2011 Elite League speedway season


The 2011 Elite League speedway season was the 77th season of the top division of UK speedway and took place between 26 March and 20 October 2011. The Coventry Bees were the defending champions after winning in 2010.

Summary

It was a great season for the Poole Pirates, who won the Elite League, the Pairs Championship and the Knockout Cup. Claiming a clean sweep of honours. Throughout the 2010 season, it was rumoured that the Ipswich Witches would prefer to compete in the Premier League from 2011 onwards. Although they survived the promotion/relegation battle with the Newcastle Diamonds, it was decided that they would swap divisions with the Birmingham Brummies. On 27 November 2010, The BSPA announced that both Coventry Bees and Peterborough Panthers would not be riding in the top flight after they failed to declare their intent to compete in the 2011 competition. This then led to the King's Lynn Stars being promoted from the Premier League due to the Elite League needing a minimum of 8 teams. On 15 March 2011 it was announced that both the Coventry Bees and Peterborough Panthers would be part of the 2011 Elite League after all.
Poole Pirates made up for the previous season's disappointment by winning the league and cup double. The Australian quartet of Darcy Ward, Chris Holder, Davey Watt and Jason Doyle were supported well by Swedes Thomas H. Jonasson and Dennis Andersson as the Poole team deservedly won the title after finishing top of the regular season table for the second consecutive year. The Australian domination also extended to the league averages, which were topped by Chris Holder and the Elite League Riders' Championship won by Rory Schlein of Belle Vue.

League table

Home: 3W = Home win by 7 points or more; 2W = Home win by between 1 and 6 points

Away: 4W = Away win by 7 points or more; 3W = Away win by between 1 and 6 points; 1L = Away loss by 6 points or less
M = Meetings; D = Draws; L = Losses; F = Race points for; A = Race points against; +/- = Race points difference; Pts = Total Points

Championship play-offs

Semi-finals

Leg 1
'''Leg 2'''

Grand final

First leg
Second leg
Poole Pirates were declared Elite League Champions, on winning on aggregate 98-85.

Elite League Knockout Cup

The 2011 Elite League Knockout Cup was the 73rd edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Poole Pirates were the winners of the competition for the second successive year.
First round
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
08/08 Peterborough 47-45 Coventry
06/07 Coventry 42-48 Peterborough

Quarter-finals
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
15/09Peterborough 43-47Belle Vue
14/09Belle Vue 50-40Peterborough
25/07 Wolverhampton 45-45Eastbourne
22/06 Poole55-41Swindon
18/06 Eastbourne 50-40Wolverhampton
16/06 Swindon28-62Poole
10/06 Lakeside 63- 29Birmingham
09/06 Birmingham 36-41Lakeside

Semi-finals
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
12/10 Belle Vue 42-33Lakeside
30/09 Lakeside 48-45Belle Vue
17/09 Eastbourne 39-51Poole
14/09 Poole 46-44Eastbourne

Final

First leg
Second leg
The Poole Pirates were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 102-86.

Riders' Championship

Rory Schlein won the Riders' Championship. The final was held at Abbey Stadium on 15 October.
Pos.RiderPtsTotalSFFinal
1

Pairs

The Elite League Pairs Championship was held at the King's Lynn Stadium on 27 April and was won by Poole Pirates.
Semi finals
  • Belle Vue 5 Peterborough 4 - Pedersen, Harris, Schlein, Batchelor
  • Poole 5 Wolves 4 - Lindgren, Ward, Holder, Proctor
Final
  • Poole 7 Belle Vue 2 - Ward, Holder, Harris, Schlein

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue
  • 9.10
  • 8.56
  • 7.70
  • 6.48
  • 5.70
  • 5.60
  • 5.22
  • 4.65
  • 4.48
  • 3.30
  • 2.00
Birmingham
  • 7.65
  • 7.46
  • 6.84
  • 6.52
  • 6.16
  • 5.73
  • 5.39
  • 5.33
  • 5.10
Coventry
  • 8.77
  • 8.28
  • 7.96
  • 6.95
  • 6.76
  • 6.06
  • 5.57
  • 4.21
  • 3.88
Eastbourne
  • 8.61
  • 7.92
  • 7.75
  • 7.69
  • 7.22
  • 7.19
  • 3.06
King's Lynn
  • 9.22
  • 8.03
  • 7.88
  • 7.30
  • 6.11
  • 4.48
  • 4.04
  • 4.00
Lakeside
  • 8.46
  • 7.52
  • 7.48
  • 7.26
  • 6.99
  • 6.52
  • 6.35
  • 6.02
  • 5.67
  • 4.21
Peterborough
  • 9.20
  • 8.84
  • 7.83
  • 6.82
  • 6.02
  • 4.47
  • 4.00
  • 3.87
Poole
  • 10.05
  • 9.99
  • 7.93
  • 7.14
  • 6.41
  • 6.23
  • 6.10
  • 5.62
  • 4.84
  • 1.74
Swindon
  • 7.78
  • 7.02
  • 6.86
  • 6.72
  • 6.19
  • 4.89
  • 3.63
  • 2.83
Wolverhampton
  • 9.66
  • 8.78
  • 8.34
  • 5.76
  • 4.56
  • 4.43