2002 Elite League preview.

The 2002 Elite League season gets underway in a matter of days. Can the basically unchanged Oxford defend their title successfully or it be snatched away by an (on paper at least) good looking Wolverhampton septet. Much can, and will, change over the course of the season but to begin with here's a quick look at how it might pan out based on each team's starting septet.

Belle Vue
After a couple of rock bottom seasons things could be about to get better in Manchester. World number two Jason Crump arrives to give the club a true number one rider. Sam Ermolenko is another new addition and still more then capable despite 'advancing years'. Aces' stalwart Jason Lyons starts as a second string after a disappointing 2001 and if he's back to form it won't be long until he's back as a heat leader. Brian Karger is back for another spell and he certainly knows what it's all about while Matej Ferjan could be value if he can add consistency to his talent. Not championship material but not wooden spoonists either.

Coventry
Had the agonising decision to do without either Billy Hamill or Greg Hancock. Hamill got the nod to stay. He'll have to lead from the front as the 'old hand' and help the younger, less experienced team members - in particular his young compatriots Billy Janniro debutant Ryan Fisher. One feels that if the Bees are to be contenders, either Andreas Jonsson or Lee Richardson will have to make the breakthrough in to true world class performers on a consistent basis. Both have the talent and now is the time to prove it to fill the void left by Hancock.

Eastbourne
The late moves in Sussex meant that Mark Loram found an unexpected team place after looking to be frozen out in 2002. Probably the best replacement for the retired legend Martin Dugard that the Eagles could have hoped for and a real boost for the club. A fit again Joe Screen means that the Eagles have two of the worlds' most exciting riders both capable of big points anywhere. Stefan Andersson is a solid rider and with Dean Barker and David Norris as good as anyone round Arlington the Eagles look to be serious challengers this season. Especially with Toni Svab at reserve. He should find the pickings easy.

Ipswich
The Witches look perhaps a little pedestrian. The superb Scott Nicholls is a genuine out-and-out number one with the potential to get even better but after his, it's not easy to see where the big points will come from on a regular basis. Local legend Chris Louis should be back to normal after in injury-disrupted 2001. Craig Boyce is not the rider he once was and although he can beat the best on his day, those days are not happening regularly any longer. Perhaps it's the riders lower down the order that will hold the key to the Witches' season. The doubling-up Danny Bird and Leigh Lanham are young Englishmen with ability and can rise to the challenge. If they do some of the pressure on Louis, Boyce and Jeremy Doncaster will be eased.

Kings Lynn
Jason Crump has gone to Belle Vue and Niklas Klingberg is not returning after deciding almost at the last minute he didn't want to. Klingberg replaced with Sebastian Ulamek but no replacement for Crump (how can you replace him anyway). Nicki Pedersen does stay on though after protracted pre-season negotiations and he's the only points scorer the Knights have. Travis McGowan comes back after missing 2001 - but he comes back as a heat leader and will be under some pressure to live up to that. Emil Kramer and Freddie Eriksson can improve. Tom Madsen is a consistent rider but little known about debutant Pole Artur Pietrzyk. But it's all too lightweight in Norfolk and hard to envisage anything other that the Knights taking over Belle Vue's wooden spoon.

Oxford
The reigning champions make just one change - the return of Mark Lemon at the expense of Todd Wiltshire. Can the basically unchanged Cheetahs do it again - why not. There are not many better than the super smooth Leigh Adams and he brings guaranteed points everywhere. Brain Andersen and Steve Johnston are solid enough performers but the real 'make or break' factor are the Dryml brothers. Both improved substantially (Lukas in particular) last season and both are arguably capable of sustaining that improvement this season. Andrew Appleton can only get better and Lemon should add some bite to the bottom end. Thereabouts.

Peterborough
Difficult to see the Panthers doing much. Although it's a side with strength in depth one has to question where heat winners might come from - with the exception of number one Ryan Sullivan. Sam Tesar missed virtually the entire 2001 season through injury and is arguably not genuine heat leader material any longer. New boy Piotr Protasiewicz will be looked towards to emerge as the main scorer behind Sullivan - but is he good enough. Hans Clausen returns to the club as one half of a decent looking second string duo with Shane Parker. Young Dane Henning Bager is something of a surprise choice at reserve with the other reserve place shared between Simon Stead and Chris Harris. Both exceedingly talented young Englishmen whose progress will be keenly followed by many. Lack of obvious top end points potential could make for a long season in Peterborough.

Poole
Again lead by the 'main man' and four-time world champion Tony Rickardsson but even he might have trouble making Poole's season anything more than mediocre. Main back-up is in the form of Gary Havelock but after this there's nothing that looks like showing through as genuine heat leader material. Bjarne Pedersen is an exciting talent but much will depend on the ability of new Polish imports Tomasz Chranowski and Mariusz Staszewski. If they are as good as Cegielski and the returning Walasek Poole could be in for a season as good as 2001. If they are not the Pirates may not be plundering too much.

Wolverhampton
Look better than they have done for a number of years. The Karlsson brothers (Mikeal and Peter) form a world class spearhead. Jesper Jensen is surely much better than his starting average of just seven points and has the potential to add to that significantly. New signing David Howe could find the move from Peterborough just the job to give his career a boost and Daniel Nermark did well enough in his debut season to suggest that the only way is up. The Woles are currently slight market leaders with the bookies to bag the title - who says they can't justify that?