The 2008 Elite League is the 12th since its establishment in 1997. The first fixtures of the season took place on 29 March and the season ended on 27 October. The Coventry Bees were the defending champions from 2007.
Summary
New rules introduced for 2008 included three points for an away win compared to two points in 2007, and the removal of the bonus point, in which a team was awarded an extra point for an aggregate win over home and away matches against another team. Also new in 2008 was a relegation and promotionplay-off between an Elite League team and a Premier League team. The two teams that finish bottom of the Elite League will face in each other in a two legged play-off with the loser facing the Premier League play-off winner over two legs. The Poole Pirates finished top of the league table, with the Lakeside Hammers, Swindon Robins and Ipswich Witches occupying the other championship play-off places. Poole and Lakeside progressed to the grand final of the play-offs, with Poole winning the first leg at Lakeside 42–48, and the second leg at Poole 60–33, giving them a 108–75 victory. The Poole Pirates were crowned with their third Elite League title, and fifth championship overall. Wolverhampton faced Premier League team the Edinburgh Monarchs in the relegation/promotion play-off final, with Wolverhampton winning comfortably over the two legs with a 106–76 aggregate victory, and thus avoided relegation.
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
Results
Teams face each other four times: twice home and away. The first of the home and away meetings are called the 'A' fixtures, and the second are the 'B' fixtures.
'A' Fixtures
* Meeting abandoned after heat 12. Result stands. Last updated: September 11, 2008. Source: Colours: Blue = home win; Red = away win; White = draw Home team listed in the left-hand column
'B' Fixtures
*Meeting abandoned after heat 13. Result stands. Last updated: October 7, 2008. Source: Colours: Blue = home win; Red = away win; White = draw Home team listed in the left-hand column
Championship play-offs
Semi-finals
Poole and Lakeside progressed to the grand final ----
Grand final
First leg
Second leg
Poole win 108-75 on aggregate and are the 2008 Elite League Champions.
Relegation play-offs
Semi-finals
Peterborough win 114-71 on aggregate. Wolverhampton will face the Premier League play-off winners, the Edinburgh Monarchs, over two legs.
Final
Wolverhampton win 106–76 on aggregate and avoid relegation.
Averages
The top ten rider averages in the Elite League as of October 1, 2008:
The Elite League Riders Championship involves the riders with the highest average from each club competing in the Elite League. It took place on 8 October 2008, at the Premier League track at Birmingham after the original staging of the event on 20 August was abandoned due to bad weather.
Format
The top 15 highest averaged riders in the Elite League plus onewild card and two reserves take part, although no more than two riders from each club participate. There are 20 qualifying heats, a 'last chance' qualifying heat and a final. The top two scorers from the 20 qualifying heats qualify directly for the final. The next top four scorers take place in the last chance qualifying heat, with the 1st and 2nd place riders from that heat also qualifying to the final.
Jason Crump
Andreas Jonsson
Hans Andersen
Scott Nicholls
Jarosław Hampel