one line-up with two heat leaders, three good second strings and two reserves. The team has strength in depth and the reserves are likely to be above average. If there is a weakness, it will be in the third heat leader spot where neither Sean Courtney nor Will Beveridge looks quite the part.
Prospects: Tigers might be outside contenders for the title if someone rises to the challenge of taking the third heat leader role. The late start at Ashfield is unlikely to help Tiger's cause since they will have no real home advantage for weeks. The introduction of a genuine third heat leader with the first issue of green sheets could make the Tigers a very strong team for the latter part of the season.
Reading Racers
Reading have an excellent, strong all-round team with one glaring hole. That is the third heat leader place. Dave Mullet and Petri Kokko are two of the top riders from last year. Had Vesa Ylinen been recruited this problem would have been dealt with.
Paul Clews and Phil Morris look two of the better second strings around and their reserves look promising.
Prospects: With Vesa Ylinen or another good third heat leader (not easy to get on the points available), Reading would be sure fire championship contenders. However with Phil Morris being promoted and Justin Elkins coming in a second string, a good mid table place appears more likely.
Workington Comets
The top two of Carl Stonehewer and Brent Werner are excellent although I suspect that Grant MacDonald or Peter Scully will struggle in the third heat leader position. James Birkinshaw has some way to go to convince as a second string so a lot will depend on the two reserves. Geoff Powell certainly has experience but the Mark Blackwell in the other reserve is unproven.
Prospects: While any team containing Stonehewer and Werner can never be taken lightly, the team has a top heavy look to it. At this stage mid table is the best estimate I can come up with, but they could easily prove me wrong.
Isle of Wight Islanders
They have a strength in depth side with few weaknesses although two of their heat leaders are perhaps a bit lightweight.
Prospects: As with Exeter they will be difficult to beat at home but may travel badly. In order to challenge for the title, they will need to have Neville Tatum back to his best and major progress from their reserves.
Newcastle Diamonds
Newcastle have three good heat leaders and a sound second string in Paul Gould. While Robert Eriksson is carrying a crippling average of 9.61 (only Stonehewer, Mullett, and Cunningham are higher) from his 1997 campaign, both Jesper Olsen and David Walsh appear to have rather low averages for their ability.
Newcastle's failure to sign David Meldrum is a major blow although Derrol Keats might prove to be an able replacement. They have recently signed Anthony Barlow who has been around for some years but failed to make a breakthrough.
Prospects: A mid table side unless Jesper Olsen can ride to his best consistently and David Walsh can regain his old Glasgow form. They remain outside contenders for the championship if Olsen and Walsh can deliver but look weak at the bottom end.
Sheffield Tigers
Many good things have been written about this years' Tigers team. They have a very strong top five and fair reserves. Some doubts remain about how Sean Wilson will adapt to the Premier League and can Scott Smith return to his past form. Andre Compton looks a good prospect as third heat leader but he has disappointed before. Simon Stead and Paul Lee are possibly the best second string pairing in the Premier League.
Prospects: On paper they should be championship contenders but they fail to convince me. Away form, particularly on small tracks is likely to prove cruicial and I cannot see Scott Smith hacking it away from Owlerton. Mid table may be a more realistic prospect but should be a good bet for the cup or the Young Shield play-offs.
Wooden spoon material
Arena Essex
Arena were very late getting their team together and have suffered from this. The decision of Colin White to remain and that of Troy Pratt to return from retirement have helped. The top two are strong but they still have a 'hole' to fill at second string which may yet be taken by Justin Elkins dependent on events at Reading. Matt Read will be very useful at reserve until the first green sheets when Roger Lobb will probably replace him.
Prospects: It is still difficult to call with one place to fill but unless the promotion can pull a rabbit out of the hat they will probably be thankful that Berwick appear to be back. Otherwise the Hammers could well have faced a battle with Stoke to avoid the wooden spoon.
Berwick Bandits
Berwick are close to completing their 1999 team. Scott Lamb, David Meldrum, Jan Pedersen and Wesley Waite were the initial core of the team. The loss of riders such as Peter Scully and the failure to pick up Robert Eriksson, Scott Courtney, and Ross Brady could cost Berwick dear. Other names linked with the Bandits included the German Stefan Bachuber and Swede Jonathan Forsgren. Tom Madsen, a Danish rider, will take the third heat leader place and Dean Felton will come in at second string. Peter Johnson remains favourite for the remaining reserve place.
Prospects: Berwick look like bankers for bottom place at this stage but a lot can change. Last season Berwick employed 13 riders plus guests. Expect a repeat this year!
Stoke Potters
The Stoke team seems is based on two heat leaders (Paul Pickering, and Paul Fry) and three good seconds strings in Rene Aas, Tony Atkin and Mark Burrows. Rob Clarence and ice specialist Wayne Broadhurst will be at reserve.
Prospects: Much though I would like to see the Potters prosper this season for the sake of their support, I can see them struggling. They lack a cutting edge at the top with too little support likely to be available for Pickering. Paul Fry seems to be fading and may struggle to maintain his average. They will probably be weak at the bottom end. They are likely to be solid in the middle order but this may not be enough to avoid the bottom three.
| Northern Teams | Edinburgh, Glasgow, Berwick, and Newcastle. |
| Central Teams | Sheffield, Swindon, Stoke, and Workington. |
| Southern Teams | ,Exeter, Newport, Reading, Isle of Wight, and Arena Essex. |