SGB Championship 2023


The 2023 SGB Championship season was the 76th season of the second tier of British Speedway and the 6th known as the SGB Championship. The British Speedway Network streamed 35 matches live for the second year running.

Summary

Nine clubs competed in the Championship in 2023, with Edinburgh Monarchs remaining in the league despite problems surrounding their home venue. The only change to the league was Leicester Lions, who left for the higher league of the SGB Premiership 2023.
The league format was the same as in 2022, with each team racing against each other twice, meaning a total of 16 fixtures each during the season. The points system was revamped and simplified, with teams scoring two points for a win, with a bonus point scored for an aggregate win. A 'Super Heat' was also introduced in the event of a tied meeting, with the winners scoring two league points and the losers gaining one point.
The top six teams qualified for the playoffs, however they were split into two groups of three, with the winners of each qualifying for the Grand Final. Finally, the points limit for team construction was reduced from 42 to 40 points.
Glasgow Tigers won the title for the first time 2011, while Scunthorpe Scorpions claimed the knockout cup. Poole Pirates had been looking to secure an unprecedented third consecutive double of league and cup, however they lost in both finals. However, Poole did win the BSN Series, an early season competition.

League

Regular season

League table
'''Fixtures & results'''

Play Offs

Six of the nine teams qualified for the play offs, including sixth placed Edinburgh who lost 10 of their 16 matches.
Group A
Fixtures
Table
Group B
Fixtures
'''Table'''

Grand final

First leg
'''Second leg'''

Knockout Cup

The 2023 SGB Championship Knockout Cup was the 55th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams and the 6th edition under the SGB Championship Knockout Cup name.
Home team scores are in bold

Overall aggregate scores are in red

Final

First Leg
'''Second Leg'''

BSN Series

Scottish Group
Fixtures
Table
Northern Group
Fixtures
Table
Southern Group
Fixtures
'''Table'''

Knockout stages

Home team scores are in bold

Overall aggregate scores are in red

Grand Final

First leg
'''Second leg'''

Pairs Championship

The 2023 edition of the SGB Championship Pairs took place on Friday 1 September, at Oxford Stadium, Oxford. It was won by Glasgow Tigers, who beat defending champions Redcar Bears in the final.
Qualifying heats
PosTeamPtsRiders
1Redcar Bears25Charles Wright 14, Danny King 11
2Oxford Cheetahs25Lewis Kerr 15, Sam Masters 10
3Glasgow Tigers23Chris Harris 12, Benjamin Basso 11
4Poole Pirates17Ben Cook 11, Richard Lawson 6
5Scunthorpe Scorpions17Ryan Douglas 13, Simon Lambert 4
6Berwick Bandits15Jye Etheridge 8, Leon Flint 7
7Edinburgh Monarchs14Josh Pickering 12, Luke Killeen 2
8Birmingham Brummies14Justin Sedgmen 12, Troy Batchelor 2
9Plymouth Gladiators12Kyle Howarth 8, Max Perry 4

Semi-finals
Team OneTeam TwoScoreResult
RedcarPoole7-2Wright 4, King 3, Lawson 2, Cook 0

Team OneTeam TwoScoreResult
GlasgowOxford5-4Masters 4, Harris 3, Basso 2, Kerr 0

Final
Team OneTeam TwoScoreResult
GlasgowRedcar6-3Basso 4, Wright 3, Harris 2, King 0

Riders' Championship

The 2023 edition of the SGB Championship Riders Championship was held on 27 August, at the Ecco Arena in Redcar. The event was won by Charles Wright on his home track.
Pos.RiderPtsTotalSFFinal
1

Leading averages

  • averages include league, play offs, knockout cup & bsn series, min 6 matches

Squads & final averages

Berwick Bandits
  • 8.23' 7.05
  • 6.41
  • 6.23
  • 5.74
  • 5.38
  • 4.85
  • 4.51
  • 3.64
  • 2.46
  • 1.33
Birmingham Brummies
  • ' 7.74
  • 7.53
  • 7.35
  • 5.43
  • 4.40
  • 3.05
  • 3.02
  • 3.00
  • 2.86
Edinburgh Monarchs
  • 9.08' 8.55
  • 6.57
  • 6.11
  • 4.71
  • 4.50
  • 3.39
  • 3.06
  • 1.00
Glasgow Tigers
Oxford Cheetahs
  • 9.80' 9.54
  • 8.54
  • 6.69
  • 5.71
  • 4.70
  • 4.00
  • 3.27
  • 2.36
Plymouth Gladiators
  • 7.84
  • 7.77
  • ' 7.61
  • 5.84
  • 5.79
  • 3.06
  • 2.49
  • 2.07
Poole Pirates
  • 9.37' 8.38
  • 8.29
  • 8.03
  • 6.67
  • 6.63
  • 5.01
  • 4.86
Redcar Bears
  • ' 9.66
  • 8.58
  • 6.76
  • 6.08
  • 5.76
  • 5.65
  • 3.44
Scunthorpe Scorpions
  • 10.09
  • 7.94
  • 7.85 7.04
  • 6.69
  • 6.64
  • 3.13