There are certain riders which hold the key to a club's title hopes. Chris Holder springs to mind with Poole last season and look what they achieved!
Well, there is a similar situation at Swindon in my view. Jurica Pavlic showed enough promise last season to suggest he could develop into a heat-leader... but he didn't do enough meetings to establish a realistic average.
Leigh Adams: will lead the Robins to glory, says Nigel (pic courtesy of Les Aubrey)
His low, assessed figure for team building purposes makes the Robins look particularly and, heading into the new campaign, I struggle to see past them for the title.
Our first live meeting on Sky Sports is between champions Poole and my tip for the top, Swindon, on Monday March 30. Now that should be a cracker.
Poole will be up there challenging again, but much depends on their two gritty northerners, Joe Screen and Carl Stonehewer. Both were surprise signings, but knowing the lads as I do they will be keen to enjoy some success in the twilight of their career.
1 - Swindon Robins
2 - Poole Pirates
3 - Coventry Bees
4 - Wolverhampton Wolves
5 - Ipswich Witches
6 - Lakeside Hammers
7 - Peterborough Panthers
8 - Belle Vue Aces
9 - Eastbourne Eagles
Wolverhampton will be much better. Thay can't be any worse, let's be honest! If youngsters Tai Woffinden and Nicolai Klindt hit the ground running and provide plenty of scoring power in support of top two Freddie Lindgren and Peter Karlsson, they'll be a force.
It's a big season for the Elite League. Much has been said and written about the decision taken by top guys like Crump, Nicholls and Andersen to quit the British scene for this season in a bid to reduce their schedule and enhance their Grand Prix chances.
Good luck to those guys, but let's remember there can only be one winner in the world championship and I expect the race for the title to again be between Nicki Pedersen and Jason Crump.
I never thought I would see the day when the top riders in the world were no longer in Britain, but the day had to come from the moment the one-off World Final was scrapped back in 1994.
And if it works for the top guys this season, then others will follow. New superstars will emerge in British racing, just look at Chris Holder last season.
Expect the likes of Pavlic, Woffinden and Ed Kennett at Coventry to emerge this year.
It's a shame about the star names missing out, but I'm still raring to go for another great season in what I hope will prove to be a keenly contested Elite League.
My prediction (with apologies in advance for ruining these teams hopes!): Winners Swindon, Runners-Up Poole.
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