Poole Pirates will be joined in the Elite League next season by King’s Lynn Stars and Birmingham Brummies.

The Stars have stepped up after sweeping the board at Premier League level in recent years, making them one of the most successful clubs in the sport.

It means the Elite League will go to the tapes with eight clubs in a new era and Stars co-promoter Keith Chapman is relishing the prospect of testing themselves against the best.

He said: “Over the past eight seasons, we have enjoyed our time in the Premier League but have won everything we can possibly win and, last season, things started to feel a bit stagnated.

“We could have stayed within our comfort zone and easily carried on in the second tier.

“But the success of the Speedway World Cup highlighted to me and a lot of other people that our track and stadium is world class and should be competing at the highest level.

“I also think it was important for the future of British Speedway to be secured by another team joining the Elite League. So, after taking our time to look at all the pros and cons, I felt it was the right time for the club to make the step back up.

“It will be great for our fans to see riders like Darcy Ward, Freddie Lindgren, Chris Harris and Chris Holder racing at King’s Lynn on a regular basis.”

Elite League line-up for 2011 – Belle Vue Aces, Birmingham Brummies, Eastbourne Eagles, King’s Lynn Stars, Lakeside Hammers, Poole Pirates, Swindon Robins, Wolverhampton Wolves.

Dropping out of the top flight are current champions Coventry Bees and Peterborough Panthers.