GRESHAM Oxford Cheetahs will be competing in the Elite Speedway League next season, according to news filtering through from the BSPA conference in Lanzarote.
They will be joined in a new ten-team set-up which includes newcomers Peterborough and Hull.
Belle Vue boss John Perrin, fed up with the Grand Prix robbing him of meetings and top riders, is taking the sport's oldest club into the Premier League.
Other news to emerge is that the points limit will be 40 and seven-man teams will be reintroduced. There will be a return to the 14-heat plus nominated heat formula.
The Craven Shield will continue, but only between the top four clubs in the Elite League.
Oxford will meet old rivals Coventry in the second round of the KO Cup.
With Peterborough coming into the Elite League, Oxford are sure to lose Jason Crump, and Cheetahs boss Steve Purchase will now be looking for a new No 1.
It looks almost certain that Lawrence Hare will return at No 7.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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