Last year Wolverhampton had the Tai Woffinden factor and won the league. This year Poole have the Darcy Ward factor and are clear favourites to be crowned champions.
It's all about signing a rider on a bargain average and in Ward the Pirates have the World Under 21 Champion who is capable of putting two or three points on his starting figure.
Add to Ward the undoubted class and ability of Chris Holder (who helped them win the title in 2008 after starting on a low average), Bjarne Pedersen and Davey Watt and they are going to be hard to beat for sure.
Poole: Tipped for title
But it's a marathon, not a sprint. Last season Wolverhampton boss Peter Adams was regularly emphasising how important it was to be the best team in October, not May or June - and his side were certainly that.
Top-four
The top-four is the priority and with no points advantage for finishing first or second this season it will make interesting viewing in the play-off semi-finals. Could it be that the top team don't even make the final?
Looking away from Poole, I like the look of Belle Vue, particularly if William Lawson can score some points at reserve for the Manchester men.
And it can only be good for the sport to have a strong Belle Vue side, particularly as they're currently hoping to move into an impressive new stadium.
Peterborough are rejuvinated and in Bjerre, Iversen, Batchelor and Bridger they have a new-look spearhead - and the signing of Ulrich Ostergaard could prove significant.
Wolves will find it hard to go anywhere near like they did last season after losing Peter Karlsson, If they make the top four it will be a mighty fine effort, but that will need youngsters Ty Proctor, Nicolai Klindt and Tai Woffinden to add a point to their average. A tough ask for all three.
I fancy Coventry to sneak into the top four, but then tomorrow I might fancy Swindon, then Wolves the next day.
The race for the play-offs could be particularly interesting this year. Bring it on - and don't forget all the Elite League action is in HD on Sky Sports this season!
Top Four: Poole, Peterborough, Belle Vue, Coventry.
Premier
At Premier League level King's Lynn are always the team to beat these days, they have been so consistently successful in recent years and I expect thom to be up there again.
Sheffield and Birmingham have tidy teams and, as outsiders, what about Newcastle? They rocketed up the table after changing their team last season and they have a similar side this time around.
I'm delighted to be involved with the new Dudley Heathens at National League level and my team manager Will Pottinger is hoping to claim a top four place in our first season with our very young team.
Buxton will be a tough team to beat this season because of a powerful spearhead in Adam Allott and Craig Cook. And you can watch out for Bournemouth once again.
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Comments (3)
Colin Pratt says...
It's a new season and Belle Vue now have a much stronger team that should see them challenging for a top four spot. I just wonder if this might entice the Sky Sports team to wander up north to show the Aces live a bit more than in the past? Or do they have a roadmap that stops just above Wolverhampton?
Posted 14:06 12th April 2010
Dave G says...
The Heathens are back...well sort of!!! "Dudley" Heathens no!!!... should be "Cradley" Heathens... and i am so disappointed with Dudley Council not helping in the promotion of speedway in the area... Still its renewed my interest in speedway again so thats not a bad thing i could even start shouting "ommer um Craedley" agian..shame i have to travel to Wolves and Brums Ground to watch them.....Boing Boing
Posted 22:55 8th April 2010
Offbeat Dave says...
Yay! About time someone backed the Bees! Nice one Nigel! More or less agreed with your top four on the Sky Sports Season Preview page. Think Ostergaard is only significant for the Panthers in the fact that he's not an Elite rider (but a very good Premier one) but, having seen them racing in their anniversary challenge, they should be unbeatable at home (they seem to know how to get as much of the bike as possible on the grass and get away with it!). Regarding the Premier League, what about Scunthorpe? They're now established in the league and with a pretty much unchanged line-up with four potential heat leaders, they must be in with an shout at the top end of the table this year.
Posted 20:00 26th March 2010