TREBLE winners Poole Pirates will compete in the Premiership KO Cup next season against the seven top-flight sides.
Following the conclusion of the British Speedway Promoters’ Ltd AGM, Poole will take part in the cup in addition to the Championship, Championship KO Cup and BSN Series, the three titles they won in 2024.
Pirates have been drawn against Sheffield in the first round of the Premiership KO Cup, and will face one of Birmingham or Leicester, should they beat the Tigers.
Premiership CEO Phil Morris said: “It’s good to have all the teams in the KO Cup, including Oxford this time, and we felt it would be great to have eight clubs competing with no byes, so Poole were invited in as Championship champions, and they accepted.
“They will be given a concession to build to Premiership level whilst keeping the majority of their team, and should there be any rider clash, the Premiership team would take priority.”
In the Championship, the points limit has been set at 40 for seven riders, for three years as the same nine clubs return.
Pirates will face Plymouth in the quarter-finals of the KO Cup, and are in the Southern section of the BSN Series along with Oxford and Plymouth.
The Championship Pairs will be held at Workington on Saturday, April 5 at 3pm, and the Championship League Riders’ Championship at Scunthorpe on Sunday, April 6, also at 3pm.
BSPL Chairman Rob Godfrey said: “It’s an exciting prospect to be opening the Championship season with the two shared events.
“It should be a real bonanza weekend of racing with top line-ups, and we’ll be looking to give good value with hopefully some joint promotions across the meetings.
“We want to get these in at a time when rider availability is not a problem, and we’ve got to recognise the change of format with the British GP, with more going on there with the qualifying the day before, so that’s why we’ve moved these events to the beginning of the season.”
Across both the Championship and Premiership, all clubs have been confirmed to be returning for 2025.
Next year will also see the return of a British Semi-Final at Leicester, offering the opportunity for riders to qualify for the British Final at Belle Vue, with dates for these events yet to be confirmed.
BSPL Chairman Rob Godfrey said: “I’m really pleased that all the clubs have come back to the table, and we have consistency in terms of fixtures and competitions.
“We spoke last year about the importance of Youth development so it’s pleasing to see that looks like being extended, and certainly Ipswich are going above and beyond with what they’re planning.
“There is plenty to look forward to next season but also a great deal of work going on further down the line, and we’re all positive about what’s to come.”
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