SGB Championship 2023

The 2023 SGB Championship season (sponsored by Cab Direct) was the 76th season of the second tier of British Speedway and the 6th known as the SGB Championship. The British Speedway Network (BSN) 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 (home and away), 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 (home or away), 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

Semi-finals

Final

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.

* f=fell, r=retired, ex=excluded tm=two minute warning excluded

Leading averages

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

Squads & final averages

Berwick Bandits
* 8.23
* (C) 7.05
* 6.41
* 6.23
* 5.74
* 5.38
* 4.85
* 4.51
* 3.64
* 2.46
* 1.33

Birmingham Brummies
* (C) 7.74
* 7.53
* 7.35
* 5.43
* 4.40
* 3.05
* 3.02
* 3.00
* 2.86

Edinburgh Monarchs
* 9.08
* (C) 8.55
* 6.57
* 6.11
* 4.71
* 4.50
* 3.39
* 3.06
* 1.00

Glasgow Tigers
* 9.47
* 9.45
*/ Vadim Tarasenko 8.51
* (C) 7.91
* 7.45
* 6.37
* 4.56
* 3.18

Oxford Cheetahs
* 9.80
* (C) 9.54
* 8.54
* 6.69
* 5.71
* 4.70
* 4.00
* 3.27
* 2.36

Plymouth Gladiators
* 7.84
* 7.77
* (C) 7.61
* 5.84
* 5.79
* 3.06
* 2.49
* 2.07

Poole Pirates
* 9.37
* (C) 8.38
* 8.29
* 8.03
* 6.67
* 6.63
* 5.01
* 4.86

Redcar Bears
* (C) 9.66
* 8.58
* 6.76
* 6.08
* 5.76
* 5.65
* 3.44

Scunthorpe Scorpions
* 10.09
* 7.94
* 7.85
* (C) 7.04
* 6.69
* 6.64
* 3.13

See also

*List of United Kingdom speedway league champions
*Knockout Cup (speedway)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:SGB Championship
2023
2023 in British speedway