Danish star Frank Andersen had been the vital cog in Exeter's record-breaking 1989 season, but when Devon boss Colin Hill decided the Dane should be the one to go, it proved a controversial decision. Hill had already agreed terms with Andersen, who produced an average of just under eight, but when local boy Peter Jeffery returned from Australia to sign up and Richard Green was ready to join on a full transfer, the promoter believed that Andersen should move on to help comply with the points limit.

Andersen's £9,000 switch to Peterborough financed the signing of Green, Australian No.1 Steve Regeling was back and along with Green and Jeffery would form the top three. Hill slotted in Colin Cook and old-boy Steve Bishop as second strings while prospect Mark Simmonds and Andy Sell formed the reserve berth.

The team had coped well in covering for an injured Andersen at the end of the 1989 season, but the big question was whether a similar seven would respond over a complete season. Their chances of getting off to a good start almost fell flat before a competitive wheel had even been turned, though.

Veteran Cook crashed during a rain-swept Falcons press day and sustained a broken collarbone. The East Anglian defied the break and scored a paid 11 in Exeter's opening challenge match thrashing of Long Eaton at the County Ground, as they cantered to a 72-24 success. Regeling, Bishop and Green all piled on the agony for the Nottingham side with maximums apiece.

It looked for a while as if Cook was on the way out when Exeter brought in Ian Barney from Peterborough, but he was reprieved when Andy Sell decided to retire from the sport, and how he responded. Cook returned to the side just four days after Barney's arrival and scored twelve points, and then set about scoring paid maximums in his next two meeting - he was back in the side big time.

Stoke were the next to incur the wrath of the County Ground kings, going down 61-35, but in National League action at Arena-Essex the following Saturday, it was just like the Exeter of bygone days, namely a one-man show.

The Hammers, previously struggling badly, made mincemeat of the Devon side, winning comfortably 62-34 and only Regeling, with Bishop to a lesser extent, saved them from a more embarrassing result. That was the first indication of the problems the Falcons were to face during the season on away tracks.

Then in early May the Falcons suffered six consecutive defeats including a shock home defeat by Hackney, as one by one, the Falcons lost all hopes of silverware as they tumbled out of the trophy meetings. However, there was almost the shock of the speedway season as Regeling and Jeffery almost took the pairs title until they were pipped by Hackney in the Final.

Peter Jeffery however was to be involved in a smash at the County Ground on August Bank holiday Monday in a tussle with Craig Boyce, and was to suffer a broken thigh that effectively put paid to Exeter's season. This was also the season that Frank Smart first appeared for Exeter turning out in both of Exeter's final meetings of the season.

Elsewhere in 1990

First Silverware of the domestic season went to Cradley Heath who beat Oxford 95-85 on aggregate to take the premier trophy. Later, Oxford also had to be content with runners up spot in the Gold Cup Final as they lose 74-106 to Bradford. For Bradford, it was their first major trophy in their history

Per Jonsson is crowned World Champion in Odsal, but it took a run off with America's Shawn Moran after both had scored 13points each. Todd Wiltshire of Australia was third on 12 points. Shawn Morans second place was later withdrawn by the FIM and a 12 month ban imposed following a drugs test failure

Kelvin Tatum is crowned British Champion at Brandon, he scored 13pts in beating runner up Simon Cross (11pts), Jeremy Doncaster (11pts) and Gary Havelock (11pts) Kelvin then went on to win the Commonwealth Final ahead of Martin Dugard, Simon Cross and Jeremy Doncaster.

Doncaster however went on to win the Overseas Final staged at Coventry scoring a faultless 15pts to beat Todd Wiltshire (13pts) and Shawn Moran (10pts). Shawn Moran then went on to win the Intercontinental Final in Fjelsted beating Per Jonsson and Hans Nielsen.

Picture left: World Champion Per Jonsson with Shawn Moran (left) and Todd Wiltshire (right).

The Hackney pairing of Steve Schofield and Andy Galvin pip Exeter duo of Steve Regeling and Peter Jeffery to win the Div two pairs Final staged at Glasgow. Stoke won the Fours title at Peterborough scoring 16pts to beat Poole (13pts), Hackney (10pts) and Ipswich (9pts).

Hans Nielsen wins the B.L Riders Championship scoring 15 points to beat Kelly Moran 12pts and Ronnie Correy 12pts (after a run off).

The USA win the World Team Cup scoring 37 points to beat England (34pts), Denmark (30pts) and Czechoslovakia (19pts). The Danes however make it six in a row as they hold onto the World Best Pairs title in Landshut. Scoring 43 points, they headed Australia (41), Hungary (33), Sweden (33), N.Zealand (32) USA (28), Czechoslovakia (21) England (20) and Germany (15).

Pictured Right: Hackney's Steve Schofield (Left) and Andy Galvin (Right) following the N.L Pairs win in the Final staged at Glasgow.

Simon Wigg holds onto the World Longtrack title staged in Herxheim, his 37 points beating Karl maier (30) and Hans Otto Pingel (30). Joe Screen is crowned British U21 Champion after a run off with Mark Loram, both riders having finished on 14 pts. Third spot went to Chris Louis who was also involved in a run off with Nathan Simpson, both having scored 13pts. But it was Chris Louis who won the World U21 Final held in the Soviet Union. He scored 14pts to beat Rene Ass (USSR), Tony Rickardson (Sweden) and Jaroslaw Olszewski (Poland).

Andy Grahame won the National League Riders Championship ahead of Chris Louis and Craig Boyce, Poole win the N.League KO Cup by beating Middlesbrough 107-85 on agg and also complete the double by winning the National League title with Middlesbrough again in second place and Ipswich third.

Reading are crowned BL Champions, they score 54pts to beat Wolverhampton 49 and B.Vue 47 and did the double by beating Bradford near the end of the season to win the S.Star Cup.

Hans Nielsen (Oxford) topped the B.L averages on 10.32, second was Jo Pedersen (Cradley) 9.25 and third Jeremy Doncaster on 9.05. In the N.League, it was Craig Boyce (10.54) ahead of Steve Schofield (10.44) and Chris Louis (10.31). In fourth position was Exeter's Steve Regeling (10.20)