The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
How the British Premier League is shaping up
Former Peterborough Panthers hero Jason Crump heads an all-star cast for the 2021 Premier League season.
Crump (44) has joined the Ipswich Witches for the new season. He joined the Suffolk club for the cancelled 2020 campaign, but has committed to a season at Foxhall again.
Crump hadn’t ridden professionally since 2012, but regained interest in racing competively in an Aussie v GB meeting Down Under 18 months ago.
The triple world champion hasn’t competed in a British League since riding for Belle Vue in 2012.
His last title win in this country was his 1999 Elite League success with a Panthers team that completed a fanous treble.
It’s a six-team British Premier League this season with most sides busy finalising their rider plans.
Ipswich and Wolverhampton are the only teams to have revealed their seven-man squads for 2021. Belle Vue (3) have announced the fewest signings, but they have confirmed British champion Charles Wright will be with them. Wright won that British title when a Panthers rider in 2019.
Speedway riders switch clubs regularly so there will be many ex-Panthers racing against the city club at Alwalton this summer, including Troy Batchelor at Sheffield and Tom Bacon at Wolverhampton.
CURRENTBRITISHLEAGUE 2021 TEAM LINE-UPS BELLE VUE ACES
Tom Brennan Steve Worrall Charles Wright
IPSWICH WITCHES
Jason Crump Nicolai Klindt Danny King Cameron Heeps
Anders Rowe Drew Kemp Jordan Stewart
KING’S LYNN STARS
Lewis Bridger Craig Cook Ryan Kinsley Lewis Kerr
PANTHERS
Bjarne Pedersen Chris Harris Jordan Palin Michael Palm Toft
SHEFFIELDTIGERS
Kyle Howarth Troy Batchelor Josh Bates Jack Holder
WOLVERHAMPTON WOLVES
Tom Bacon Rory Schlein Nick Morris Ryan Douglas Broc Nicol Sam Masters Luke Becker