Exeter were to run the usual pattern in 1991, dropping only four points at home yet failing to pick up a single League point on their travels. Finishing in mid table was also the familiar pattern, but off the track things at Exeter were distinctively sour.

The year began with Colin Hill seemingly interested in selling the promotion and a reported of offer of around £85,000 was submitted by interested parties, but in the end Colin elected to soldier on at the helm. Roger Jones, a former promoter at Long Eaton and Milton Keynes was brought in as the new Team manager, who immediately began negotiating terms with Steve Regeling to keep him at the County Ground. Richard green took a little longer to agree terms whilst Peter Jefferey, who had broken his thigh the previous August also agreed terms.

Also in the team were veteran Colin Cook and Cornish newcomer Mark Simmonds, with David Smart being brought in on loan from Swindon, some four years after previously being a Falcon.

Frank Smart was edged out because of his assessed average, so in came former Grasstracker Richard Knight. The men left out were Steve Bishop, who hadn't appeared on the track in 1991 and Ian Barney, whose short spell at Exeter was somewhat disasterous.

Initial signs looked good for Exeter as they scored well at home and were losing by small margins on opponents tracks, but by the end of May, things started to look bleak for the falcons as one by one they tumbled out of the Cup competitions.

Trouble then started to emerge as Jones threatened to quit after criticsm from the terrace over his tactics of putting Regeling and Green together as a pairing. As it was, he stayed on, but then it was the turn of David Smart to take centre stage as he demands an instant transfer. David had started off very well for Exeter but was then plagued by mechanical problems and came under criticism from Jones. However, it was all patched up and Exeter once more got down to the task in hand.

Richard Knight was then out for the rest of the season floowing a bad smash during Exeter's home defeat by Newcastle, and as Frank Smart could still not be used, in came Justin Elkins on loan from Poole. Steve Regeling was helping Australia qaulify for the World Team Cup when Exeter were thrashed 62-28 at Arena Essex, then Arena won by two points at the County Ground after trailing 27-9 after six Heats. Just to add to the misery, Frank Smart won the Junior Championship. Peter Jefferey missed Exeter's last away meeting when he joined Poole.

There was talk of possibly new signings in 1992 that included Paul Fry and Jason Crump, but what was most in demand was a better atmosphere in the Exeter camp.

Elsewhere in 1991

Gary Havelock (Bradford) was crowned British Champion as he rode a faultless maximum beating runner up Kelvin Tatum (Berwick) and Chris Louis (Ipswich) (Pictured left)

Jeremy Doncaster won the Commonwealth Final, he scored 13pts to beat Leigh Adams 10pts, Joe Screen 10pts and Paul Thorp also on 10, positions awarded after a run off. Kelvin Tatum was triumphant in the Overseas final, he scored 13pts to beat Sam Ermolenko who in turn beat Billy Hamill in a run off after both riders has scored 12pts apiece.

Denmark, who totally demolished the opposition in the World team Championship staged in Vojens, scored a huge 51 point total and easily won from Sweden 30pts, America 28pts and England 11

And once again, it was the Danes who won the World Pairs Championship, they scored 28pts to beat Sweden 24pts, Norway 19pts, Germany 18pts, Czechoslovakia 18pts, Italy 10pts and Poland 9pts.

Denmarks domination of the Speedway World was extended to the Div 2 Riders Final that was won by Jan Staechmann. He scored 14pts to beat Runner up David Bargh in a run off after he had also scored 14pts. Troy Butler finished third on 12pts.

It was also a Dane who was to win the World U21 Final in the form of Brian Andersen. He scored 14pts to beat runner up and fellow Dane Morten Andersen with Jason Lyons third.

Ipswich were crowned Div 1 Fours Champions, they score 28 ponts to beat Cradley Heath 21, Reading 12 and Coventry 11. In the Div 2 Fours, it was Arena essex (32) who took the title from Long Eaton (15) Edinburgh 15 and Milton keynes 10.

Jan O Pedersen (Pictured Right) was World Champion following the World Final in Gothenburg. He scored an unbeaten 15 point maximum to take the crown from Tony Rckardsson in second and Hans Nielsen third.

Gerd Riss was crowned World Longtrack Champion with Runner up Ales Dryml and Jan O Pedersen in third place. The Div 1 Riders Final was won by Sam Erolenko who scored 15pts to beat Hans Nielsen 14pts and Joe Screen 12pts.

Wolverhampton were to take the Div 1 Title ahead of Bradford and Cradley whilst Arena essex won the Div 2 Title ahead of Glasgow and Newcastle.

Bradford beat Cradley Heath to take the S.Star KO Cup and completed the double by beating Poole in the B.S.P.A Cup.

Top of the averages in Div 1 was Sam Ermolenko (Wolverhampton) on 10.74 ahead of Hans Nielsen (Oxford) 10.66 and Kelvin Tatum (Berwick) 9.88. Top of Div 2 was B.Petersen (A.Essex) on 10.91, Brian karger (A.Essex) on 10.27 and Simon Cross (Middlesbrough) on 10.00